Glenwood School for Boys and Girls is a unique boarding and academic program that partners with low-income, single parents, to provide their children an opportunity to reach their potential. Currently, the Residential Department is seeking a program manager for its Glenwood, Illinois campus. Responsibilities include ensuring smooth integration of behavioral and academic student goals, including: coordination of student’s life needs with all services providers involved in a child’s development and progress; cooperatively monitoring programs for effectiveness and mission with all departments; accurately and effectively assessing the behavior of students and developing problem-solving approaches to assist a student achieve success; supervision of assigned houseparents to insure quality student care and effective team performance.

Requirements include: Bachelor’s degree in social work or a counseling-related field, experience working with children in educational or residential settings, ability to work flexible hours, strong written and oral communication skills, and good leadership skills. This position reports directly to the vice president of residential service.

To find out more about Glenwood School, please visit www.glenwoodschool.org.

Letters of interest and resumes should be submitted to:
Human Resources
Glenwood School
500 West 187th Street
Glenwood, IL 60425
Fax: (708) 754-0187

Email inquiries may be sent to job0708 [at] glenwoodschool [dot] org.

Bobby Gilliam

Bobby Gilliam, president and chief executive officer at Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) in Waco, TX since 2003, announced his plans to retire. His exact retirement date is yet to be determined.

Gilliam is battling Parkinson’s disease. “I certainly feel sadness that the effects of Parkinson’s have led me to this decision,” said Gilliam, 57. “I wish I had many more years to serve in this ministry. However, my sadness is outweighed by my great joy at the thought of the increased opportunities I will soon have to spend time with my loved ones and the realization of the great honor it has been to lead this special ministry.”

During his tenure as president, MCH increased the number of children in daily care from 500 to more than 1,400, strengthened its endowment fund, added a residential program in Waxahachie, and expanded services offered in communities throughout Texas and New Mexico. In addition, the Home joined the University of Texas charter school system, added an athletics program for youth on the Waco campus and Boys Ranch, built a recreation and activities center at its Boys Ranch, and implemented a plan to remodel the home units on the historic Waco campus.

“As I reflect on what the Home has accomplished during my time as president…I am grateful of our staff members who work tirelessly to serve the boys and girls in our care, for the many benefactors who provide their financial support…and for the loyalty and faithfulness of United Methodists,” Gilliam said. As a result, the Home has received many “opportunities to implement innovative programs to better serve children and expand our services.”

A native of Robinson, TX, Gilliam is the ninth president in the Home’s 120-year history. He has served MCH for more than 30 years during his child care career, first joining the staff in 1973.

Gilliam has made significant contributions nationally through his involvement with CORE. Gilliam played a key role in developing CAREStandards, the residential education field’s first national industry standards for residential excellence. In 2006, he was named Administrator of the Year by CORE’s Catherine Hershey National Residential Education Awards for his contributions to child care at the national level. Gilliam was also chair of CORE’s Board of Directors from 2006-2007.

CORE thanks Gilliam for his tremendous contributions to CORE, the residential education field, and the value added to the lives of many youth.

For more information, contact Bryan Mize, MCH public relations director, at 254-750-1389 or bmize [at] mchwaco [dot] org.

Katy Kustos

People do not usually realize the need for an organization like Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children (OBHC). As one who has been completely changed by this organization, I can testify that there is an enormous need for programs like this one and a need for public understanding of their benefits.

Moving to the Baptist Home for Girls in Madill, Oklahoma gave me tremendous opportunities. I lived in a stable environment where there were three meals every day, household chores to teach me responsibility, and houseparents that consistently showed me they loved me. I attended school and I was involved in school activities that contributed to who I am today. I lived in a safe environment without fear of verbal, physical, or emotional abuse.

To me, OBHC is more than just a residential education program. It has been my home for the past six years. Because of the care and after-care that OBHC provides, I have been able to finish high school and go to college.

