Local shelter can be temporary home for kids

Poplar Bluff is now home to the only emergency and crisis shelter for children in Southeast Missouri.

The home serves at least three of the four counties in the region with the highest rates of children in state care.

Great Circle opened the nine-bed facility in October on Holly Trail to serve as a temporary placement for children in foster care.

Last week, the shelter started a new state contract that allows it to provide crisis shelter as well, according to Michael Turner, shelter director.

Crisis intervention allows the shelter to serve children who are facing a disruption at home, but who are not in state custody, Turner explained.

This can include an emergency such as no heat or working plumbing at home, or one or both parents hospitalized following a medical emergency.

The shelter is able to serve families in Butler, Wayne, Iron, Reynolds, RIpley, Carter, Stoddard, Oregon and Shannon counties.

“What we’re doing at this point is really letting our partners know this is available,” said Turner. “Children’s division, juvenile office, they’re going to have this information. We’re also going to let all of our community partners know.”

The crisis shelter is a short-term option for families, he said.

Great Circle provides this type of care at another facility in Springfield, which also serves as an emergency 30-day placement for children in foster care.

The Great Circle shelters serve as a temporary placement option for children who have no other immediate foster care options.

“It’s definitely been a need for while … if there is not a placement, a kiddo may have to go to a different area or region,” Turner said. “Having something that’s local is really ideal for everybody.”

More than 1,600 children entered Children’s Division custody in 2017, according to figures from the Missouri Department of Social Services. Of those, 83 percent were new cases.

About 15 percent of children were in state custody in Southeast Missouri in 2017.

Stoddard, Ripley, Bollinger and Butler counties had the highest rates, at 23-17 percent, compared to just over 9 percent for Cape Girardeau County.

Children are able to attend school, receive any needed medical care and participate in social activities while staying at Great Circle.

Great Circle merged with the local Ozark Family Resource Agency in 2017, and immediately began looking at the best ways to serve the region, Turner said.

“Great circle is always looking into areas in which we can better provide for the families and kids we serve,” he said.

The child advocacy center operated by Great Circle is also moving into the same building as the shelter, according to the organization.

Great Circle expected to serve about 38,000 children and families in 2018 from 20 Missouri locations, including five main campuses. It also operates services in the Doniphan area.