Children's Alliance

01/27/2026

The Children’s Alliance is proud to stand as a signer in support of the Family Preservation and Accountability Act, filed last week by Rep. Nick Wilson and Sen. Raque Adams as HB 464 and SB 122, respectively. This legislation would provide courts the option to consider alternative, community-based sentences (like treatment and parenting support) instead of incarceration for primary caregivers convicted of low-level, nonviolent offenses.

If your organization would like to endorse this critical legislation, please complete the form below:
https://form.asana.com/?k=RtCP3DTHba76sW6CIp4SPA&d=25535823564359

01/26/2026

Congratulations to our members Mountain Comprehensive Care Center (MCCC) and Ramey Estep Homes / Re-Group on being approved as new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs)!

This expansion means more Kentuckians will have access to high-quality, evidence-based behavioral health care across the Commonwealth in 2026.

Special recognition to Ramey Estep Homes / Re-Group, now the only Behavioral Health Services Organization (BHSO) in Kentucky to earn CCBHC designation. This achievement reflects a rigorous certification process focused on delivering high-quality, evidence-based care, and marks both the culmination of years of work and the start of an exciting new chapter.

We’re proud of our members and the momentum they're building to better serve Kentucky’s children and families.

Eligible Kentuckians will have expanded access to behavioral health care services in 2026. The Department for Medicaid Services' (DMS) behavioral health team received approval from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to add six clinics to its Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Demonstration program.

CCBHCs participate in a rigorous DMS certification process to ensure they deliver high-quality, evidence-based care to those in need. CCBHCs help Kentuckians care for their behavioral health by ensuring the availability of a range of services, including screening and diagnosis, crisis services, including mobile crisis response, psychiatric rehabilitation, and care coordination, integrating behavioral health and physical health care. The clinics also offer comprehensive services to those battling addiction, as well as veterans, children, and to families supporting a loved one as they deal with behavioral health challenges. CCBHCs are required to serve anyone, regardless of housing status or ability to pay. DMS first began offering CCBHC services in 2022.

The addition of six CCBHC clinics to the CCHBC Demonstration will bring new and expanded service options to the eastern, northeastern, western, and southern parts of the state, furthering the state's commitment to expanding services that will help all Kentuckians thrive.

The new providers include:
Comprehend, Inc.
Cumberland River Behavioral Health, Inc.
Lifeskills, Inc.
Mountain Comprehensive Care Center
Ramey Estep Homes / Re-Group
Rivervalley Behavioral Health

These six new CCBHCs join New Vista, Seven Counties Services, Pathways Inc, and Northkey Community Care as CCBHCs in the demonstration.

To receive assistance, any person may contact the CCBHC directly or email CCHBC@ky.gov for assistance in locating the CCBHC nearest you.

For anyone in crisis, please call 988 any time, day or night, for confidential support and assistance.

01/21/2026

Last week, The Children’s Alliance was honored to partner on Bags of Hope, an initiative organized by Representative Samara Heavrin (18th District), focused on supporting children in Kentucky’s foster care system.

This collaborative effort brought together nearly every member of the Kentucky General Assembly, The Children’s Alliance, and Miss Kentucky Ariana Rodriguez, through her initiative, The Lucky Ones Foundation, ensuring that Bags of Hope are delivered directly into the hands of children across the Commonwealth who need them most.

A special thank you to the event sponsors, our board members in attendance (James Sherry, Holly Hill & Denise Govan, DCCH) and to the members of the Kentucky General Assembly who came together to assemble these bags and write messages of encouragement for Kentucky’s most vulnerable children.

12/23/2025

The Children’s Alliance staff appreciates all our member agencies and are grateful for the services you provide to at-risk children and families across Kentucky! We look forward to our continued partnership in the coming new year!

The Children’s Alliance office will be closed December 24-26 and January 1-2 for the holidays!

11/13/2025

The Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental, and Intellectual Disabilities is excited to launch the 2026 Kentucky Gallery of Youth Voices—a statewide campaign inviting children and youth (up to age 25) to share their stories of hope and healing through art.

Submissions due January 28, 2026.
Learn more and apply here: https://forms.gle/EEjfErKBK4kxZn8H8

11/05/2025

November is National Adoption Month: an opportunity to shine a light on the importance of permanency for children and youth in care.

Across Kentucky, our member agencies are helping children find safe, loving homes where they can thrive. Join us in spreading awareness and supporting the journey to family for every child.

10/23/2025

Yesterday, the Children’s Alliance was honored to testify before the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services to highlight the challenges our members face with the burdensome audit and appeals process, and share how Chair Moser’s MCO Audit and Appeals Bill delivers commonsense solutions to address these challenges.

Watch our full testimony below:

https://youtu.be/cvGrevas7YA?t=2566

10/15/2025

St. Joseph Children’s Home is hosting the Explore Foster Care + Adoption Conference on November 8, 2025! Families interested in fostering or adopting are encouraged to attend. Vendors who wish to participate can register here: https://forms.office.com/r/Vucb5Wnes0

St. Joseph Children's Home provides a safe home and bright future for every child in our diverse community.

09/29/2025

Exciting news!

