RES CARE INC /KY/
S-3, 1997-07-31
NURSING & PERSONAL CARE FACILITIES
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      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 31, 1997
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-
   =============================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                           --------------------------
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           --------------------------
                                 RES-CARE, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
      KENTUCKY                                            61-0875371
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     incorporation)
                             10140 Linn Station Road
                           Louisville, Kentucky 40223
                                 (502) 394-2100
       (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area
               code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

                                 Ronald G. Geary
                      President and Chief Executive Officer
                                 Res-Care, Inc.
                             10140 Linn Station Road
                           Louisville, Kentucky 40223
                                 (502) 394-2100
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
                        area code, of agent for service)

     Copies of all  communications,  including  all  communications  sent to the
agent for service, should be sent to:

                               Henry D. Kahn, Esq.
                             Piper & Marbury L.L.P.
                             36 South Charles Street
                            Baltimore, Maryland 21201
                                 (410) 539-2530

Approximate  date of  commencement  of proposed  sale to the public:  As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities  being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant
to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: | |
If any of the  securities  being  registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under the  Securities  Act of
1933,  other than  securities  offered in  connection  with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box:|X|
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the  Securities  Act,  check the following box and list the
Securities  Act  registration   statement   number  of  the  earlier   effective
registration statement for the same offering: | |
If this Form is a  post-effective  amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the  Securities  Act,  check  the  following  box and  list the  Securities  Act
registration  statement number of the earlier effective  registration  statement
for the same offering: | |
If delivery  of the  prospectus  is  expected  to be made  pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box: | |

<TABLE>
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================
<CAPTION>
<S>                 <C>            <C>                 <C>                      <C>    
Title of Each Class                Proposed Maximum     Proposed Maximum   
  of Securities    Amount to be   Offering Price Per   Aggregate Offering     Amount of   
to be Registered    Registered        Share(1)                  Price      Registration Fee
================================================================================

Common Stock,
no par value         35,000             $20.375              $713,125            $217
  

</TABLE>
(1)  Determined pursuant to Rule 457(c).

     The Registrant  hereby amends this  Registration  Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall
file a further  amendment  which  specifically  states  that  this  Registration
Statement shall  thereafter  become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the  Securities  Act of 1933 or until the  Registration  Statement  shall become
effective on such date as the Commission,  acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.


<PAGE>


Information   contained  herein  is  subject  to  completion  or  amendment.   A
registration  statement  relating  to these  securities  has been filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  These  securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration  statement  becomes
effective.  This  prospectus  shall  not  constitute  an  offer  to  sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these  securities
in any State in which such offer,  solicitation  or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.


<PAGE>


                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 31, 1997

PROSPECTUS
                                  35,000 Shares

                                 RES-CARE, INC.

                                  Common Stock

     This  Prospectus  relates to up to 35,000  shares (the  "Shares") of Common
Stock,  no par value per share (the  "Common  Stock"),  of Res-Care,  Inc.  (the
"Company"),  which may be offered by certain  shareholders  of the Company  (the
"Selling  Stockholders")  from time to time in  transactions on The Nasdaq Stock
Market's National Market (the "Nasdaq National Market"), in privately negotiated
transactions or otherwise, at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices
prevailing  at the time of sale,  at prices  related to such  prevailing  market
prices or at  negotiated  prices.  The  Selling  Stockholders  may  effect  such
transactions  by  selling  the  Shares to or  through  broker-dealers,  and such
broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or
commissions  from the Selling  Stockholders  or the purchasers of the Shares for
whom such broker-dealers may act as agent or to whom they sell as principal,  or
both (which  compensation  to a particular  broker-dealer  might be in excess of
customary   commissions.)   See  "The   Selling   Stockholders"   and  "Plan  of
Distribution."

     None of the  proceeds  from the sale of the Shares  will be received by the
Company.  All of the Shares covered by this  Prospectus are  outstanding  shares
which  may be  offered  and sold  from  time to time by the  stockholders  named
herein. See "The Selling Stockholders."

     The Company's  Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq  National  Market under
the symbol  "RSCR." On July 29, 1997,  the last reported sale price as quoted on
the Nasdaq National Market was $21.75 per share.

     See "Risk Factors" at page 4 of this Prospectus for a discussion of certain
factors that should be considered by prospective  purchasers of the Common Stock
offered hereby.

          THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
           SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
            COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
               OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
                  ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
                         REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
                             IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
                               ------------------
               
The date of this Prospectus is _____________, 1997.




<PAGE>


                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     The Company is subject to the informational  requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"),  and in accordance  therewith
files reports,  proxy  statements and other  information with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission").  Reports,  proxy  statements and other
information filed by the Company with the Commission,  including the reports and
other  information  incorporated  by  reference  into  this  Prospectus,  can be
inspected  and  copied at the  public  reference  facilities  maintained  by the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at its regional
offices  located at 7 World Trade Center,  13th Floor,  New York, New York 10048
and Citicorp  Center,  500 West Madison Street,  Suite 1400,  Chicago,  Illinois
60661-2511.  Copies  of such  material  can also be  obtained  from  the  Public
Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,  D.C.
20549 at rates  prescribed by the Commission or from the  Commission's  Internet
web site at http:\\www.sec.gov. The Common Stock of the Company is quoted on the
Nasdaq  National  Market.   Reports,  proxy  statements  and  other  information
concerning  the Company  can be  inspected  at the  offices of the Nasdaq  Stock
Market, 1735 K Street, Washington, D.C. 20006.

     The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration  Statement on Form
S-3 under the  Securities  Act with respect to the Common Stock offered  hereby.
This  Prospectus  does  not  contain  all  the  information  set  forth  in  the
Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto,  certain portions
of which have been omitted in accordance  with the rules and  regulations of the
Commission.  Statements  contained  in  this  Prospectus  as to  any  contracts,
agreements  or other  documents  filed as an  exhibit  to,  or  incorporated  by
reference  in, the  Registration  Statement are qualified in all respects to the
copy of such  contract,  agreement  or other  document  filed as an  exhibit  or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. For further information
with respect to the Company and the Common Stock  offered  hereby,  reference is
made  to the  Registration  Statement,  including  the  exhibits  and  schedules
thereto.  The Registration  Statement,  together with the exhibits and schedules
thereto,  may be inspected without charge, at the Commission's  principal office
at 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.  20549,  and also at the regional
offices of the Commission listed above or through the Commission's  Internet web
site. Copies of such materials may also be obtained from the Commission upon the
payment of prescribed rates.

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following  documents filed by the Company with the Commission (File No.
0-20372) pursuant to the 1934 Act are incorporated herein by reference:

     1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1996;

     2. The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 19, 1997;

     3. The Company's Proxy  Statement filed with the Commission  under the 1934
Act on April 9, 1997;

     4. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated May 14, 1997;



                                       2
<PAGE>

     5. The  Registration  Statement on Form 8-A with respect to Res-Care Common
Stock dated June 25, 1992; and

     6. All other  documents  filed by the Company  pursuant to Sections  13(a),
13(c),  14 or  15(d) of the 1934 Act  subsequent  to the date of  filing  of the
Registration  Statement  of which  this  Prospectus  is a part and  prior to the
termination of the offering made hereby.

     The Company  will provide  without  charge to each person to whom a copy of
this Prospectus is delivered, upon the request of any such person, a copy of any
or all of the documents which have been incorporated herein by reference,  other
than  exhibits  to  such  documents   (unless  such  exhibits  are  specifically
incorporated  by reference  into such  documents).  Requests for such  documents
should be directed to  Res-Care,  Inc.,  10140 Linn  Station  Road,  Louisville,
Kentucky 40223, Attention: R. Dan Brice, telephone: (502) 394-2100.

     Any  statement  contained  in a  document  incorporated  or  deemed  to  be
incorporated  by reference  herein shall be deemed to be modified or  superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement  contained herein
or in any other  subsequently  filed  document  which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such
statement so modified or superseded  shall not be deemed,  except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.




                                       3
<PAGE>

                                   THE COMPANY

     Res-Care is a leading  provider of residential,  training,  educational and
support  services to  populations  with special  needs,  including  persons with
developmental  and other  disabilities  and  at-risk  and  troubled  youth.  The
services  provided by the Company have  historically  been provided by state and
local  government  agencies  and  not-for-profit  organizations.  The  Company's
programs  include  an  array  of  services  provided  in  both  residential  and
non-residential  settings for adults and youths with mental retardation or other
developmental  disabilities  ("MR/DD") and disabilities caused by acquired brain
injuries  ("ABI"),  and youths with severe  behavioral  disorders,  who are from
disadvantaged backgrounds or who have entered the juvenile justice system.

     Res-Care's growth strategy is to (i) pursue acquisitions, (ii) add programs
and expand its existing  programs in markets in which it currently  operates and
(iii) expand into additional  geographic areas in the United States. The markets
for the Company's services are highly fragmented,  and the Company believes that
there are significant  opportunities to enhance its market positions  through an
active  acquisition  program in the  disabilities and at-risk and troubled youth
sectors  that  will  enable  the  Company  to  expand  its  operations  into new
geographic  areas, add program  offerings and establish new  relationships  with
governmental  entities.  The  Company  intends  to build  upon  its  established
relationships  with  governmental  entities to expand its current  programs  and
obtain contracts for additional programs in existing markets, and to develop new
programs in response to societal trends and the needs of governmental  agencies.
The Company also intends to expand its programs to additional  geographic  areas
which  management  identifies as having  favorable  reimbursement  and operating
environments.

