Page 67 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2017

GIVING BACK safe haven
HARRISON COUNTY
YOUTH COURT EMERGENCY
CHILDREN S SHELTER story by Lynn Lofton photos courtesy of Harrison County Youth Court
The Harrison County Youth Court opened a children’s shelter in
1979 to meet a pressing need. The mission is to provide an immediate safe temporary home for children who have been neglected or abused or are at risk of being neglected or abused.
“Children are placed there when their safety is a serious concern and they need immediate protection,” Youth Court Administrator Cindy Alexander said. “We serve ages birth to 17. The Shelter was intended to provide short term care, but unfortunately because of the desperate need for foster homes, children may stay at the shelter upwards of six weeks or more.”
Another unfortunate fact is that the number of children served
is increasing by a staggering percentage. “In 2015 there were 4,281 referrals for abuse and neglect to the Harrison County Youth Court. A referral is a report of suspected abuse or neglect,” Alexander said. “As of November
7, 2017, Youth Court has received 7,179 reports of suspected abuse or neglect. Many of these children are housed at the shelter.”
The list of factors contributing
to this huge increase is long:
drug use, poverty with children living without adequate utilities
or food, generational instability, deteriorating of the family unit, and the lack of rehabilitation services, mental health services and substance abuse treatment.
“We are grateful to the Harrison County Board of Supervisors for funding the day-to-day operation of the shelter, and we heavily rely on the public for the extras such as gift cards and Christmas and birthday presents for children in the shelter, new clothes and shoes,” Alexander said.
Monetary donations are used
for activities that all children enjoy such as going to the
movies, skating, trampoline park, McDonald’s and various activities in the community.
REDD PEST
is proud to sponsor
HARRISON COUNTY EMERGENCY YOUTH
1.888.733.3626 | www.reddpest.com
Youth Court Administrator
228.435.3201
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December 2017 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 67
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