Our mission
The mission of DCCH Center for Children and Families is to express God’s love by providing compassionate care and quality services to address the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of children and families.
Our philosophy
As a Christian institution under the auspices of the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky, DCCH Center for Children and Families respects the dignity of each individual as a person created in the image and likeness of God.
The Board of Directors and Staff are committed to helping children and their families while embracing and celebrating the diversity and giftedness of each and every person.
We work to nurture each child physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually and provide them the opportunity to lead fruitful and productive lives as children of God and members of society.
Our goals
We access, stabilize, treat, and educate children and their families while facilitating changes in relationships, attitudes, and behaviors. Through a continuum of support and assistance, we strive to establish a safe and loving home environment. We help children and their families reshape themselves into a loving family unit and become productive, self-confident members of our community.Our vision
DCCH Center for Children and Families will be the preferred provider of flexible, adaptive and the highest quality family-centered care in a safe environment. We will increase awareness in the community and expand funding sources to ensure the long-term financial viability of a state-of-the-art facility.Our history
For more than 175 years, DCCH Center for Children and Families has served the needs of more than 3500 children and families in Northern Kentucky. Each of these children and their families have become part of our family tree.
1848
First meeting of the group destined to organize a home for Catholic orphans in Kenton County. The St. John’s Orphan Society selected Frank Derhaber as Chairman and started with $62.56 capital.
1885
St. John’s began accepting boys as well as girls, creating the need for additional buildings. By 1892, a three-story facility with classrooms, playroom, dormitories and living quarters was completed.
1926 and 1935
A major fire consumed the school building. Four months later lightning struck, causing a fire in another one of the buildings. In July, the Society announced plans to build a new school and rectory. Fire again claimed a place in the history of the home in 1935. By Thanksgiving 1935, the damages of the buildings were repaired.
1957 and 1961
Orphanage name changed to St. John’s Children’s Home. Sisters of Notre Dame assumed charge of the residence. In 1961, The Diocese of Covington announced the merging of St. John’s Orphanage and St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Cold Spring into one facility in Fort Mitchell. The name was changed to Diocesan Catholic Children’s Home.
1966
The program was changed to meet the needs of children with serious emotional disabilities. Guardian Angel School began holding classes on campus.
1998
Assessment/Crisis Stabilization/Treatment (ACT) Unit opened as a short-term placement for children with emotional and behavioral needs.
1999
Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) Program launched to assist the needs of children in a home based environment.
2002
DCCH becomes a state-licensed adoption agency for our TFC Children.
2011
Equine Therapy added to residential treatment program.
2012
The name was changed to DCCH Center for Children and Families. The Therapy Center at DCCH officially opens, providing quality mental health services to children, adults, couples and families.
2017
The new Independent Living program started to assist young adults transition from foster care to being on their own.
2019
Targeted Case Management program begins assisting families in Northern Kentucky with wrap-around services.
2023
DCCH celebrates it's 175th anniversary.
Meet the team
If you have any questions about DCCH Center, please feel free to contact us at any time. We look forward to hearing from you!
Advancement Team
Our board
Jerry Deatherage, Chair
NEST
Matt Verst, Vice Chair
Messer Construction
Michelle Groeschen, Treasurer
Fischer Homes
Molly Barth, Secretary
Retired (GeoCentral)
Donna Allen
Retired (Landor)
Matt Bain
Paul Hemmer Company
Tony Bickel
DBL Law
Donna Bloemer
Attorney
Chris Carle
Retired (St. Elizabeth Physicians)
Dave Chandler
B105
Jeff Epplen
Rudler, PSC
David Futscher
Futcher Law, PLLC
Crystal Gibson
Pivot Realty
Sister Jean Marie Hoffman
S.N.D. Sisters of Notre Dame
Chuck Kelly
Pediatric Care of Kentucky
Tony Logan
Mass Mutual Ascend
Kim Moser
Kentucky State Representative
Jessica Remole
Best Version Media
Alyson Roeding
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Mike Stacy
Merrill Lynch
Performance
Performance and quality improvement
Our Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) plan is in place to manage an organizational culture of improvement. This improvement ensures that we provide evolving high-quality services to children and families. The philosophy of the plan is based on setting performance goals, measurement, and evaluation with stakeholder input and communication of results. We have a PQI plan which outlines the activities and is updated annually. A PQI committee of volunteer staff meets monthly to lead the plan implementation. Stakeholder participation in this plan is considered crucial. Stakeholders may participate in the process in many ways: submitting improvement ideas, serving on the PQI committee, completing an annual survey, or supporting our plan and culture. Anyone interested in the agency is welcome to participate in the above ways: such as staff, board, volunteers, parents, children, funders, and community partners.
Performance Indicators
Performance Quality Improvement Statement: At DCCH Center for Children and Families we are committed to providing quality care and services to our clients and their families.
Each department within the agency will exercise best practices in carrying out the responsibilities of his/her department. To ensure that quality standards are being met, performance and target goals will be reviewed on a quarterly basis to comply with best practice standards.
DCCH believes in fostering a work culture that promotes commitment to the agency’s mission and values, pride, and mutual respect among staff and encourages personal growth to ensure a culture of excellence.
Accreditation
DCCH Center for Children and Families was the first residential treatment facility in Kentucky to become accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) in 1990. This was done voluntarily prior to the State requiring that all agencies in the State be accredited. After nine successful accreditation reviews spanning 36 years, DCCH decided to pursue accreditation through another accrediting body. CARF or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities is the name of the accreditation body. We are pleased to announce that after a intensive pre-site review and on-site review in June of 2026 DCCH has been awarded a 3-year accreditation from CARF international for all of its programs. This is our tenth successful accreditation. By pursuing and achieving accreditation DCCH has demonstrated that it meets international standards of quality and is committed to continual excellence. This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be given to an organization. If you would like to learn more about CARF please click on the link below.
Affiliations
