Children are resilient. But also vulnerable. By design, they are meant to be cared for, nurtured, protected. Sometimes, however, the plan goes desperately wrong. The adults in their lives lose their way and become incapable of caring for themselves, let alone anyone else. In such crises, children often learn coping mechanisms that increase their chances of survival in the short term but have the potential to damage their spirits over the long haul. Learn More>

I’d like for you to take a moment to consider the following statement from the National Center on Family Homelessness and ask yourself what’s missing: “Children who are homeless need the same things other children need to grow up healthy and happy: a safe and stable home; access to quality schools; affordable and reliable health care; healthy meals every day; opportunities to play in safe neighborhoods; strong attachments with caregivers.” Learn More>

Statistics from the National Center on Family Homelessness Learn More>

Two years ago, Ruby’s life was out of control. An alcoholic, she was hanging out with all the wrong people and realized she had no idea how to raise her four-year-old son, Hunter. In an attempt to give him what she knew he needed – a stable, safe, loving home – she sent him to live with her sister for two years. “I hated being separated from him,” Ruby said, “but I wasn’t strong enough to do right by him.” Learn More>

Several months ago, volunteer Jean Schlittenhart, a registered nurse and graduate student, observed a need for some basic health and wellness training for the mothers at Anna Ogden Hall. “Many women in the program have not had sufficient mothering themselves,” Jean noted, “and are therefore a little unclear on how to proceed with their own children.” Learn More>

Secrets. The better they’re kept, the more powerful they become. For nearly half her life, Gigi Garcia kept her secrets so well they almost consumed her. Learn More>

Corissa, 26, came to Anna Ogden Hall two years ago with a meth addiction, but while the meth rapidly accelerated her demise, her addictive behavior really began years earlier with a much less menacing substance – food. Learn More>

A bystander that summer day in 2005 might have dismissed her as crazy. Durena wandered aimlessly, listening to voices in her head, following bizarre instructions, and conversing with herself. She hadn’t eaten or slept in days. Learn More>