Sunrise values the partnership we have had with the Commonwealth of Kentucky for more than 40 years. Our goal is to ensure that Kentucky’s most vulnerable children receive the vital services and care they need, whether through Sunrise or through other agencies. We are still committed to working with the current administration in changing the lives of kids for the better.
The year 2020 was not at all what any of us thought it would be. But the uncertainty, heartache, and fear that many of us experienced during the past year are frankly what our Sunrise boys and girls have been facing most of their lives. Thanks be to God, and because of your generosity, not even COVID-19 could stop us from helping families mend their brokenness and find a path to hope and healing.
We took care of children every day. Some of our children developed COVID-19. For them we never stopped providing care, and they all pulled through. We are still here, doing the important work.
Even in the midst of a pandemic, Sunrise had much to be thankful for in 2020. During the year, we celebrated 59 adoptions. Since the beginning of our foster-to-adopt program in 2006, our total adoptions are now 582! Thank you for your part in bringing families together.
Your generous giving has also helped our kids find their eternal homes. During our last fiscal year, our ministry reported 3 rededications, 19 baptisms, and 27 professions of faith. God is doing miraculous things in the lives of our kids, in the hearts of our families, and through your faithful giving.
Have you ever thought that the children we are serving here at Sunrise are not here by coincidence? Could it be that the children we serve everyday have been placed here by God to be part of a more positive world? Let’s empower all of them to grow up to embrace that world we are handing over to them. Let’s empower them to be more confident, to be successful, to embrace the challenge of the day.
Through your support and prayers, we can be the ministry that prepares them to be change agents for a better society, to become good moms and dads, to become involved in their communities and to understand something bigger than them is driving this big ole ship. That something is a God that truly loves them.
Let’s inspire them all to heights they never could have imagined. So please pray for our country and leaders, and pray that Sunrise might have the wisdom to lead children in a way that enables them to embrace all that we hand over to them.
None of us know what 2021 will bring, but we believe that He has blessed this ministry in the past, He will continue to do so through 2021. Yes, the pandemic has brought countless challenges, but we have found a way, through God’s leading and your help, to continue providing care to our most vulnerable. Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey!
Because of you, the love of Christ has been shared with the broken hearted, and children and families have been given a fresh start. Your compassion is greatly appreciated this year and always. Your prayers and support will help us continue to change the lives of children and families in a constantly changing world.
With great hope,
Dale Suttles
President
Elizabethtown, KY – On Friday, February 12, boys living at Crossroads Treatment Center in Elizabethtown were moved to the Spring Meadows Center in Mt. Washington. Both facilities are therapeutic residential programs owned by Sunrise Children’s Services.
“The federal Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) has brought about a great many changes in the world of child welfare,” explained Sunrise President Dale Suttles. “One of those changes is fewer children are placed in congregate care, and as a result, the Kentucky Cabinet for health and family services has instructed providers to reduce the number of beds they make available.”
Because of this, Sunrise made the decision to close its boys’ residential treatment facility in Elizabethtown and move the boys to its newer and more functional Spring Meadows facility. Sunrise’s Glen Dale Center, a residential program for girls in Elizabethtown, will remain open.
“The Crossroads program has often had a waiting list of children in need of its service. However, the facility itself could only house up to 14 children,” said Suttles. “With the move to Spring Meadows, Sunrise will be able to accept more referrals for this much-needed service for hurting boys.”
A new use for the Crossroads facility will be evaluated in the months to come.
Jeremy Teal is the director and owner of Paul Mitchell The School in Lexington and Louisville. About 17 years ago, Jeremy was introduced to the salon business and eventually fell in love with the industry. “You genuinely connect with people with passion in this industry,” said Jeremy. “There’s just a contagious energy. It’s what they wanted their entire life. So, I just kind of fell in love with that energy and that passion.”
He also fell in love with the students that attend Paul Mitchell The School. “I kind of affectionately named our school the island of misfit hairdressers, kind of a play off Rudolph and the island of misfit toys,” shared Jeremy. “Most of (the students) are creative. Nobody really understood them because of their creative nature, because of the way they learned. They didn’t connect well with teachers.” As a result, The School uses curriculum that targets the best way each student processes new information.
