LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- The new learning center housed in the Home of the Innocents on East Market Street is a convalescent center for children who have challenging needs.
This is an expansion of Weinberg Academy with the help of $500,000 in donations including a leading gift from David Jones, Sr., the founder of Humana.
This new addition includes two classrooms, an art room and a library with computers for students who are managing the after effects of trauma.
Paul Robinson, the President and CEO of Home of the Innocents said when they opened eight years ago they only intended to serve 30-40 children but due to the drastic effect of the opioid epidemic in our state, that number has skyrocketed.
"It is sending more and more children into out of home care. We just heard just last week that number has eclipsed over 9,500 children that are living in out of home care. That is sending more children than ever to Home of the Innocents to be a part of our residential and emergency shelter programs,” Robinson said.
At the ribbon cutting, Mayor Fisher, along with Dr. Marty Polio of JCPS, was on hand to offer their congratulations to the center, the staff and the hundreds of students who will benefit from this expansion.
Home of the Innocents served more than 11,700 children and their families last year.
