Ministry Overview

 Home Life

Homes of Hope for Children will have one home for boys and one home for girls. Seven children will live in each home with a set of full-time houseparents. The houseparents will be a committed Christian couple who has been “called” into this special work. The couple will have undergone an extensive interview and testing process prior to being hired. The goal of each home is to maintain an environment that will offer each child a chance to develop into a confident young adult with a high degree of self-sufficiency, an exemplary work ethic, a strong ethical base, and a clear understanding of right and wrong.

Homes of Hope for Children is committed to helping children develop maturity, self-control, and accountability in relating to each other. Our goal is that they are positioned and equipped to one day have a healthy marriage and family relationship. This goal dictates that they learn and internalize these traits. Homes of Hope for Children will provide a safe environment for children to learn, earn trust, and have the opportunity to experience building healthy relationships. Every program will strive to teach and train children in making wise and responsible decisions.

Homes of Hope for Children will take proactive steps to keep our houseparents healthy and functioning optimally for the children. To that end, each houseparents will be supported by:

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  A relief couple to fill in during time off for houseparents.
• Regular “date” nights for the couple to spend time together or with their own family.
• Weekly staff meetings for support.
• Ongoing marriage and family counseling to strengthen their own family and marriage.
   

Counseling

Counseling is only a process. It is a tool that Homes of Hope for Children will use to focus attention on the emotional and relational needs of children and their families. It is a means to get at the truth with each family and aid children in confronting the truth abut their lives and their daily patterns of living.

Children who come to Homes of Hope for Children (and their families) have their own set of issues which precipitate their need for the children’s home. Each of these children will receive several proactive levels of counseling:

• Weekly individual counseling.
• Family counseling with the child’s parent or guardian and extended family members as necessary (the child’s natural family will receive support and training in parenting their child and in helping them establish healthy intimacy with family and non-family members).

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Education

Many of the children who come to live at Homes of Hope for Children will be behind academically. This will be seen in a child’s poor performance in certain subjects, poor grades, or a child being behind in their grade level. Each child will have an opportunity to improve and strengthen their academic performance while residing with us.

Our children will attend public schools. Each child will be tested and teachers, parents, and counselors will be consulted to determine the child’s strengths and weaknesses. An individualized program will be developed that will enable every child to receive the aid he or she needs to be successful in the classroom. We will also provide tutors to work in the homes as an aid to the children.

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Homes of Hope for Children has a deep sense of responsibility to the children that will be raised on our campus. Reflecting upon that responsibility, the Transitional Living Program strives to serve young adults from our campus who have graduated from high school and will be transitioning into the next stage of their lives.

Through this program, we will provide these young adults with a safe, Christ-centered living environment, guidance, and support as they continue their education or pursue other vocational goals, as well as assistance in life skill training on an individual basis. The Transitional Living Program will consist of two apartments located on our campus able to house four young adults.