Hope Beat

What is a
Drop-In Home?

Our adult Drop-In Homes are intentionally right in the middle of the drug activity and prostitution in our local communities. Women stop in for family-style meals, Bible studies, encouragement, and friendship. They shop the free clothes closet and receive donated hygiene items and can even take a private shower.

Women with community service requirements can contribute their hours here. In some ways the nondescript nonresidential homes in Akron, North Canton, and downtown Canton combine the ways we serve women through our mentoring and outreach efforts.

The homes are a safe haven, a respite and a place for real connection for the women who enter our doors.

 Introducing:
The Willows

“The Willows” is RAHAB’s new name for our Minor Community Based Programming! Through case management, mentoring, and a 24/7 hotline, we provide support for youth and their families.

The willow tree is a symbol of new life and the ability to survive in challenging conditions. Its branches hang down to the ground, creating a world within itself. We envision this program as one of safety, and where childhood can be experienced fully.

Our youth, their caregivers, and case managers all work to create this healthy space for families. We are excited to have finally named our newest program and to continue serving and helping families create an environment of safety and love.

The Willows perfectly pairs with Selah’s Place, our existing minor mentoring program in both Cuyahoga and Summit Counties. Through a newly created Selah’s Place staff position, every youth in The Willows will be paired with a RAHAB mentor — a safe adult who spends time with our teens and builds healthy relationships with them. Having a healthy and safe adult around allows youth to differentiate between positive and negative relationships they may have outside RAHAB.

We recently received a hotline call from one of our caregivers, Mary*. Mary’s child, Alex*, had been missing for several days. When Mary found out Alex was found far from home, she reached out to her local police. She wanted to be sure she had done everything she could … so she also called our hotline.

 

She was frazzled and panicked — she’d never had to do something like this before. After our hotline staff gathered more information for next steps, we helped Mary reach law enforcement where Alex had been found.

 

The police, then, dispatched an officer to do a wellness check on Alex. The station assured them they would stay in contact and update Mary as soon as they could.

 

The police found Alex, took her to a safe location, and informed Mary she was safe — a huge relief. Mary told our staff: “I’m so thankful I was able to reach out to someone at RAHAB … I didn’t know who else to call. I felt supported and calmer after calling.”

 

Our hotline is designed to support and empower caregivers to give the best possible care to their children. During just one call, we were able to make a caregiver feel more equipped to act and to help set the process of recovering her child in motion.

 

We love that Mary and other caregivers trust us enough to bring their most difficult needs to us. It is an honor to be invited into these vulnerable situations. We believe no one should have to face them alone, and, thanks to our hotline and dedicated staff, none of our caregivers do.

Being able to offer this wrap-around care for youth and their families is what makes our youth services effective and cutting-edge.

Meet some of our staff from The Willows and Selah’s Place … and to hear more about how these two programs will continue to work together for the good of everyone we serve through your partnership!