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HISTORY •
PROGRAMS •
MANAGEMENT •
HOUSE PARENTS COMMITTEE • HOW CAN YOU HELP • CURRENT NEEDS |
| "The Gillogly Home" and "The Esther Brewster Inn" - A Brief History | |
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The Shelter Care Homes of the First Presbyterian Church of Upland began with a program of study regarding community needs and inspirational thrust by the Upland United Presbyterian Women in 1971. Dr. Robert R. Gillogly, the pastor, had a special interest in "Group Homes" for adolescents. The study revealed a critical need for homes for both boys and girls with the greatest need for girls. The congregation responded to this call with the purchase of a residential home and hiring of carefully selected trained house parents. The Alta Loma Girls Home opened in August of 1972. In 2005 the County of San Bernardino no longer would allow private shelter care facilities and so we had to close our homes and sell the properties. Continuing concern for youth and children of the community by the church members evolved in the purchase of an additional residence in Ontario for Shelter Care. The first child was received at "The Esther Brewster Inn" in June 1974. In 1981, federal and state tax cuts greatly reduced funding for many institutions. Due also to financial restrictions, it became difficult to identify girls who qualified for the open small group setting of the Alta Loma Girls Home. Following extensive studies, the home was reorganized as a Shelter Care Home. Shelter Care operations at the Gillogly Home wee initiated in 1983 and have successfully continued to the present. During the almost thirty years of the Shelter Care program operated by the Upland church, close to 2000 children have been provided care in our two homes. return to top of pageShelter Care Program - BackgroundThe Shelter Care Program for San Bernardino County is operated as a essential part of Child Protective Services under the Department of Public Social Services. Shelter Care is administered under the County Foster Care Program to provide immediate short term care for abused, neglected or children with absent parents until permanent placement and/or resolution of the care can be achieved. In 1971, San Bernardino County elected to employ Shelter Care for immediate short term care of children in emergencies rather than erect a large dormitory type facility as is employed in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Shelter Care is an extension of the Foster Care Program where Shelter Care homes are typically operated by experienced foster care families. Shelter Care provides children with an immediate caring "home" environment at critical and turbulent emergency times. The need for Shelter Care and Foster Care has increased dramatically over the past several years. Thorough studies of the causes for the increased need have not been accomplished but it appears clear that increasing population of the county and the increased tendency for individuals to report cases of child abuse and neglect are significant contributors. Each year the county places over 4,000 abused children in county homes. These represent only the most severe cases -- the children with no family to turn to for help. Once these children enter the system there is very little chance of them leaving. There are only 63 beds in 19 homes in the entire county. The 12 beds in our Shelter Care Homes represent 19 % of the county's beds. return to top of pageManagement and OperationThe two Shelter Care homes were purchased and are owned by First Presbyterian Church of Upland. The church accepts all financial and operational responsibility. A committee of church member volunteers function as a Board of Directors and report to the church's Mission Outreach Commission. The committee supervises house parents, manages all financial mattes and accomplishes maintenance and improvements to the facilities. Insurance and payroll functions are provided as an integral part of the church's operation budget. These Shelter Care Homes are unique within San Bernardino County Shelter Care program and are the only homes operated by a non-profit board of directors. All other Shelter Care homes are provided by existing Foster Care parents that are willing to accept children for short term care. The "Gillogly Home" and "The Esther Brewster Inn" provide trained staff and facilities that would otherwise not be economically feasible considering current county provided per diem rates. The Shelter Care Program has been very successful for almost 30 years particularly due to the commitment of the church and to the quality of the staff house parents the church has been able to retain. County social workers, the children and the community have continuously rated the program as excellent. return to top of pageOur House ParentsThe success of the Shelter Care program is particularly due to the quality of the house parents the church has been able to hire. In 1992 Shirley Carranza, our house parent at the "Gillogly Home", was awarded the prestigious House Parent of the Year recognition. Shirley has been involved in Foster Care for over 20 years and has been caring for children at our "Gillogly Home" for the past 6 years. Sandy Brown has been at "The Esther Brewster Inn" for the past two years and has received outstanding evaluations from county social workers as well as the children and families involved. return to top of pageShelter Care CommitteeThe Shelter Care Committee maintain continuous involvement in the program and is always available for counseling, personal issues, attention to facility and vehicular needs or any other requirement of the homes. The First Presbyterian Church of Upland and the Shelter Care Committee operate under a mission statement which clearly defines our commitment to children and community well being. The Shelter Care program provides for shelter, clothing, nutritious meals, education and Christian loving care for children in emergencies and critical personal need situations as referred by the County of San Bernardino and our local communities. return to top of pageHow Can You HelpYou can help this worthwhile endeavor in the following ways:
The Homes are in constant need of upkeep. Volunteer work parties are formed doing much needed maintenance such as:
Specifically, what are the needs of each house. |
