Saint Joseph London’s Safe Child Initiative Receives $849,443 to Help Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

LONDON, Ky. (August 18, 2025) – Saint Joseph London has been awarded $849,443 from CommonSpirit Health’s Mission and Ministry Fund to support the Safe Child Initiative from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. The funding will continue efforts to reduce child abuse and neglect in southeastern Kentucky by providing education, community outreach and caregiver support for families with children ages 4 and younger.

The program’s long-term goal is to protect children from child abuse, neglect and unintentional injury, ultimately reducing child fatalities and near fatalities as well as reducing the number of substantiated reports made to the department of community-based services.

“The Safe Child Initiative demonstrates a strong commitment to improving the safety and well-being of our most vulnerable children,” said John Yanes, president, Saint Joseph London. “This funding helps ensure caregivers and our communities have access to the resources and education needed to prevent abuse and create a safer environment for families in southeastern Kentucky.”

The Safe Child Initiative works to prevent abuse, neglect and maltreatment by empowering caregivers and communities with skills and knowledge that promote child safety and well-being. In the next three years, the initiative will expand its focus to include additional education on factors that contribute to child fatalities, with a significant emphasis on gun safety.

Key objectives of the initiative include:

• Delivering the Nurturing Parenting Program to caregivers referred by partner organizations

• Providing education on child safety topics including safe sleep, medication, firearms, water, fire and vehicle safety

• Hosting annual child abuse prevention and awareness events

The Safe Child Initiative is supported by a broad coalition of local partners across southeastern Kentucky.

About Saint Joseph Health

Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory Care Center. The hospitals in Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services to build a healthier future for all. Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About CommonSpirit Health

CommonSpirit Health is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health care systems with more than 1,000 care sites and 140 hospitals in 21 states. CommonSpirit Health provides care at locations across the country through brands you know and trust.

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