"The number of children placed remains steady due to those leaving replaced by other children ’at risk’. The majority stays for a period of six to twelve months.  Some children stay for a longer time than anticipated due to their circumstances, the children’s safety and well being the most important consideration.  There have been very few instances where the children returned to the system and we feel this is due to working closely with Human Resources to provide the best possible solution for the children when they leave. It is traumatic enough for a child to be taken from family, but to have that happen to them again is what we work very hard to avoid. We want every child that leaves to be able to grow and prosper in a nurturing, loving family that cherishes each child.

 

While at our shelter school age children attend the local schools, receive medical attention, counseling and are taught the value of virtues in their daily lives.  They also receive basic life skills training according to their age group.   The children are all so special; they ask for so little and deserve much more than they have had to experience in their young lives.  We strive to empower all the children with the skills necessary to succeed in life.  We want all of them to grow up with strong and meaningful values that will assist them to be caring adults and loving parents themselves.  We feel this is important in breaking the cycle of child abuse.  Often children who suffer abuse as a child end up abusing their own children and we have to stop that from happening.

We have come far but there is still much to do! The problems of child Abuse and Neglect do not go away. This terrible ‘social ill’ is one we constantly fight and we must win! The stakes are too high!"   
From Marla's Board of Directors