FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 24, 2026

CONTACT

Jessica Seitz, Executive Director, Missouri Network Against Child Abuse

(573) 415-6228; jessicaseitz@mo-naca.org

Missouri Network Against Child Abuse presents 2026 Standing with Children Awards

Jefferson City, Mo. – Missouri Network Against Child Abuse (MO-NACA) will present the 2026 Standing with Children Awards at a luncheon hosted by the organization at 11:30 AM on Monday, April 27, 2026 at the Millbottom Event Center, 400 West Main, Jefferson City, MO. The 2026 recipients of the Standing with Children Awards are United States Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-2) with a Lifetime Award, Representative Ed Lewis (R-06), Dr. Timothy Kutz, Director of the Division of Child Protection with SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and Elizabeth Phillips, Founder of No More Victims.

Congresswoman Ann Wagner of St. Louis, Missouri has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013. Congresswoman Wagner was nominated by the full network of Missouri Child Advocacy Centers for a Lifetime Standing With Children Award for her leadership on legislation to support victims of crime and her unwavering support of funding for victim serving agencies including her current leadership to stabilize the Victims of Crime Act through H.R. 909, the Crime Victims Stabilization Act which passed the House of Representatives unanimously in January. “Throughout her career, Congresswoman Wagner has been a consistent and dedicated advocate for children,” said Jerry Dunn, Executive Director of the St. Louis Children’s Advocacy Center. “In Missouri, over one hundred organizations receive funding from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) but the Fund is in crisis. Agencies could see as much as half of their VOCA funding cut within the next year. Congresswoman Wagner’s Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act would help to alleviate the millions of dollars in cuts facing victim serving agencies nationwide, including Missouri Child Advocacy Centers. We are proud and grateful to have her leadership in Washington, DC.”

MO-NACA will also recognize Dr. Timothy Kutz for his leadership in child abuse pediatrics and his role in contributing to the formation of the Missouri SAFE‑CARE Network—a statewide program that ensures children who may have experienced abuse receive expert, trauma‑informed medical evaluations. “It is an honor to nominate Dr. Kutz for the Standing With Children Award to celebrate his 25 years of service to the children and families of Missouri. It was 25 years ago that I approached Dr. Kutz's open office door seeking his mentorship in my own journey towards becoming a child abuse pediatrician and he responded with a YES. I have now come to know him as a steadfast advocate for Missouri's children whose career is a masterclass in offering an unfaltering YES when Missouri's children, and the agencies serving them, need it,” said Dr. Adrienne Atzemis of St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “Because of leaders like Dr. Kutz, Missouri has a strong, coordinated, statewide SAFE‑CARE Network,” said Jessica Seitz, Executive Director of MO-NACA. “Child abuse pediatricians help put children on a path to healing. This work is complex, highly specialized, and deeply demanding. Dr. Kutz’s leadership exemplifies what is possible when medical expertise is embedded within strong systems—systems that prioritize both healing and justice for children.”

On Monday, MO-NACA will also honor Elizabeth Carlock Phillips, founder of No More Victims, a national advocacy organization advancing child protection laws across the country. In the past year, Ms. Phillips helped lead the passage of “Trey’s Law” in Texas, Missouri, Alabama, and Georgia, prohibiting the misuse of non‑disclosure agreements against survivors of sexual abuse. Trey’s Law law has now been introduced in additional states and at the federal level. “This award honors a leader whose advocacy transformed personal loss into national impact and whose work reminds us that survivors’ voices are essential when shaping the systems meant for victims of sexual abuse to achieve justice and healing,” said Seitz. “Elizabeth’s leadership reflects what is possible when survivors are not only heard but empowered to shape policy and prevention.”

Finally, Missouri Network Against Child Abuse recognizes Representative Ed Lewis (R-06) of Moberly, MO for his leadership to strengthen Missouri’s response to child sex trafficking. In his first term, Representative Lewis sponsored legislation which established the Statewide Council on Sex Trafficking and the Sexual Abuse of Children, bringing together diverse perspectives to examine challenges across systems and identify informed, coordinated approaches. His recent House Bill 2273, a child protection omnibus, was signed into law by Governor Kehoe last month. “Representative Lewis’ sponsorship of legislation related to the commercial sexual exploitation of children demonstrates an understanding of the seriousness of this issue and the responsibility of public systems to respond. We appreciate his willingness to address one of the most complex and harmful forms of abuse affecting young people,” said Seitz.

About the Standing with Children Awards

The first Standing with Children Awards were made in 2014 to former state Rep. Marsha Haefner, former state Rep. Sue Allen and U.S. Senator Blunt. Over the years, awards have been made to legislators and child advocates who made important contributions to child protection in Missouri. Recipients are individuals who have advanced the child advocacy center (CAC) movement in Missouri, promoted the use of multidisciplinary teams in child abuse investigations and championed legislation that creates safer communities for children by supporting Children’s Division and traditional MDT partners and funding for CACs, the SAFE-CARE program and other agencies and services that are critical to advancing child protection in Missouri.

About Missouri Network Against Child Abuse

Founded in 2002, Missouri Network Against Child Abuse (MO-NACA, formerly Missouri KidsFirst) is the state chapter of Missouri’s fifteen accredited regional Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) and the seat of Prevent Child Abuse Missouri. MO-NACA works to empower adults with

solutions to support the safety of children and is the expert in training, community education and child advocacy for professionals, community members and partners, providing children with access to safety, justice and healing.