Buckhorn Children & Family Services (founded in 1902 as a Christian school, orphanage, and church in rural Buckhorn, Kentucky) has rebranded as Buckhorn Therapeutic Care. Over the decades, their services have grown beyond children & families to include residential/Outpatient treatment for adults with substance use disorder, residential treatment for boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder or DD/ID, foster care, and family preservation: buckhorn.org

09/08/2025

Do you shop at Kroger? You can support the Children’s Alliance at no cost to you!

Please take a minute to connect your Kroger Plus Card to the Children’s Alliance (TI118). Every time you shop, Kroger donates to help us support children and families.

Register here: krogercommunityrewards.com
Search Children’s Alliance or TI118 to enroll.

09/04/2025

September 8th is 988 Day. A day to raise awareness and positive buzz about the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline through a variety of creative activities spearheaded by communities, organizations, and individuals. https://988lifeline.org/988-day/

08/19/2025

The Children’s Alliance is excited to welcome our two newest members: Hope Hill Youth Services and TrueNorth Treatment Center.

Hope Hill (hopehill.org), with locations in Hope and Hazard, provides foster care, adoption, and independent living services, and is expanding with the reopening of its residential campus and new behavioral health wraparound services in partnership with Caritas Care Solutions. See the full press release below for details.

TrueNorth (truenorthky.com), with locations in Owensboro and Central City, offers a wide range of services including therapy, parenting classes, case management, and intensive outpatient programs.

Join us in welcoming their teams as we work together to lend a voice for at-risk children and families. Want to learn more about membership benefits? Email melissa@childrensallianceky.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Community-Driven Partnerships to Transform Mental Health and Youth Services in
Kentucky

Hope, KY – August 16, 2025 — In a remarkable move to strengthen mental health and youth care, three dedicated nonprofit organizations—Hope Hill Youth Services, Open Doors Counseling Center, and Caritas Care Solutions—have joined forces in a strategic-partnership designed to revitalize services and expand access for vulnerable populations across Kentucky. This collaboration underscores a profound commitment to community, innovation, and resilience in the face of a transforming healthcare landscape.

Since its inception in 1960, Hope Hill Youth Services has been a beacon of hope and healing, emerging from the visionary legacy of Ruby Kitchen—a woman of unwavering faith, compassion, and dedication to caring for children in need. Sister Ruby’s dream of creating a loving, supportive environment for vulnerable youth has blossomed into a thriving
community that continues to serve as a living memorial to hope and perseverance.

Established in 2011, Caritas Care Solutions has grown into a powerhouse of behavioral health services, driven by a mission to provide culturally relevant, inclusive mental health resources tailored for underserved and marginalized populations across Kentucky. Their vision is to bridge societal gaps and re-imagine mental health care that truly meets
individuals where they are.

Open Doors Counseling Center, based in Lexington, Kentucky, complements this effort by
offering comprehensive outpatient services that foster healing and growth.

Together, these organizations form a collective force aimed at expanding community access, developing
innovative care models, and strengthening the local mental health infrastructure—particularly in rural areas like Hope, Kentucky.

A Commitment to Expansion and Strategic Collaboration

This partnership is founded on a shared belief: that expanding services does not mean consolidation, but rather, strategic growth aimed at serving more people and addressing unmet needs more effectively. By joining forces, these nonprofits are sharpening their focus on response-driven, community-based care, while navigating the ever-evolving payment
models and reforms from CMS, Medicaid, and commercial insurers. The recent shifts in reimbursement and healthcare reform present challenges—yet also open doors for innovative collaborations.

Together, Caritas, Hope Hill, and Open Doors are
confidently positioning themselves to lead in a changing landscape—building resilience,
aligning resources, and delivering desperately needed mental health and behavioral
services to those most vulnerable.

A Legacy of Hope, a Future of Possibility

Hope Hill's origins tell a story of unwavering faith and perseverance, inspired by Sister Ruby Kitchen's powerful journey from hardship to hope—proving that with the right support, anyone can overcome life's greatest challenges. Her legacy of seeing potential in every child lives on as these organizations unite to build a future where comprehensive, compassionate care is available to all who need it, meeting each person with dignity and respect regardless of their circumstances or story.

In this moment, more than ever, our community recognizes that mental health is a collective
responsibility. Through this partnership, we demonstrate that true community strength lies in
coming together—intentional, strategic, and committed to a shared vision of hope and
healing.

About Caritas Care Solutions:
Founded to serve Kentucky’s most vulnerable, Caritas Care Solutions provides culturally
relevant, inclusive mental health resources tailored for underserved populations, advocating
for systemic change and innovative care.

About Hope Hill Youth Services:
A historic and enduring pillar of hope in Kentucky, Hope Hill has cared for children and families since 1960 through foster care, adoption services, independent living programs, and soon-to-relaunch residential treatment services. Grounded in a legacy of faith and compassion inspired by Sister Ruby Kitchen, Hope Hill walks alongside youth through every stage of their journey—from initial placement to successful independence.

About Open Doors Counseling Center:
Dedicated to healing and growth, Open Doors offers comprehensive outpatient mental health services and financial therapy designed to meet individuals' needs holistically, specializing in culturally responsive care for community members facing unique barriers to traditional mental health and financial wellness services.

For More Information contact
Stephanie Spires, Vice President, Mission Integration
Stephanie.Spires@caritascares.org
859-312-1044