Jeremy truly cares for all of his students. So, it seemed natural that with this kind of compassion for young people, Sunrise would eventually find him. “I walked into the school one day, and somebody left a folder and about 10 business cards on my desk,” Jeremy said. “So, I opened it up. It was all the information about Sunrise.”
Although Jeremy didn’t know much about our ministry at the time, eventually Sunrise would become part of the school’s annual fundraising, thanks to the name on the business cards: Rick Burslem, Sunrise Vice President for Marketing & Advancement. Jeremy had known Rick for several years. “I knew if he was willing to put his name behind something, and jump on board to support it, it had to be worthwhile,” Jeremy shared.
Jeremy quickly discovered a similarity between his students and Sunrise kids. “With some of the stories that Rick told me in the very beginning, it’s very similar,” Jeremy explained. In fact, as he described his own students at Paul Mitchell The School, it became evident that he was also describing many of the children and youth in our Sunrise programs: “They never really fit in where they were. Now they have this opportunity to be somewhere where they are loved every day, where they’re not judged, and where they can come be whoever it is they want to be. It’s empowering for them.”
In the beginning, Jeremy’s decision to make an investment in Sunrise was mostly about his relationship with Rick. Now, it’s about the potential in our Sunrise boys and girls. “An investment in Sunrise is a lot like an investment in the future,” Jeremy said. “My hope would be – and I think it would be amazing – that the future governor of the state comes out of Sunrise. I think a kid like that can take (his or her) experience and really understand what needs to be done versus the kid who has never experienced true tragedy or a true hurdle in life. How do you man a state, a city, a county – how do you lead – if you’ve never really experienced that before? So, I think the kids that come out of Sunrise are kids that can make a difference, that can do something bigger and better.”
Jeremy doesn’t hold back in encouraging others to invest in Sunrise as well. “With Sunrise, you get kids that have life experience that want to see things done differently,” stated Jeremy. “That’s what I would tell someone that wanted to pick a charity. You’re investing in that future. You’re not investing in a cure or a cause. You’re actually investing in a kid. To see that kid grow and flourish and become something better – I think there is no greater reward than that.”
On September 12, the second annual “Run for the Ranch” was held in Winchester to raise money for the Solid Rock Children’s Ranch. The 5K run/walk began and ended at Mt. Zion Christian Church, with 106 runners and walkers participating. Among those participants were four ladies calling themselves “Tina’s Tribe.” They walked in memory of their dear friend, Tina. This is their story:
“Our friendship began in 1996. We were all living in Columbus, Ohio with small children and similar life circumstances. We met at church and became fast friends. Laughing, crying, hours of talking and sharing, good times, and bad times. We bonded as sisters through the years. We started girls’ trips with weekend shopping when our children were small, life was busy, and there were gifts to buy. As time progressed and our children got older, we traded those shopping trips for destination trips where we continued our sisterly bond. We loved encouraging one another, laughing, crying, and eating together. We always felt renewed after these trips, and eagerly awaited and planned for the next one.
“Sadly, on February 11, 2020, we got the shocking call that our sister Tina had very unexpectedly, and instantly, passed away. The feeling of devastation is an understatement. We sisters could not imagine this terrible loss.
“During our mourning it was quickly decided that we needed a way to honor her memory. Tina had a love of races, and these were an important part of her life. She also had a deep love of children, whom she served for many years in our church. We decided that we would find a way that would incorporate both of those.
“One of us now lives in Kentucky and found a race that fit the bill. The first annual 5K for #Tinastribe began on Saturday, September 12 with four of us able to physically participate in Sunrise’s “Run for the Ranch” in Winchester, while Tina’s daughter ran in spirit with us from Reynoldsburg, Ohio. We will continue to participate in 5K’s as #Tinastribe until none of us are able to make the walk.”
