MCDANIEL VISITS HOLLY HILL, HIGHLIGHTS $6.5 MILLION STATE FUNDING FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES
FRANKFORT, KY (Oct. 17, 2024) – Senate Budget Chair Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, capped off his tour of northern Kentucky organizations benefiting from 2024 state budget allocations by visiting Holly Hill Family and Children Solutions on Thursday. Holly Hill recently received a $6.5 million one-time allocation in fiscal year 2025 to support its infrastructure modernization program, allowing the organization to expand its essential services to vulnerable youth across northern Kentucky.
McDaniel met with Holly Hill officials at the Highland Heights location. The funds will support the Highland Heights and California facilities in Campbell County and enhance Holly Hill’s ability to provide comprehensive mental and behavioral health services. Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, representing a portion of Kenton County and the entirety of Campbell County, previously participated in Holly Hill's 62nd Annual Golf Classic, which drew 140 participants.
“Holly Hill is on the front lines of helping some of our most vulnerable youth and their families by offering critical services to empower them to thrive,” said McDaniel. “The $6.5 million allocation secured by my colleagues and me in the Kentucky General Assembly will ensure that Holly Hill can continue and expand its mission and provide much-needed stability and support for years to come.”
Holly Hill has supported the most vulnerable children and families in Kentucky and been a jewel in Northern Kentucky’s crown for 140 years by providing services from outpatient therapy to supervised visitation programs. The funds will help modernize facilities and increase capacity to allow Holly Hill to better serve children and families needing mental health support and behavioral treatment.
Holly Hill’s residential treatment program, located in California, Kentucky, offers a safe and structured environment for youth facing mental and behavioral health challenges. This program has recently been expanded to specialize in supporting victims of child sexual exploitation and trafficking, and Holly Hill is becoming the national leader in caring for these youth. Additionally, the organization’s outpatient services in Highland Heights provide therapy, supervised visitation, and case management, to support children and families in achieving long-term stability.
“These resources from the Kentucky General Assembly represent community confidence in our impact and mission,” Holly Hill CEO James Sherry said. “It enables a full redesign of our infrastructure for the next generation of community needs and allows us to provide excellent care for more kids, families, and the diverse challenges they face. Holly Hill is becoming the national leader in caring for girls who have been trafficked, and the support from the legislature enables us to give these kids the care they deserve.”
This visit was part of McDaniel’s interim efforts to see firsthand how state funds allocated in the 2024 budget are being utilized to support local communities. McDaniel and lawmakers will return to Frankfort on Jan. 7, 2025 for the start of the 30-day legislative session, which is a non-budget session.
McDaniel emphasized that the investment in Holly Hill is just one example of how the legislature’s strategic use of taxpayer dollars is directly impacting positively Kentuckians' lives.
“Holly Hill’s work is absolutely vital to the well-being of our region’s children and families,” McDaniel added. “Seeing this funding put to use is a reminder of why we prioritize one-time investments in our budget—to provide long-term support and create lasting, positive change in our communities.”
For more information about Holly Hill and its services, visit hollyhill-ky.org.
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Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, represents the 23rd Senate District in northern Kenton County. He serves as co-chair of the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue. McDaniel also serves as an ex officio member of each budget review subcommittee. Additionally, he is a member of the Interim Joint Committees on Local Government; State Government; and Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations. Finally, he is a member of the Public Pension Oversight Board.
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