At any given time, about 1/3 of the clients at the Mission are children. We are home to children who range in age from infants, to preschoolers, to teenagers who are in middle school and high school. We have made advocacy for these children one of our top priorities because giving a child a chance for success is one of the surest ways we can begin to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.
Children Services include:
Meeting our Unique Challenges
We believe that up to 80% of the children who come into our Mission have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). These negative experiences are from stressful or traumatic events, including abuse and neglect, witnessing domestic abuse and family disorders. We seek to build resilience for parents and children. Once a mother with children has committed to the New Life Plan, we begin to build a relationship with her and her children. Our Client Support Specialists hold meetings with parents so that we can gain an understanding of the specific situations that the children have faced. This way, we can provide assessments and tailor services based on each child’s needs. Through coaching and counseling we are able to empower parents to access tools targeted specifically for their children’s needs.
Living through adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to toxic stress, which affects brain development.
There is conclusive evidence that reading proficiency is a direct predictor of future success.
Academic Assessments, Tutoring And Promoting Literacy
Partnering with other agencies we conduct academic assessments and offer on-site tutoring with the goal of making sure the children in our care are performing at grade level or above. We also encourage and empower Mothers to read and write for at least twenty minutes each night with their children.
Counseling And Mentoring
Our Client Support Specialists, and Agency Partners provide ongoing counseling, support and mentoring to children living at Raleigh Rescue Mission. Based on the findings from assessments and screenings, we seek to empower our children and parents with the correct set of tools to thrive. Regular meetings are held with parents and children to provide updates about educational and behavioral concerns. We offer Parent Support and Education groups, and Mentorships for both parents and children.
On-Site Nursery And Child Development Center
We provide an on-site nursery for children aged birth through 2 and ½ years old. Additionally, adjacent to the Mission we operate the W.E. Mangum Children’s Development Center, which serves children between the ages of 2 and ½ to 5 years old. Both facilities are staffed with knowledgeable personnel trained in early childhood. We know that these early years are the most formative of a child’s lifetime and we focus helping the youngest in our care with Child Development Activities including: