Chances are, you don’t think much about the chair you’re sitting in, the bed where you drift off to sleep, or the curtains you open to welcome the morning sun. But for children receiving treatment at Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky/CHNK Behavioral Health (CHNK), those and other items must be carefully considered by the organization’s mental health care professionals.
“It’s a difficult and sobering truth, but certain types of furniture and items can pose a real risk for kids who have a history of self-harm or are at risk of hurting themselves or others,” said Quentin Turley, CHNK’s vice president of residential operations. “For our team, it’s not as easy as heading to a furniture store and picking out items for our treatment and residential spaces.”
As part of its Safe Therapeutic Spaces for Youth Mental Health project, CHNK is in the process of upgrading furniture at its two residential campuses for youth ages 7-17 in Burlington—the only psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) in the region that serves females exclusively—and Devou Park in Covington. The purchase and installation of new, safe furniture and fixtures will support increased capacity at CHNK’s on-site housing for an increasing number of children and teens working toward peace and healing.
Even before the pandemic, mental and behavioral health care was lacking for young people, but COVID-19 deepened the crisis. Among Kentucky kids ages 12-17, suicide is emerging as the second leading cause of death, and emergency room visits for suicide attempts and self-harm increased by 45% across the region compared to 2019.*
By upgrading its residential cottages, CHNK aims to make treatment more available and accessible to the many children and teens on waiting lists to receive critical—and sometimes, life-saving—mental health care. In 2024, CHNK expects to provide young clients 8,893 days and nights of residential care.
What makes this furniture different?
Because CHNK serves children and teens who have experienced or are struggling with emotional, psychological, and mental health challenges, its five residential cottages must have furniture that, above all, is designed to keep young residents safe from potential self-harm. In addition, the CHNK team must consider how each fixture or piece of furniture could potentially be used as a weapon or to conceal unsafe or unallowed items.
This special furniture is human-centric, designed to acknowledge the trauma residents have experienced. It is durable, free of sharp edges or strangling or binding risks (ligatures), and, importantly, is easy to clean.
“Sadly, some of our residential clients are survivors of sexual abuse,” said Turley. “It’s not uncommon for kids with those experiences to have bathroom accidents in their sleep. Furniture that is easy and quick to clean is critical in preserving their dignity and also helps us avoid the disruption of waiting for replacement items during their stay.”
Each resident’s space includes a twin-sized bed, open wardrobe, desk and chair or nightstand, and all items have smooth, rounded shapes with no removable pieces. The furniture is heavy and designed for long-term use, and larger pieces are anchored to the floor or walls to further promote safety for everyone on campus. Young clients have safe spaces to store their clothing, shoes, and personal items, though you won’t find hangers, closet rods, or other features that could pose a risk for residents or staff.
The upgraded furniture, which is being installed in phases over six months, will meet revised compliance standards and replace pieces that date from 1990, when CHNK opened its first residential cottages at the Devou Park campus, and the early 2000s when the Burlington campus was established.
“The way we furnish the cottages actually plays a key role in giving our youngest clients the best possible therapy experience,” said Justine Chilelli, DO, ABPN, chief medical officer for CHNK. “For them and their families, knowing they don’t have to worry about staying safe allows them to dedicate their full focus toward healing and enjoying life.”
Need help, or interested in learning more?
To support CHNK’s project to upgrade its residential furniture for our region’s young people, or to learn more about how CHNK is creating an easier path to mental health in our region, reach out to Amanda McDonald, Vice President of Advancement and External Relations, at amcdonald@chnk.org or 859-292-4161. You can also visit www.chnk.org to explore CHNK’s outpatient and residential therapy options, meet the care team, and submit a request for treatment.
