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New Service Helps Residential Care Children Transition to Adult Life

New Service Helps Residential Care Children
Transition to Adult Life

August 04, 2008

Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH), one of the southeast’s largest residential child care institutions, is introducing a new residential service to specifically aid older children as they prepare for life as independent adults.

Transitional living provides care, counseling, and life-skills education to older children in a less restricted residential setting. The service was created in response to the growing need in North Carolina to help transition children from residential care to productive and self-sufficient adult lives.

“We want to do everything in our means to secure a promising future for our children,” said BCH president Michael C. Blackwell. “Transitional living is a much-needed service that is a natural complement to our traditional child care program.”

BCH implemented transitional living as a response to alarming national statistics regarding older children in residential programs.

“Statistics show that many children struggle once they age out of residential child care and foster home care,” explained Blackwell. “They do not have family or other support systems. They often lack basic skills needed to live independently. Some end up making very poor life choices and put bigger strains on our social service systems.”

Transitional living is available to children ages 16 to 21. Children live in a specialized BCH residential cottage with an on-site resident manager who provides support and supervision. Residents work with BCH social work staff to establish goals and employ weekly plans as a part of the service’s education process.

“Residents are getting a taste of independent, adult life, but they are doing so through the transitional living environment,” said BCH’s Donna Lail who oversees the transitional living service. “It allows us to work closely with each resident as they work towards goals and obtain the necessary skills to make a successful transition to adult life beyond BCH.”

Residents work to achieve basic and higher education goals. They strengthen their abilities to make appropriate choices, to secure gainful employment, and determine independent living and transportation arrangements. They learn important skills including making a budget, menu planning and housekeeping.

BCH’s first transitional living facility opened at Noel Home in Lenoir where five girls are taking advantage of the new service.

“Transitional living is still in its early stages, but I’m seeing its impact firsthand at Noel Home,” said Lail. “The girls are so positive. They recognize that what they are learning is relevant to their future. One resident is enrolled in real estate school. Another is preparing to begin community college. They’re getting jobs and saving money. It’s very exciting to watch.”

The second service location is opening soon at BCH’s Mills Home in Thomasville. Huffman Cottage, a residential cottage constructed in 1940, has been refurbished in preparation for the five girls who will soon occupy the home.

Furniture companies throughout the Triad, including Thomasville Furniture Industries, Lexington Home Brands, Braxton Culler, Bassett Furniture, and Furnitureland South, donated a total of $114,580 of furniture and accessories for Huffman Cottage.

“Community support has been tremendous and much appreciated,” Blackwell said. “Everyone who gave to this project did so because they believe in this new service and what BCH is trying to accomplish. They are helping us provide a beautiful home for these girls.”

Huffman Cottage will officially open on Sunday, August 3 at a special dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting during the Mills Home annual Alumni Homecoming. Both past and future Huffman Cottage residents will attend along with city and donor representatives.

BCH is assessing within its statewide network of facilities the location for the next transitional living cottage.

“Baptist Children’s Homes has been a leader in child care for almost 123 years because we’ve never been afraid to evolve and grow for the sake of children and families,” Blackwell said. “Transitional living is helping to meet an important need, and we are determined to make a difference.”

Since 1885, Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina has helped children and families. BCH began with one campus, Mills Home in Thomasville, but now provides services in sixteen communities across the state.

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