     The Company was  incorporated in Kentucky in 1974. Its principal  executive
office is located at 10140 Linn Station Road, Louisville, Kentucky 40223 and its
telephone number is (502) 394-2100.

                                  RISK FACTORS

     In addition to the other information contained or incorporated by reference
in this Prospectus, the following risk factors should be considered carefully in
evaluating an investment in the Common Stock offered hereby.

Substantial Dependence on Governmental Reimbursement

     In the year ended  December 31, 1996,  approximately  81% of the  Company's
revenues were attributable to  Medicaid-funded  disabilities  services programs,
and the  substantial  majority of the remaining  revenues were  attributable  to
federal  Job  Corps  contracts.   Governmental  agencies  have  undertaken  cost
containment measures designed to limit payments to health care and other service
providers,  and these  efforts are expected to continue.  Various  proposals are
currently under consideration to revamp the federally-funded  Medicaid programs,
including  efforts to  introduce  managed care and other  arrangements  in which
financial risks  associated  with service  delivery are retained by the provider
rather than by the funding source.  State  regulatory  agencies which administer


                                       4
<PAGE>

Medicaid programs have substantial  discretion with regard to the implementation
of Medicaid  reimbursement  programs and with regard to the audit and inspection
of  Medicaid  programs.  In June 1997,  the House  Commerce  Committee  voted to
include in its budget reconcilation  provisions concerning Medicaid, a repeal of
Section  1396a(a)(13)(A) of the Medicaid Act, also known as the Boren amendment,
which  provides  that  reimbursement  rates for health  care  providers  must be
reasonable and adequate to meet the economically and efficiently  incurred costs
of providing care to Medicaid patients.  With the repeal of the Boren amendment,
provider  payments  would be determined by the states,  with no federal right of
action for  providers.  The Company  cannot  predict the outcome of the proposed
Medicaid  change  but the  repeal of the Boren  amendment  could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business and results of operations.  The Company
is  currently  engaged  in  litigation  with  the  State  of  Indiana  regarding
reimbursement  rates at certain large  facilities in Indiana which, if adversely
determined,  could  adversely  affect  the  Company's  business  and  results of
operations.  The  Commonwealth of Kentucky has challenged in an audit proceeding
certain  costs  associated  with a program  managed by the Company in  Kentucky,
which could lead to retroactive rate adjustments to the provider of record.  The
provider of record has recently filed a declaratory  action against  Kentucky in
an effort to resolve the major issue of this matter.  Various  other states have
initiatives  underway  to  change  Medicaid  reimbursement   methodologies.   No
assurance can be given that developments in one or more  jurisdictions  will not
adversely  affect the  Company's  business,  financial  condition  or results of
operations.

Growth Strategy; Risks Associated with Future Acquisitions and New Contracts

     Most of the Company's facilities and programs are operating at or near full
capacity. Moreover, in light of governmental budgetary pressures and competitive
forces,  there has been downward  pressure on  reimbursement  rates.  Thus,  the
Company's  ability to expand its  revenue  base is  dependent  to a  significant
extent on its ability to effect  acquisitions  and to obtain new contracts.  The
Company  regularly reviews  acquisition  opportunities and opportunities for new
contracts  and   periodically   engages  in   discussions   regarding   possible
acquisitions and contracts.  The Company continually evaluates  opportunities to
expand  its  business  through  acquisitions  of other  companies  that  provide
services to various special needs  populations and from time to time enters into
discussions  and letters of intent which may lead to  acquisitions.  The Company
has  entered  into  a  letter  of  intent  to  acquire   Communications  Network
Consultants,  Inc.  ("CNC"),  a privately  owned  provider of  supported  living
services for persons with disabilities,  including mental retardation,  based in
Lenoir,  North Carolina.  Closing of the  transaction,  which is structured as a
cash  purchase of CNC's  outstanding  stock,  is subject to the  completion of a
definitive agreement, due diligence and regulatory approvals, and is expected in
the third quarter of 1997. There can be no assurance that the Company will close
the CNC  transaction,  be able to identify  other  acquisition  or new  contract
prospects on terms  favorable to the Company or in a timely  manner,  enter into
acceptable agreements or close any such transactions.  There can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to achieve its growth strategy, and any failure to
do so could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,  financial
condition, results of operations and ability to sustain growth. In addition, the
Company believes that it will compete for acquisition  candidates and management
contracts  with a  variety  of other  prospective  bidders,  some of which  have


                                       5
<PAGE>

greater resources than the Company.  Increased  competition for such acquisition
candidates  and  management  contracts  could have the effect of increasing  the
costs to the Company of pursuing this growth  strategy,  could reduce the number
of  attractive  candidates to be acquired or could reduce the  profitability  of
management  contracts.  Future  acquisitions  and  efforts to obtain  management
contracts could divert  management's  attention from the daily operations of the
Company and otherwise require additional  management,  operational and financial
resources.   Moreover,   there  can  be  no  assurance  that  the  Company  will
successfully  integrate  such new  operations  into its business or operate such
acquisitions profitably. Acquisitions may also involve a number of special risks
including adverse  short-term  effects on the Company's  business and results of
operations;  dependence on retaining  key  personnel;  amortization  of acquired
intangible  assets;  and risks  associated  with  unanticipated  liabilities and
contingencies.

     The Company  may require  additional  debt or equity  financing  for future
acquisitions,  which may not be available  to the Company on terms  favorable to
it, if at all.  To the extent the Company  uses its  capital  stock for all or a
portion of the consideration to be paid for future acquisitions, dilution may be
experienced by existing  shareholders,  including  purchasers of Common Stock in
this offering.  In the event that the Company's  capital stock does not maintain
sufficient value or acquisition candidates are unwilling to accept the Company's
capital stock as consideration for the sale of their businesses, the Company may
be required to utilize more of its cash  resources,  if  available,  in order to
continue its acquisition  program.  If the Company does not have sufficient cash
resources  or is  not  able  to use  its  capital  stock  as  consideration  for
acquisitions, its growth through acquisitions could be limited.

Uncertain Ability to Expand Youth Services Operations

     Although  Res-Care  has  operated  Job  Corps  centers  since  1976 and has
provided services for youths with developmental disabilities in its disabilities
services  operations  since 1978, the Company began intensive  efforts to expand
its at-risk  and  troubled  youth  services  operations  in 1996  following  the
formation of its Youthtrack, Inc. ("Youthtrack") and Alternative Youth Services,
Inc.  ("AYS")  subsidiaries.  The  Company  has  not yet  developed  significant
experience  in  operating  such  programs.  No  assurance  can be given that the
Company will be able to generate  sufficient  revenues or contribution margin to
enable the Company to realize adequate returns on its investment in this sector.
The market for  delivery  of  at-risk  and  troubled  youth  services  is highly
competitive. Several of the Company's competitors have more experience than does
the  Company  in  developing  and  implementing  these  services.   Due  to  the
highly-fragmented  nature of the youth services industry,  the barriers to entry
remain low, and the Company may experience intensive  competition as it seeks to
expand in this area,  including  competition  from companies with  substantially
greater resources than Res-Care. Moreover, the privatized management of programs
for at-risk and troubled  youths has received  varying  degrees of acceptance by
state and local governmental authorities, and no assurance can be given that the
level of acceptance  will rise or be maintained.  There can be no assurance that
the Company will succeed in its goal to significantly  increase the revenues and
operating  income  attributable  to its  at-risk  and  troubled  youth  services
operations.



                                       6
<PAGE>

Dependence on Governmental Agencies and Government Contracts

     The Company  conducts its business  primarily under contracts with federal,
state and local governments and governmental  agencies, and virtually all of the
Company's  revenues are attributable to such contracts.  The Company's cash flow
is subject to the receipt of sufficient funding and timely payment by applicable
governmental  entities. If the appropriate  governmental agency does not receive
sufficient  appropriations to cover its contractual obligations,  a contract may
be terminated or the Company's compensation may be deferred or reduced. A number
of federal,  state and local governments,  including certain of those with which
the Company has contracts, have experienced fiscal difficulties. Any deferral or
reduction in payment could have a material  adverse effect on the Company's cash
flow.  In  addition,  the Company is  dependent  on  governmental  entities  for
referral  of  a  sufficient  number  of  individuals  to  occupy  the  Company's
facilities  and  programs.  The failure of the  Company to receive a  sufficient
number of such  referrals  may have a material  adverse  effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.

     The Company's contracts are typically subject to renewal (or in the case of
Job Corps  contracts,  extension)  annually.  The renewal and financial terms of
each contract are dependent upon many factors, including the quality and type of
services provided,  governmental  budget  constraints,  changes in government or
agency  personnel and priorities or philosophies of governments or agencies with
respect to provision of services to various at-risk populations.  Government and
agency contracts  generally are subject to audits,  reviews and  investigations.
These  audits,  reviews  and  investigations  typically  involve a review of the
contractor's  performance  under  the  contract,  its  reported  costs  and  its
compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In addition, some contracts are
subject to  competitive  bidding,  and the  Company's  customers  generally  may
terminate  their  contracts  with the Company for cause and upon  certain  other
specified conditions.  The loss or renewal on less favorable terms of certain of
the Company's  contracts  could have a material  adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.

