Note:  The following was provided by Ginny Shelley of Our House.  You can contact her for additional information.

Our House, a campus of the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, was officially opened June 18, 2002. The first children (ages 6-17) were accepted July 28, 2002 at the Our House facility. Our House is a unique collaborative model for the state of Georgia, providing effective emergency placement and assessment for children who are victims of abuse and neglect. Located on 24 wooded acres in North Columbus, Our House is a full service facility with two residential wings, a commercial kitchen, dining room, gymnasium, areas for active and quiet play, study area, and 11,000 square feet of administrative space. The center is staffed by professionals in child welfare and provides office space for our community partners.

Our House has established collaborative partnerships with thirty organizations, which include the Department of Family and Children’s Services, law enforcement, county prosecutor, Muscogee County School District, and other existing child advocacy organizations. Many of these collaborative partners are directly involved in providing the assessments needed to make permanency plans for our children in care, or in making sure that appropriate resources are available once the assessments are completed.

Our House is having a substantial impact on the children and community in the following ways:

• Immediate emergency placement for children
• Reduced length of stay for children in care
• Increased permanency for children
• Intensive foster family resource development
• Recognized center for on-going community programs in prevention and intervention for at-risk families
  

History

Children are in harm’s way in our community. Columbus is Georgia’s largest city that did not have a temporary emergency placement center for children. Between two and three times each week, the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) must remove a child from the abusive home knowing that another safer, effective placement has almost certainly not been available within our community. In 2001, there were 1314 reported cases in Muscogee County, with 485 cases confirmed as abuse or neglect and placed under the care of the Muscogee County DFCS. This is an increase of 100 confirmed cases of child abuse in 2000 in Columbus, reflecting an alarming trend, with a system that has only 78 traditional foster families to care for these children.

In December 1998, Friends of Foster Care commissioned a survey of 21 local childcare professional and community leaders to assess the need for a temporary placement facility and children’s center. While overwhelmingly supporting the immediate need for such a place, the survey uncovered strong support for fundamental change in the way our community meets the needs of children once they have entered the foster care system. The need is crucial for multi-disciplinary assessment services that look at emotional, educational, medical, family needs, with resources located in close proximity to the children in care. Fueled by this knowledge, Columbus for Kids, Inc. was formed to establish such a center–one location that provides comprehensive emergency placement and assessment for children who are victims of abuse.

Milestones

• Columbus for Kids purchased the Northridge Hospital campus from the Columbus Regional Healthcare System on May 2, 2002 with the assistance of a bridge loan.
• Columbus for Kids established a partnership with the Methodist Home for Children and Youth for Our House to be a Methodist Home campus. This means that Our House is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children, Inc. and the Eagle Accreditation Program.
• Two grants of $500,000 were given for the purchase of the facility by a local foundation and Columbus Regional Healthcare System.
• Columbus for Kids has secured a private funding commitment of $550,000 to support the first two years of operating expenses. A comprehensive business plan has been developed which provides for operating self-sufficiency within three years. We are ahead of schedule with operating performance in 2002, after the first quarter in 2003.
• The State of Georgia has designated Our House as a pilot program and has agreed to fund the operating expenses for 20 beds for the first year of operation at a maximum basic care per diem rate. Additional state support for operating expenses is being provided for specialty beds on the second wing, which opened on October 14, 2002.
• Since receiving the first child on July 29, 2002, Our House has served over 200 children.

Columbus for Kids, Inc. as the founding organization of Our House, recently launched the $5,600,000 fund raising campaign, enlisting support across public, private and philanthropic sectors. Columbus for Kids Board of Directors has set an aggressive goal to raise these funds over the next three years to fund the completion of payment for the 24-acre campus and building.

Our House Fact Sheet

When did Our House open and how many children are served?
The First Placement/Best Placement wing opened on July 29, 2002 with facilities for 22 children, with the MATCH wing opened on October 14, 2002 for 18 children under the state therapeutic residential program.

How and why will children be placed at Our House?
Reports are made to the DFCS office by teachers, medical professionals, neighbors, relatives or other community resource persons. Child Protective Services workers investigate the report and determine if the situation warrants the removal of a child from their home. The child is removed from the home by police or the juvenile court to be placed at Our House. At Our House, children will find a safe, friendly place to live for the next few weeks while professionals assess their personal needs and those of their families. Assessments are completed on-site by a multi-disciplinary team working in partnership with DFCS. The team is responsible for determining the best placement for children and planning for reuniting families whenever possible.

What is the difference between Our House and Columbus for Kids?
Columbus for Kids is the founding organization that is committed to raise $5.6 million during the 2002-2003 for the purchase and upfitting of Our House campus. Columbus for Kids has established a management partnership with the Methodist Home for Children and Youth to be a Methodist Home campus, fulfilling all the state and local accreditation requirements.

What is the role of a collaborative partner? Which ones are located on site and why?
Currently there are thirty collaborative partners integrating resources and services to meet the needs of the children and adolescents, under the “umbrella” of Our House. The partners that are located on site include Muscogee County and DHR/Region 8 DFCS, DHR Region 8 Special Investigations, DHR/Region 8 Foster Care and Adoptions, Children’s Tree House, New Horizons, CASA, Muscogee County Police Department and District Attorney, State Child Advocate’s Office, Columbus Regional Healthcare System, and the Muscogee County School District. Being co-located gives these partners a unique opportunity to unite in finding the best solutions for the children and families of Our House.

What is the role of the Children’s Tree House at Our House?
As one of our on site partners, the mission of the Children’s Tree House is to provide child abuse and neglect prevention, intervention, and education for the six county judicial circuit. The Children’s Tree House provides child-friendly forensic interviews and assault examinations for children in preparation for court.