Since 1882, the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky (CHNK) has been providing hope and opportunity for better lives to children and their families. CHNK was initially founded by Amos Shinkle, financier of the iconic Suspension Bridge, as a Protestant orphanage in Northern Kentucky – the Covington Protestant Children’s Home, serving both boys and girls. “Amos was a trend setter, a businessman who paid attention to what was happening in the community, which resulted in the creation of the Home,” said Rick W. Wurth, Chief Executive Officer, during a recent presentation to the Florence Rotary Club.
The work that began at the orphanage in 1882 continues to this day, but with a slightly different focus. In 1980, the orphanage became a residential treatment facility for boys ages 7-17. CHNK now provides services to abused, neglected and at-risk kids through two facilities in Northern Kentucky, one in Devou Park and the second in Burlington. It is the largest licensed home in Northern Kentucky with 60 residential beds. Wurth and his staff of 61 dedicated employees share the belief that “bad things that happen in life will not have the last word” in a child’s life. Over 7,000 kids are in state custody in Kentucky with 1,000 of those kids living in residential care. The residential treatment program provides a 24/7 private child care program primarily funded by the state of Kentucky.
“The typical resident is a male between the ages of 7-17 who has been removed from home by the State of Kentucky due to abuse, neglect, or behavioral issues,” said Wurth. “The kids in these facilities are not criminals. These children have trauma issues; kids who have been traumatized often display impulse control issues and act out on rage that they do not know how to channel.”
CHNK provides the skilled social workers and interventions that are needed by these kids. The average length of stay is seven months for the boys being served in residential care at CHNK. CHNK enjoys a 79% success rate in this line of care, meaning that 79% of boys leaving CHNK are heading to a less-restrictive placement. Wurth’s goal is twofold: to get these kids to a point that they can be moved to a less restrictive home, and to supply them with the life-skills to succeed in that environment. Wurth noted that in 2013, family participation in therapy was up 19%.
CHNK also provides services to schools and families of children not living in the Home through their Champion’s program. Kentucky is ranked second in the nation in locking up “non-violent status offenders.” Status offenders are school-aged youth who could be incarcerated in a secure detention facility for non-violent, at-risk behavior like skipping school, running away from home, purchasing or using tobacco, drugs or alcohol, or being labeled as “beyond control of parents or school.” Kenton County is ranked number one in the state in locking up status offenders. The Champion’s program provides a preventative approach to addressing the root causes that might lead to a child being labeled as a status offender.
The Champion’s program was piloted in the 2012-13 school year with the Covington Independent Public School district. Over 100 youth and their families were served that year. In the spring of 2013, the program expanded into Erlanger-Elsmere Schools. Wurth reports that discussions are underway to expand this preventative program into Boone County, Ludlow, and Beechwood school districts. For information on how you can contribute and make a difference in a child’s life contact Rick Wurth at the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky at 859.261.8768.
For information about weekly meetings, guest speakers and community service opportunities of the Florence Rotary Club, contact Billy Santos, President, at 859-426-2285, or online at wsantos@bankofky.com. Visit the group’s web site at www.florencerotary.org . Florence Rotary meets weekly on Mondays at noon at the Airport Hilton Hotel in Florence.
