GLASGOW, Ky. — Barren and Metcalfe Family Court Judge Mica Pence has received a national award recognizing her work to help children maintain relationships with both parents after a separation or divorce.

The National Parents Organization presented Pence with its Champion for Children Award, which honors judges and lawmakers the group says have promoted policies that encourage children to have meaningful relationships with both parents whenever it is safe and appropriate.

Pence has served as family court judge since 2018, overseeing cases involving divorce, child custody, visitation, adoption, domestic violence and other family law matters.

The organization highlighted Pence’s work both before and after taking the bench, including efforts to expand mental health resources for families and co-founding Bridge Kentucky, a program that connects at-risk families with services designed to help keep children safely at home and out of the foster care system.

“Since taking the bench, you have expanded your community impact through collaborative initiatives, such as representing Kentucky judges at the National Judicial Leadership Summit on Child Welfare, expanding mental health access for families, and co-founding ‘Bridge Kentucky’ to connect at-risk families with resources that help them avoid the foster care system,” said a letter from Dr. Don Hubin, national board chair of the organization.

The organization also cited Pence’s work carrying out Kentucky’s shared parenting law, enacted in 2018.

The law directs judges to begin custody cases with the assumption that children benefit from spending substantial time with both parents unless evidence shows a different arrangement would better serve the child's best interests.

“You have successfully demonstrated that starting with a 50-50 presumption actively reduces litigation and conflict by removing the incentive for parents to fight for ‘primary’ custody,” Hubin said.

The organization also recognized Pence for sharing Kentucky’s experience with other states considering similar laws. Last November, she testified before Pennsylvania lawmakers at a ‘Kids Need Both’ policy hearing and shared her perspective with officials in Oklahoma and Michigan.

“National Parents Organization celebrates your impressive application of shared parenting defaults, your community outreach, and your unwavering dedication to the best interests of children,” Hubin said.