ANNOUNCER: TONIGHT ON SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR, CEO OF LIGHTHOUSE YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, PAUL HAFFNER.

STAY TUNED, SHOWCASE STARTS RIGHT NOW.

[MUSIC] KELLAR: HI, I'M BARBARA KELLAR.

WELCOME TO THIS VERSION, EDITION OF SHOWCASE.

WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT GUY HERE TODAY WHO DOES WONDERFUL THINGS IN THE CITY.

PAUL HAFFNER, WHO IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE LIGHTHOUSE YOUTH SERVICES.

AND YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD OF THEM BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND HE'S NOW THE GUY WHO MAKES IT ALL WORK.

SO WELCOME TO SHOWCASE.

HAFFNER: THANK YOU.

KELLAR: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND THAT LED YOU TO BEING PRESIDENT AND CEO.

HAFFNER: SURE.

WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY PROFESSIONALLY, I WAS A CORPORATE LAWYER BY TRAINING.

SO SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I ENDED UP BEING LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET INTO LEADERSHIP CINCINNATI.

AND THAT WAS SORT OF THE START OF ENGAGING WITH A LOT OF NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AT THE TIME.

I WAS ALSO THE BOARD CHAIR AT THE TIME OF CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER.

SO I STARTED THINKING WHAT AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY THIS WOULD BE TO PUT MY SKILL SET TO WORK FOR A NONPROFIT.

AND I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE TELLING ME THAT WAS A GREAT IDEA.

AND THAT'S SORT OF THE PROFESSIONAL SIDE.

THERE'S A REALLY WONDERFUL, PERSONAL, SORT OF GOD DRIVEN SIDE THAT I COULD GO INTO THAT MIGHT REQUIRE ANOTHER BROADCAST, BUT.

KELLAR: CAN YOU GIVE US THE US THE READER'S DIGEST VERSION?

HAFFNER: OF THAT?

UM, IF EVERYBODY, IF YOU BELIEVE IN SORT OF SIGNPOSTS AND THINGS THAT NUDGE YOU ALONG IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I HAD AN AWFUL LOT OF SIGNS FROM ABOVE TELLING ME THAT I NEEDED TO GO DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN BE A MERCENARY FOR CORPORATE AMERICA WAS SORT OF MY TAGLINE AS A CORPORATE LAWYER.

KELLAR: THEY'RE NOT ALL THAT.

NO, NO.

HAFFNER: SO, BUT I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME BEING A LAWYER, BUT I KNEW IT WAS TIME FOR A CHANGE.

AND THEN IT WAS JUST HOW DO I MAKE THAT BRIDGE TO THE NONPROFIT WORLD?

AND REALLY, LEADERSHIP CINCINNATI IS WHAT WAS THE SPRINGBOARD FOR THAT, TALKING TO A LOT OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THAT PROGRAM.

KELLAR: YEAH.

SO WAS LIGHTHOUSE YOUR FIRST JOB OUT OF LAW?

HAFFNER: UH, YES.

I HAD BEEN, UM, WELL, I'D WORKED WITH A GREAT LAW FIRM, THOMPSON HINE, MY FIRST SEVERAL YEARS OF BEING A LAWYER.

I THEN WENT TO WORK FOR GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE GROUP, AND THEY ACTUALLY, ALONG WITH BEING A LAWYER THERE, THEY GAVE ME ABOUT A SIX YEAR STINT IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS, WHICH HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY PREPARE PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENTS, STRATEGIC PLANNING, MANAGING PEOPLE, HIRING AND FIRING, ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS I HAD TO LEARN.

AND THEN WENT BACK TO THE LAW WITH CALFEE BEFORE JOINING LIGHTHOUSE.

KELLAR: YEAH.

WELL, TELL US WHAT LIGHTHOUSE DOES, FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNINFORMED.

HAFFNER: SURE.

LIGHTHOUSE IS -- WE'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1969, SO 55 YEARS NOW.

THERE ARE THREE PRIMARY AREAS.

THE ONE THAT WE'RE MOST KNOWN FOR IS OUR HOUSING AND YOUTH HOMELESSNESS WORK.

SO WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS, A TEENAGE SHELTER, A YOUNG ADULT SHELTER, TWO RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS HERE LOCALLY.

AND THEN A WHOLE LOT OF HOUSING WORK FOR LATE TEEN YOUNG ADULTS TRYING TO GET THEM THEIR FIRST APARTMENT, TRYING TO KEEP THEM IN THEIR FIRST APARTMENT.

WE HAVE A WONDERFUL GROUP OF LANDLORDS THAT WORKS WITH US.

SO THAT'S SORT OF THE HOUSING VERTICAL.

THERE'S ALSO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE WORK THAT WE DO.

KELLAR: YEAH.

WHAT DOES THAT INVOLVE?