     Approximately  18% of the  Company's net revenues are  attributable  to Job
Corps contracts, awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL"). Performance at
each  Job  Corps  center  is  ranked  by the DOL  using  certain  objective  and
subjective  criteria,  and contracts for Job Corps centers with low  performance
rankings may not be extended or  successfully  rebid.  The DOL has recently made
efforts to encourage new participants in the program,  including  minority-owned
businesses, and several companies with government defense contracting experience
have  begun to bid for Job  Corps  contracts.  The  five-year  contract  for the
operation of the Company's  Gulfport,  Mississippi  Job Corps center  expires in
October  1997 and the  contract is up for rebid.  There exists the risk that the
contract to operate this center will not be awarded to the Company,  which would
have an adverse  effect on the Company's  revenues and net income.  Although the
Company has been able to retain most of its Job Corps  contracts in the past and
was  awarded a new Job Corps  contract  in 1996 to operate  the Edison Job Corps
center,  there can be no  assurance  that the DOL will  continue  to extend  the
Company's  Job  Corps  contracts,  or award  the  Company  additional  Job Corps
contracts, in the future.



                                       7
<PAGE>

     The Company has  contracted  with  providers of record in various states to
manage and operate  MR/DD  facilities  for them.  In such cases,  the Company is
dependent  on the  relationship  between  the  state and  local  governments  or
governmental agencies and the providers of record with which they contract. Each
state and local  government  or  governmental  agency may terminate or declare a
breach of contract  with  providers of record,  may be denied  federal  matching
funds as partial  reimbursement for certain program expenses or may reduce their
placement  of  individuals  with,  or the use of, such  providers  of record for
reasons  that may be beyond  the  control of the  Company.  Such  actions  could
adversely  affect the  ability  of the  providers  of record to pay the  Company
pursuant to their subcontracts.

Government Regulation

     The Company is subject to extensive  federal,  state and local  regulations
governing licensure, conduct of operations at existing facilities,  construction
of new  facilities,  purchase or lease of existing  facilities,  addition of new
services, capital expenditures,  cost containment and reimbursement for services
rendered.  Failure by the Company to meet  applicable  standards could result in
the loss of a  license,  the  delay or loss of  reimbursement  or the loss of an
ability to expand services.  To date, loss of license has not been a significant
factor in the  Company's  operations.  There can be no assurance  that  federal,
state or  local  governments  will not  impose  additional  restrictions  on the
operations of the Company that might  adversely  affect its business,  financial
condition and results of operations.

Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results

     The Company's  quarterly results of operations may fluctuate  significantly
as a result of a variety of factors, including the timing of acquisitions or the
opening of new  programs,  the  timing of rate  adjustments  and the  cumulative
effect of rate adjustments differing from previously estimated amounts.  Results
for any particular  quarter may not be indicative of future  quarterly or annual
results.

Volatility of Market Price

     From time to time after this offering,  there may be significant volatility
in the market price of the Common Stock.  The Company  believes that the current
market price of the Common Stock reflects  expectations that the Company will be
able to continue to operate its programs  profitably  and to develop  additional
and new  programs at a  significant  rate and operate  them  profitably.  If the
Company is unable to operate its programs  profitably or develop new programs at
a pace that reflects the expectations of the market, investors could sell shares
of  Common  Stock at or after  the  time  that it  becomes  apparent  that  such
expectations may not be realized, resulting in a decrease in the market price of
the Common Stock. In addition to the operating  results of the Company,  changes
in earnings estimates by analysts,  changes in general conditions in the economy
or the  financial  markets  or  other  developments  affecting  the  Company  or
comparable  companies within the privatization  services  industries could cause
the  market  price of the Common  Stock to  fluctuate  substantially.  In recent
years, the stock market has experienced  extreme price and volume  fluctuations.


                                       8
<PAGE>

This volatility has had a significant  effect on the market prices of securities
issued by many companies for reasons unrelated to their operating performance.

Opposition to Program Location and Adverse Publicity

     The Company's  success in obtaining new contracts may depend, in part, upon
its ability to locate  facilities  that can be leased or  acquired on  favorable
terms  by  the  Company.  Group  homes  are  generally  located  in  residential
communities.  Larger  facilities for persons with  disabilities  and at-risk and
troubled youths may be in or near populated areas and,  therefore,  may generate
legal action or other forms of opposition from residents in areas  surrounding a
proposed  site. The Company's  business also is subject to public  scrutiny and,
consequently,  could be significantly  affected by negative publicity,  negative
public  reaction or  governmental  investigations  with respect to the Company's
policies or operations or the actions of consumers under its care. The Company's
reputation  is very  important to the retention  and  procurement  of contracts.
Negative publicity or a governmental investigation with respect to the Company's
policies or operations or the actions of individuals under its care could have a
material  adverse  effect on the  Company's  business,  financial  condition and
results of operations.

Potential Legal Liability

     The Company's  management of its  residential,  training,  educational  and
support  programs  exposes it to potential  third-party  claims or litigation by
participants  or other  persons for  wrongful  death,  personal  injury or other
damages resulting from contact with Company facilities,  programs,  personnel or
participants.  In  addition,  the  Company's  contracts  and the laws of certain
states  generally  require the Company to maintain  adequate  insurance  for its
operations and to indemnify the governmental agency against any damages to which
the  governmental  agency  may be  subject  in  connection  with such  claims or
litigation.  The  Company  has,  on  occasion,  been sued by third  parties  and
maintains an  insurance  program that  provides  coverage for certain  liability
risks faced by the Company,  including wrongful death,  personal injury,  bodily
injury or  property  damage to a third  party  where the  Company is found to be
negligent. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company's insurance will
be adequate to cover potential third-party claims.

Dependence on Senior Management and Skilled Personnel

     The  success  of the  Company  is highly  dependent  upon the  efforts  and
abilities of Ronald G. Geary,  its President  and Chief  Executive  Officer,  E.
Halsey  Sandford,  its Senior Executive and Jeffrey M. Cross, its Executive Vice
President -- Operations, Division for Persons with Disabilities. The Company has
recently  employed  Pamela M. Spaniac as its Executive Vice President of Finance
and  Administration  and  Paul  G.  Dunn as its  Executive  Vice  President  for
Development.  Ms.  Spaniac will begin to serve in her capacity as Executive Vice
President  of Finance  and  Administration  on August 15,  1997.  The  Company's
at-risk and  troubled  youth  services  programs are highly  dependent  upon the
efforts of Donald B. Rice, President of Youthtrack and Ralph G. Gronefeld,  Jr.,
Vice President, AYS. The Company has entered into separate employment agreements
with each of the officers  listed  above  containing  customary  noncompetition,
nondisclosure and nonsolicitation  covenants. The loss of the services of one or


                                       9
<PAGE>

more senior  executives  could have a material adverse effect upon the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.

Availability of Qualified Personnel

     The Company  competes  with many other  providers  of  long-term  care with
respect to attracting and retaining qualified and skilled personnel.  A possible
shortage of  professional  personnel or direct  service  staff or other  outside
pressures,  including collective  bargaining efforts, may require the Company to
enhance  its wage and  benefits  package  in order to  compete in the hiring and
retention  of such  personnel.  The  Company  will  also be  dependent  upon the
available  labor pool of  semi-skilled  and  unskilled  employees in each of the
markets  in which it  operates.  The  Company's  labor  costs  are  expected  to
increase,  and there can be no assurance  that the Company can match an increase
in such costs by  corresponding  increases in  reimbursement  rates for services
rendered by the Company.  Any significant  failure to control its labor costs or
to receive  increased  reimbursement for such costs through rate increases would
have a material adverse effect on the Company's  business,  financial  condition
and results of operations.

Control by Principal Shareholders

     Mr.  and  Mrs.   James  Fornear  and  their   children   beneficially   own
approximately  24.7% of the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock.  As a result,
these  shareholders are able to influence  significantly  the outcome of matters
requiring a shareholder vote,  including the election of members of the Board of
Directors, and thereby exercise a significant degree of control over the affairs
and management of the Company.

Competition

     The provision of disabilities and youth services are subject to a number of
competitive factors, including quality of services provided, cost-effectiveness,
reporting and regulatory expertise, reputation in the community and the location
and appearance of facilities and programs. In addition to certain not-for-profit
organizations,  including organizations  affiliated with advocacy and sponsoring
groups,  certain proprietary  competitors operate in multiple  jurisdictions and
may  be  well  capitalized.  The  Company  faces  significant  competition  from
not-for-profit  organizations and proprietary competitors in the states in which
it now operates and expects to face similar competition in any state that it may
enter in the future.  Many of the Company's  competitors have greater  resources
than the Company. Such competition may adversely affect the Company's ability to
obtain new contracts and complete acquisitions on favorable terms.

