This is a question we are frequently asked and we confidently respond with: NO. The teens who come to Hope Harbor are not bad kids. We do not view anyone as messed up, bad seeds, troubled teens, delinquents, or any of the other lies the enemy would have the world believe about them. They are children of God, created with a plan and a purpose, overcoming the attack on their lives and their families through the blood of Jesus Christ. They are just like you and me, who have all gone through our battles. The pain that comes with the challenging situations teens face today can cause wounds and scars that need to be healed. We offer an outstretched hand to guide them and your entire family in the right direction. We shouldn’t simply exist or survive the difficult circumstances around us. We should thrive despite them. Does your teen need help? Let’s talk. 

This is a question we are frequently asked and we confidently respond with: NO. It only takes one person to change a cycle, and as parents, we are responsible to recognize the need for change in our family. This isn’t about ‘sending away’ your child or giving up.  Quite the opposite - this is about finding help for your entire family. Being a parent is the biggest responsibility we may have in our lives. Incredible courage is needed to ask for help and the deepest love for your child is shown when making this difficult choice to seek services in a program like Hope Harbor. As you know well, at this point you have exhausted all other options. This is not a decision made lightly or frivolously. It is done with a heart that chooses the life of their child. That is good parenting.

Not every call to Hope Harbor results in placement. Sometimes we can recommend resources that can help you shift the trajectory of your family without the need for our services. We sincerely hope that’s the case. For those who could benefit from our program, we’ll be honest with you and let you know how we might be able to help. In those cases, the sooner we can start working together the better. The opinions and suggestions of those who know your teen and your family are usually well-meaning, but might lack experience and lack witness, and are usually shared with a cloud of emotion. Only your family knows the gravity of your situation. After two decades of working with families, we’ve become pretty familiar with it, too. When things feel out of control, we all need a little help. Let’s talk. 

This program is for the whole family. Parent involvement at Hope Harbor is vital for everyone to heal.  The battles your family is facing are not any one person’s fault; the unhealthy cycle everyone is living needs to change. So everyone is going to take part in that change and everyone is going to do that work. Help for your teen is help for your entire family.  

We insist that families come each week to see their children at Hope Harbor.  This is vital to use the skills you are all learning, to maintain and build your relationships, and to ensure your child is safe.  Residents live on-site, while their parents and family participate in the healing process through a commitment to individual biblical counseling and group parenting class, participation in weekly visits, passes, and phone calls, and program support for their child’s healing.  When we have activities and events, we want families here too.  In these ways, the entire family works together to make positive changes so the transition back into a home of reconciliation and healing. Many parents discover that as their teen settles into their program, they need healing as well.  

We can’t say it enough; the Friday commitment is vital to family healing.  Those that have completed our program -parents and youth - will testify to the same. This program requirement means parents must travel to the site where their teen is placed each Friday for the duration of their teen’s program. This is non-negotiable for placement and central to each teen’s healing. It is important for parents to receive help and resources alongside their child, and for families to see each other weekly, to remain connected, and for parents to know what is going on in their teen’s life at Hope Harbor.  

These Friday sessions are not offered over video conferencing or telecommunication, except for the occasional exceptional situation one week for which we may accommodate. We will not accommodate virtual sessions regularly.  Our current schedule calls for in-person sessions three of the four scheduled Friday’s each month, with one Friday scheduled off.  It is imperative that parents see and hug their kids every week to keep connected, watch them grow, and help them know they are safe and loved.  If this is not a commitment you can make, then our program is not a fit for your family. It is a lot of travel, it is a lot of scheduling, and it’s a huge commitment – but you won’t regret the time you pour into your teen.