HAFFNER: SO, IT'S, UM, PRIMARILY WORKING WITH THE HAMILTON COUNTY JUVENILE COURT, AS WELL AS ROSS COUNTY, WHICH IS CHILLICOTHE AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY, DAYTON.

AND WE DO A LOT OF WHAT WE CALL DIVERSION WORK.

SO WE TRY TO GET THE JUVENILE COURT JUDGES TO SAY, "LET'S NOT INSTITUTIONALIZE THIS CHILD.

LET'S GIVE THEM A CHANCE WITH LIGHTHOUSE TO WORK ON WHAT GOT THEM IN FRONT OF THE COURT.

AND HOPEFULLY DIVERT THEM AWAY FROM A PLACEMENT."

AND YOU KNOW, A COMMUNITY BASED, INTERVENTION GROUP THERAPY, INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, FAMILY THERAPY, VICTIM AWARENESS TRAINING.

A LOT OF OUR KIDS HAVE DONE, IF THEY'RE NOT FIRST OFFENDERS, THEY MIGHT HAVE DONE 2 OR 3 KIND OF THINGS THAT THE JUDGE IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE, "ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THIS A CHRONIC PROBLEM?"

AND OUR JOB IS TO GET IN THERE AND SAY, "WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH THEM."

KELLAR: TRY TO WORK WITH THEM.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO KNOW WHAT YOUR SUCCESS RATE IS?

HOW DO YOU MEASURE THAT?

HAFFNER: WE DO.

SO THE PRIMARY, THEY CALL IT RECIDIVISM.

SO, WITH OUR JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS, AND THEN WE ACTUALLY MEASURE THAT WITH OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS AS WELL.

WHEN SOMEBODY COMES IN OUR FRONT DOOR AND THEN EXITS, DOES IT TAKE -- WE MEASURE THEM A YEAR OUT AND TWO YEARS OUT, AND WITH SOME PROGRAMS, EVEN THREE YEARS OUT, ARE THEY COMING BACK EITHER INTO OUR FRONT DOOR OR BACK INTO THE SYSTEM, WHETHER THAT'S THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE ADULT JUSTICE SYSTEM.

SO WE KNOW OUR OUTCOMES PROGRAM BY PROGRAM ON WHETHER OR NOT WE HAD SUCCESS KEEPING THEM, KEEPING THEM OUT OF JAIL, AND THEN EVEN EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND JOB EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES.

KELLAR: DON'T YOU LOSE TRACK OF A LOT OF THEM?

HAFFNER: WE DO, SURE.

YOU KNOW, AND IT'S A LOT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE -- UM.

A LOT OF THEM DO COME BACK AND TELL US THEIR STORIES, AND THAT IS THE BEST PART OF OUR JOB, IS HEARING THE SUCCESS STORIES.

BUT FOR A LOT OF THEM, THAT PERIOD IN THEIR LIFE IS WHAT THEY WANT TO MOVE ON FROM AND THEY DON'T WANT TO REVISIT IT.

SO, WE DO LOSE TRACK OF A LOT OF OUR KIDS WHEN THEY GRADUATE OR GET OUT INTO THE WORLD.

KELLAR: BUT YOU DO HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE SUCCESS STORIES, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISERS WHERE KIDS NOW ADULTS, WE WOULD CALL THEM ADULTS, TESTIFY, SO TO SPEAK, AS TO WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR LIFE AND HOW THINGS CHANGED FOR THEM, AND IT'S PRETTY PROFOUND.

HAFFNER: YEAH, IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE.

AND I TELL EVERYBODY THAT WORKS AT LIGHTHOUSE, WE HAVE 350 EMPLOYEES AT LIGHTHOUSE, AND I TELL THEM, "TRUST ME, I HEAR ALL THE BAD NEWS.

SO PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS WITH ME."

AND WHEN THEY DO, AND THE STORIES THAT WE HEAR, IT'S HEARTWARMING.

A LOT OF OUR -- SOME OF THE MOST SIMPLE STORIES, WE HAVE A LOT OF BRANDED MERCHANDISE.

RIGHT?

SO GIVE EMPLOYEES HOODIES AND BOARD MEMBERS T-SHIRTS, AND PEOPLE WILL BE IN THE CHECKOUT LINE AT KROGER AND THE CLERK WILL SAY, "I KNOW LIGHTHOUSE.

EITHER MY CHILD WENT TO LIGHTHOUSE, MY COUSIN, I, EVEN SOMETIMES, I WENT TO LIGHTHOUSE," BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 55 YEARS NOW.

SO YEAH, WE HAVE SOME HISTORY AND THAT HAPPENS, I HEAR THAT AT LEAST A FEW TIMES A YEAR FROM ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES OR BOARD MEMBERS.

KELLAR: THAT IS -- THAT'S PHENOMENAL.

HAFFNER: YEAH.

KELLAR: LET'S TAKE A KID.

OKAY.

