A group of Blytheville women is working together to found a service which will offer a safe option for teens and children in crisis, or who may be headed towards foster care or correctional facilities.
Hope House is being founded by Pattie Bell and Sommer Rucker, in conjunction with Tamika Jenkins, LaVera Kuykendall and Yolanda Taylor. The group's mission is to provide temporary shelter for displaced youth that will inspire and motivate hope. They plan to offer temporary housing and counseling services to children aged 6-17, with referrals accepted from parents, legal guardians, child protective services, the juvenile court system and inpatient and outpatient mental health providers and counseling services.
Bell said that the service elements offered to children in the program will be physical and emotional safety, building motivation for success, development of self worth, identification of positive support, identifying and offering counseling for dysfunctional families and temporarily removing youth from negative community environments.
The group has applied for 501-C3 charitable status, and is currently working on fundraising and searching for a housing facility. Bell said that they plan to work as a liaison between troubled youth and their families, as well as offer a place for them to receive counseling services from other mental health providers, and possibly serve as a stop-gap for teens who may be headed for foster care or correctional facilities.
Hope House plans to obtain a facility and break ground by October, and begin taking in children by March or April of 2015.
For more information or donations, contact Pattie Bell at (870) 281-5080 or patriciabell92@yahoo.com