Kelly English, MA, LPC, serves as the Senior Vice President at KVC Missouri, where she provides strategic leadership and oversight of clinical programming across all departments. She leads clinical direction and supervises clinical leaders across the agency’s three core service lines—residential treatment, education, and community-based services—ensuring alignment, quality, and consistency of care. In addition, Kelly oversees KVC’s expressive therapy teams, and the Meramec Adventure Ranch, guiding the overall direction and execution of clinical services agency-wide. She also leads the development and management of the Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), as well as the admissions and utilization review teams. Kelly plays an integral role in engaging with external stakeholders and funding partners, leading contract negotiations, developing service agreements, and collaborating to ensure KVC’s programs are accessible, sustainable, and responsive to community needs. A licensed professional counselor, Kelly brings 20 years of experience in both residential and outpatient clinical settings, with a strong track record of advancing high-quality, trauma-informed care.

Kelly received her undergraduate degree from St. Louis University in Psychology with a minor in Education and her master’s degree from the University of Kansas in Counseling Psychology.

Kelly began her professional career in child welfare at KVC working as a case manager and therapist. From there she moved into residential and outpatient therapy and then onto administrative work. She has extensive expertise in clinical operations and program development. Kelly has spent a large part of her career successfully building, growing, and operating Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF), Therapeutic Group Homes, Youth Residential Services (YRC), Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTP), and Community-Based Services such as Street Outreach Programs and Intensive Outpatient Programs for children. Throughout her career, she has gained experience in census management, contract negotiation and management, strategic human resources procedures including compliance, leadership development, talent management and retention. She has held positions in a range of disciplines within the mental health umbrella giving her a versatile understanding of the mental health treatment environment for children and families.

Kelly has actively engaged as a community liaison at state and local levels in the crucial conversations to shape better access to and delivery of mental health services. She has participated in local committees to advocate for mental health and enjoys collaborating with others to create beneficial outcomes for children and families.

For scheduling, contact Makaylee Shumate, Executive Assistant at mshumate@kvc.org or 573-261-0981.