| New
& Views
- Feb, 1992 Issue |
A Christian Perspective
By Larry Stednitz
Western Youth Network
(800) 328-1877
The Western Youth Network
has begun researching low cost programs to meet the needs of the 70
to 80 percent of the callers who do not have the financial resources
to afford good programs. Interesting developments have occurred. First,
we have discovered there are probably thousands of group homes and Christian
programs throughout the United States. As we researched these schools,
we learned that most of them are not aware of other Christian Programs
within their own state. There is one national association of homes and
services for children, and they have a membership of six to seven hundred
Christian Homes. We also found that there are very few states who have
well organized Christian child care associations. Two of these states
are New Mexico and Florida.
The Western Youth Network
is in the process of working with several people across the country
to develop a National Christian Youth Network. The purpose of this network
is to direct families who are needing low cost group homes and programs
for their children. We have also discovered there are several Masonic
homes throughout the country who are able to take children at very low
cost. When completed, the Network will have an accurate listing of all
Christian Homes, residential schools, and treatment programs throughout
the United States. We will have offices on the East and West Coast as
well as the Midwest to service families across the country.
It is our ambitious goal to
assist families regardless of their financial resources to find appropriate
assistance for their children. At this point, Dr. James Lindsey, Associate
Pastor of the Christian Gathering Church in Maryland, will be working
with us on the East Coast. Jim's specialties lie in developing the capability
of churches to deal with family dynamics, develop outreach treatment
group home models, and assist in helping group homes form accreditation
bodies. For those of you who have an interest in his work, he can be
reached at 301-777-3555.
Charles Gibson, the Executive
Director of New Mexico Boys and Girl's Ranch in New Mexico, has also
been quite helpful in this endeavor. Charles was instrumental in founding
the New Mexico Christian Child Care Association and has been involved
extensively in this work for many years. His guidance has been most
helpful. Charles' interest and focus has been on how to run an effective
Christian nonprofit program, strategic planning, fund raising, and building
coalitions. Charles can be reached at 505-864-2177.
We have been developing the
National Christian Network over the past six months. Since this time,
our calls from Christian families have increased considerably. We welcome
any and all of you who have an interest in this undertaking to call
Larry Stednitz at the Western Youth Network telephone number 800-328-1877.
Copyright
© 1992, Woodbury Reports, Inc. (This article may be reproduced without
prior approval if the copyright notice and proper publication and author
attribution accompanies the copy.) |