Environmental and Employee Safety Laws

     The Company must comply with various federal and state laws and regulations
that govern the  handling and  disposal of medical and  infectious  waste in the
operation of its  businesses.  Failure to comply with these laws or  regulations
could subject the Company to fines,  criminal  penalties  and other  enforcement
actions.  The Company has developed and implemented policies with respect to the


                                       10
<PAGE>

handling  and  disposal of medical and  infectious  waste and  believes it is in
compliance with such laws and regulations.  Federal  regulations  promulgated by
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration impose additional requirements
on the Company with regard to protecting  employees  from exposure to bloodborne
pathogens.  The Company  believes that it has complied,  and will continue to be
able to comply, with these regulations.  However, there can be no assurance that
the  regulations  will not adversely  affect the Company's  business,  financial
condition and results of operations.

Effect of Anti-Takeover Provisions

     The Company's Board of Directors has the authority to issue preferred stock
and  to  determine  the  price,  rights,  conversion  ratios,   preferences  and
privileges  of that stock  without  further vote or action by the holders of the
Common Stock.  The rights of the holders of Common Stock will be subject to, and
may be adversely  affected by, the rights,  including  economic  rights,  of the
holders of any shares of preferred stock. Any such issuance may discourage third
parties from  attempting  to acquire  control of the Company.  Furthermore,  the
Company is subject to the  anti-takeover  provisions  of the  Kentucky  Business
Corporation   Act   prohibiting   the  Company  from  engaging  in  a  "business
combination"  with an "interested  stockholder" for a period of five years after
the date of the  transaction  in which the person first  becomes an  "interested
stockholder,"  unless the  business  combination  is  approved  in a  prescribed
manner.  The  application  of this statute and certain  other  provisions of the
Company's  Amended and Restated  Articles of  Incorporation  also could have the
effect of  discouraging,  delaying  or  preventing  a change of  control  of the
Company not approved by the Board of Directors, which could adversely affect the
market price of the Company's Common Stock.

Shares Eligible for Future Sale

     As of July 29,  1997,  the Company  has  outstanding  12,302,508  shares of
Common Stock,  plus 1,049,942  shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon
exercise of options.  Sales of a substantial number of shares of Common Stock in
the public market at any particular time could adversely affect the market price
for the Company's Common Stock.  Substantially all of the shares of Common Stock
outstanding  after completion of this offering will be either freely saleable or
saleable  subject to certain volume and manner of sale  restrictions  under Rule
144 of the Securities Act.

Risks Associated with Forward-Looking Statements

     In  response  to the "safe  harbor"  provisions  contained  in the  Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company is including the following
cautionary  statements that are intended to identify certain  important  factors
that could cause the Company's  actual results to differ  materially  from those
projected in  forward-looking  statements  concerning  the Company made by or on
behalf of the Company, whether contained herein or elsewhere.

     The  Company's  growth in revenues and earnings per share has been directly
related to a considerable  increase in the number of  individuals  served in its
Division for Persons with Disabilities and its Division for Youth Services. This
growth is largely dependent upon  development-driven  activities,  including the


                                       11
<PAGE>

acquisitions of other businesses or facilities or of management  contract rights
to operate  facilities,  the award of contracts to open new  facilities or start
new  operations or to assume  management of  facilities  previously  operated by
governmental  agencies or  not-for-profit  organizations  and the  extension  or
renewal of contracts  previously awarded to the Company. The Company often makes
forward-looking statements regarding its development activities.

     Changes in the Company's  future  revenues  depend  significantly  upon the
success of these  development  activities,  and in  particular  on the Company's
ability to obtain additional  contracts to provide services to the special needs
populations  it serves,  whether  through  acquisitions,  awards in  response to
requests for proposals for new  facilities or programs or for  facilities  being
privatized by governmental  agencies,  or other development  activities.  Future
revenues also depend on the Company's ability to maintain and renew its existing
services   contracts  and  its  existing  leases.  The  Company  actively  seeks
acquisitions of other companies,  facilities and assets as a means of increasing
the number of consumers  served,  and changes in the market for such acquisition
prospects,  including increasing  competition for and increasing pricing of such
acquisition  prospects,  could also adversely affect the timing and/or viability
of future development activities.

     Revenues of the Company's Division for Persons with Disabilities are highly
dependent on reimbursement under federal and state Medicaid programs. Generally,
each state has its own  Medicaid  reimbursement  regulations  and  formula.  The
Company's revenues and operating  profitability are dependent upon the Company's
ability to maintain its  existing  reimbursement  levels and to obtain  periodic
increases  in  reimbursement  rates.  Changes  in the  manner in which  Medicaid
reimbursement  rates are  established  in one or more of the states in which the
Company  conducts its  operations,  such as those  recently  encountered  by the
Company, could adversely affect revenues and profitability. Other changes in the
manner in which federal and state  reimbursement  programs are operated,  and in
the manner in which  billings/costs are reviewed and audited,  could also affect
revenues and operating profitability.

     The Company's  cost  structure  and ultimate  operating  profitability  are
significantly  dependent on its labor costs and the availability and utilization
of its labor force and thus may be  affected by a variety of factors,  including
local  competitive  forces,  changes in minimum wages or other direct  personnel
costs,  the Company's  effectiveness  in managing its direct service staff,  and
changes in consumer services models,  such as the trends toward supported living
and  managed  care.  Additionally,  the  Company's  continued  expansion  of its
existing operations,  and its ability to expand into providing services to other
populations  utilizing  the  Company's  core  competencies  are  dependent  upon
continuation of trends toward downsizing,  privatization and consolidation,  the
Company's  ability to tailor its  services to meet the  specific  needs of these
different populations,  and its success in operating in a changing reimbursement
environment.  The  continuation  of such trends and the nature of its  operating
environment  are subject to a variety of political,  economic,  social and legal
pressures,  including  desires  of  governmental  agencies  to reduce  costs and
increase levels of services,  federal, state and local budgetary constraints and
actions  brought by advocacy  groups and the courts to change  existing  service
delivery  systems.  Material  changes  resulting from these trends and pressures


                                       12
<PAGE>

could  adversely  affect  the  demand  for and  reimbursement  of the  Company's
services  and  its  operating  flexibility,  and  ultimately  its  revenues  and
profitability.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

     All of the  proceeds  from the sale of the Shares  offered  hereby  will be
received  by the Selling  Stockholders.  The Company  will  receive  none of the
proceeds from the sale of the Shares.

                            THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     All of the Shares being offered by the Selling  Stockholders  were acquired
pursuant to an  Agreement  and Plan of  Reorganization  dated July 17, 1997 (the
"Agreement"),  by and among the Company, Rudd Aviation,  Inc. ("Rudd Sub"), Rudd
Enterprises,  Inc., as sole  stockholder  of Rudd Sub, and Mason C. Rudd, as the
sole stockholder of Rudd Enterprises, Inc. Pursuant to the Agreement, all of the
issued  and  outstanding  capital  stock  of Rudd  Sub  were  exchanged  by Rudd
Enterprises,  Inc. for 89,517  shares of Common  Stock of the Company.  Mr. Rudd
received  all  89,517  shares  of  Common  Stock  upon the  liquidation  of Rudd
Enterprises, Inc. and 35,000 of such shares of Common Stock were acquired by the
Selling  Stockholders  pursuant to  charitable  donations  from Mr. Rudd and are
being offered for sale by means of this Prospectus. Pursuant to the terms of the
Agreement,  the  Company  agreed  to  prepare  and file  with the  Commission  a
registration  statement within 15 days after the closing of the transaction with
respect  to the resale of the  Shares  from time to time on the Nasdaq  National
Market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise.

     The  following  table  sets  forth  information  regarding  the  beneficial
ownership of the  Company's  Common Stock by the Selling  Stockholders  prior to
this  offering,  the maximum  number of shares of Common Stock to be sold by the
Selling  Stockholders  hereby,  and the  beneficial  ownership of the  Company's
Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders after this offering,  assuming that all
shares of Common Stock offered hereby are sold.

                                       13
<PAGE>


<TABLE>

<S>                                          <C>                           <C>            <C>      
                                              Shares Beneficially        Shares To        Shares Beneficially
                                            Owned Prior to Offering      Be Sold In       Owned After Offering
                                           --------------------------                  ---------------------------
Name and Address of Beneficial                                              This
    Owner                                     Number        Percent       Offering        Number        Percent
- -----------------------------------------  -------------   ----------   -------------  -------------   -----------

The Jewish Community Federation              15,000           *              15,000         0              *
3630 Dutchmans Lane
Louisville KY 40205

The Rudd Foundation                          10,000           *              10,000         0              *
3 Riverfront Plaza, Suite 320
Louisville, KY  40202

University of Louisville Foundation           5,000           *               5,000         0              *
Fairfax Building
2323 S. Brook Street
Louisville, KY  40292

The Jewish Hospital Foundation                5,000           *               5,000         0              *
217 E. Chestnut Street
Louisville, KY  40202

- -------------
* Less than 1%.

</TABLE>
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     The Company's  Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq  National  Market under
the symbol  "RSCR." The Company has been advised  that the Selling  Stockholders
may sell shares of Common Stock offered hereby from time to time in transactions
on the Nasdaq Stock Market, in  privately-negotiated  transactions or otherwise.
The Selling  Stockholders may effect such  transactions by selling the shares of
Common   Stock   offered   hereby  to  or  through   broker-dealers,   and  such
broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or
commissions  from the Selling  Stockholders  or the purchasers of the Shares for
whom such broker-dealers may act as agent or to whom they sell as principal,  or
both (which  compensation  to a particular  broker-dealer  might be in excess of
customary commissions).

