New Horizons has committed to a significant vision shift
toward more community-centered practice. We intend to re-focus our
experience and established history of providing quality services into
a Community Center of Care concept. In so doing, significant numbers
of children and youth from the Abilene area can be served in Abilene
instead of having to move to programs outside. Because the children
and youth with whom New Horizons works already experience significant
trauma as a result of the many losses in their lives, they should
not have to lose other supportive relationships they may have in the
community by having to move to other areas. The supportive relationships
available through teachers, neighbors, churches, other family members,
etc. can be a key to these youth’s continued healing.
The first phase of New Horizons’ Community Center of Care is
the Audrey Grace House. This home is named in memory of a child lost
at birth by Leon and Jane Backes of Dallas, the first major contributors
to the Abilene project through fundraising efforts in the equine community.
The Audrey Grace House will provide residential treatment, shelter
and other supportive services to Abilene youth and children who are
currently placed outside the Abilene area. In addition, New Horizons
is committed to serving other Abilene children, youth and families
at varying levels of need who may not be receiving services or support
now. Examples of these are as follows:
• Youth who may be kicked out of their homes or otherwise unable
to return to their homes, and do not have other stable options
• Youth who may be aging out of foster care and are limited
in their options
• Families who need training and assistance in daily functioning
and parenting who might benefit by having staff involved with them
This 6500 square foot house is designed with as much flexibility
as possible to allow New Horizons to adjust the arrangement of beds
and configuration to the needs of Abilene children, youth and families
on a daily basis. New Horizons has many established partnerships with
other area agencies to ensure that a full continuum of services is
available.
The second phase of the Community Center of Care will involve the
construction of an administration building for all of New Horizons’
programs and operations. New Horizons has over 30 staff currently
in the Abilene area and with the completion of the Audrey Grace House,
we expect this number to increase. This administration building will
also have classrooms, conference rooms, training rooms and several
offices available for our collaborative partners.
New Horizons is stepping out of the traditional mold of service provision
with the Community Center of Care. Rather than youth having to move
around to fit into programs, we are committed to figuring out how
to flex programs into youth’s needs and involving families,
community, and other relationships as supportive resources in each
step of the process.