Spring arrives in more ways than one March 20, especially for Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky. After a year-long, all-encompassing renovation of the historic administration building on CHNK’s Devou Park campus, the home is ready to throw open its doors and show off the renovated space.
The open house kicks off at 12 noon and continues until 8 p.m., with guests encouraged to drop by as their schedules allow. All four floors of the administration building will be accessible, including the therapeutic day school operated in partnership with Covington Independent Public Schools.
“This major renovation accommodates state-of-the-art, medically assisted treatment that simply can’t be found in other agencies across the region,” explains Robert Hawksley, CHNK Board of Trustees president and CEO of Fischer Homes. “Being able to offer health care components like telemedicine, supervised visitation, direct nursing services, and medical exam areas right on our campuses – all overseen by a board-certified psychiatrist who serves as our chief medical officer – is truly a game-changer for CHNK and the youth who come to our door.”
In addition to the administration building, CHNK’s first residential adolescent substance use disorder cottage – also housed on the agency’s Devou Park campus – will be available for guests to tour. A $1.5 million grant awarded to CHNK last September by the KY Kids Recovery Grant Program and the Substance Abuse Treatment Advisory Committee is being used by the agency to fund personnel – including clinicians – for substance use disorder treatment throughout all agency program lines. This residential cottage establishes the first and only treatment beds in the Northern Bluegrass region of Kentucky for adolescents recovering from substance use.
The Home’s newest location – a 5,200-square-foot satellite office situated on Fifth Street in downtown Covington – will also be open to the public for tours. The office space, now the “hub” for CHNK’s Champions community and school-based services, provides an array of private offices and treatment rooms for staff members to conduct assessments, screenings, brief interventions, nd referrals to treatment, as well as outpatient and intensive outpatient services, drug testing, case management and support services for youth with behavioral health needs. Champions staff will also continue to provide onsite support to multiple public schools in Northern Kentucky, as well as meet with families in private residences to provide family-centric treatment.
“We want our team to be as accessible as possible to the youth and families in need of our services,” said Lisa Wilson, clinical director of CHNK’s Community-Based Services. “This facility gives us the flexibility to operate a cutting edge adolescent intensive outpatient program for substance use disorders that may need a more substantial setting than a classroom or living room. It gives us ample space to accommodate individual outpatient treatment while simultaneously providing assistance to the adolescent’s family. We can also do onsite drug testing, provide in-house training opportunities, and generally provide greater access to our services for the wider community.”
Mercedes-Benz of Fort Mitchell will provide complimentary round-trip shuttle service from CHNK’s Devou Park campus and the Fifth Street center, allowing guests to travel between campuses. Both locations will offer food and beverage to visitors throughout the day, courtesy of McHale’s Events and Catering and Jeff Thomas Catering. Festivities will also include live music, giveaways and recreation therapy demonstrations, as well as a dedication and blessing of both campuses. There is no cost to attend, but guests are encouraged to RSVP for planning purposes. Reservations can be made online, via email (development@chnk.org) or by calling the CHNK Office for Development at 859-292-4135.
Founded in 1882, Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky operates three campuses – one in Burlington and two in Covington. CHNK is a member of the Children’s Alliance, Kentucky’s voice for at-risk children and families.
From Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky