Children's Program
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” - Mark 10:14
Changing a child's life is
The Most Important Thing We Do
When children come to Shepherd’s Gate, we know they’ve lived through their own horrific trauma differently from their mother’s. From seeing their mom be physically hit to experiencing abuse themselves. Not knowing where they will sleep each night, not knowing when they will get to eat next. Their childhood has been robbed from them.
Children are innocent. They are the victims. And they’re all of our futures. Children who experience trauma like this have few chances to get the care they need. By helping them today, we are creating a future for them and for generations to come.
These precious children come to Shepherd’s Gate feeling broken, troubled and alone. Without someone stepping in and coming alongside their mothers to help the children, they may never fully heal.
Physical
We begin by caring for the child's physical needs. They often arrive needing a nourishing meal, a shower and a safe place to sleep. We make sure they have clean clothes. Once immediate needs are met, we attend to the larger needs: overall heath. Are they eating healthy, do they need a check-up, are they up-to-date on medical, dental and vision care.
Spiritual
Many children haven't had the opportunity to know about Jesus. We provide kids worship, Bible story time, VBS and other spiritually nurturing elements. The introduction to God as a loving father is foundational to our care for the children. We help them learn that they can trust on God's love for a lifetime.
Parenting
Many of the moms that come to Shepherd's Gate haven't had the opportunity to learn about Godly parenting. Some have lost custody of children. Some struggle with anger issues and other behaviors that interfere with good parenting. We come along side the mothers with parenting courses and teaching. We mentor and co-parent with the mothers to help them raise their children in healthy and nurturing ways.
Emotional
Shepherd's Gate provides a professional therapist to come along side the mother and help the children through their emotional traumas. If we don't address them, many of the children aren't able to even make it through a school day. We partner with professionals to help each child to heal the wounds of the past and gain age-appropriate coping skills.
Education
Our Education Program and Computer Lab are important resources for our children. We help them with the tools to become successful in school. We do early childhood development classes for the nursery. We work with the schools to identify learning disabilities and other issues that interfere with successful learning.
Enrichment
Shepherd's Gate provides a range of enrichment activities for the children. Pet therapy dogs are important visitors to our campus. The kids spend time bonding to the dogs and reading to them. They are trusted confidants and friends to our children. Music and art are also important enrichment activities to help the children express their emotions and feelings.
Celebrate Recovery
Celebrate Recovery Introduction for Children is a vital component of helping older children heal from their traumatic experiences. We are adapting and updating materials to provide the most up-to-date help. Many children have seen the horror of addiction up close as their mother lived that life. Celebrate Recovery allows children to better understand and cope with the damage from addiction. Our children also attend The Hazelden Betty Ford Children's Program that provides support, education and care to kids who grow up in a family with alcohol and other drug addictions.
Family Finance and Legal
Our children learn that their mother, their family, have goals for the future. In age-appropriate ways, mothers learn how to teach their children about responsible money management. We help our moms begin saving and budgeting for life off our campus. Some of the mothers (and even children) come to us with legal issues that need to be addressed. We are committed to helping our mothers address those challenges so that they can truly begin a new life.
“I’m not scared anymore. My mom is stronger, happier and nicer than all the times before.”
—Daughter of a Shepherd’s Gate Resident
At Shepherd's Gate
The Miracle of Their Smiles
Children at Shepherd’s Gate have experienced more trauma than anyone should ever have to go through. But your support helps them have a safe place to heal and have access to professional outside counseling, play therapy, school tutoring, medical care and so much more.
Shepherd’s Gate partners gives kids a chance to overcome their pasts and have a bright future…and make miracles happen when a little boy or girl smiles for the first time in months.