Mercy
Acting with compassion and kindness, recognizing that all people sometimes make mistakes and need the support of others to be restored to physical, spiritual, and psychological health.
About Maryhurst
We strengthen and empower children and families in greatest need
In a region navigating significant child welfare challenges, Maryhurst serves as a permanent sanctuary for protection, recovery, and long-term family preservation. Our relationships with youth, adults, and families are true partnerships built on mutual respect and a profound belief in human dignity.
Our core values
The tenets guiding our legacy
Reconciliation
Working together in harmony, resolving conflicts, promoting open communication and assisting all in finding personal peace and peace in their relationships.
Individual Worth
Recognizing the dignity of each person; striving to treat each person with respect, giving them the opportunity for growth and individual expression.
Zeal
Passionate giving of our time and talents in service of the welfare of others and the betterment of our world; zeal is love in action.
“
I am grateful for the people that dedicate their lives to this work… You are changing lives and saving lives.—Community partner feedback
Inclusivity & belonging
A safe, affirming place for every person
Those entering Maryhurst arrive with unique backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. Healing requires an environment built entirely around safety, equity, and validation. Our trauma-informed care model treats everyone with absolute dignity, ensuring our programs remain supportive spaces to feel seen and protected.
Identity-affirming care
We honor the lived experiences of our clients when developing care plans, taking immense care to consider any past trauma that specifically impacts them based on their identity, including racial trauma.
A safe environment
We maintain supportive spaces where everyone feels safe, affirmed, and completely confident that their unique voices and personal expressions matter.
Healing routines
We integrate diverse, identity-rich activities directly into our daily care routines to promote a deep, natural sense of belonging for everyone.
Dismantling barriers
We actively work on dismantling prejudicial and inequitable systems in our broader community by participating in vital citywide initiatives like Trauma Resilient Communities.
The Maryhurst plan
Going far, going together:
Our strategic vision
To ensure we remain on the leading edge of mental health and family preservation, our operations are guided by the One Maryhurst Strategic Plan. This framework focuses our resources on three pillars: putting people first, building programs for impact, and deepening our commitment to the community.
Read the 2023–2026 Strategic PlanOur history
A journey of hope
since 1843
In December 1842, five pioneering nuns traveled from France to Louisville, opening a specialized sanctuary to support vulnerable women and children turned away by all others. From those early days of forbidding corporal punishment to integrating residences during eras of intense social segregation, Maryhurst has consistently led the field through generations of continuous, hands-on mentorship. This legacy of reliable care is sustained by deep organizational stability, with many of our team members dedicating 10 to 30 years of continuous service to our mission.
Over the decades, we became the first private provider of therapeutic foster care in Kentucky, the first child welfare agency in the state to fully transition to a trauma-informed care model, and a certified Behavioral Health Services Organization dedicated to keeping families safe and intact.
Governance
Independent, volunteer-led leadership
In 1998, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd formally transferred the ownership and governance of Maryhurst to a local, volunteer lay Board of Directors. Today, this nonsectarian board directs all organizational policy and strategic initiatives, ensuring total accountability, while our executive management team oversees daily clinical and therapeutic program operations.
Meet Senior LeadershipFinancial transparency
Operational accountability and stewardship
We hold ourselves to rigorous financial management standards to ensure that every dollar directly supports life-saving care. Explore our verified annual operational reports and IRS filings to review our financial health.
Join us in creating a brighter future for Kentucky’s children
Maryhurst. Saving kids' lives. Strengthening families.
Give Now