Supported by the LMS Foundation: Chrysalis House
By Kama Orr, Executive Director
Established in 1978, Chrysalis House is Kentucky’s oldest and largest licensed residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment program for women and their children. Chrysalis House was one of the first treatment programs to allow infants and toddlers to reside on-site with their mothers; older children are permitted to visit overnight on weekends. This practice removes one of the largest barriers to mothers seeking recovery, the worry about who will care for her children while she is receiving treatment.
The mission of Chrysalis House is to provide family-oriented treatment and recovery support for women with SUD. Chrysalis House provides comprehensive, evidence-based care designed to meet the complex and diverse needs of women in recovery. Our services are built upon proven approaches that effectively engage and retain women in treatment. Achieving lasting recovery requires individualized clinical and support services that address both the causes and consequences of substance use. These include physical health and wellness, employment readiness, safe and affordable housing, parenting and childcare support, recovery from intimate partner violence and other trauma, and mental health care.
At Chrysalis House, we use a holistic, multidisciplinary, family-centered approach to treatment. Our continuum of care is designed to address every aspect of addiction and recovery for women including the emotional, physical, and social factors that influence substance use.
Treatment includes a variety of evidence-based practices such as behavioral therapies, motivational enhancements, medication-assisted treatment, case management, relapse prevention and recovery supports. Working collaboratively, we help women access the resources and supports they need to build fulfilling, self-directed lives based on their own values and goals. The average length of stay in our residential program is four to six months, depending on individual needs and progress.
Recognitions and Accreditations
National Recognition: In 2025, Newsweek ranked Chrysalis House as the #1 treatment facility in Kentucky. The ranking was based on a national online survey, accreditation data, care services data, and Google reviews reflecting both professional excellence and peer recognition
ASAM Certification: In 2021, CARF International granted Chrysalis House certification for ASAM Levels of Care (LOC) 3.1 and 3.5 for its residential programs. The ASAM Criteria® establish a continuum of care that recognizes addiction as a chronic disease and serve as the national standard for effective treatment. This certification underscores Chrysalis House’s commitment to delivering care aligned with evidence-based, research-supported best practices.
Recovery Housing Certification: In 2020, Chrysalis House’s Serenity Apartments became the first recovery housing community in Kentucky to earn certfication from the Kentucky Recovery Housing Network, an affiliate of the National Alliance of Recovery Residences. This certification ensures that residents transition from residential treatment to a safe, supportive environment that promotes lasting recovery and strengthens professional credibility across the recovery housing community.
CARF Accreditation: In 2019, Chrysalis House earned a three-year accrediation with no recommendations – a distinciton achieved by only 3% of agencies worldwide.