Our Success

Making a Difference through Residential Care

Growing up, Melanie experienced a childhood unimaginable to most. Her mother allowed others to sexually abuse Melanie in order to acquire money for drugs, and due to this tragic past, Melanie was not stable enough to enter foster care when removed from her mother's custody.

Instead, Melanie entered the Kids Hope United Residential Treatment Program, which provides crisis stabilization, mental health treatment, individual and family counseling, and independent living skills to troubled youth, aimed at transitioning them to a less-restrictive placement as swiftly as possible.

Upon entering the program, Melanie displayed severe behavioral, mental and emotional problems. She tried running away and had a very tough time adjusting. But with time and the dedicated care of Residential Treatment staff, Melanie came to identify her self-worth and potential. Eventually, she was able to move to a transitional living program, where she has more freedom and responsibilities, preparing her for adulthood.

The Residential Treatment home currently houses and cares for 20 youth with problems similar to those of Melanie, many of whom break the law, attempt to run away and face a variety of struggles due to their difficult pasts. In addition to these struggles, youth also face the daily challenges of ordinary teens, such as homework, dating, substance abuse temptations and fitting in at school.

"These are not easy children to work with, but they all have potential to succeed," said Melissa Webster, residential supervisor. "It takes a special person to work in this program. Our staff are dedicated to and passionate about the work we do to positively impact the lives of these young people."

A great deal of effort goes into meeting the daily needs of youth, as well as providing them with "extras" that others take for granted. They have similar interests, needs and wants as ordinary teens, and Webster and her staff work daily to provide them with childhood experiences that most never had.

Among other things, Webster cites a need for the following:

  • Hygiene baskets complete with items like toothpaste, shampoo, hair products, soap and lip balm.
  • Journals, Bibles and other positive reading materials.
  • Blankets, sheets, curtains, towels and washcloths.

"These are simple items that make a youth's stay more normal and homelike," said Webster. "Usually, youth inherit these items, which can be old and tattered. Providing them with new things means more to them than we can understand."

For more information on how you can help, please contact Melissa Webster at 618.532.4311. With your help, we can continue to change the lives of troubled youth in our community.

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