May 6 marked the second annual National Residential Education Day – a day to celebrate the many opportunities residential education programs provide for children while increasing understanding of residential education at national and local levels. Students, alumnae, staff, and supporters introduced, reminded, and served as “voices” of residential education to media, referral sources, donors, policymakers, and child welfare professionals through a variety of activities across the country.
CORE member programs tailored events to fit their individual program’s needs and strengths.
A sampling of events include:
Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children instituted their second annual Advocacy Day, where youth success stories were delivered to each state representative, and youth met with policymakers to share how residential education has impacted their lives.
Boys’ Home, Inc. in Virginia instituted their second annual “Heads and Shoulders” open house event, inviting community members to learn about their program. Youth showcased the array of services offered. Allegheny County author Josh Hagy also spoke to youth about the importance of literature and writing.
Methodist Children’s Home in Texas used the Willson-Johnson Lecture Series for social workers, teachers, and counselors in Central Texas as an opportunity to educate child welfare professionals on the residential education option. The guest speaker was Frank Kros, president of The Upside Down Organization and executive vice president of The Children’s Guild in Maryland.
Crossnore School in North Carolina organized an open house event for the local community and a campus-wide assembly where NASCAR Hall of Famer and Crossnore alumnus Waddell Wilson inspired youth and staff with his personal story of determination,
overcoming hardships, and achieving success with the help of Crossnore support and relationships.
Milton Hershey School (MHS) in Pennsylvania implemented activities that further integrate the academic and residential components of their home and school. In addition to the Houseparent-Teacher Alliance hosting two open forums for staff, houseparents accompanied students to school while teachers and staff ate, toured, and had social time in student homes. A parade showcasing student homes was held. Additionally, MHS alumna and current houseparent Deanna Slamans ‘91 held an assembly and book signing of Faith’s Pursuit, her memoir of growing up at MHS.
Some programs celebrated the day internally while many programs reached out to local media using common language – CORE’s “branding” language that defines and distinguishes residential education.