Hope House, Inc.

Program Description

Hope House is not like a conventional “facility” but instead is a home where the “program” is a family like environment, which is based in Christian principals and Biblical Truths. 

Most of the children at Hope House have an attachment disorder diagnosis along with other types of mental health issues including, but not limited to, PTSD, Bipolar, Depression, Aspberger’s, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, etc.  All Mental Health services are contracted through local providers as we do not provide clinical services onsite.

Most children at Hope House have a variety of neurological and developmental deficits as a result of early childhood trauma, abuse and neglect. Many of our children come from orphanages from other countries (Russia, Romania, Liberia, Brazil, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc.) and English is their second language. 

The result of these multiple factors is a difficulty in forming secure attachments and healthy relationships in their new adopted homes.  This can lead these youth to create chaos and disharmony in their life and in their adoptive family with maladaptive behaviors and this ultimately leads to their placement at Hope House.

Because the Hope House setting is a dormitory environment (boys and girls in separate buildings) and not a two parent traditional family home (we do not use the house parents model) many of the maladaptive behaviors decrease.

Some of the children at Hope House are in the mutual process of repairing and restoring their relationship with their adoptive families but others will never return to live in their adoptive home. As a general rule, youth living at Hope House are not available for adoption.

Daily life is very structured and planned in way that it is constantly supporting, guiding and reinforcing our youth’s ability to heal while learning daily living skills.  Still, youth can become quite defiant, disruptive and at times combative. For disruptive or inappropriate behaviors we focus on reinforcing natural consequences with compassion rather than punishments. Our Staff are trained in the "Positive Control System (PCS)" which teaches them to respond calmly and compassionately to misbehavior instead of reacting to it. Our goal is to allow the youth to regain self-control and thus eliminate the maladaptive behavior. This is the cornerstone of our behavior management program at Hope House.

Most of our staff have their own living quarters away from the dormitory areas. Children generally stay at Hope House for at least eighteen months. During this time they will begin to develop healthy attachments and they are provided with the opportunity to develop trusting relationships which ultimately facilitates healing, self-control, and better daily functioning. 

Children attend Hope Christian Academy (HCA), a private, accredited school located onsite.  All students receive an Individual Education Plan (IEP) to address their specific academic, behavioral, and social needs in school.  The school also has a vibrant athletic program which includes boys' & girls' basketball, flag football for boys, volleyball for girls, and co-ed softball.

One of the greatest joys of working at Hope House is the fact that staff are encouraged to share their faith in Christ with the Children. Spirituality plays a very important role in the healing process. Religious services and education are provided through the onsite Chapel of Hope. We encourage you to read the Chapel of Hope Statement of Faith. 

The entire Hope House family attends church for worship together each Sunday and Wednesday evening. Each staff member has a personal relationship with Christ and is expected to model this through their life and daily interactions.

As with all Hope House family members the children are encouraged to live out each day according to the principals of love and brotherhood found in the Holy Bible.

While Hope House does not require any child to adhere to any set of doctrines or beliefs, we do require respectful, appropriate behavior at all Hope House functions, including all religious services.