CALIFORNIA, Ky. — The state of Kentucky is giving millions of dollars to a nonprofit in northern Kentucky that’s dedicated to helping victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

What You Need To Know

  • Holly Hill Child & Family Solutions supports victims of child sexual exploitation and trafficking 

  • The agency offers outpatient behavioral health services to kids of all ages and some young adults, as well as a residential program

  • Those victims are referred by the state, and typically stay for three to 12 months

  • Holly Hill is receiving $6.5 million in state funding to help with infrastructure, which was approved in the state budget

Holly Hill Child & Family Solutions has been a pillar of the northern Kentucky community for 140 years. CEO James Sherry said the child welfare and behavioral health agency supports victims of child sexual exploitation and trafficking in ways no other Kentucky agency does, and is on a journey to becoming a national leader in this field of work.

“It’s an area of concern that is definitely growing. As a community I think it’s only been in the last decade that we’ve got to the point where we’re aware of this issue in this way,” he said.

The agency, which has centers in both Highland Heights and California, Kentucky, offers outpatient behavioral health services to kids of all ages and some young adults, as well as a residential program for girls ages 11 to 17 who are in the state’s care.

Those victims are referred by the state, and typically stay for three to 12 months. Sherry said kids in the foster system are among the most vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking.

“Basically, they come to us to heal from some of the most traumatic backgrounds that you or I or anyone else could consider,” Sherry said.

But because the agency has been around for so long, some of the facilities are in need of an upgrade, or just need more space.

“There are more kids out there that are referred to us, that have this in their background, than we can support,” Sherry said.

Holly Hill is receiving $6.5 million in state funding to help with infrastructure, which was approved in the state budget. Sherry said it will help the agency give more kids the opportunity to reach their full potential.

“One of the real joys in the work we do is seeing over day and over week and over month incredible progress with these kids,” he said.

He said he’s hopeful the funding will allow Holly Hill to stick around for at least another 140 years. The agency is also focused on building its team of direct care providers, therapists and case managers.

Two northern Kentucky legislators, Kentucky Sen. Shelley Funke-Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, and Rep. Mike Clines, R-Alexandria, were involved in securing the funding, along with Senator Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights.

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