Casey Family Programs announces its inaugural Jim Casey Building Communities of Hope Award, presented to Johnson County of Eastern Kentucky.

Named in honor of Jim Casey, founder of Casey Family Programs, this award recognizes communities that have brought together public, business, nonprofit, philanthropic and community partners to profoundly improve the safety and success of children and their families.

The mission of the Johnson County Community of Hope (JCCOH) is to build a community-based set of services and interventions to help reduce the number of children in foster care and the number of dependency, neglect and abuse cases. Based in eastern Kentucky, the JCCOH is focusing on increasing opportunities for children to remain safely in their own home, return safely to their homes or to be part of another safe and permanent family relationship.

This community partnership grew in a rural region struggling with unemployment and substance abuse issues. Local leaders collaborated to support the needs of Johnson County families and reduce the number of children in foster care.

The success of the Johnson County Community of Hope stretches beyond its borders and is opening doors for new partnerships in other communities.

The award was accepted January 10 on behalf of the Johnson County Community of Hope by:

• Susan Howard, Eastern Mountain Service Region Administrator for the Kentucky Department of Community Based Services;
• Judge Janie Wells of the Family Court Division’s 24^th Judicial Circuit;
• Bob Hutchison, an entrepreneur and community leader; and
• Phyllis Coleman, Mountain Comprehensive Care Center’s Addiction Program coordinator.