     The Selling  Stockholders and any broker-dealers who act in connection with
the sale of Shares hereunder may be deemed to be  "underwriters" as that term is
defined in the Securities Act, and any  commissions  received by them and profit
on any  resale of the  Shares as  principal  might be deemed to be  underwriting
discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.

     The Common Stock  offered  hereby will be sold by the Selling  Stockholders
acting as  principal  for their own  account,  and the Company  will  receive no
proceeds from this offering.  The Selling  Stockholders  will pay all applicable
stock transfer taxes, transfer fees and brokerage commissions or discounts.  The
Company has agreed to bear the cost of preparing the  Registration  Statement of




                                       14
<PAGE>

which this  Prospectus  is a part and all filing  fees and legal and  accounting
expenses in connection  with  registration of the shares of Common Stock offered
by the Selling Stockholders hereby under federal and state securities laws.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

     The  validity of the shares of Common Stock  offered  hereby will be passed
upon for the Company by Reed Weitkamp Schell Cox & Vice, Louisville, Kentucky.

                                     EXPERTS

     The consolidated  financial statements and schedule of Res-Care,  Inc. (the
Company)  as of  December  31,  1995 and 1996,  and for each of the years in the
three-year  period ended December 31, 1996, have been  incorporated by reference
herein from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1996 in  reliance  upon the reports of KPMG Peat  Marwick  LLP,  independent
certified public  accountants,  incorporated by reference  herein,  and upon the
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.


                                       15
<PAGE>

=================================================       ========================
         No  dealer, salesperson or other  person
has been authorized by  the Company to  give  any
information or  to make any  representations  not
contained in this Prospectus in  connection  with
the offer covered by  this Prospectus.  If  given
or made, such information or representations must            35,000 Shares
not be relied upon as  having been  authorized by
the Company.  This Prospectus does not constitute
an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to
buy  the  Common Stock in  any jurisdiction where,
or to any Person to whom it is  unlawful  to make
such offer or solicitation.  Neither the delivery
of  this  Prospectus nor  any sale made hereunder
shall,  under   any   circumstances,   create  an
implication that there has not been any change in            RES-CARE, INC.
the facts set forth in this Prospectus  or in the
affairs of the Company since the date hereof.
                                                              Common Stock



             -----------------------------

                                                              -------------

                                                                PROSPECTUS
                   TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                              -------------
                                            Page
                                            ----

Available Information......................... 2
Incorporation of Certain
   Documents by Reference..................... 2
The Company................................... 4
Risk Factors ................................. 4
Use of Proceeds...............................13
The Selling Stockholders......................13
Plan of Distribution..........................14             ___________, 1997
Legal Matters.................................15
Experts.......................................15


=====================================================       ====================


<PAGE>

                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS


Item 14.            Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

     The following are the  estimated  expenses in connection  with the issuance
and distribution of the securities to be registered:

      SEC registration fee ...................................      $  217
      Nasdaq listing fee......................................       2,000
      Accounting fees and expenses............................       2,000
      Legal fees and expenses.................................       5,000
      Printing................................................       2,000
      Miscellaneous...........................................         783
                                                            --------------
      TOTAL...................................................     $12,000
                                                            --------------


Item 15.             Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     Section  271B.8-510 of the Kentucky  Business  Corporation  Act (the "Act")
permits the  indemnification  by a corporation of any director who is made party
to a threatened,  pending or completed action,  suit or proceeding because he is
or was a director of such corporation. To be eligible for indemnification,  such
person must have conducted  himself in good faith and  reasonably  believed that
his conduct, if undertaken in his official capacity with the corporation, was in
the corporation's best interests,  and, if not in his official capacity,  was at
least not opposed to the corporation's best interests. In the case of a criminal
proceeding,  the director must also not have had reasonable cause to believe his
conduct  was   unlawful.   A  director   may  not  be   indemnified   under  the
above-referenced  section in connection  with a proceeding by or in the right of
the  corporation in which the director was adjudged liable to the corporation or
in connection with any other proceeding  charging  improper  personal benefit to
him,  whether or not  involving  action in  official  capacity,  in which he was
adjudged  liable on the basis that personal  benefit was improperly  received by
him. Indemnification permitted under Section 271B.8-510 of the Act in connection
with a  proceeding  by or in the right of the  corporation  shall be  limited to
reasonable  expenses  incurred  in  connection  with  the  proceeding.   Section
271B.8-560  of the Act provides  that a Kentucky  corporation  may indemnify its
officers,  employees  and  agents  to the same  extent as  directors.  Mandatory
indemnification  against  reasonable  expenses  incurred  in  connection  with a
proceeding  is  provided  for  by  the  Act,  unless  otherwise  limited  by the
corporation's  articles of  incorporation,  where a director or officer has been
wholly  successful on the merits or otherwise,  in the defense of any proceeding
to  which he was a party  because  he is or was a  director  or  officer  of the
corporation. A court of competent jurisdiction may also order indemnification if
the director is fairly and reasonably  entitled  thereto in view of all relevant


                                       II-1
<PAGE>

circumstances,  whether or not he met the applicable  standard of conduct or was
adjudged  liable  to  the  corporation,  but  if he  was  adjudged  liable,  his
indemnification shall be limited to reasonable expenses incurred.

         The Act provides that indemnification pursuant to its provisions is not
exclusive of other rights of  indemnification  to which a person may be entitled
under any bylaw, agreement,  vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or
otherwise.  Additionally,  the Act provides that a corporation  may purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of directors,  officers, employees or agents of the
corporation  against  liability  asserted  against or  incurred by such party in
their respective capacity with the corporation.

         Article  X  of  the   Company's   Amended  and  Restated   Articles  of
Incorporation and Article X of the Company's Bylaws provide for  indemnification
of its  directors,  officers,  employees and other agents to the maximum  extent
permitted by law.

Item 16.                   Exhibits

 2.1           -- Agreement by and among Res-Care,  Inc. RSCR California,  Inc.,
               Res-Care  Illinois,  Inc.,  Res-Care Kansas Inc., and RSCR Texas,
               Inc.  and  Beverly  Health  and  Rehabilitation  Services,  Inc.,
               Beverly  Enterprises--  California,  Inc., Beverly  Enterprises--
               Illinois,  Inc., Beverly  Enterprises -- Kansas, Inc. and Beverly
               Enterprises  --  Texas,  Inc.  dated  April  5,  1995  (excluding
               Exhibits and Schedules).  Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's  Report on
               Form  8-K  dated  May 1,  1995  filed on May 12,  1995 is  hereby
               incorporated by reference.

 2.2           --  Stock  Purchase  Agreement  by and  among  Housecall  Medical
               Resources  Inc. and Res-Care,  Inc.,  Blair S. Gordon and J. Paul
               Gordon  dated  as  of  May  31,  1995  (excluding   Exhibits  and
               Schedules). Exhibit 2-1 to the Company's Report on Form 8-K dated
               May 31,  1995 filed on June 15,  1995 is hereby  incorporated  by
               reference.

 3.1           -- Articles of  Amendment  to Amended  and  Restated  Articles of
               Incorporation of the Company dated May 29, 1997

 3.2           -- Amended and Restated  Articles of Incorporation of the Company
               as amended,  Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's  Registration Statement
               of Form  S-1  (Reg.  No.  33-48749)  is  hereby  incorporated  by
               reference.

 3.3           --  Bylaws  of  the  Company.   Exhibit  3.2  to  the   Company's
               Registration  Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 33-48749) is hereby
               incorporated by reference.

 4.1           --  Specimen  Common  Stock  Certificate.   Exhibit  4.1  to  the
               Company's  Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 33-48749)
               is hereby incorporated by reference.



                                     II-2
<PAGE>

 4.2           --  Article  VI  of  the   Amended  and   Restated   Articles  of
               Incorporated of the Company included in Exhibit 3.2.

 5.1       --  Opinion of Reed Weitkamp Schell Cox & Vice

 10.1          -- 1991 Incentive Stock Option Plan of the Company (adopted April
               24, 1991, amended and restated as of February 23, 1995).  Exhibit
               4 to the Company's  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No.
               33-80331) is hereby incorporated by reference.

 10.2          -- Amended and  Restated  Employment  Agreement,  dated April 27,
               1992,  between the Company and E. Halsey Sandford,  Exhibit 10.14
               to the  Company's  Registration  Statement on Form S-1 (Reg.  No.
               33-48749) is hereby incorporated by reference.

 10.3          -- 1991 Compensation/Evaluation  Bonus Plan. Exhibit 10.15 to the
               Company's  Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 33-48749)
               is hereby incorporated by reference.

 10.4          -- 1993 Nonemployee  Directors Stock Ownership  Incentive Plan of
               the  Company  (adopted  October 28,  (1993)).  Exhibit 4.1 to the
               Company's  Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 33-76612)
               is hereby incorporated by reference.

 10.5          -- Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of April 26, 1995
               by and among  Res-Care,  Inc.  and PNC Bank,  Kentucky,  Inc. and
               National  City  Bank,  Kentucky.  Exhibit  10.7 to the  Company's
               Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending  December 31, 1995
               is hereby incorporated by reference.

 10.6          -- 1994  Employee  Stock  Purchase Plan  effective  July 1, 1995.
               Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's  Registration  Statement on Form S-8
               (Reg. No. 33-85964) is hereby incorporated by reference.

