Proposal

Co-Directorship Proposal: Shane and Sara as a Leadership Team

This is an updated proposal for the board’s consideration, seeking to become co-directors of Hope Harbor Children’s Home. Our aim is to bring stability and long-term leadership to Hope Harbor, a place we deeply love. This proposal outlines how we intend to leverage our experience and passion to ensure the continued growth and success of the home.

As dedicated houseparents with over 17 years of experience, we have worked side by side in supporting, guiding, and nurturing the teens entrusted to Hope Harbor, Mid-Western Children’s Home, and New Mexico Christian Children’s Home. In addition to our houseparenting experience, Sara previously held the Office Manager position at Hope Harbor, and Shane served as the Campus Manager and founded Thrift Harbor. Our extensive experience in handling the day-to-day challenges of our various roles has given us a deep understanding of the operational needs of Hope Harbor. Throughout our tenure, we have successfully collaborated as partners, creating a strong foundation for team-based leadership.

In the proposed co-directorship structure, we will leverage our complementary skills to provide well-rounded leadership for Hope Harbor. Together, we will combine our experience to address both operational and strategic needs, enhancing coordination across all levels of the organization. We will oversee essential aspects of Hope Harbor’s operations, ensuring effective and consistent management. We aim to provide a unified leadership approach that supports the overall mission and ensures a stable, nurturing environment for both staff and residents.

Individual Areas of Focus

• Sara, as Executive Director, will lead administrative operations, ensuring compliance with state regulations, managing paperwork, and overseeing internal office functions. Her role ensures the home runs smoothly, meets all regulatory standards, and provides essential administrative support to our staff. Sara holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management.
• Shane, as Associate Director, will focus on community outreach, relationship-building, and strategic planning, with a goal of engaging at least 40 churches annually to raise awareness and support. We plan to foster strong community relationships by being consistently present at congregations, not just when invited to speak but also through regular visits. By wearing clothing that clearly identifies us as part of Hope Harbor and using a vehicle with noticeable Hope Harbor signage, we aim to increase visibility and ensure that congregation members recognize our ongoing presence and commitment.

Together We Will

• Oversee and Coordinate the Independent Living Program: We will oversee and coordinate the independent living program, providing direct supervision in Tucker Cottage.
• On-Call Support for Foster Parents: We will be available to support the foster families that live on campus if a need arises. Like a good neighbor, Hope Harbor is there for foster care.
• Animal Program: We will take the necessary steps to establish and expand the animal program, starting with sheep and chickens. The chickens will begin in the spring and will also serve as a source of food for the grocery room. Over time, we aim to incorporate additional animals to further enhance the program’s scope and benefits. Additionally, we will establish a group similar to 4-H for foster families and independent living residents to participate in, focusing on animal care and other projects for the Rogers County Fair. This initiative will provide foster families and independent living residents with opportunities to develop responsibility, experience the calming effects of animal care, and engage in meaningful, hands-on activities. By thoughtfully fencing and preparing areas of the property, we will create a safe and enriching environment that fosters emotional healing and personal growth for those in our care.

Our Experience

Our extensive background in childcare has given us a deep understanding of the unique needs and challenges faced by those we serve. Over the years, we have lived with children in placement and welcomed over 115 into our household, including several who aged out of care while under our guidance. This hands-on experience has allowed us to witness and address a wide range of situations, from caring for true orphans in New Mexico, to helping children who struggled with adoption or were classified as at-risk youth, to fostering children in Ohio. Furthermore, our personal journey includes adopting our oldest son through long-term foster care. This diverse and meaningful experience equips us to effectively support foster families and independent living residents by providing guidance, resources, and encouragement to help them succeed in managing household operations, planning meaningful activities, and fostering both emotional and developmental growth.

Reflections and Vision for Foster Care and Independent Living (What We Are Advocating)

Initially, we advocated for continuing with the group home model. However, we have come to the conclusion that Hope Harbor can make a greater impact by transitioning to a new approach. Waiting another eight months, only to potentially find there may be no place for us here, is not feasible for our family, especially since traditional foster care is not something we feel personally called to do. Helping kids has always been our passion, and we see leading and supporting traditional foster care efforts as a deeply fulfilling purpose with the potential to positively impact many lives. While direct foster care is not the right fit for our family, we have profound empathy for foster families and the challenges they face.

Our passion has always centered on preparing kids for adulthood and helping them successfully navigate the transition. Since our time in New Mexico, we have envisioned the potential of an independent living program. Bringing this vision to life would address an immense and urgent need, allowing us to focus on empowering youth as they prepare for independent and successful futures.

