What We Provide
We provide emergency shelter, licensed by the State of Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children. We are designated as the emergency shelter for the national Safe Place Project in Owensboro. We care for boys and girls age 18 and under, as well as sibling groups, pregnant children, and children with children.
Welcoming All Children In Need
Situations leading to a child's placement are often complicated. Fortunately, state government agencies and processes are in place to ensure that all children, no matter how complicated their circumstances might be, can receive the help they need to be protected and nurtured appropriately. Children are referred to the Mission by way of the Department of Community Based Services (DCBS), which is under the Protection and Permanency wing of the state's Cabinet for Families and Children, or through the Court Designated Worker (CDW) program, which is part of the Juvenile Services division within the Kentucky Department of Justice. In the cases where a child is not abused or neglected, the child may be beyond control of their family or school, but is not a suitable candidate for juvenile detention. The Mission works with the child's caseworker to give the child and the family the break they need from the trouble at hand, as well as an opportunity to work through their problems in a systematic fashion. Siblings from the same family can stay together at the Mission, which is not always possible in other placements. And, the Mission is the only residential facility in the area that will care for pregnant teens and teen mothers with their children.
Making a Connection
Situations leading to a child's placement are often complicated. Fortunately, state government agencies and processes are in place to ensure that all children, no matter how complicated their circumstances might be, can receive the help they need to be protected and nurtured appropriately. Children are referred to the Mission by way of the Department of Community Based Services (DCBS), which is under the Protection and Permanency wing of the state's Cabinet for Families and Children, or through the Court Designated Worker (CDW) program, which is part of the Juvenile Services division within the Kentucky Department of Justice. In the cases where a child is not abused or neglected, the child may be beyond control of their family or school, but is not a suitable candidate for juvenile detention. The Mission works with the child's caseworker to give the child and the family the break they need from the trouble at hand, as well as an opportunity to work through their problems in a systematic fashion. Siblings from the same family can stay together at the Mission, which is not always possible in other placements. And, the Mission is the only residential facility in the area that will care for pregnant teens and teen mothers with their children.
A Day in the Life
We welcome each new child into our home. We evaluate each child's emotional and physical needs for continuity of care. We provide the child with daily clothing if needed, as well as basic school related items. We arrange transportation to school related events, including sports, extra-curricular activities and recreational activities. We provide daily meals and snacks. We provide nightly reflective time, interaction, and responsibilities, as well as bed checks throughout the night. Eventually say goodbye to each child, promising our prayer and ongoing concern, and let her know they will always be welcome at the St. Joseph Peace Mission for Children. We answer the call of children in need -- they are welcomed in a caring, faith-filled environment, and provided with 24-hour supervision and healthy daily routines.