HE'S WITH HIS FAMILY, BUT HE'S IN TROUBLE.

HE'S HAD A LOT OF ISSUES, BAD THINGS THAT HE'S DONE.

HOW DOES HE GET TO LIGHTHOUSE?

HAFFNER: SO IF HE'S IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, HE WOULD COME THROUGH THE JUVENILE COURT AND IT WOULD BE A DIRECT REFERRAL.

KELLAR: THIS IS AFTER HE'S IN TROUBLE.

HAFFNER: THAT COULD BE AFTER.

NOW, IF IT'S BEFORE AND HE'S JUST WANDERING THE STREETS, AND PERHAPS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT, THAT'S WHERE OUR SHELTER NETWORK AND OUR STREET OUTREACH TEAM COME INTO PLAY.

AND I DIDN'T MENTION STREET OUTREACH WHEN I TALKED ABOUT HOUSING.

WE HAVE A LIGHTHOUSE VAN THAT GOES OUT EVERY DAY LOOKING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE STREETS.

KELLAR: OH, REALLY?

HAFFNER: YES.

KELLAR: AND WHERE DO THEY GO?

HAFFNER: SO LOWER PRICE HILL, OVER-THE-RHINE, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF RUN UP AND DOWN ALL THE STREETS THAT WE KNOW WHERE THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE OR ENCAMPMENTS.

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS USUALLY A GREAT PLACE FOR INFORMATION.

WE CAN USUALLY FIND SOME PEOPLE THERE THAT WILL TELL US ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE KIDS MIGHT BE.

AND, YOU KNOW, OUR TEAM JUST KNOWS SORT OF WHERE THEY ARE LIKELY TO ENGAGE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE THAT EVEN IF THEY DON'T, THEY MIGHT BE COUCH SURFING STILL, THEY MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING WHERE THEY CAN AT LEAST HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.

YOU TELL -- YOU CAN TELL THERE'S HOUSING INSTABILITY.

AND SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO ENGAGE WITH THEM AND BUILD TRUST AND HOPEFULLY THEN THAT CAN LEAD TO GETTING INTO ONE OF OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS, IF FAMILY REUNIFICATION OR SOME OTHER BETTER SOLUTION ISN'T AVAILABLE.

KELLAR: DO SOME KIDS COME DIRECTLY TO THE FACILITY?

HAFFNER: YES.

AND THEN OUR SHELTER IS ALWAYS OPEN.

BOTH SHELTERS ARE 24/7.

KELLAR: AND WHERE ARE THEY?

HAFFNER: THE TEENAGE SHELTER IS NAMED IN HONOR OF MY PREDECESSOR, BOB MECUM, IT'S CALLED MECUM HOUSE, AND THAT IS ON HIGHLAND AVENUE.

KELLAR: YEAH, OVER BY THE HOSPITAL.

HAFFNER: YEAH, RIGHT BETWEEN MCMILLAN AND TAFT ON THAT LITTLE STRETCH OF HIGHLAND.

AND THEN OUR YOUNG ADULT SHELTER CALLED THE SHEAKLEY CENTER FOR YOUTH IS ON IOWA AVENUE, KIND OF RIGHT BEHIND THE UNITED WAY.

KELLAR: THAT'S WERE THE SCHOOL BOARD USED TO BE.

HAFFNER: THE CPS IS STILL VERY PROMINENT.

THEIR OPERATIONS TEAM IS STILL THERE.

YES, WE'RE NEIGHBORS.

KELLAR: SO, IT'S SORT OF COMMONLY KNOWN THAT THEY CAN GO TO THOSE SHELTERS?

HAFFNER: YES.

KELLAR: AND WHAT'S THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY STAY?

DO SOME STAY A NIGHT OR TWO AND THEN LEAVE, AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED OR?

HAFFNER: YES, SO THE TEENAGE SHELTER THE LENGTH OF STAY, THAT'S THE METRIC WE KEEP FOR FOR OUR GOVERNMENT PARTNERS.

THE LENGTH OF STAY IN OUR TEENAGE SHELTER IS, BY DESIGN, MUCH SHORTER.

SO WE ARE, BECAUSE IT CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM AN 11 YEAR OLD UP TO A 17 YEAR OLD.

SO YOU'RE TRYING TO IMMEDIATELY RESOLVE A HOMELESSNESS EPISODE FOR A YOUNG PERSON, AND THAT CAN MEAN FAMILY REUNIFICATION.

OFTENTIMES IT'S JUST A SOMETHING POPPED UP THAT WE CAN RESOLVE.

THERE MIGHT BE A KINSHIP PLACEMENT AVAILABLE.

THERE COULD BE FOSTER FAMILIES WILLING TO TAKE IN THAT CHILD.

THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR A YOUNG PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH HAMILTON COUNTY JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THE YOUNG ADULTS IS MORE COMPLICATED BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT AS MANY PLACES FOR THEM TO GO.

