WKU News

In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the LifeSkills Center for Child Welfare Education and Research (LCCWEAR) at Western Kentucky University (WKU) hosted the 2026 Child Welfare Expo on April 2, 2026, from 5:00–7:30 PM CST at the WKU Knicely Conference Center.

The annual Child Welfare Expo provided a unique opportunity for WKU students, community partners, and child-serving professionals to come together to strengthen collaboration and advance child welfare efforts across Kentucky. The event created a platform for attendees to network, explore career opportunities, and learn about local and statewide resources that supported children and families throughout the Commonwealth.

This year’s program featured Miss Kentucky 2025, Ariana Rodriguez of Bardstown, as the keynote speaker. Crowned in June 2025 at the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center in Bowling Green, Rodriguez brought a powerful and personal perspective to her advocacy. Having experienced foster care herself, she referred to herself as “one of the lucky ones” and had turned her journey into a mission of service.

Rodriguez founded The Lucky Ones Foundation, an initiative dedicated to bringing hope, dignity, and empowerment to youth in foster care. The foundation worked to ensure that every young person, regardless of circumstance, had access to dignity, joy, and opportunity. Through advocacy, community engagement, and practical education initiatives, Rodriguez aimed to support children in foster care and empower youth to build strong futures.

The event also included an awards ceremony recognizing individuals who had made outstanding contributions to child welfare in Kentucky. LCCWEAR presented its Annual Child Welfare Awards, including:

• Caroline Watts, a Bachelor of Social Work student at WKU, was named the recipient of the LCCWEAR Student Award for Child Welfare Advocacy, recognizing her meaningful impact on the child welfare community through service, advocacy, and leadership. Caroline demonstrates strong academic excellence, earning a place on the President’s List, while actively participating in both the Child Welfare Preparation Program and the Honors Program. She is deeply engaged in child abuse prevention advocacy through campus outreach and awareness efforts. Known for her maturity, empathy, and professionalism, Caroline shows a strong commitment to serving vulnerable children and families. She was also recognized for her integrity, excellent communication skills, and outstanding leadership potential.

• Sarah Andrus, Service Region Administrative Associate with the Department for Community Based Services (West Lakes Region), was honored with the Angela Lane Community Award for Outstanding Leadership in Child Welfare at Western Kentucky University. This award recognizes members of Kentucky’s child welfare community who demonstrated exceptional leadership and a strong commitment to improving the lives of children and families.

A longstanding leader at DCBS, Sarah exemplifies servant leadership by consistently stepping in to support frontline workers. She performs duties at all levels, including home visits, investigations, crisis response, and travels throughout the region to meet community needs. A dedicated mentor, she supervises interns and plays a key role in developing future social work leaders.

Sarah fosters a culture of collaboration, critical thinking, and worker empowerment. She is widely recognized for her ethical integrity and her commitment to doing what is right, even in difficult situations. Through her leadership, she provides stability, presence, and reassurance across the entire region.

• Misti Carrigan, Youth Services Center Coordinator at Bowling Green High School, was recognized with the Dr. Austin Griffiths Service Before Self Award for her extraordinary dedication and selfless service to children and families. With 26 years of experience, Misti makes a profound impact on students and their families by working tirelessly to remove educational barriers and support their social and emotional well-being.

She founded the Multi-Lingual Love Club, fostering a sense of inclusion and belonging for immigrant and refugee students, which grew rapidly to 42 members. Misti also demonstrates a deep commitment to the foster care community as a former foster and adoptive parent; she and her husband adopted three children.

Known for her immediate, hands-on response to crises, Misti consistently supports students facing challenges related to housing, resources, and basic needs—even after graduation. She is a lifelong source of guidance and support for many young adults, with former students continuing to seek her mentorship years later. Through her quiet, behind-the-scenes efforts, Misti truly embodies “service before self,” making a lasting impact on her students, her community, and the state of Kentucky.