– Submitted by “Tina’s Tribe”
Sunrise’s Woodlawn Center in Danville is our only Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) in our continuum of specialized care. Therapy and treatment are provided to up to 27 boys, ages six to 18, in three cottages on campus. Many unique and wonderful things occur here every day. Braeden* is just one example.
What brought Braeden to Woodlawn Center PRTF was an incident with his father’s parents. “I overreacted and did some property damage,” said Braeden. “Then I was sent to a psychiatric facility, and then I was sent here.”
When Braeden first walked through the doors of Woodlawn Center, he entered feeling awkward and lacking confidence. “When I first came in, I was an introvert, like, really an introvert. I really didn’t like people. I had no trust with anyone. And I didn’t have confidence in myself,” said Braeden. “But now, I’m able to trust people, and I build relationships with people. And I’m confident that I can do the right thing.”
Braeden remained at Woodlawn Center almost eight months before finishing the program in August, 2020. Just days before leaving Woodlawn, Braeden wanted to express his appreciation to one special person. “I want to thank Ms. Rebecca, my therapist, because she’s always been here for me,” Braeden said. “She cares about me. And she only wants the best for me. And she’s been pushing me to do the right thing since the beginning.”
On that same day, Braeden was eager to share his feelings about completing the Sunrise program at Woodlawn: “I’m ready now, because I know I can do the right thing. I’ve learned the skills to do the right thing. I want to do the right thing. I want to go to college and make money and have a good life.”
His specific plan is to attend Sullivan University in Louisville and study culinary arts. In fact, he shared his culinary skills with Sunrise team members before leaving. “I cooked today, actually,” stated Braeden. “I made enchiladas for all of the staff; so, it’s like a going-away present.”
But the story doesn’t end here. Along came Steven. Steven is a single parent, currently fostering, and just happens to have worked at Sunrise’s Woodlawn Center about five years ago. Sunrise Treatment Director Rebecca Goines (who is also Braeden’s therapist) shared: “When I found out from Braeden’s social worker that he was going into foster placement, I knew that Steven was a foster parent, and he was fostering teenage boys; and he just told me that he was opening another room in his house. And so, it all kind of just fit together. I felt like Steven knew this level of care, and knew these types of kids, and this would probably work! And of course, he said yes!”
Steven had an instant rapport with Braeden. “Braeden reminds me a lot of myself at a younger age, so, we had a pretty good connection,” said Steven. “I just pray that he takes one day at a time, becomes the man he wants to be, and focuses on the goals he has. He seems to be straight on with what he wants to do; so, I’m just hoping that he can keep that going.”
“Braeden reminds me a lot of myself at a younger age, so, we had a pretty good connection,”
Steven is also confident in the quality of care already provided to Braeden by Woodlawn Center. “They have excellent staff that have worked with the kids a long time and love working with the kids and interacting,” said Steven. “A lot of kids come in here, and they’re not happy with who they are. Braeden said he came in like that, and he’s doing much better, and it looks like he’s ready. And I think that’s what (Woodlawn) provides. It prepares them for the world.”
It looks like Woodlawn has indeed prepared Braeden for the world. And for both Steven and Braeden, it is quite evident that Sunrise’s Woodlawn Center has fully prepared them for each other.
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the individual.
Judy Singleton from Winchester has a dream. Her dream is to provide a new community of care for sibling groups in foster care on her property. The dream began when Judy was a child.
“Mom and Dad came here in 1940. They bought the farm during the war. I grew up on this farm, and my heart is here,” Judy shared.
“When I was a child, one of the things that Mom and Dad and I did on Sunday afternoons was to drive up Kentucky Route 15 toward Natural Bridge,” said Judy. “I was maybe eight or nine, and I remember Dad looking over and pointing at a house and saying, ‘It’s a shame that old man didn’t get to do with his land what he wanted to do.’” Judy’s dad told her that the man wanted to build an orphan’s home on his property, but it never materialized. “It laid on Dad’s heart,” said Judy.
Judy would eventually leave the farm to pursue teaching, but those words from her dad would have profound impact on her. “I feel like, even back then, God was placing in my heart the need for something like that,” she said. That may have been the first time God began talking to her about the Solid Rock dream, but it would not be the last.