SO A 19 YEAR OLD EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS MIGHT BE WITH US FOR 30-35 DAYS IS OUR TARGET, BUT IT COULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER.

IT DEPENDS ON, YOU KNOW, DO THEY HAVE A FAMILY OPTION?

DO THEY HAVE -- THERE IS NO FOSTER CARE, OBVIOUSLY, ONCE YOU'VE GRADUATED UP OUT OF -- INTO ADULTHOOD.

BUT THEY ARE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING MEANS IT'S HARDER FOR US TO GET HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S ALL LED TO A SLIGHTLY INCREASED LENGTH OF STAY FOR OUR YOUNG ADULTS.

KELLAR: THAT'S THE GROUP THAT YOU TRY TO TEACH THEM HOW TO LIVE IN A STRUCTURED APARTMENT OR -- HAFFNER: SUPERVISED LIVING.

KELLAR: YEAH, AND THEN YOU TRY TO HELP THEM GET A JOB.

HAFFNER: YES.

KELLAR: BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THROUGH THOSE FACILITIES WHERE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A COAT, JACKET THAT THEY LOOK NICE.

HAFFNER: RIGHT.

KELLAR: AND THEN YOU TEACH THEM HOW TO KEEP THE PLACE CLEAN, WHICH I'M, SADLY, I'M SURE SOME OF THEM HAVE NEVER DONE.

BUT LET ME GO BACK TO 11, YOU HAVE KIDS 11 YEARS OLD?

HAFFNER: WE CAN, WE ARE LICENSED TO HANDLE 10-17 YEAR OLDS IN THAT FACILITY.

IT IS RARE THAT WE WOULD KEEP AN 11 OR 12 YEAR OLD OVERNIGHT, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.

KELLAR: IF THEY'RE -- IF THEY FEEL, WELL, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THAT?

YOU GO BY WHAT THEY SAY WHAT'S HAPPENING AT HOME, OR DO YOU SEND SOMEBODY TO FIND OUT?

I MEAN, HOW DO YOU WORK?

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

HAFFNER: YEAH.

THOSE ARE CASES OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT OR THE KIDS SHOW UP AT OUR DOOR, OR THEY'RE BROUGHT BY THE POLICE AND WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH 241-KIDS IS THE HOTLINE FOR JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

SO WE ARE NOT THE END DECISION MAKERS IF THERE NEEDS TO BE INTERVENTION BY THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

WE DO WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM.

IF IT'S JUST A CHILD SHOWING UP AT OUR DOOR WITH A STORY TO TELL, WE LISTEN.

WE WILL TRY TO CALL PARENTS OR A GUARDIAN IF THEY TALK ABOUT AN AUNT OR A GRANDMOTHER OR, YOU KNOW.

KELLAR: DID YOU SAY YOU HAVE 350 EMPLOYEES?

HAFFNER: WE DO.

KELLAR: WOW.

WHY DO YOU NEED SO MANY?

HAFFNER: WELL, AND IT'S FUNNY, I DIDN'T GET THE THIRD VERTICAL OF LIGHTHOUSE.

SO THE HOUSING, JUVENILE JUSTICE, AND THEN CLINICAL SERVICES, WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF CASE MANAGERS AND CLINICIANS HELPING BOTH IN OUR SCHOOLS, CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS CHARTER SCHOOLS.

WE RUN A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC OUT OF OUR HEADQUARTERS BUILDING ON MCMILLAN.

AND THEN WE HAVE A STATEWIDE PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE THE LOCAL CARE MANAGEMENT ENTITY CALLED OHIO RISE, A BIG STATEWIDE PROGRAM.

SO YOU ADD ALL THAT UP, LIGHTHOUSE ACTUALLY WILL, OUR ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET IS GOING TO BE ABOUT $40 MILLION THIS YEAR.

SO IT'S A HUGE ORGANIZATION.

KELLAR: IT DIDN'T USED TO BE, THOUGH, DID IT?

HAFFNER: NO.

BOB PROBABLY GREW THAT.

I MEAN, IF YOU GO BACK INTO THE, I MEAN, I WOULD SAY WE WERE AT 30 MILLION-ISH BEFORE COVID.

AND THEN WE ACTUALLY DROPPED A LITTLE BIT AND THEN WE'VE BEEN ON QUITE A GROWTH TRAJECTORY THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

KELLAR: DURING COVID, DID YOU DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY?

HAFFNER: WE DID.

WE RUNNING RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS.

SO AS HARD AS IT WAS, WE REMINDED OURSELVES HOW LUCKY WE WERE TO BE TAKING CARE OF YOUTH AND NOT TRYING TO RUN NURSING HOMES OR OTHER, THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WORLD HAD MUCH HARDER PROBLEMS THAN WE DID.

SO WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR WHO WE SERVED.

