Update from the Board of Trustees of Wilmer Hall
The Coastline - October 2007
By The Rev. George Riggall
Chairman of the Board, Wilmer Hall
Mobile, Al In 1864, Bishop Richard Wilmer established a home for children who lost their parents in the Civil War. The world today is vastly different than it was 143 years ago, but children are still in need. Wilmer Hall remains committed to its mission of serving God’s children who have no place to call home. We are presently terminating one service, modifying another, and developing a new residential model. Several programs are unchanged. The following is a summary of where we stand in this transition.
Some years ago, Wilmer Hall entered into a contractual relationship with the state of Alabama to provide residential services for children and youth with significant behavioral, emotional, and educational needs. We have had a good relationship with the state, but the state is moving in other directions -- the Department of Human Resources (DHR) has substantially reduced residential services for this fiscal year and may soon completely phase out these services. The Board of Trustees has evaluated this situation and has terminated state funded basic and moderate residential service contracts with Alabama, effective 31 October.
The Transitional Living Program (TLP), a separate state contract, helps at-risk teens make a successful transition between school and work. This contract expires on 31 December, and DHR is not renewing it. We plan to continue the TLP on our own, expand it, and secure private funding. We have just begun this process and will keep you informed of our progress. We have had success with the TLP and we believe it is a valuable asset to our community.
We are maintaining our Foster Care contract with the state, as well as our contract with the Child Advocacy Center (CAC), a private agency. We have established a solid foster care program and we are pleased to continue our partnership with DHR. With CAC, Wilmer Hall provides therapy for sexually abused children and non-offending parents. This is a much needed and effective service to many families.
The Murray School is a unique success that we intend to continue. Many children come to us with educational deficits and our low student-to-teacher ratio ensures that every student receives the level of instruction he or she requires. Additionally, a comprehensive plan is developed and implemented for each child. This year we have added the Center for Learning Differences to the Murray School. This new program focuses on children who require particular assistance to overcome learning deficits.
Ideally, a child’s natural home should be the place where he or she is loved and nurtured. Unfortunately, too many children do not have such a home in which to live safely, learn effectively, grow spiritually, and become productive members of society. We are moving quickly to expand privately funded residential services at Wilmer Hall. We will keep you fully informed of this work in progress. We are hopeful that a new model for residential support will be in operation early in 2008.
Bishop Wilmer’s vision of serving children in need has become our legacy. As an agency of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, we will, with God’s leading and your support, continue to build on that legacy. Wilmer Hall welcomes your commitment and support as we move forward.
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