Kentucky

Facilities in Kentucky

Residential facilities providing religious, behavioral, and mental health treatment to children exist in all 50 states. Some of these facilities are known to be part of the Troubled Teen Industry, while others have not yet been verified. Any facility where children live and receive care requires additional oversight. This directory helps communities monitor local programs and advocate for accountability.

Reporting abuse in Kentucky

Kentucky's hotline is answered by people around the clock, but its online reporting form is only monitored on weekdays between 8am and 4:30pm Eastern - so an urgent report at a weekend has to be a phone call, not a form. Its counseling board is unusually clear about what happens next: it acknowledges a written complaint within two business days, sends a copy to the counselor for a response, and puts both in front of the board at its next meeting.

Time limits in Kentucky: a general guide

This was correct as far as we could tell when we checked it on 28 September 2026. Laws on time limits change often, sometimes every legislative session, so some of what follows may have been updated since. It is a starting point, not legal advice: please check with a lawyer before relying on any date here. A time limit on a lawsuit or a criminal charge is also not a time limit on telling someone, and most of the places listed below will still take a report.

Time limits for abuse of a child often run from the survivor's 18th birthday, or from when they came to understand what happened, rather than from the day the program closed. Many states have lengthened them, removed them for child sexual abuse, or reopened claims that had already expired. A criminal charge, a lawsuit and a licence complaint each have their own time limit, so one having passed does not necessarily mean the others have.

Lawsuits

Physical abuse or injury: One year from the injury for a personal injury claim, whether it is assault, battery or negligence. This is one of the shortest deadlines in the country. KRS 413.140(1)(a)
If it happened before you turned 18: Yes. For someone injured as a child, the one year starts on the 18th birthday, so the deadline is the 19th birthday. There is no cap. This does NOT apply to claims against the state through the Board of Claims. KRS 413.170(1)
If the program was run by or for the government: Injury claims against the Commonwealth go to the Board of Claims and must be filed within one year of discovering the injury, and never more than two years after the act. Being a minor does NOT extend this: a parent or guardian must file within the same deadline. KRS 49.120(1), (3), (5)
Child sexual abuse: The civil SOL for CSA, trafficking, and CSAM claims in Kentucky is age 28 against all defendants, with 10-year discovery and criminal conviction rules. CHILD USA's summary

Criminal charges

Physical child abuse: Kentucky has no time limit for any felony. Felony criminal abuse or neglect of a child (serious injury, torture, cruel confinement or cruel punishment) and felony assault on a child can be charged at any time. Misdemeanor abuse must be charged within 1 year. KRS 500.050(1)-(2); KRS 508.100-508.120
Assault: No time limit for felony assault (first, second or third degree). Misdemeanor assault (fourth degree) must be charged within 1 year. KRS 500.050(1)-(2); KRS 508.010-508.030
Child sexual abuse: CSA: There is no SOL for CSA felonies, and the SOL for misdemeanor sex offenses is age 28. Trafficking: There is no SOL for trafficking felonies, and the SOL for misdemeanor trafficking offenses is age 28. CSAM: There is no SOL for CSAM felonies, and the SOL for misdemeanor CSAM offenses is age 28. CHILD USA's summary

The injury, assault and physical abuse lines are our reading of the statutes linked, as they stood on 28 September 2026. The child sexual abuse lines are CHILD USA's summary as it stood on 28 September 2026; their page may be more current than ours. In them SOL means statute of limitations, CSA child sexual abuse, and CSAM child sexual abuse material. Exceptions, court rulings and the details of what happened can all change which time limit applies, and some of these may be longer or shorter for you than they look here. CHILD USA's statute of limitations tracker, updated as each state changes its law. A lawyer can tell you which time limit applies to you, and many offer a free first consultation.

The therapist's licensing board

Holds the individual clinician's licence and can suspend or revoke it.

Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors

Professional counselor

Takes complaints that a counselor has breached Kentucky's statutes or regulations, and disciplines the licence.

Use this whenA licensed professional counselor in Kentucky.

HowSend a written complaint to the Board. It must be in writing and signed by whoever is making it.

The Board acknowledges a written complaint within two business days, sends the counselor a copy and asks for a response, then puts your complaint and their answer to the board at its next scheduled meeting.

502-782-8803
File a complaint
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LPC@KY.GOV
By postKentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, 500 Mero Street 2SC32, Frankfort, KY 40601

Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology

Psychologist

Licenses and disciplines psychologists in Kentucky.

Use this whenA licensed psychologist.

HowContact the Board for its complaint process.

502-782-8812

The agency that licenses the program

Inspects the facility itself and can cite, fine, suspend or close it.

Kentucky Division of Regulated Child Care (DRCC)

Licenses and investigates complaints against residential child caring facilities and child placing agencies in Kentucky, as well as child care centres. It also takes reports of child care operating without approval at all.

Use this whenA residential child caring facility, or a program you believe is operating unapproved.

HowCall the DRCC call centre or email it.

DRCC says its staff will not give the provider the name of whoever reported them during an investigation.

Law enforcement and legal channels

Child protection, the Attorney General, and the criminal side.

Kentucky child abuse and neglect hotline

The statutory report line for child abuse, neglect and dependency, run by the Department for Community Based Services, which investigates through its regional offices covering all 120 counties.

Use this whenA child at a Kentucky program.

HowCall. Staff answer 24 hours a day including weekends and holidays. There is an online form as well, but it is only monitored 8am to 4:30pm Eastern on weekdays, so use the phone if it is urgent or out of hours.

1-877-597-2331 877-KYSAFE1. Answered 24 hours a day, every day.
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Oversight and advocacy

Bodies with a right to investigate, and advocates who can act for you.

Kentucky Protection and Advocacy

Kentucky's federally mandated P&A, with authority to investigate abuse and neglect of people with disabilities in facilities, a right of access to them, and free legal advocacy.

Use this whenA Kentucky program where the young person has a disability or a mental health diagnosis.

HowContact the intake line.

1-800-372-2988 Main line 502-564-2967.
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National reporting channels, and the same list for other states