HAVING SAID THAT, WE HAD TO CLOSE AN ENTIRE DORM OUT AT OUR JUVENILE JUSTICE FACILITY IN BAINBRIDGE, OHIO.

WE HAD TO QUARANTINE SPACE IN ALL OF OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS TO TAKE CARE OF KIDS THAT GOT COVID.

AND IT DID HAPPEN, SO IT WAS, UM, IT WAS DIFFICULT.

AND A LOT OF REVENUE DECREASED BECAUSE WE COULDN'T TAKE CARE OF AS MANY KIDS.

SO IT WAS A FINANCIALLY CHALLENGING PERIOD OF TIME.

KELLAR: WHERE DOES YOUR FUNDING COME FROM?

HAFFNER: SO OF THAT $40 MILLION ROUGHLY, ALMOST 90% IS SOME FORM OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING.

HAMILTON COUNTY IS BY FAR THE LARGEST, BOTH JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES.

SO FOR ALL OF US THAT ARE HAMILTON COUNTY TAXPAYERS, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL.

THE CHILDREN'S SERVICES LEVY IS A BIG PART.

THE MENTAL HEALTH BOARD AND THE MENTAL HEALTH LEVY IS A BIG PART.

CITY OF CINCINNATI, OF COURSE, IS A SIGNIFICANT FUNDER.

AND THEN ON THE STATE LEVEL, THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, MEDICAID IS A BIG, BIG CHUNK.

AND THEN THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE HAVE BOTH HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS HHS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

KELLAR: BUT THEN YOU HAVE INDIVIDUAL DONORS, BUT NOT THAT MANY.

HAFFNER: SO 10%.

SO YOU THINK ABOUT $4 MILLION IS STILL A PRETTY GOOD TARGET.

THAT'LL BE OUR TARGET THIS YEAR.

IF WE RUN A SPECIAL CAMPAIGN, IT GOES UP.

AND THEN SOME YEARS IT'LL BE 2.5 MILLION.

BUT THE RUN RATE IS SOMEWHERE AROUND 3 TO 4 MILLION.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT, WE HAVE ABOUT 700-ISH KIND OF UNIQUE DONORS, SOME MAJOR GIFT FOLKS, AND THEN A LOT OF LITTLE ONES.

KELLAR: I ALWAYS FELT LIKE LIGHTHOUSE HAD VERY GENEROUS DONORS, JUST JUDGING FROM THE ONE EVENT PER YEAR.

HAFFNER: YEAH.

KELLAR: DO YOU SIT IN AN OFFICE MOST OF THE TIME OR DO YOU HAVE ACTUALLY, DO YOU INTERACT WITH SOME OF THE KIDS?

HAFFNER: I DO, SO I'VE TOLD PEOPLE -- KELLAR: HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

HAFFNER: YEAH.

WELL, I'VE TOLD FRIENDS OF MINE THAT, IF I'M NOT CAREFUL, IT'S VERY EASY BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ORGANIZATION AND HOW MANY EMPLOYEES AND HOW BIG, IT'S VERY EASY FOR ME TO SPEND FAR TOO MUCH TIME ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF EAST MCMILLAN.

THAT'S OUR HEADQUARTERS.

AND SO WHAT I HAVE TO DO IS GO WALK AROUND BOTH WITH THE EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO WITH THE CLIENTS.

AND THE PRIMARY, THE SHEAKLEY CENTER IS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, SO WE HAVE SOME FRIENDS THAT GET TOGETHER AND WE PLAY MUSIC ONCE A MONTH AT THE SHEAKLEY CENTER, AND WE ENGAGE THE YOUNG, THESE ARE ALL YOUNG ADULTS.

AND SOMETIMES IT TURNS INTO GLORIFIED KARAOKE.

I TAKE A, YOU KNOW, AN AMPLEFIER.

KELLAR: ARE YOU GOOD AT THAT?

HAFFNER: WE ARE GOOD.

YES, YES.

I HAVE SOME GREAT MUSICIAN FRIENDS AND THEN I'M A PRETTY GOOD DJ.

SO WHATEVER THE KIDS WANT TO PLAY, SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY PLAY.

WE HAVE A VERY GOOD BASS PLAYER THAT JOINS US USUALLY.

KELLAR: WOW.

OKAY.

HAFFNER: KEYBOARD, WE BRING AN ACOUSTIC DRUM, UKULELE, GUITAR.

AND THEN SOME OF THEM JUST WANT TO SING ON THE MICROPHONE, BACKING UP THEIR FAVORITE ARTISTS.

KELLAR: OF COURSE.

OF COURSE.

NOW THAT IT'S SUCH A HUGE ORGANIZATION AND YOU ENCOMPASS SO MUCH MORE, AND I'M SURE THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN ADDED OVER THE YEARS.

IS THERE SOME PLACE YOU WOULD HOPE TO GO THAT YOU HAVEN'T TOUCHED YET?

HAFFNER: YEAH.

