CHNK Behavioral Health is a premier provider of mental health and addiction treatment services.
CHNK began as a traditional orphanage in 1882, offering a safe shelter to children whose parent(s) had died or whose family was unable to provide care due to poverty, addiction, or abuse. In the 1980s, the organization transitioned to residential care for children in state custody due to substantiated cases of extreme neglect and/or abuse in their families of origin. CHNK continues to provide this
type of care for youth from all 120 counties in Kentucky. CHNK’s mission to create holistic partnerships for health and wellness that are inclusive, innovative, and inspiring is reflected in the diverse populations that the organization serves, employs, and partners with:
• 35% of CHNK clients identify as coming from diverse communities (both in terms of race/ethnicity and also LGBTQ status)
• 38% of CHNK employees identify as coming from diverse communities (both in terms of race/ethnicity and LGBTQ status)
• 62% of CHNK employees identify as female and represent all levels of the organization, including C-level officers, medical staff, and clinical staff. CHNK operates three campuses in Northern Kentucky, two of which provide 24/7 care. The organization employs a staff of over 100 healthcare professionals who offer an integrated approach to treatment. In recent years, in an effort to address the significant number of youth entering state’s custody, CHNK secured two new state-issued licenses that empowered CHNK to launch new treatment programs aimed at prevention and intervention. CHNK’s robust continuum of care includes the following treatment services:
Therapeutic Academic Services, including Day Treatment/Partial Hospitalization - In partnership with three Northern Kentucky school districts, CHNK marries traditional academic services with therapeutic treatment services for high-risk elementary, middle, and high school students unable to navigate a traditional school environment due to their behavioral health needs. Prevention Services – CHNK’s Pillars of Support program benefits students aged 10 to 14; the program helps students develop positive social skills and healthy recreation habits, work towards academic success, and address behavioral health needs. Outpatient Services - These services benefit children, adolescents, and adults who have mental health barriers, need addiction treatment, or are exhibiting other behaviors that have negatively impacted their daily lives at home, in the classroom, in the workplace, and within the community. Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) – CHNK offers multiple IOPs that follow a structured, trauma-informed, and evidence-based approach to therapeutic care for adolescents, teenagers, and adults who need help recognizing, managing, and overcoming mental health and/ or substance use disorders. Targeted Case Management - For youth and families requiring assistance outside of their behavioral health needs, CHNK Targeted Case Managers provide individualized attention that helps connect each client and family with other community resources and/or services that may be beneficial to them. Family Preservation Program (FPP) – This program helps to strengthen families and keep children safely at home rather than being placed into foster care or a group residential treatment center. FPP is a collaboration between CHNK Behavioral Health and the Kentucky Department for Community-Based Services (DCBS); it is funded through state and federal funding. Psychiatric Residential Treatment – CHNK provides 24/7, residential care for boys aged 8 to 17 who are experiencing one or more significant mental health diagnoses and are either at risk of psychiatric hospitalization or have been discharged from a psychiatric hospital. CHNK is the only behavioral healthcare provider in Northern Kentucky licensed to provide this care. Private Child Care (PCC) Residential Treatment - This program provides 24/7 therapeutic care for male youth between the ages of 7 and 17 who have been removed from their families of origin due to substantiated cases of abuse or neglect and are now in the custody of the state of Kentucky.
08/15/2025
Happy National Relaxation Day!
At CHNK Behavioral Health, we believe that rest is not a luxury, it is a vital part of healing.
Today, on Relaxation Day, we encourage everyone to take a step back and give yourself permission to pause, breathe, and recharge. Whether you are a staff member, a client, a caregiver, or a community partner, your well-being matters.
🛋️ Take a nap
📖 Read a good book
🌳 Spend time in nature
🎧 Listen to calming music
💆♀️ Just be still
Taking time to care for yourself helps you show up stronger for your family, your work, and your community.
Today and every day, let’s normalize rest as a part of healing.
08/14/2025
Thankful Thursday
Today, we give a big shoutout to our Real Estate and Facilities Department here at CHNK Behavioral Health!
Behind every safe, welcoming, and healing space we provide for our youth and families is a team working tirelessly to maintain, improve, and grow our facilities. From keeping our campuses in top shape to ensuring every environment supports healing and hope. Your dedication does not go unnoticed.
Thank you for all the early mornings, late nights, and hard work you put in to make CHNK a place of safety and stability.
Because of you, healing happens here.
08/13/2025
Thank You!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us on August 11 to celebrate the birthday of Amos Shinkle and honor his incredible legacy at CHNK!
Your presence made the day truly special, and we are grateful for your continued support of our mission. Together, we are keeping the spirit of compassion and community alive just as Mr. Shinkle envisioned.
Here is to building brighter futures, one child at a time 💙
08/11/2025
Happy Birthday, Amos Shinkle!
Today we celebrate the birthday of Amos Shinkle, the visionary philanthropist and civic leader whose dedication to the well-being of children and families laid the foundation for what is now CHNK Behavioral Health.
Beyond founding what would become CHNK, Shinkle played a pivotal role in bringing one of our region’s most iconic landmarks to life, the Roebling Suspension Bridge. His financial and civic leadership helped make the bridge a reality, connecting Covington and Cincinnati and symbolizing the kind of community connection he championed throughout his life.
Amos Shinkle’s legacy of care, leadership, and service continues to inspire our mission more than a century later.
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08/09/2025
Now Accepting Referrals – Inpatient Residential Beds Available
CHNK Behavioral Health currently has openings in our 24/7 Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF), the only licensed PRTF in the Northern Bluegrass region of Kentucky. We provide intensive, trauma-informed care in a safe, therapeutic environment for children and adolescents.
Timely access to care can make all the difference. Contact us today to learn more about our residential treatment services.