I have heard that the very basics of a “good family” or “home” are a place where there is food, shelter, and love. If that is indeed the case, then OBHC is the family of the century! I believe that even most “normal” young adults my age have yet to experience the love, encouragement, and support that OBHC has given and continues to give me. In addition to those basics, the home gave me encouragement, support, stability, leadership opportunities, responsibility, and countless life skills that I will continue to use.

But a list cannot describe the value of a changed life. That is what OBHC has given me, a changed life—one filled with hope instead of despair, love instead of anger, open doors instead of closed ones, and the revelation that I can be the best “me” possible. The caring adults at the Home provided me with a home. They taught me that I have a future and a reason to hope.

February 2010

Larry Kelley and Family

I was placed in care at Arkansas Baptist Children’s Home in 1978 at the age of eleven. Hundreds of children have entered the doors of Arkansas Baptist Children’s Home with a life story like mine. We are children who know what it is like to be hungry, abused, unloved, unwanted. We know anger, hate, and betrayal. We have seen alcohol and drugs destroy families.

Some of us arrive at safety so late in our childhood we feel that neglect and abuse cannot be overcome. Sometimes the damage cannot be repaired, at least not immediately. I did not go on to college and become a doctor or the CEO of a big corporation. Some things were just too far out of my educational reach. You might think my path was unchanged by my years in residential education, but there is more to the story.

Simple words of inspiration at the Children’s Home made a lifetime of difference to me: “I love you. I am proud of you. You’re doing a good job. I am so glad you’re part of this family. What can I do to help?” I learned that parents have the responsibility to show children that it is not normal for a father to abuse his wife or his children. For their children, parents should provide food, clothing, education, and especially a safe and loving home.

From the example of the family setting at the Children’s Home, I learned invaluable parenting skills. My son has never been hungry, unloved, unwanted, nor has he doubted that he could fulfill his dreams because of a limited level of education. Because I was cared for at the Children’s Home, my son has what it takes to make his dreams become reality. Residential education programs may not always produce CEOs, but they do produce happier families. From those families come even more successful individuals, like my son.

It is my hope that the doors of Arkansas Baptist Children’s Home will always be open to receive children who need to know there are people to love and inspire them. It is because of the Children’s Home, my son can say, “Dad loves me and wants the best for me.”

Larry Kelley is creating the legacy of caring in the next generation of his family. CORE’s national network of residential education programs – including Arkansas Baptist Children’s Home – provides open doors for kids like Larry who need a loving home. CORE is working to ensure that these doors continue to remain open.

February 2010

On February 12, the U.S. Senate confirmed Mr. Samuels in this position. As the HHS press release states, “His commitment to public service is largely motivated by his own success in overcoming great personal hardship during his eleven and a half years of growing up in a residential school for disadvantaged children. This experience helped shape his commitment to serve children who lived in foster care and reinforced his belief that dedicated people and well-designed programs can make a dramatic impact on the lives of at-risk youth.”

Mr. Samuels previously served as Chief of Staff for Chicago Public Schools, where he played a key role in managing the day-to-day operations of the third largest school system in the nation.

From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Samuels served as Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the nation’s third largest child welfare agency. In his role, Mr. Samuels implemented comprehensive assessments of all children entering care; redesigned transitional and independent living programs to prepare youth transitioning to adulthood; created a child location unit to track runaway youth; and introduced evidence-based services to address the impact of trauma and exposure to violence on children in state care. As a result, DCFS established the lowest caseload ratios for case managers in the nation; reduced the number of youth “on run” by 40 percent and number of days “on run” by 50 percent; decreased the use of residential treatment or group homes by 20 percent; and eliminated the number of past due child protection investigations by 60 percent.

Prior to this, Mr. Samuels taught at the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration while also providing technical assistance to state and local governments to improve human service delivery to vulnerable populations.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says, “Bryan Samuels has devoted his career to working on behalf of children, youth and families. His distinguished career in public service has been guided by his personal experience growing up in a residential school for disadvantaged children. He is committed to making a difference in the lives of at-risk children, and will be an outstanding leader at the Administration for Children and Families.”