GROWTH PLANS, THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK, WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

I THINK WE WOULD ALWAYS LOOK AT EXPANDING, ONE OF THE -- WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY EXPANDED RESIDENTIAL SERVICES WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE DECIDED THEY'D HAD ENOUGH OF IT.

KELLAR: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

HAFFNER: SO A LOT OF PEER AGENCIES EXITED RESIDENTIAL CARE.

KELLAR: OH, BECAUSE IT WAS TOO TOUGH?

HAFFNER: YEAH.

YEAH.

OR NOT ENOUGH, REIMBURSEMENT RATES WERE NOT GOOD.

KELLAR: COULDN'T GET THE MONEY?

HAFFNER: COULDN'T GET THE MONEY.

YEAH.

KELLAR: BUT ISN'T THAT BASICALLY WHAT YOU DO IS BRING IN KIDS WHO NEED SOME HOUSING?

HAFFNER: YES, AND SO WE ARE WORKING WITH A LOT OF YOUTH THAT, I MEAN, WE ARE THE ONLY TEENAGE SHELTER ANYWHERE REMOTELY CLOSE TO CINCINNATI.

WE'RE THE ONLY YOUNG ADULT SHELTER, EXCLUSIVELY YOUNG ADULT SHELTER.

AND THEN OUR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS, THERE ARE OTHERS IN THE AREA, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE EXPANDED BOTH OUR BOYS AND GIRLS RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT.

AND SO WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO DO MORE.

OUR FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION SERVICES, WHICH I DIDN'T MENTION SPECIFICALLY, IT FALLS UNDER CLINICAL.

BUT THAT 130 FOSTER KIDS IN OUR CARE, TYPICALLY, THAT'S ABOUT WHERE WE ARE.

AND THAT IS A -- THAT'S A PROGRAM THAT HAS, THAT'S BEEN FAIRLY STABLE, BUT WE WOULD EXPAND, WE WOULD DO MORE.

KELLAR: SO FOSTER CARE, DO YOU GO OUT AND GET THE FOSTER PARENTS?

HAFFNER: YES.

KELLAR: YOURSELVES?

HAFFNER: WE RECRUIT FOSTER PARENTS.

OUR JOB, IF YOU WANTED TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT, WHAT YOU WOULD NEED TO DO IS DECIDE WHICH AGENCY YOU WANT TO BE YOUR SORT OF -- KELLAR: HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE AGENCIES ARE?

HAFFNER: YOU HAVE A LIST.

I THINK THERE'S 13 OF US IN HAMILTON COUNTY.

MOST ARE NONPROFITS, BUT SOME ARE FOR PROFIT ENTITIES.

AND SO LIGHTHOUSE IS, WE'RE ONE OF -- I THINK WE'RE ONE OF THE THREE LARGEST STILL AT THIS TIME.

SO WE PROVIDE SORT OF ALL THAT ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSURE WORK, CLASSES, CONTINUING EDUCATION, HOME CERTIFICATION WORK THAT THE COUNTY NEEDS DONE.

SO WE DO THAT ON BEHALF OF OUR FOSTER PARENTS, AND THEN WE'RE SORT OF THE ADVOCATE FOR THEM AS WELL IN THE SYSTEM, THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.

KELLAR: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT.

HAFFNER: IT IS A LOT.

KELLAR: HOW MANY OF THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE DOING THOSE DESK THINGS AT YOUR HEADQUARTERS?

HAFFNER: OUR FOSTER CARE DEPARTMENT, I THINK, IS WE HAVE ABOUT EIGHT.

KELLAR: I MEAN, TOTAL.

HAFFNER: OUT OF THE 350?

KELLAR: YEAH.

HAFFNER: SO I WOULD SAY DIRECT SERVICE IS WELL OVER HALF OF THAT.

BUT WE HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A GOOD STABLE.

KELLAR: THAT JUST SOUNDS SO COMPLICATED, I MEAN, REALLY.

I'M AMAZED THAT THAT YOU COULD HANDLE SUCH A COMPLICATED WEB OF ORGANIZATIONS AND PLACES AND KNOWING WHERE TO PUT, I GUESS, AGE WISE, YOU KNOW, WHERE TO PUT THE KIDS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY -- DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE STORY ABOUT SOMEONE'S EXPERIENCE THERE?

HAFFNER: WELL, OKAY.

I DID NOT THINK ABOUT THIS QUESTION AT ALL, BUT THERE IS A REALLY NEAT SUCCESS STORY THAT JUST HAPPENED.

AND I DON'T -- I GUESS I WON'T USE A NAME.

BUT A YOUNG MAN, WHEN I FIRST GOT TO LIGHTHOUSE IN 2016 AT OUR SHEAKLEY CENTER YOUNG ADULT, AND I ENGAGED WITH THIS YOUNG MAN.