08/09/2025
Helping Students Thrive—Inside and Outside the Classroom
As students head back to school, many face more than just academic pressure.
Anxiety, social challenges, and mental health concerns can make the transition difficult for both kids and families. At CHNK Behavioral Health, we are here to help children, teens, and caregivers feel supported every step of the way.
We partner with 10 local school districts to provide mental health services directly in the school setting, including:
• Individual Therapy
• Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP)
• Targeted Case Management
For those needing additional support, we offer a full range of office-based and telehealth services, such as:
• Outpatient Therapy
• IOP & Partial Hospitalization
• Psychiatric Medication Management
• Case Management
Common reasons students and families seek support during the school year include:
• Anxiety or low self-esteem
• Suicidal thoughts or self-harm
• Difficulty focusing or hyperactivity
• Academic stress, truancy, or work avoidance
• Bullying or substance use
Let’s work together to help students build confidence, emotional resilience, and a strong foundation for success this school year.
CHNK Behavioral Health is a full service mental health care provider for youth and families. Call 1.844.YES.CHNK to get help now.
08/07/2025
City of Covington announces inaugural Mayor’s Academy class!
Congrats to our very own Melissa McQueen on being selected for the inaugural Covington Mayor’s Academy!
Chosen from nearly 100 applicants, Melissa will join 29 other leaders in a hands-on, 8-month program designed to strengthen connections between Covington’s government and community.
We are proud to see Melissa representing CHNK and helping build a stronger, more connected Covington! 💙
City of Covington
COVINGTON, Ky. – The City of Covington is proud to announce the 30 members selected for the inaugural Covington Mayor’s Academy, an immersive eight-month program designed to educate, involve, and engage residents and stakeholders in the work of City government. Selected through a
08/04/2025
Monday Motivation
A new school year is a fresh start, not just for learning, but for healing too.
At CHNK, our Individual and Family Therapy services help children, teens, and caregivers work through life’s challenges, from anxiety and stress to communication struggles and behavioral concerns.
Whether it’s one-on-one sessions or working together as a family, our licensed therapists create a safe, supportive space for growth, understanding, and emotional wellness.
As your family prepares for the year ahead, keep this in mind: you don’t have to face it alone.
CHNK is here to help.
Learn more: chnk.org
07/31/2025
Celebrating a Legacy of Leadership
CHNK Behavioral Health is excited to host a special birthday celebration for our founder, Amos Shinkle, on Monday, August 11, at our Devou Campus.
This event is an opportunity for current, past, and future CHNK board members and Community Board (Junior Board) members to come together, connect, and honor the visionary who helped shape our mission of care and compassion.
Location: CHNK Devou Campus
Time: 11:30 AM
Join us for light refreshments, a tour of the campus, and reflections on the lasting impact of Amos Shinkle’s leadership.
Check out our Facebook event page to sign up or email giving@chnk.org to RSVP.
Thank you to Trinity Episcopal Church of Covington Kentucky for helping spread the word!
We kindly invite all previous CHNK Behavioral health Junior Board members to the birthday celebration for our founder Amos Shinkle on August 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky. Please RSVP to giving@chnk.org by August 4. You can find more information at Ins
07/30/2025
Happy Birthday, Melanie!
CHNK wishes a very happy birthday to Melanie, one of our incredible Board of Trustees Subject Matter Experts!
We are so grateful for your dedication, insight, and the passion you bring to our mission. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead filled with joy and continued impact!
07/29/2025
Last week, our CHNK clients took the stage and stole the show!
Our Talent Show was an unforgettable celebration of courage, creativity, and pure joy. From singing and dancing to poetry, comedy, and art displays, each performance reminded us just how resilient and inspiring these young people truly are.
Every round of applause echoed the strength, heart, and individuality of our clients and we could not be prouder.
A huge thank you to our staff who made the event possible and to everyone who showed up to cheer, support, and celebrate these incredible kids.
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Established in 1882, Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky (CHNK) is a premier provider of behavioral health and substance use treatment services. Outpatient and residential services are geared towards youth who have experienced abuse, neglect, addiction, or other serious trauma. Operating out of three convenient locations across Northern Kentucky, our team of 100 healthcare professionals takes a trauma-informed and family-focused approach to treatment, annually impacting over 1,500 youth and family members across the region.
Our outpatient services benefit school-age youth who are experiencing behavioral health issues and/or addiction. The outpatient services team is headquartered in the Deaconess Health Check at CHNK facility in downtown Covington, but treatment may be provided in school, in the home, or in another community environment - wherever is most comfortable for the child and family.
CHNK’s award-winning Therapeutic Day School marries traditional academic services with treatment services for high-risk middle school and high school student populations. Throughout the school day, students have access to treatment services such as individual, group, and recreation therapy, clinical deescalation, crisis management, addiction treatment, and an onsite licensed medical team. It is operated in partnership with Covington Independent Public Schools (CIPS).
CHNK’s Day Treatment services for elementary school age youth provide comprehensive therapeutic and academic care, creating an environment in which students with behavioral health needs can better manage anxiety, emotions, problematic behavior, and mental illness while still engaging in learning. Rather than attend class in a traditional academic setting, students in Day Treatment attend class in a dedicated building on CHNK's Devou Park campus.
CHNK’s Psychiatric Residential Treatment services for youth diagnosed with mental illnesses and who require an intensive, non-hospital clinical setting for treatment are also offered at our Devou Park campus. CHNK is the only behavioral health organization in Northern Kentucky licensed to provide these services.
CHNK's Private Child Care (PCC) residential treatment program provides 24/7 therapeutic care for male youth between the ages of 7 and 17 who have been removed from their families of origin due to substantiated cases of abuse or neglect. Youth live on CHNK’s Burlington campus, located in Boone County. The average length of stay is eight months.
