WILLIAMSTOWN, Kentucky – To address the gap in access to mental health services, Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky (CHNK Behavioral Health) opened a new location in Grant County on Friday.

The 280 square meter building in Williamstown is the company’s fourth stationary location.

“The type of kids and the needs they have today – they’re not like snowflakes and powder puffs,” said Rick Wurth, CEO of CHNK Behavioral Health. “They have serious problems that need to be addressed.”

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that in 2022, Grant County had only one mental health provider for every 1,147 residents.

“The needs of rural communities are certainly unique,” said Adam Roland, vice president of outpatient services. “One of the challenges … is that there is not a lot of money in outpatient behavioral health.”

Roland should know, since he grew up just 15 minutes down the road from the new facility.

“I recognized the need when I was in school, and to be able to come back and help meet that need is just overwhelming to me,” he said.

The facility has practice areas for five therapists, two group rooms for outpatient intensive therapy and day-patient treatments, as well as individual therapy rooms.

“We can really work with people of all ages, any family member if there is a need – adults, children, adolescents,” said outpatient therapist Rachael Sholar. “It’s a rural area, and so sometimes there are transportation barriers to getting to other services.”

Sholar has worked with CHNK Behavioral Health for seven years.

“We can really work with each family and individually determine what they need and what level of care they need,” she said. “We can provide a continuum of services for these families who would otherwise have to go to different places for different things.”

For more information on how to access CHNK Behavioral Health services, please visit the website here.