HE WAS A CLIENT, BUT HE WAS VERY GREGARIOUS AND OUTGOING, EXTROVERTED, AND HE WOULD ALWAYS TALK TO ME.

AND WE HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS.

HE OFTEN HAD A THING HE WOULD LIKE ME TO FIX AS WELL, BUT VERY, VERY FUN.

I ENJOYED BEING WITH HIM.

AND HE MOVED ON INTO AN APARTMENT, AND I KEPT UP WITH HIM.

AND HE WOULD KEEP CALLING AND TELLING US HOW HE WAS DOING.

AND PROBABLY TWO YEARS AGO HE INITIATED DISCUSSIONS, WANTING TO COME WORK AT LIGHTHOUSE.

KELLAR: OH, OKAY.

HAFFNER: AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR HIM RIGHT AWAY.

HE GOT A DIFFERENT JOB, BUT THEN HE JUST STARTED AT LIGHTHOUSE AND WAS IN OUR NEW HIRE ORIENTATION ABOUT PROBABLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

SO I SEE THIS YOUNG MAN WHO'S NOW PROBABLY 27, I'M GUESSING.

AND HE'S WORKING AT LIGHTHOUSE AND DOING GREAT AT ONE OF OUR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS AS A PEER.

KELLAR: THAT IS A GREAT ONE.

DO YOU THINK HE'S THE ONLY ONE, OR IS THERE -- HISTORICALLY, ARE THERE OTHERS WHO TURNED AROUND THEIR LIVES AND THEN CAME TO WORK FOR YOU?

HAFFNER: THERE ARE OTHERS, DEFINITELY.

AND ONE OF THE OTHER, THEY EITHER ARE CURRENT CLIENTS OR VERY RECENTLY YOU COULD CALL THEM GRADUATED.

WE RUN WHAT'S CALLED A YOUTH ACTION BOARD, WHERE WE -- WHEN WE DO A LOT OF THESE LARGE GOVERNMENT GRANTS, WE ENGAGE OUR YOUTH ACTION BOARD MEMBERS, AND WE DO PAY THEM TO COME AND HELP US WITH THE DRAFTING OF THE GRANT, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE BEST EXPERTS OF WHAT THEY NEED AS YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND SO THAT'S A THAT'S ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE HAVE THESE WONDERFUL, OFTEN 23-26 YEAR OLD, RECENTLY IN SERVICE.

BUT THEY HELP US TREMENDOUSLY WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE.

KELLAR: YEAH.

DO YOU HAVE SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUES?

I WOULD THINK.

HAFFNER: WE DO, YOU KNOW.

WE WERE BUILDING THE SHEAKLEY CENTER, WHICH HAS THE 36 INDIVIDUAL SHELTER BEDS AND A COUPLE ADDITIONAL BEDS FOR EMERGENCIES.

AND THEN IT HAS 39 APARTMENTS ABOVE THAT.

KELLAR: OH, 39?

WOW.

HAFFNER: IT'S A LARGE BUILDING.

SO, IF YOU ADD THAT UP, BARBARA, THAT IS 75-80 18-24 YEAR OLDS IN THE SAME BUILDING ON ANY GIVEN DAY, MANY OF WHOM ARE DEALING WITH FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT, TRAUMATIC ISSUES IN THEIR LIVES.

KELLAR: YEAH.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.

HAFFNER: GUESS WHAT?

WE DO HAVE, I MEAN, THE CINCINNATI POLICE DEPARTMENT KNOWS OUR ADDRESS.

THEY DEFINITELY KNOW OUR ADDRESS.

BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD, AND I GOT A KNOCK ON WOOD, ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES.

KELLAR: REALLY?

HAFFNER: NONE.

WE HAD, IN MY MEMORY, WHICH IS THE ENTIRE MEMORY OF THAT BUILDING, WE'VE HAD ONE MAJOR ISSUE WHERE I HAD TO GET INVOLVED, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE AN OUTSIDER WAS TRYING TO BE DISRUPTIVE WITH ONE OF OUR KIDS.

KELLAR: AND YOU GOT INVOLVED?

HAFFNER: YEAH.

AND WE HAD TO GET -- WE HAD TO STEP IN.

KELLAR: WITH YOUR KARATE TRAINING.

HAFFNER: YEAH, WELL, MY LEGAL TRAINING.

KELLAR: LEGAL.

HAFFNER: RESTRAINING ORDERS.

KELLAR: BUT THAT IS AMAZING.

HAFFNER: IT'S LIKE A COLLEGE DORMITORY.

IT'S THAT SIZE OF A BUILDING.

KELLAR: AND WHAT WOULD BE THE RATIO, FOR INSTANCE, IN THAT BUILDING OF MALE TO FEMALE?

HAFFNER: IT'S ALMOST ALWAYS RIGHT ABOUT HALF AND HALF.

KELLAR: REALLY?

I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE MORE MALE.

