LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Maryhurst, Kentucky’s longest-operating child welfare agency, announced today a new, three-year grant totaling $450,000 from the Kentucky Association of Health Plans (KAHP), the trade association representing commercial insurers and Medicaid managed care organizations in the commonwealth.
The grant supports the growth and operation of Maryhurst’s Renewal program, a behavioral health service that helps address the youth mental health crisis. Renewal provides care to youth attending approximately 100 Jefferson County schools, and services are also accessible from more than a dozen community partner sites focused on neighborhoods in South and West Louisville, including Maryhurst offices in Portland and Shively.
Maryhurst Renewal is meeting a critical need for expanded mental health access in Kentucky. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than a third of Kentuckians who struggle with anxiety or depression have unmet mental health needs. Gov. Andy Beshear recently announced that calls to the state’s suicide hotline jumped 22% from the previous year. A recent Louisville-area report also links chronic stress to public health issues such as community violence.
The grant will provide supplemental funding to Maryhurst Renewal in its goal to increase access and reduce barriers to high-quality behavioral health care throughout Louisville. KAHP funds will cover the cost of clinical care and program management, including expenses associated with providing therapy, clinical supervision, treatment meetings, and clinical supplies for hundreds of individuals annually.
“Medicaid managed care plans are encouraged by the federal government to innovate and find solutions to social risk factors that disproportionately impact state Medicaid populations,” said Kentucky Association of Health Plans President and CEO, Tom Stephens. “Kentucky plans are at the forefront of addressing these Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) by partnering with extremely effective hyperlocal organizations like Maryhurst. Their Renewal program is broadening access to behavioral health and other services to strengthen families and build safer, healthier neighborhoods. We’re proud to be expanding our partnership with our friends at Maryhurst.”
KAHP first awarded a grant to Maryhurst Renewal in 2022. During that year, Maryhurst Renewal provided behavioral health care to 575 individuals and their families. Individuals in care reported positive outcomes on measures that matter to them:
- 90% reported improvements in children’s interpersonal relationships with teachers, friends, and parents.
- 83% reported that Renewal helped them develop a plan for when they feel stressed, anxious, or unsafe.
- 86% reported a greater capacity to cope with life’s difficult circumstances.
“Through this investment in Maryhurst Renewal, KAHP is demonstrating a long-term commitment to the mental health of Kentucky’s youth and families,” said Paula Garner, Maryhurst’s Chief Executive Officer. “These long-term partnerships are exactly the kinds of investments it will take to make a difference in the lives of so many who are struggling. We’ve seen that families thrive when access to these kinds of services improves. I know that this grant will mean fewer families stuck in cycles of crisis – and more families with healthy coping strategies and the right tools for success.”
Kentucky Association of Health Plans includes Aetna, Anthem, CareSource, Humana, Passport Health Plan by Molina Healthcare, UnitedHealth Group and WellCare. For more information visit: www.kahp.org or follow @kyhealthplans on Twitter.
Founded in 1843, Maryhurst is the oldest child welfare nonprofit in Kentucky.
