Causes: Children & Youth, Children & Youth Services, Education, Elementary & Secondary Schools, Family Counseling, Literacy

Mission: The Presbyterian Home for Children, recognizing the changing needs of children with their caregivers and young adults who are transitioning to adulthood, provides a faith based safe haven through programs which nurture, educate, and equip them to become the fully functioning persons who God created them to be.

Target demographics: At-risk and homeless children and families

Direct beneficiaries per year: 225 unduplicated individuals

Geographic areas served: Talladega and the State of Alabama and beyond

Programs: The Presbyterian Home for Children serves children, families, and young adults who seek healing and hope for the troubled experiences in their lives. PHFC is a shared ministry of Alabama's three Presbyteries: North Alabama Presbytery, Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, and Presbytery of South Alabama as well as Presbyterians from around the United States. Secure Dwellings provides transitional housing for homeless children and their female caregivers, providing a safe haven where the guardian can work on developing the educational, vocational, and social skills necessary to become self-sufficient. Services provided to residents include individual and family counseling, crisis intervention, independent living skills, and local transportation. Each family receives necessary food and clothing assistance until employment can be secured. Moderate Residential Care for teen girls who have been removed from their families due to being subject to extreme abuse or neglect. We help girls raise their level of self-esteem, improve decision making skills, and discover methods for building healthy relationships. A menu of restorative services tailored to meet each resident's needs from biological, emotional, and mental to educational, spiritual, and social. Transition to Adult Living serves young women in crisis who need encouragement and guidance to transition into successful, independent adulthood. Residents begin or return to college or vocational programs and attend independent living classes and counseling. The goal of the program is to educate, equip, and empower residents to become independent and successful. The Presbyterian Home for Children Education System provides an exceptional education to residents and day students through Ascension Leadership Academy (K-12). Many students arrive on campus behind in grade level due to chronic homelessness or abuse. Through individual educational plans, students are able to recover academically and thrive. Family Bridges is a family preservation or reunification program that works with families in need of intensive services including assistance with obtaining basic needs and training in subjects such as successful parenting, techniques and strategies for behavioral interventions, counseling, crisis intervention and other support aimed at the reunification, preservation or strengthening of the family. Supportive Housing fosters independence, especially in the areas of housing retention, vocational development, and employment to help break the cycle of homelessness experienced by many low-income and persons with disabilities. We are committed to working with tenants to provide a supportive environment with integrated human services.