HAFFNER: SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE DEFINITELY MORE MALE, ESPECIALLY THE JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS THAT I MENTIONED DEFINITELY SKEW SIGNIFICANTLY MORE MALE.

BUT THE YOUNG ADULT HOMELESS POPULATION IS JUST ABOUT 50/50.

AND MANY OF OUR KIDS ALSO, I SHOULD MENTION, BECAUSE WE ARE -- WE WERE PIONEERS IN THE FIELD AND MANY OF OUR KIDS ARE LGBTQ.

AND SO WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION, BOTH EITHER IN OUR FACILITY OR OUT ON THE STREETS.

KELLAR: YEAH.

HAFFNER: THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH AND WE ARE EXPERT AT HANDLING THEIR SPECIFIC ISSUES.

KELLAR: THEY PROBABLY HAVE DIFFERENT ISSUES, OR ADDITIONAL ISSUES.

HAFFNER: YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT.

KELLAR: YEAH, THEN OTHER KIDS.

WELL WHAT YOU DO IS SO PHENOMENAL AND YOU CLEARLY DO IT VERY, VERY WELL.

AND IT'S SUCH A PLUS FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT, THAT THESE THINGS ALL EXIST AND THERE IS A PLACE FOR KIDS.

DO YOU THINK MOST KIDS WHO LIVE AND EXPERIENCE THAT LEVEL IN THEIR LIVES OF INSECURE HOMES KNOW ABOUT YOU AND KNOW THAT THEY CAN GO THERE?

IS IT WELL KNOWN?

HAFFNER: GREAT QUESTION.

SO A COUPLE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS HAVE, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THERE, SO EIGHT YEARS, I'VE HAD SOME AMAZING BOARD MEMBERS, AND THERE ARE A FEW THAT ARE GOOD MARKETERS.

AND THAT IS THE QUESTION THEY CONTINUALLY PUSH ME ON: HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHILD KNOWS ABOUT LIGHTHOUSE?

SO WE HAVE DONE -- WE DID A BLITZ CAMPAIGN WHEN WE TURNED 50 IN 2019, THEN COVID -- KELLAR: YEAH, MADE EVERYTHING DIFFERENT.

HAFFNER: BUT THEN WE MADE ANOTHER PUSH.

SO WE CAN'T DO ENOUGH MARKETING.

WE'VE DONE MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.

AND ONE PROGRAM THAT IS VERY NEW THAT I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT, IT IS A FEDERAL, THE HHS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS FUNDED IT.

IT'S A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT, WHICH MEANS WE'VE THREE YEARS TO PROVE UP A CONCEPT.

AND THAT IS A PREVENTION PROGRAM.

SO WE ARE GOING INTO WHAT WE CALL COMMUNITY HUBS WITHIN OUR CINCINNATI AREA AND TRAINING.

SO YOU THINK ABOUT THE BEAUTY SALONS, BARBERSHOPS, CORNER STORES, LIBRARIES, TRAINING PEOPLE THAT WILL ENGAGE.

THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SPOT A YOUNG PERSON WHO MIGHT HAVE HOUSING INSTABILITY, WHO OFTEN MAY SHARE WITH THEM.

KELLAR: YEAH, RIGHT.

HAFFNER: WHAT'S GOING ON AT HOME.

WELL, AND INSTEAD OF NEEDING TO IMMEDIATELY REFER TO US OR THEY ACTUALLY KNOW QUESTIONS TO ASK, WHO TO CALL, THEY KNOW HOW TO PROMOTE LIGHTHOUSE.

SO THAT WE'VE, WE'VE SIGNED UP 80, 8-0, 80 COMMUNITY HUBS.

KELLAR: GOOD.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

HAFFNER: AND WE HAVE AT LAST COUNT, 37 YOUNG PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THIS INTERVENTION, EARLY STAGE INTERVENTION.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT PREVENTION BEFORE THE CRISIS.

KELLAR: THAT'S THE BIG THING.

HAFFNER: YES.

KELLAR: GET IT BEFORE IT GETS WORSE.

HAFFNER: YES.

KELLAR: YEAH.

YOU ARE TERRIFIC.

AND I WISH YOU ALL THE WONDERFUL LUCK IN HELPING THESE KIDS AND TURNING THEM, TURNING AROUND THEIR LIVES.

THERE CAN'T BE ANYTHING MORE IMPORTANT IN LIFE THAN HELPING PEOPLE BE GOOD CITIZENS AND JUST BE HAPPY AND HAVE A JOB AND CLEAN UP YOUR APARTMENT.

HAFFNER: RIGHT, THE BASICS.

KELLAR: ALL THOSE BASICS, YEAH.

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

HAFFNER: THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

KELLAR: IT'S TERRIFIC.

ANNOUNCER: JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR RIGHT HERE ON CET.

CAPTIONS: MAVERICK CAPTIONING CIN OH MAVERICKCAPTIONING.COM