CORE looks forward to welcoming Mr. Samuels at its 2010 National Conference.

Green Isle Children’s Ranch, a faith-based organization, seeks a dedicated, mission-driven couple with a heart for serving young men in crisis. Must be married at minimum two years, have strong parenting skills, and the call to make a difference in the lives of young men.

Houseparents are responsible for nurturing and caring for up to 12 young men ages 6-17 in a family setting. Houseparents will manage household duties including - but not limited to - assessing children’s needs, following up with school progress, preparing some meals, cleaning, and organization of the house.

Couple must live on-campus in provided housing when they are on duty; may live off-property during their two days off each week.

Prefer minimum of one year experience in a houseparent setting or related field. Minimum education: high school diploma/GED; bachelor’s degree preferred.

Salary plus housing, food, and utilities. Available benefits include medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, short-term disability, company-paid life and supplemental life, 401K, AFLAC, paid time off, paid holidays, and more.

For more information, contact:

Mary Duckworth, Assistant HR Director
The Green Isle Foundation
c/o Bridges of America
2001 Mercy Drive, Suite 101
Orlando, FL 32808
Phone: 407-291-1500
Fax: 407-295-6697
mduckworth [at] bridgesofamerica [dot] org

“We are seeing children thriving in institutions…What people don’t understand is that, in many cases, the institutions are the community’s response to caring for orphaned and abandoned children,” says study leader Kathryn Whetten, director of the Center for Health Policy at the Duke Global Health Institute.

“These communities love kids and as parents die, children are left behind. So, the individuals who love children most and want to care for them build a building and that becomes an institution. These institutions do not look or feel like the images that many in this country have of eastern bloc orphanages, they are mostly places where kids are being loved and cared for and have stable environments.”

“This is not the time to be creating policies that shut down good options for kids. We need to have as many options as possible,” says Whetten. “Our research just says ‘slow down and let’s look at the facts.’ It’s assumed that the quality of care-giving is a function of being institutionalized, but you can change the care-giving without changing the physical building.”

“Let’s get beyond labeling an institution as good or bad,” she says. “What is the quality of care inside that building, and how can we help the community identify cost-feasible solutions that can be delivered in small group homes, large group homes, and family homes?”

The New York Times reviewed the Duke study: “One [orphanage] in Battambang, Cambodia had 252 children living in 27 traditional Khmer homes inside a ‘large, airy, well-maintained gated compound’ with gardens, a basketball court, a playground, and plenty of open space. The people caring for the children had been orphans themselves or were widows, and the orphanage tried to make sure each child had at least one ‘parent and sibling.’”

The Duke study also prompted a Wall Street Journal editorial by orphanage alumnus Dr. Richard McKenzie, who attests to the positive impact the experience had on his and other alumni’s lives. CORE encourages you to also join the conversation by following the link below to comment on his editorial and share your thoughts about giving destitute children the chance to grow up in a larger (compared to a traditional family) residential, education-focused setting!

- “A Comparison of the Wellbeing of Orphans and Abandoned Children Ages 6–12 in Institutional and Community-Based Care Settings in 5 Less Wealthy Nations” - Duke University 12/18/09
- “The Best Thing About Orphanages” - Richard McKenzie in The Wall Street Journal 1/14/10
- “Study Suggests Orphanages Are Not So Bad” - New York Times 12/17/09

- “Hershey Sweetening Lives” - CBS News 1/6/10

- “Heidi Goldsmith” - Washington Jewish Week 12/10/09 (pdf)

The biggest gathering of practitioners in the residential education field, the conference will feature keynote speakers, professional practices workshops, campus tours of host programs, networking opportunities, and an evening reception honoring National Residential Education Award winners.

CORE has partnered with the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in St. Charles, IL to provide discounted accommodation rates to conference participants.

Click here for further details and registration information!