Children’s Haven has been providing safe, nurturing care since 2003 to area children, ages birth through seventeen, at no cost to families.  Children’s Haven provides temporary shelter to area children in a safe, secure environment while their parents resolve a family crisis.  We are unique – being the only shelter in our area where kids can stay without a parent while parents retain custody.  A family crisis may include but is not limited to homelessness, parent or sibling hospitalization, fear of child abuse or neglect, lack of food or utilities, parents seeking mental health or substance abuse treatment, or incarceration of a parent.

Children’s Haven provides:

• Safe, nurturing care for children ages 0 through 17 years, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days each year by a staff of professional, trained and screened Child Advocates.
• Transportation to “home schools”, doctor’s appointments and other activities while at Children’s Haven. 
• Educational support including transportation, homework assistance, school supplies and collaboration with teachers.
• Nutritional support including meals and two healthy snacks each day. 
• Activities, field trips and all around fun to make sure children get to enjoy being children.
• Case management to connect families to resources to help solve whatever crisis they are facing.

Our Mission

Through the services we provide, we work to protect children, prevent child abuse and neglect, reduce family stress, and ultimately keep families together.

History

In 2000, many community organizations, social workers, educators and community members recognized the need and joined together to create a safety net for children and families experiencing crisis here in Southwest Missouri.  After conducting focus groups to further examine the issues underlying their findings, a report, “Advancing the Common Good,” was released at a community summit.  Of the 19 issue areas graded on this report card, child abuse had the dubious distinction of receiving the only “F” with area rates almost double the Missouri state average.  It was noted that too many times in our area an innocent child suffered the repercussion of a caregiver's overwhelming stress.  As a result, Children’s Haven opened in January 2003 and has become an important safety net for children and families experiencing crisis here in the Four States.

Children's Haven of Southwest Missouri, Inc. is a member agency of the Carthage Area United Way and the United Way of Southwest Missouri & Southeast Kansas.

For a copy of Children’s Haven of Southwest Missouri Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Privacy and Security Notice copy and follow link below:
https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:bb5120dc-cb25-37d6-94c6-9a28a730a813

To file a complaint or grievance, you should contact our Executive Director, Stephanie Theis at (417)782-4453 or 711 South Picher Avenue, Joplin, MO 64801.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS