New Start for Children and Families was birthed in the heart of our Founder, Laura Caldwell, about ten years ago, as she began to research and see the desperate need for foster families in our area. With the statistics of children in foster care continuing to rise (more than 900) in Area Two, the demand for a long term became imperative.
In 2013, her dream became a reality with the formation of New Start for Children and Families, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization designed to assist foster care children and their families emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. We believe that a holistic approach is necessary to eventually reunite children with their biological families.
On April 5, 2017, New Start for Children and Families opened a “Safe Haven” community service home with many benefits for foster care children that include a clothes closet, workshops and training for biological and foster care families, outdoor food pantry, and over night stays until a permanent foster care home is found. In the month of April (2017), New Start served 50 children in DHS care. In May (2017) we served 98 children, and 178 children in June. As the needs continue to expand, New Start is making preparations to expand its services to meet those needs.