 10.7          --  Employment  Agreement  dated  October  26,  1995  between the
               Company and Ronald G. Geary. Exhibit 10-1 to the Company's Report
               on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending  September 30, 1995 is hereby
               incorporated by reference.

 10.8          -- Res-Care,  Inc. 401(K)  Restoration Plan effective December 1,
               1995,  Exhibit 10.11 to the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K
               for the year ending  December 31, 1995 is hereby  incorporated by
               reference.



                                    II-3
<PAGE>

 10.9          -- Second Amendment to Loan Instruments  dated as of February 16,
               1996 by and among Res-Care,  Inc., and PNC Bank,  Kentucky,  Inc.
               National City Bank, Kentucky and Sun Trust Bank, Nashville,  N.A.
               Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
               year  ending   December  31,  1995  is  hereby   incorporated  by
               reference.

 10.10         -- Second Amended and Restated  Employment  Agreement dated March
               17, 1996  between the  Company  and E. Halsey  Sandford,  Exhibit
               10.13 to the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year
               ending December 31, 1995 is hereby incorporated by reference.

 10.11         -- Amended and Restated Employment  Agreement dated as of October
               26,  1995 and amended  November  5, 1996  between the Company and
               Ronald G. Geary.  Exhibit 10.11 to the Company's Annual Report on
               Form  10-K  for the  year  ending  December  31,  1996 is  hereby
               incorporated by reference.

 10.12         -- Loan  Agreement  dated as of  December  23,  1996 by and among
               Res-Care,  Inc.  and  all  of  its  subsidiaries  and  PNC  Bank,
               Kentucky,  Inc., National City Bank of Kentucky,  Sun Trust Bank,
               Nashville, N.A., and Bank One, Kentucky, NA. Exhibit 10.12 to the
               Company's  Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1996 is
               hereby incorporated by reference.

 10.13         --  Employment  Agreement  dated  January  1,  1997  between  the
               Company  and  Jeffrey M. Cross.  Exhibit  10.13 to the  Company's
               Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending  December 31, 1996
               is hereby incorporated by reference.

 23.1          --  Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

 23.2          --  Consent  of Reed  Weitkamp  Schell  Cox & Vice  (included  in
               opinion filed as Exhibit 5).

 24.1          --  Power of Attorney (included on signature page).


Item 17.             Undertakings

     (a) The  undersigned  Registrant  hereby  undertakes  that, for purposes of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's  annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable,  each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report  pursuant to Section  15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the  Registration  Statement shall be
deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the securities  offered


                                       II-4
<PAGE>

therein,  and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be  permitted to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons of the
registrant pursuant to the provisions of the Kentucky Business  Corporation Act,
the Amended and Restated  Articles of  Incorporation or Bylaws of the registrant
or  resolutions  of the Board of Directors of the  registrant  adopted  pursuant
thereto,  or otherwise,  the  Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of
the Securities and Exchange  Commission such  indemnification  is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event
that a claim  for  indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other  than the
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling  person of the Registrant in the  successful  defense of any action,
suite or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless
in the  opinion  of its  counsel  the matter  has been  settled  by  controlling
precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction  the question whether
such  indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

     (c) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:

     (1) For purposes of determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of
1933, the information  omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
Registration  Statement  in reliance  upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
prospectus  filed by the Registrant  pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h)
under  the  Securities  Act  shall  be  deemed  to be part of this  Registration
Statement as of the time it was declared effective.

     (2) For the purpose of determining  any liability  under the Securities Act
of 1933, each post-effective  amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall
be deemed to be a new Registration  Statement relating to the securities offered
therein,  and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1) To file,  during any period in which  offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

          (i) To include  any  prospectus  required  by Section  10(a)(3) of the
     Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act");

          (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising after
     the  effective  date of the  registration  statement  (or the  most  recent
     post-effective amendment thereof) which,  individually or in the aggregate,
     represent  a  fundamental  change  in  the  information  set  forth  in the
     registration statement;



                                       II-5
<PAGE>

          (iii) To include any material  information with respect to the plan of
     distribution not previously disclosed in the registration  statement or any
     material change to such information in the registration statement;

          Provided,  however,  that  paragraphs  (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not
     apply  if the  information  required  to be  included  in a  post-effective
     amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
     registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act
     of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") that are incorporated by reference
     in the registration statement.

     (2) That for the purpose of determining  any liability under the Securities
Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such
securities  at that time shall be deemed to be the  initial  bona fide  offering
thereof.

     (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective  amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.


     (e) The undersigned  registrant hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to be
delivered with the prospectus,  to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or
given,  the latest annual  report to security  holders that is  incorporated  by
reference  in  the  prospectus  and  furnished   pursuant  to  and  meeting  the
requirements  of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934;  and where  interim  financial  information  required to be  presented  by
Article 3 of Regulation S-X are not set forth in the prospectus,  to deliver, or
cause to be  delivered to each person to whom the  prospectus  is sent or given,
the latest  quarterly  report that is specifically  incorporated by reference in
the prospectus to provide such interim financial information.


                                       II-6
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-3 and has  duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Louisville,  Commonwealth  of Kentucky,  on July 30,
1997.

                                                 RES-CARE, INC.


                                                 By: /s/ Ronald G. Geary
                                                    -----------------------
                                                    Ronald G. Geary
                                                    President
                                                    and Chief Executive Officer





                      SIGNATURE PAGE AND POWER OF ATTORNEY


     Know all men by these presents,  that each person whose  signature  appears
below constitutes and appoints Ronald G. Geary and E. Halsey Sandford (with full
power to each of them to act alone) as his true and lawful  attorney-in-fact and
agent, with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead
in any and  all  capacities  to sign  any or all  amendments  or  post-effective
amendments to this Registration Statement,  including post-effective  amendments
filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and to
file the same with all  exhibits  thereto  and  other  documents  in  connection
therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  to sign any and all
applications,  registration  statements,  notices or other document necessary or
advisable to comply with the applicable  state  securities laws, and to file the
same,  together  with all other  documents  in  connection  therewith,  with the
appropriate state securities  authorities,  granting unto said attorneys-in-fact
and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, full power
and  authority  to do and  perform  each and every act and thing  requisite  and
necessary  to be done in and about the  premises,  as fully to all  intents  and
purposes as he might or could do in person, thereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  or  any of  them,  or  their  or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,
this  registration  statement  has been signed by the  following  persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


                                       II-7
<PAGE>


Signature                                         Title                Date


/s/ James R. Fornear         Chairman of the Board of Directors    July 30, 1997
- ----------------------------
James R. Fornear


/s/ Ronald G. Geary          Chief Executive Officer,              July 30, 1997
- ---------------------------- President and Director
Ronald G. Geary              


/s/ E. Halsey Sandord        Senior Executive and Director         July 30, 1997
- ----------------------------
E. Halsey Sandford


/s/ Spiro B. Mintos          Secretary, Treasurer and Director     July 30, 1997
- ----------------------------
Spiro B. Mitsos


/s/ Seymour I. Bryson        Director                              July 30, 1997
- ----------------------------
Seymour I. Bryson


/s/ W. Bruce Lunsford        Director                              July 30, 1997
- ----------------------------
W. Bruce Lunsford


/s/ R. Dan Brice             Acting Principal Financing            July 30, 1997
- ---------------------------- Accounting Officer
R. Dan Brice                 


                                       II-8
<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
          (*Exhibits described in Item 16 and listed in this index are
                           incorporated by reference.)
<TABLE>
<S>                                               <C>                                                  <C> 
                                                                                                       Sequentially
  Exhibit                                        Document                                             Numered Page

   2.1         -- Agreement by and among Res-Care,  Inc. RSCR California,  Inc.,
               Res-Care  Illinois,  Inc.,  Res-Care Kansas Inc., and RSCR Texas,
               Inc.  and  Beverly  Health  and  Rehabilitation  Services,  Inc.,
               Beverly  Enterprises -- California,  Inc., Beverly Enterprises --
               Illinois,  Inc., Beverly  Enterprises -- Kansas, Inc. and Beverly
               Enterprises  --  Texas,  Inc.  dated  April  5,  1995  (excluding
               Exhibits and Schedules).  Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's  Report on
               Form  8-K  dated  May 1,  1995  filed on May 12,  1995 is  hereby
               incorporated by reference.*

   2.2         --  Stock  Purchase  Agreement  by and  among  Housecall  Medical
               Resources  Inc. and Res-Care,  Inc.,  Blair S. Gordon and J. Paul
               Gordon  dated  as  of  May  31,  1995  (excluding   Exhibits  and
               Schedules). Exhibit 2-1 to the Company's Report on Form 8-K dated
               May 31,  1995 filed on June 15,  1995 is hereby  incorporated  by
               reference.*

   3.1         -- Articles of  Amendment  to Amended  and  Restated  Articles of
               Incorporation of the Company dated May 29, 1997.

