On August 11, Sunrise Children’s Services held its first Meet & Greet at its newest residential center, One Bridge to Hope (OBTH). OBTH sits on the former St. Catharine College campus in Springfield, Kentucky.
Local DCBS workers, members of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and the local sheriff were invited to gather for a time of open discussion and to hear what each organization is doing to help Kentucky’s kids.
OBTH Program Director Cecily McMillan greeted the guests and shared her “why” for serving as director.
My why is simple. I used to be the clients that we now serve. I was placed in foster care at the age of nine and remained in care until I was 17. I share a lot of the same experiences that our clients have: child abuse, trauma, and countless placements.
Cecily McMillan, One Bridge to Hope Program Director
OBTH is an all-female facility offering a program designed to help young women prepare for greater independence.
One Bridge to Hope is an ‘Independent Readiness’ program for clients ages 16–21. Our program is a unique program that offers clients advanced tools for social, emotional, academic, and life skills in a residential setting.
The clients have a curriculum called The Road Map to Independence. This curriculum consists of food handling classes, CPR classes, human trafficking classes, academic advancement, and employment. One Bridge prepares them for the opportunities that Pre-Independent Living and Independent Living have to offer.
Cecily McMillan
Once everyone had a chance to share and ask questions, McMillan led the guests on a tour of the facility and gave them an opportunity to meet the young ladies who live there. After the tour, the residents were invited to join the guests for lunch.
Upon completion of the Meet & Greet, McMillan had a chance to reflect on what she hopes the gathering accomplished.
Due to the program being new, I understand that not a lot of agencies know about us, and there is a misconception about the kind of clients that we serve due to the previous program which was under the same name. I hope that the Meet & Greet provided clarity and the need for community connections.
Cecily McMillan
If you would like to know more about One Bridge to Hope or any of Sunrise’s residential centers, visit our Therapeutic Residential Care page.