A pivotal moment in this realization came after speaking with Brian. During the last six months of having children on campus (from October to March), the campus became chaotic, with children frequently unsupervised and running around. At times, it felt like we couldn’t leave our own home. The girls in our care were visibly stressed, and the environment became unhealthy for them. Although our own house functioned relatively well, the girls would leave for school each day and return increasingly anxious and overwhelmed. This highlighted the fact that achieving the necessary staffing levels and resources to properly support these children was unattainable under the current structure. We now recognize that transitioning to a foster care support model, alongside implementing a robust independent living program, will offer a more sustainable and supportive solution for everyone involved.

We believe that avoiding the role of a placing agency would make this transition even more effective. Instead of hiring a staff member with a social services background to act as a placing agent, we propose partnering with existing placing agencies that already serve our county. This collaboration would provide valuable checks and balances, as the agencies would be responsible for approving the foster parents we invite to live on campus.

If Hope Harbor cannot proceed without becoming a placing agency, we would need to pivot and reevaluate what that means for the future of the organization. In such a scenario, we feel it may be more effective to focus exclusively on the independent living program and outreach efforts to support foster families who do not reside on campus. This approach would help us avoid the ongoing challenge of finding and retaining qualified staff, while still making a meaningful impact.

Volunteer and Mission Group Engagement

Part of our vision includes attracting volunteers and mission groups. By offering short-term stays, we aim to encourage community members and church groups to contribute hands-on support for Hope Harbor. This will enhance the campus environment, expand our community connections, and foster a greater sense of mission-driven teamwork.

Compensation, Housing, and Additional Benefits

To reflect the expanded responsibilities we would undertake as co-directors, we propose the following compensation and benefits:

• Base Salary: A combined base salary of $80,000, with $40,000 allocated to each of us, ensuring that our shared responsibilities are recognized and compensated. We believe that this role is worth more, but in efforts to stabilize the home, we see this as a fair amount of compensation along with the additional benefits outlined below.
• Housing: We propose moving into Tucker Cottage once we secure three sets of houseparents for the campus. This residence will enable us to be on-site for various duties. Additionally, we plan to use the two back bedrooms in Tucker Cottage for independent living housing, providing a supportive environment for individuals transitioning to independence.
• Use of On-Campus Grocery Room: Full access to the on-campus grocery room for all our food and household supply needs, reducing out-of-pocket expenses.
• Health Insurance: Including health coverage as part of our compensation package would provide stability and support during our transition into these new roles. In the past, we have qualified for Medicaid, which has covered our healthcare needs, and our children may still qualify for this coverage. Additionally, we may be eligible for Insure Oklahoma, which could further support our family’s healthcare needs at a reduced cost. This means that the additional cost to Hope Harbor for providing health insurance may be minimized. We are currently unaware of the standard healthcare coverage that Hope Harbor provides, as we have not previously utilized it due to our Medicaid eligibility.

Additional Benefits

• Cell Phone Coverage: Hope Harbor will cover our cell phone costs, as reliable communication is essential for our roles.
• Vehicle Access: We request the use of a company vehicle with fuel expenses provided once one becomes available. A truck would be particularly useful for campus needs and for visiting churches. This vehicle could also support the animal program and be used to pick up donated grocery supplies on a weekly basis during church visits. Combining church visits with grocery routes would efficiently stock the grocery room and strengthen relationships with congregations, similar to the approach successfully used by New Mexico Christian Children’s Home. Adding a truck wrap or large signage would further enhance Hope Harbor’s visibility during travels. To optimize resources, we propose trading in two of the existing vans that are no longer essential for Hope Harbor operations and acquiring a truck, while retaining one van for the independent living program. Additionally, we already have an animal trailer that could be utilized for the program. Repainting the trailer with Hope Harbor signage would further increase visibility. After thorough cleaning, the trailer could also be used to pick up grocery donations, making it a versatile asset.
• Professional Development: Sponsorship for workshops, conferences, or courses related to independent living, community outreach, or management would be invaluable in helping us grow in our roles and bring new knowledge to the organization.

We envision dedicating the next 20 to 25 years to this mission, bringing stability and a long-term commitment that can make a meaningful difference. While we recognize that life can sometimes bring unexpected changes, we are steadfast in our dedication and trust that, with God’s guidance, all things are possible. With faith, we believe we can navigate any challenges that arise while continuing to uplift Hope Harbor.