   3.2         -- Amended and Restated  Articles of Incorporation of the Company
               as amended,  Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's  Registration Statement
               of Form  S-1  (Reg.  No.  33-48749)  is  hereby  incorporated  by
               reference.*

   3.3         --  Bylaws  of  the  Company.   Exhibit  3.2  to  the   Company's
               Registration  Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 33-48749) is hereby
               incorporated by reference.*

   4.1         --  Specimen  Common  Stock  Certificate.   Exhibit  4.1  to  the
               Company's  Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 33-48749)
               is hereby incorporated by reference.*

   4.2         --  Article  VI  of  the   Amended  and   Restated   Articles  of
               Incorporated of the Company included in Exhibit 3.2.*

   5.1         -- Opinion of Reed Weitkamp Schell Cox & Vice 



                                       II-9
<PAGE>
                                                                                                       Sequentially 
   Exhibit                                        Document                                             Numered Page
   -------                                        --------                                             ------------

   10.1        -- 1991 Incentive Stock Option Plan of the Company (adopted April
               24, 1991, amended and restated as of February 23, 1995).  Exhibit
               4 to the Company's  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No.
               33-80331) is hereby incorporated by reference.*

   10.2        -- Amended and  Restated  Employment  Agreement,  dated April 27,
               1992,  between the Company and E. Halsey Sandford,  Exhibit 10.14
               to the  Company's  Registration  Statement on Form S-1 (Reg.  No.
               33-48749) is hereby incorporated by reference.*

   10.3        -- 1991 Compensation/Evaluation  Bonus Plan. Exhibit 10.15 to the
               Company's  Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 33-48749)
               is hereby incorporated by reference.*

   10.4        -- 1993 Nonemployee  Directors Stock Ownership  Incentive Plan of
               the  Company  (adopted  October 28,  (1993)).  Exhibit 4.1 to the
               Company's  Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 33-76612)
               is hereby incorporated by reference.*

   10.5        -- Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of April 26, 1995
               by and among  Res-Care,  Inc.  and PNC Bank,  Kentucky,  Inc. and
               National  City  Bank,  Kentucky.  Exhibit  10.7 to the  Company's
               Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending  December 31, 1995
               is hereby incorporated by reference.*

   10.6        -- 1994  Employee  Stock  Purchase Plan  effective  July 1, 1995.
               Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's  Registration  Statement on Form S-8
               (Reg. No. 33-85964) is hereby incorporated by reference.*

   10.7        --  Employment  Agreement  dated  October  26,  1995  between the
               Company and Ronald G. Geary. Exhibit 10-1 to the Company's Report
               on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending  September 30, 1995 is hereby
               incorporated by reference.*

   10.8        -- Res-Care,  Inc. 401(K)  Restoration Plan effective December 1,
               1995,  Exhibit 10.11 to the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K
               for the year ending  December 31, 1995 is hereby  incorporated by
               reference.*

                               


                                       II-10
<PAGE>
                                                                                                       Sequentially
   Exhibit                                        Document                                             Numered Page
   -------                                        --------                                             ------------

   10.9        -- Second Amendment to Loan Instruments  dated as of February 16,
               1996 by and among Res-Care,  Inc., and PNC Bank,  Kentucky,  Inc.
               National City Bank, Kentucky and Sun Trust Bank, Nashville,  N.A.
               Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
               year  ending   December  31,  1995  is  hereby   incorporated  by
               reference.*

   10.10       -- Second Amended and Restated  Employment  Agreement dated March
               17, 1996  between the  Company  and E. Halsey  Sandford,  Exhibit
               10.13 to the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year
               ending December 31, 1995 is hereby incorporated by reference.*

   10.11       -- Amended and Restated Employment  Agreement dated as of October
               26,  1995 and amended  November  5, 1996  between the Company and
               Ronald G. Geary.  Exhibit 10.11 to the Company's Annual Report on
               Form  10-K  for the  year  ending  December  31,  1996 is  hereby
               incorporated by reference.*
 
   10.12       -- Loan  Agreement  dated as of  December  23,  1996 by and among
               Res-Care,  Inc.  and  all  of  its  subsidiaries  and  PNC  Bank,
               Kentucky,  Inc., National City Bank of Kentucky,  Sun Trust Bank,
               Nashville, N.A., and Bank One, Kentucky, NA. Exhibit 10.12 to the
               Company's  Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1996 is
               hereby incorporated by reference.*

   10.13       --  Employment  Agreement  dated  January  1,  1997  between  the
               Company  and  Jeffrey M. Cross.  Exhibit  10.13 to the  Company's
               Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending  December 31, 1996
               is hereby incorporated by reference.*

   23.1        --  Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

   23.2        --  Consent of Reed Weitkamp  Schell Cox & Vice  (included
                   in opinion filed as Exhibit 5).

   24.1        --  Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

</TABLE>



                                       II-11


                                                           Exhibit 3.1


                              ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
                                       TO
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                            ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                                 RES-CARE, INC.


     The  undersigned,  being the President and Chief  Executive  Officer of the
Corporation, does hereby state as follows:

     1. The name of the Corporation is Res-Care, Inc.

     2. The  amendment  to the Amended and  Restated  Articles of  Incorporation
adopted by the Board of Directors and approved at a meeting of the  shareholders
is as follows:

     Articles IV, V and VI of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
are hereby amended such that, as amended,  said Articles IV, V and VI shall read
in their entirety as follows:

                                   "ARTICLE IV

                                Principal Office

               The mailing address of the principal office of the Corporation is
          10140 Linn Station Road, Louisville, Kentucky 40223.

                                    ARTICLE V

                       Registered Office; Registered Agent

               The street address of the registered office of the Corporation is
          10140 Linn  Station  Road,  Louisville  (Jefferson  County),  Kentucky
          40223,  and the name of the registered  agent at such office is Ronald
          G. Geary.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                Authorized Shares

               The total number of shares which the  Corporation  shall have the
          authority to issue is  41,000,000  shares  ("Shares"),  which shall be
          divided into two classes as follows:



                                       1
<PAGE>

                           40,000,000 Common Shares; and

                           1,000,000 Preferred Shares.

               The   designations,   voting  powers  and  relative   rights  and
          preferences of the shares shall be as follows:

               A. Common Shares.

               1. Powers,  Rights and  Preferences.  The Common  Shares shall be
          without  distinction as to powers,  rights and preferences.  Except as
          may be  provided by the Board of  Directors  in a  designation  of any
          series of  Preferred  Shares (in  accordance  with the  provisions  of
          Paragraph B of Article VI) or as otherwise declared by law, the Common
          Shares  shall have the  exclusive  right to vote for the  election  of
          directors and on all other matters in which shareholders are generally
          entitled to vote.  Except with  respect to the  election of  directors
          (where cumulative voting is required), each of the Common Shares shall
          have one vote per share  (which vote may not be split into  fractional
          votes) on matters on which  holders of Common  Shares are  entitled to
          vote.

               2. Dividends. After the requirements with respect to preferential
          dividends on Preferred Shares (fixed in accordance with the provisions
          of  Paragraph B of Article  VI),  if any,  have been met and after the
          Corporation has complied with any  requirements for setting aside sums
          as sinking  funds or  redemption  or  purchase  accounts  and  subject
          further to any other conditions which may be established in accordance
          with the  provisions  of  Paragraph  B of Article  VI, the  holders of
          Common Shares shall be entitled to receive such dividends,  if any, as
          may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors.

               3. Distributions on Common Shares.  After distribution in full of
          any  preferential  amount  (as may be  fixed  in  accordance  with the
          provisions  of  Paragraph  B of Article VI) to be  distributed  to the
          holders of Preferred Shares,  and subject to any further rights of the
          holders of Preferred  Shares to further  participate in a liquidation,
          distribution  or sale or  assets,  dissolution  or  winding-up  of the
          Corporation,  the  holders  of  Common  Shares  shall be  entitled  to
          receive, upon the voluntary or involuntary  liquidation,  distribution
          or sale of assets,  dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation,  all
          of its remaining  assets,  tangible and  intangible,  of whatever kind
          available for distribution to the shareholders,  ratably in proportion
          to the number of Common Shares held by each.



                                       2
<PAGE>

               4.  Issuance of Common  Shares.  Common Shares may be issued from
          time to time as the Board of  Directors  shall  determine  and on such
          terms  and for such  consideration  as shall be fixed by the  Board of
          Directors.

               B. Preferred Shares.

               1. Issuance by Board Resolutions;  Series. The Board of Directors
          of the  Corporation  shall have  authority by resolution to issue from
          time to time Preferred Shares in one or more series. Each series shall
          be distinctly designated by number, letter or title. All shares of any
          one series of Preferred Shares shall be alike in every particular. The
          powers, preferences and voting, relative, participating,  optional and
          other rights of each such series, and the qualifications,  limitations
          or restrictions  thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all
          other series at any time outstanding.

