Agency helping victims of trafficking receives funding

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

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 sexual exploitation and child trafficking in a way no other Kentucky agency does, and is poised to become a national leader in this area of ​​work.

“It's a growing concern. As a community, I think it's only in the last decade that we've started to become aware of this issue in this way,” he said.

The agency, which has centers in Highland Heights and California, Kentucky, provides outpatient behavioral health services to children of all ages and some young adults, as well as a residential program for girls ages 11 to 17 who are in state custody.

These victims are referred by the state and typically stay between three and 12 months. Sherry said children in the foster system are among the most vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking.

“They actually come to us to heal from some of the most traumatic histories that you, I or anyone else can imagine,” Sherry said.

But because the agency has been around for so long, some facilities need to be modernized or simply need more space.

“There are more children coming to us with this problem in their background than we can handle,” Sherry said.

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

“One of the real joys of the work we do is seeing, over the days, weeks and months, incredible progress in these children,” he said.

He said he hopes the funding will keep Holly Hill in business for at least another 140 years. The agency is also focusing on building its team of direct care providers, therapists and case managers.

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