Open Arms helping children of abuse and neglect

ALBANY — For nearly 25 years, Open Arms has been working to improve the lives of neglected and abused children in Albany and Dougherty County, and the organization is still having a positive impact on the community.

Saundra McCloud-Stephens, the Transitional Living Program director for the organization, gave members of the Kiwanis Club of Dougherty County a brief overview of the organization and the impact it has had on not only the community, but on her life.

According to McCloud-Stephens, 80 percent of the victims of child abuse know their abusers, something with which she can identify.

“At the age of seven, I was abused by my cousin,” McCloud-Stephens shared. “My cousin was 16. He sexually abused me and I didn’t tell my mother at the time because I was afraid of what he’d do to my parents. He told me, ‘If you tell, I will kill them.’ And me a 7-year-old and him 16, I thought he would kill them for real. So I did not tell until I was 21 years old.

“You know who inspired me to tell my story? My clients. After working with them on a daily basis and I’m encouraging them to tell their stories, they encouraged me to tell my story. And that was healing for me. Every day I talk about it, it helps me with that healing process. So, I glad to say that Open Arms assists abused and neglected kids.”

Part of the way that Open Arms helps abused and neglected children and youth is by providing a variety of programs designed to help them deal with abuse and teach them life skills that can help them get on their feet and grow up to have productive lives.

Currently, Open Arms administers the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program (RHYMIS) that provides short-term shelter for runaway and homeless youth under the age of 18 and their families; the Street Outreach Program, which reaches out to vulnerable youth in unstable living conditions that place them at risk of being sexually abused or exploited; the Transitional Living Program for older homeless youth that teaches independent living skills to homeless an runaway youth ages 18-22, and The Bridge, which provides shelter, recreation, food, clothing, training, advocacy, medical attention, education and counseling to abused and homeless children under 18.

Open Arms works in conjunction with other organizations, such as the Lily Pad, Liberty House, local law enforcement, the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Children and Family Services, to identify at-risk children and to provide services to them and their families.

“We have great partnerships in the community to reach out and assist these young people,” said McCloud-Stephens. “We want to provide them with a stable home and at the same time provide them with life skills on how to be independent, productive citizens in our community.”

McCloud-Stephens went on to say that while the organization is having an impact, the demand for services is still high. Current estimates that Open Arms has gotten from the Dougherty County School System indicate there are more than 800 homeless children in the school system. The organization receives referral calls daily.

“It’s getting better,” said McCloud-Stephens. “We have so many success stories. It’s getting better, but it starts in the home with these children. We can’t control what’s going on in the home, but we can make an impact.”

Founded in 1991, Open Arms is a non-profit organization with funding provided by grants, The Georgia Department of Human Resources, the United Way, Family and Youth Services Bureau, PSSF Network, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Juvenile Justice and Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and private donations.

To learn more about Open Arms, contact (229) 431-1121 or visit the organization’s website www.openarmsinc.org.