               2.   Preferences  and  Rights.   Subject  to  the  provisions  of
          subparagraph  3 of this  Paragraph  B of  Article  VI,  the  Board  of
          Directors of the Corporation is hereby expressly  granted authority to
          fix by resolution or resolutions  adopted prior to the issuance of any
          shares of each particular series of Preferred Shares, the designation,
          powers, preferences and voting, relative, participating,  optional and
          other rights,  and the  qualifications,  limitations and  restrictions
          thereof, if any, of such series,  including,  but without limiting the
          generality of the foregoing, the following:

               (a) The  distinctive  designation of, and the number of Preferred
          Shares which shall  constitute  the series,  which number from time to
          time may be  increased  (except  as  otherwise  fixed by the  Board of
          Directors)  or decreased  (but not below the number of shares  thereof
          then  outstanding)  from  time to  time  by  action  of the  Board  of
          Directors;

               (b) The rate and  times at which,  and the  terms and  conditions
          upon  which,  dividends  on the  shares of the  series  shall be paid,
          whether the dividends  shall be cumulative or  non-cumulative,  and if
          cumulative,  from what date or dates, and the preferences or relation,
          if any, of such  dividends to the  dividends  payable on any shares of
          any other series or class of stock of the Corporation;

               (c) Whether  shares of the series shall be subject to redemption,
          and if so subject,  whether they shall be subject to redemption (i) at
          the option of the Corporation, the shareholder,  another person and/or
          upon  the   occurrence   of  a  designated   event,   (ii)  for  cash,
          indebtedness,   securities  (including,   without  limitation,  Common
          Shares) or other property, or any combination thereof, and (iii) for a
          designated  amount or for an amount  determined in  accordance  with a


                                       3
<PAGE>

          designated  formula or by reference to extrinsic data or events;  and,
          as to any shares of a series subject to  redemption,  such other terms
          and conditions on which the shares of the series may be redeemed;

               (d)  Whether  the  holders of the  shares of the series  shall be
          entitled to the benefit of a sinking  fund or  redemption  or purchase
          account to be applied to the purchase or  redemption  of the shares of
          the series and, if so entitled,  the amount of such fund and the terms
          and conditions relative to the operation thereof;

               (e) Whether the shares of the series shall be  convertible  into,
          or  exchangeable  for,  any  Common or other  Preferred  Shares of the
          Corporation  or  any  other  securities  and,  if  so  convertible  or
          exchangeable,  whether the conversion or exchange (i) is at the option
          of the Corporation,  the  shareholder,  another person and/or upon the
          occurrence   of  a   designated   event,   (ii)  shall  be  for  cash,
          indebtedness,   securities  (including,   without  limitation,  Common
          Shares) or other property, or any combination thereof, and (iii) shall
          be for a designated  amount or at a designated ratio, or for an amount
          or at a ratio determined in accordance with a designated formula or by
          reference  to  extrinsic  data or events;  and,  as to any shares of a
          series so convertible or exchangeable, such other terms and conditions
          on which the shares of the series may be converted or exchanged;

               (f) The  rights,  if any,  of the  holders  of the  shares of the
          series   upon   voluntary   or   involuntary   liquidation,    merger,
          consolidation,   distribution  or  sale  of  assets,   dissolution  or
          winding-up of the Corporation;

               (g) Whether the shares of the series shall have  priority over or
          parity  with or be junior to the shares of any other  class or series,
          or shall be entitled to the benefit of limitations restricting (i) the
          creation of  indebtedness  of the  Corporation,  (ii) the  issuance of
          shares of any other class or series having priority over or being on a
          parity  with the  shares  of such  series,  or (iii)  the  payment  of
          dividends  on, the making of other  distributions  with respect to, or
          the purchase or  redemption  of shares of any other class or series on
          parity  with or ranking  junior to the shares of any such series as to
          dividends  or  other   distributions,   and  the  terms  of  any  such
          restrictions,  or any other restrictions with respect to shares of any
          class or series on parity with or ranking junior to the shares of such
          series in any respect;

               (h) Whether and in what  circumstances  shares of a series  shall
          have voting  rights,  which  voting  rights,  if any,  may be general,


                                       4
<PAGE>

          special,  conditional  or  limited  (and,  in  the  case  of  special,
          conditional or limited voting rights,  may confer upon holders of such
          series  in  certain  circumstances  the  exclusive  right  to  elect a
          majority  of the  members of the Board of  Directors);  and, as to any
          shares of a series  having  voting  rights,  the  number of votes each
          holder  shall be  entitled  to cast per each  share of the  series and
          whether  holders of the  series are  entitled  to vote  separately  or
          together  with the  holders of one or more other  series of  Preferred
          Shares on all or some matters as a separate voting group; and

               (i) Any  other  powers,  preferences,  privileges  and  relative,
          participating,  optional,  or other special rights of such series, and
          the  qualifications,  limitations  or  restrictions  thereof,  to  the
          fullest extent now and hereafter permitted by law.

               3.  Issuance  of  Preferred  Shares.  Subject  to  the  following
          provisions of this  subparagraph  3, shares of any series of Preferred
          Shares may be issued from time to time as the Board of Directors shall
          determine  and on such  terms and for such  consideration  as shall be
          fixed by the Board of Directors. The relative powers,  preferences and
          rights of each series of  Preferred  Shares in relation to the powers,
          preferences and rights of each other series of Preferred  Shares shall
          be as  fixed  from  time to  time by the  Board  of  Directors  in the
          resolution or  resolutions  adopted  pursuant to authority  granted in
          this  Paragraph B of Article VI. Except as otherwise  declared by law,
          the  consent by class or series  vote or  otherwise  of the holders of
          such of the  series of the  Preferred  Shares as are from time to time
          outstanding  shall not be  required  for the  issuance by the Board of
          Directors of any other series of Preferred Shares, whether the powers,
          preferences  and  rights of such  other  series  shall be fixed by the
          Board of  Directors  as senior to, or on a parity  with,  the  powers,
          preferences  and rights of such  outstanding  series,  or any of them;
          provided,  however,  that the Board of  Directors  may provide in such
          resolution  or  resolutions  adopted  with  respect  to any  series of
          Preferred  Shares that the  consent of the  holders of a majority  (or
          such greater  proportion as shall be therein fixed) of the outstanding
          shares  of such  series  voting  thereon  shall  be  required  for the
          issuance of any or all other series of Preferred Shares."

     3. The foregoing  Amendment required  shareholder  approval.  The foregoing
Amendment was approved by the shareholders on May 13, 1997 at the annual meeting
of the shareholders. Such meeting was duly called pursuant to notice as provided
in the  Corporation's  By-laws.  No Preferred Shares are issued and outstanding.
The total number of Common Shares of the Corporation outstanding and entitled to
vote on the Amendment was 10,059,093.  The total number of votes  represented at
the  meeting  of the  shareholders  in person or by proxy was  8,052,423  Common
Shares.  The total number of Common  Shares voting in favor of the Amendment was
7,962,107 or 79.15% of the Corporation's  Common Shares outstanding and entitled


                                       5
<PAGE>

to vote on the Amendment, which constitutes sufficient approval of the Amendment
under the Corporation's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation.

     4. All other  Articles set forth in those Amended and Restated  Articles of
Incorporation  filed with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
on  December  21,  1992,  are true and  accurate  and are not  modified by these
Articles of Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation.

     IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has  executed  these  Articles  of
Amendment on behalf of the Corporation this 29th day of May , 1997.

                                      RES-CARE, INC.


                                      By:  /s/ Ronald G. Geary
                                           -------------------
                                           Ronald G. Geary
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer


This instrument prepared by:



/s/ Gary R. Weitkamp
- --------------------
Gary R. Weitkamp, Esq.
REED WEITKAMP SCHELL COX & VICE
2400 Citizens Plaza
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
(502) 589-1000




                                                             Exhibit 5.1




                  [Reed Weitkamp Schell Cox & Vice Letterhead]



                                  July 31, 1997






Res-Care, Inc.
10140 Linn Station Road
Louisville, Kentucky 40223

                  Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to  Res-Care,  Inc., a Kentucky  corporation  (the
"Company"),  in connection with the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
(the "Registration  Statement") filed on the date hereof with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission")  under the  Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"). The Registration  Statement relates to 35,000 shares of the
Company's  Common  Stock,  no par value per share  (the  "Shares"),  which  were
previously  issued by the  Company  and are being  registered  for resale by the
holder thereof.

     In this  capacity,  we have  examined  the  Company's  Amended and Restated
Articles  of  Incorporation  and  Bylaws,   the  Registration   Statement,   the
proceedings of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the issuance of
the Shares and such other  documents,  instruments and matters of law as we have
deemed necessary to the rendering of this opinion.

     Based on the  foregoing,  we are of the  opinion  and  advise  you that the
Shares described in the Registration Statement have been duly authorized and are
validly and legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         We hereby  consent to the  filing of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.


<PAGE>

     We express no  opinion  as to the laws of any  jurisdiction  other than the
laws of the  Commonwealth of Kentucky and the federal laws of the United States.
Our opinion is rendered  as of the date  hereof and we assume no  obligation  to
advise you of changes that may hereafter be brought to our attention.  Except as
provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, this opinion is intended solely
for your  benefit and may not be relied upon,  referred to or otherwise  used by
any person without our express written consent.

                                          Sincerely,



                                          Reed Weitkamp Schell Cox & Vice


                                          /s/ Reed Weitkamp Schell Cox & Vice
GRW/vlw





                                                                   Exhibit 23.1





             CONSENT OF KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


     We consent to incorporation  by reference in the Registration  Statement on
Form S-3 of Res-Care,  Inc. of our report dated February 26, 1997,  with respect
to the  consolidated  balance sheets of Res-Care,  Inc. and  subsidiaries  as of
December 31, 1995 and 1996 and the related  consolidated  statements  of income,
shareholders'  equity,  and cash  flows for each of the years in the  three-year
period ended December 31, 1996, and the related  schedule,  which reports appear
in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.



                                           /s/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP



July 29, 1997






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