Covenant Children's Home Announces New Program

PRINCETON, IL (May 17, 2000) - Preliminary plans have been approved for a new residential program at Covenant Children's Home and Family Services (CCH), with the program scheduled to begin in January 2001.

"We are embarking upon a new era of services at Covenant Children's Home," said David A. Lundberg, CCH president. "We have received a great deal of feedback from our friends throughout the country, as well as locally, that affirms our mission to children and families," he added.

The new program will replace the current residential treatment program, which ends June 30. The current program provides treatment for emotionally disturbed youth ages 12 to 18. The community based programs provided by Covenant Counseling Services will remain unchanged and will continue to serve area residents during the transition period.

Character development, spiritual guidance and life skills training will be the focus of the new program, geared for youth ages 16 to 20 who are considered "disadvantaged" or at risk of failure in their living and school settings. Residents will receive computer training to enable them to either further their education or enter the work force upon completion of the program.

"In spite of our country's affluence and the robust economic environment, thousands of youth still live in environments in which poverty, neglect, and neighborhood and family violence are commonplace," Lundberg said. "Many youths living in less than ideal environments have the desire and ability to succeed, but perhaps not the opportunity and encouragement to do so," he continued. "The purpose of our new residential program will be to identify and develop their God-given talents and to help them learn the qualities and skills needed to be successful adults who are 'givers' rather than 'takers'."

The new approach will differ from the current program in a number of ways:

• It focuses on training, not intensive behavioral health treatment
• Young people who enter the program may face obstacles to success, but will not be classified as emotionally disturbed
• The program will rely on private referrals - churches, schools or families - for placement of residents, rather than public agencies such as the Department of Children and Family Service
• The program will be funded primarily by contributions from individuals, churches and organizations, grants and sponsorships and tuition payments, rather than public funding sources
• Program funding will no longer rely on contracts with state agencies

A task force is currently designing the program's structure and curriculum. "The months prior to our projected January starting date will be very important ones," Lundberg said. "We have a great deal of work ahead of us to put together the new program, present it to potential referral sources, modify campus buildings as needed, and develop a staffing plan," he continued. "We also are making an aggressive effort to raise the needed funds, primarily from private sources, to support the new program's operation," Lundberg added.

"Most importantly, our new program – as well as any additional services we might provide – will be more responsive to the needs of the members of the Evangelical Covenant Church and other Christian communities," Lundberg said. "When Covenant Children's Home was established in 1921, founders Gust and Bertha Nelson had a vision for how children could benefit from such a home. That Christian vision still exists, and we will be clarifying and expanding upon that mission in the years ahead," he said.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting Barbara Prendergast at 815-875-1129, extension 580, or by visiting www.covenanthome.org.

(Editor's note: Barbara Prendergast is coordinator of marketing and communications at Covenant Children's Home and Family Services)

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