- About Us
About KVC
KVC Kentucky is a 501(c)3 nonprofit child welfare and behavioral healthcare organization that provides mental and behavioral health services, family preservation and reunification, and other family-related services.
- Impact
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Overview
Each year, KVC serves over 20,000 children and families across Kentucky! At KVC Kentucky, there is strong emphasis in the therapeutic implementation of evidence-based therapy, assessments and programs.
- Services
Services Overview
At KVC, we want every child and adult to be safe & connected to a strong family and a healthy community. We’re proud to be a leader in innovative, effective and compassionate care.
Behavioral Health Services
Innovative, evidence-based mental and behavioral health services delivered virtually, in the home and in the communities of our clients.
Family First Prevention and Reunification Services
Clinical services designed to help strengthen families and keep children safely at home or reunify children who have been removed to foster care or other residential treatment settings.
- Resources
KVC Kentucky Resources
Explore our free resources designed to keep you informed and supported. From mental health, parenting guidance and updates on how KVC Kentucky is helping build stronger, healthier communities, these tools are here to help you and your family thrive.
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Vision, Mission and Values
KVC Kentucky operates on many belief statements and guiding values that structure how we help our clients. State leaders, parents and communities put their faith in us to advocate for children and families. KVC provides a vast service care array with a primary focus on in-home and community based services. Our Diversion and Family Preservation Programs are geared towards keeping families intact and safe. KVC also offers an adolescent substance abuse program to help them recover from addiction to dangerous and illegal substances. Our Behavioral Health Services provides therapy and connects clients to community support resources. All of our programs directly benefit the lives of 20,000 children, adolescents and adults across eight regions of the state.
What is KVC’s Vision, Mission and Values?
KVC’s Vision
To ensure every person is safe and connected to a strong family and a healthy community.
KVC’s Mission
To enrich and enhance the lives of children and families by providing medical and behavioral healthcare, social services and education.
KVC’s Values
We have operated under a strong set of values that guide all the work we do. We’ve become who we are by asking “What would you want for your child?” and remembering “Children grow best in families” and “Excellence is not an act; it’s a habit.” We recently refreshed the language of our values, making them shorter and broader to cover all of our programs. Our values are:
- The heart of our work is helping people.
- Our character is built on authenticity and compassion.
- Family connection drives our culture.
- Collaboration fuels our improvement.
- Urgency and innovation mark our approach.
- Diverse perspectives are key to our progress.
What does KVC stand for?
“KVC” originally stood for Kaw Valley Center and was a single home founded by volunteers to help at-risk boys in downtown Kansas City, Kansas. Since 1970, the organization has expanded thousands of miles beyond the Kaw Valley region, serving children and families in five states (Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Kentucky and West Virginia) and even beyond U.S. borders. Today, the letters are no longer an acronym, but a way to think about what drives the organization forward as an international leader in behavioral healthcare, child welfare, and community health and wellness: Knowledge, Values and Connections. Read this article to learn more.
In more than 50 years, KVC has had just two CEOs, showing long tenure and continuity in leadership. After his 35 years as CEO, Wayne Sims published “Non-Profit/Pro-Growth — The KVC Story: Improving Child Welfare Through Values-Based Organizational Growth.” This book details how putting our mission and values at the center of our strategy has been critical to our growth and positive impact. Learn more about the book here or KVC’s history here.