Chipley Kiwanis Club Learns About Anchorage Children’s Home Programs 

At the weekly club luncheon on Tuesday, January 4th, 2011 the Kiwanis Club received a comprehensive presentation about the multitude of programs offered by Anchorage Children’s Home in the region comprised of Washington, Bay, Holmes, Jackson, Calhoun, and Gulf counties.  The presentation was made by Kelley Smith, Program Administrator, Care Management, and she was accompanied by Jennifer Burnham. 

Anchorage has six primary programs with three considered as residential and three programs as non-residential.  The residential programs are: (1) Hidle House that can house up to 20 youth ages 10 to 17 for periods up to 30 days while the agency works to determine resolution of immediate family problems.  (2)  The Bridge Transitional Living Program provides both living and non-residential programs for up to 20 youths in the ages of 16 to 21 years.  The program is planned for 18 months to equip youths with independent living skills, educational opportunities, and job skills leading to employment.  (3)  Hannah’s House is a special facility for pregnant females 16 to 21 years of age.  While at the facility, the young mothers pursue education, develop life skills, obtain employment, and prepare for self-sufficiency. 

The non-residential programs are: (1)  Anchorage Family Counseling that is focused on school aged children and parents where the parent-child relationship needs strengthening with help from individual and group counseling for up to 12 weeks.  (2)  Care Management works with children from birth to 17 years where the child has been found to be abused, neglected, or abandoned, and the case needs child protective supervision, foster care, or intensive family intervention by trained professionals.  (3)  Street Outreach and Recovery goes to the streets, beach, and neighborhoods to find youth that are at risk for abuse and sexual exploitation, and the program can provide shelter, survival aid, and access to critical social services to help the youths depart from a life on the streets. 

During a year, the programs help an average of about 500 youths and their families.  Currently, there are 255 youths and families from Washington County in the various programs. 

Anchorage Children’s Home is a United Way funded organization that also relies heavily on direct donations to solve family problems.  The program professionals also work with the judicial system and the Department of Families and Children to restore families, but can also make referrals for termination of parental rights in certain cases.  Volunteers are always welcome.  For more information, go to www.anchoragechildrenshome.org, or call (850) 763-7102 for referral to the proper staff for the circumstances. 

The Kiwanis Club of Chipley has been providing support to youth oriented events and programs for 70 years and last year supported 31 organizations throughout the county.  February has been designated to raise funds locally for “The Eliminate Project” being conducted by the Kiwanis International Foundation in conjunction with UNICEF to reduce the threat of tetanus that kills an estimated 60,000 newborns a year.  More information is at www.TheEliminateProject.org.  On Friday April 29th, the club will conduct the 56th Annual Pancake Breakfast at KMS.

The club meets Tuesdays at Patillo’s restaurant in the middle of the WHTC  campus at noon. For an invitation, contact any Kiwanian or David Solger, Membership Chairperson at 850-638-1276.