Statements

Mission

Our mission at Kymari House is to build strong families, informed communities, and resilient children.

We offer supervised visitation, which provides a safe environment and a healthy connection for children separated from one or both of their parents.

Background

When founded in 2012, the first goal of Kymari House was to create an organization that would be truly impactful for children. We knew supervised visitation services were sorely needed in our community, and we set out to provide those services in a way that puts the needs of children at the center of everything we do. In order to really bring that point home, we wanted to name the agency for a child who had lost their life to the very conditions we are addressing. Kymari Clark was only 16 months old when he died on June 18, 2010 at Monroe Carell, Jr. Children's Hospital in Nashville. Officials from the Tennessee Department of Children's Services and Murfreesboro Police Department determined that Kymari died from injuries sustained at the hands of his maternal grandmother's husband. Kymari's mom was a young student at the time of his death, and she had brought Kymari to Murfreesboro from her home in Indiana to spend the summer with his grandmother. She had no idea when she left Kymari with her mother that summer that he would never return home. It is in memory of Kymari Clark and all children like him, that we founded Kymari House. Kymari House is dedicated to the idea that adults have a responsibility to care for and protect children, and those children deserve our very best efforts. Our goal at Kymari House is to put the safety and best interests of children ahead of all other priorities. We incorporate best practices and multi-disciplinary expertise into every service we provide. Excellence is something that all children deserve, and our purpose at Kymari House is to provide that excellence without exception.

Impact

We provide connection and safety to vulnerable children through supervised visitation and parenting education. Kymari House works closely with the court system and other community and governmental agencies to identify children at risk and provide services that help them remain safe and supported.

Kymari House continues to operate the only non-profit visitation center in Middle Tennessee that meets all guidelines set forth by the United States Department of Justice for the programs they fund.

Specific accomplishments for the past year include:
1) Maintaining a success/safety rate of more than 98% for supervised visits between children and their parents. This means that children were able to enjoy conflict-free, safe bonding time with absent parents without the safety risks for which parents were referred to the program;
2) Forming meaningful collaborations with other agencies in the community to increase the reach and impact of our programs;
3) Providing collaborations with other agencies in the community to raise awareness of how childhood trauma effects parenting, prevention of staff burnout and family centered activities to increase bonding;

Needs

The state of Tennessee does not have accessible, expanded supervised visitation options provided as other states in the US do. Kymari House is the only provider of this desperately needed service in the mid-state. In recent years, Kymari House has seen an increase in families impacted by family violence, drug addiction and mental health crisis. Kymari House continues to provide the services needed to help unite families through providing a safe and structured program to begin the healing process with their children.

CEO Statement

As we enter 2024, I find myself reflecting on the profound impact Kymari House has had on families throughout Middle Tennessee over a decade. It's been a journey marked by compassion, resilience, and above all, the unwavering commitment to creating a haven where estranged families can truly feel at home.
In today's fast-paced world, the need for spaces like Kymari House is more pressing than ever. Our mission remains steadfast: to build healthy families, informed communities, and resilient children - and we do this by providing a safe, nurturing environment where families can come together without the fear of conflict or outside interference.
As we navigate the challenges and opportunities of this new year, I am filled with a sense of optimism and gratitude. Our community is evolving, and so are we. With the rapid growth of Rutherford County and its surroundings, our role as a beacon of hope and healing becomes even more vital. I am honored to embark on this journey with each of our families, as we strive to hold space for their interactions and growth together.

Board Chair Statement

The work at Kymari House is so important to the lives of the families we serve. My goal as the Board Chair is to help grow awareness of the mission we have and introduce Kymari House to more of the community.

Kymari House served 147 individuals last year with a goal of 190 this year. We are seeing an increase in Domestic Violence cases and continuing to see families struggle financially as a result of Covid, inflation and cost of living increases. The more awareness that is raised of our contribution to the community, the more effective our services become leading to greater impact toward bettering the lives of families and children in Middle Tennessee.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Human Services  - Family Services
Secondary Category:	Crime & Legal - Related  - Child Abuse Prevention
Tertiary Category:	Education  - Parent & Teacher Groups

Areas Served

Kymari House currently serves children and families from across the mid-state. The majority of our clients come from Rutherford, Cannon, Williamson, Davidson, and Wilson counties.

TN - Rutherford

TN - Williamson

TN - Davidson

TN - Wilson

TN - Cannon

TN - Bedford