Welcome to K.E.L.L.Y. Youth Services!

In May 1998, KYS was founded for the purpose of developing an organization that would serve youth and the community as a whole.

Its principal owner, Mr. Joe Kelly, attended the University of Washington on a football scholarship where he achieved 1985 Husky team MVP, Senior Co-Captain, 1st team All Pac 10, an all American and was eventually voted to the University of Washington’s All-Century team. He received his B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Washington in 1986. Upon graduating from college, he was drafted in the first round (11th overall) of the 1986 National Football League (NFL) Draft to the Cincinnati Bengal’s and subsequently played in the NFL for eleven consecutive years before retiring in 1997.

Joe has been a member of the NFL Alumni Association for over ten (10) years; a charity that is composed of NFL players and associate members who work voluntarily to raise funds for youth-oriented causes and engage in hands-on service to foster the development of "youth through sports and sports through youth." The NFL Alumni advances its motto of "Caring for Kids". In addition, Joe was named “Who’s Who of America”, received the Joe Nuxhall “Award for Kid Involvement”, as well as a ProKids “Special Friend” award recipient for his service to children of the community. Joe has mentored many youth in the development of their interpersonal skills and has volunteered at the King County Youth Detention Center in Seattle, Washington. He has been the guest speaker on many occasions throughout the greater Cincinnati area and is the proud father of two daughters.

K.E.L.L.Y. Youth Services, Inc. also known as KYS established in 1998 as an Ohio 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation operating group homes in Hamilton County, Ohio. KYS facilities range from 5-10 beds. We specialize in 24 hour private non-custodial group home and independent living programs that fosters and empowers living and learning for youth aged 9 to 21 years old. Our group home program develops individuals from substitute care to independently living responsible adults.

Our mission is to educate, stimulate and motivate youth into becoming self sufficient, responsible and employable citizens in the community. Our organization is designed to assist in the rehabilitation of its residents by providing a structured disciplined environment based upon basic behavioral principals, educational standards, counseling, treatment care and role modeling. This will increase each resident’s likelihood of becoming successful independent productive adults.

KYS welcomes male and female clients accommodating to gender not exceeding capacity. Our youth are referred to us through surrounding area agencies which assist with the placement of at-risk, abused, or neglected children. Our professional staff includes a Director, Administrator, Psychologist, Facility Managers, and Child Care Workers to assist children in achieving maximum growth and development.

KYS will assist and advocate for its clients to obtain continued education, vocational, trade school training or job placement. This will ensure all clients admitted to KYS will have a viable chance of becoming upright, self sufficient, responsible adults because we believe although children may complete a program, success will truly come from having each child become employable and/or placed in a position to have an opportunity to succeed in life after living in a “Group Home/Independent Living” setting.

KYS staff is responsible for all aspects of the care and supervision for children entrusted to them. Our philosophy is that all youth have the ability to succeed and become upright self-sufficient law abiding adults regardless of his/her situation and/or circumstances, if provided the appropriate environment, resources, and support. We at KYS are committed to providing the necessary environment, resources, and support to enhance each and every resident’s opportunity in becoming viable independent living responsible adults.

For more information concerning our programs, please contact
Joe Kelly, Executive Director

(513) 761-0700

E-mail: kellyyouth@fuse.net