NEW HORIZONS MINISTRIES (CO)

Program Description

New Horizons Ministries is an independent Christian organization governed by a council composed of individuals from Mennonite churches. Through cooperation with state and local agencies, New Horizons provides free care and nurturing to children whose mothers are unavailable for a number of reasons, including incarceration. The organization takes the children for regular visits with their mothers when reasonably possible. For children whose parents will be incarcerated for a lengthy period of time, New Horizons arranges for permanent placement in a loving, healthy home.

New Horizons Ministries also provides Sunday morning services and life skills classes in the prison facilities. In addition, it is in the process of implementing a child reintegration program that will include access to short-term housing in a safe environment for mothers. The mothers will be taught skills such as child care, homemaking, and job training. The goal of the program is to help the mothers become independent and productive members of society so that they may provide a safe and caring environment for their children.

Program Goals
To provide Christ-centered care and support to children and families in need is the goal of New Horizons Ministries. It achieves this goal through child placement services that are based on a 1:1 model, meaning that one child is placed with one caregiver, and one transitioning offender is placed with one family. This ratio promotes an increased likelihood of bonding and successful transitioning both for the child and for the mother.

Networking, Partnering, and Collaboration
New Horizons Ministries works with local and state penal and social service agencies. It has recently become a licensed child care placement agency within the state of Colorado. It has also been recognized by the Colorado Department of Corrections as a certified reintegration program for transitioning mothers.

Outcomes
Since its inception, New Horizons Ministries has cared for more than 70 babies, 94 percent of whom were reunited with their mothers. Three percent were adopted as the result of requests by the parent or guardians; and 3 percent had custody assigned at the request of the mothers to the child's caregiver. The organization's advisory board is reviewing the possibility of a more formal evaluation for the program.

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