Judy was living in Richmond in 1980 when one day that year, her mom and dad were looking at the hay in their barn. The barn was completely full with hay bales. “Everything was fine. It looked good,” said Judy. Her parents left the barn and went into the house. Thirty minutes later, they came back outside. The barn was blazing.
“The flame and the blazes went so high that people all around could see the smoke and the fire,” Judy said. “People came from all around putting water on the garage and on the side of the house that faced the barn.” Paint had already begun to peel on both the house and the garage. At that moment, according to what Judy’s parents had told her, everyone there knew that they were not going to be successful in saving the house. It would take a miracle. And then a miracle happened.
“In an instant, the wind changed,” said Judy. “The wind blew the other way. It took the flames, it took the smoke, it took everything in the opposite direction.” Judy knew of only one reason for the dramatic turn of events. “I think that God knew that the house had to remain here for me to come back,” she said. “So, I know that in 1980 God saved the house and saved Mom and Dad.” A few years later, God would speak to her again.
One cold winter night, after the fire, the temperature had dropped to thirty-two degrees below zero. Judy was still not living at the house, but again, her parents told her exactly what had happened. Her dad was awake in the middle of the night. This was unusual. “I could make all kinds of noise. Mom didn’t sleep well, but Dad didn’t wake up,” said Judy. “But this time, Mom was sleeping, and Dad was awake.”
And then it happened. A pop. Judy’s dad heard the noise and, in an instant, went down to the basement and discovered that the gas line had frozen and broken. He immediately turned the gas off in the house. “Had Dad not been awake when that happened, the house would have exploded, and Mom and Dad would have died. So, I feel like God woke Dad up to hear it and check it out,” said Judy. “There’s two times that this house should have gone. And it didn’t. So, it’s here for a reason. I know it is. I feel like God has been leading me in this direction a long time. It’s the last thing, I think, He has planned for me.”
Judy remembers having a talk with her dad shortly before he died. Having no brothers and sisters, Judy knew that she would be acquiring the farm. Her dad wanted to talk to her about it and said, “I want you to do something for children or animals, and maybe children and animals.” Judy’s response was quick: “Yeah, Dad, I would like to do that too.”
Judy always loved kids and loved working with kids. She taught children for 35 years and continued teaching part time after she retired. “Seeing kids at school and seeing sibling groups separated, and seeing how hard it was on them – that is when God began to place on my heart that I could be more than just their teacher.,” Judy explained. “So, from there, God started placing into my mind and heart the idea for starting Solid Rock Children’s Ranch.”
In February, 2016, Judy met with Sunrise to discuss her idea of Solid Rock Children’s Ranch. “I found out I needed to really give all of the farm for it to be enough for Sunrise financially to take the risk,” Judy said. “That was the hardest part, but then I went on and did that.”
Although Judy does not know when the Solid Rock Children’s Ranch will be realized, she does have a clear idea of what she wants it to be and what she wants it to look like. “It’s going to be like a regular home. A set of foster parents are going to have kids there,” explained Judy. “We’re going to focus on sibling groups.” She also wants the kids living there to experience the country. “It’s just a lot of land to do things on,” she said. I envision down the road that this could be a place where we could bring other foster kids to have some fun.”
Above all, Judy wants Solid Rock to make a difference in kids’ lives. She knows of only one way this can happen. “You can put the kids in homes and try to help them, even with drug rehabs,” stated Judy. “But it takes God to be the permanent change.”
According to Dr. Todd Rader, pastor of Ephesus Baptist Church in Winchester, the property that Judy’s dad would point to each time he would drive on Kentucky 15 was owned by John Nelson Bush. John Bush was a bachelor, had no children, and was a life-long member of Ephesus Baptist Church. In 1931, he wrote in his will that his property of more than 600 acres in Winchester would be donated, upon his death, to the Boones Creek Baptist Association and the Friendship Association for the purpose of constructing an orphanage.
In May of 1936, there was a groundbreaking ceremony on the property. The next month, the cornerstone was laid. But less than two weeks after the cornerstone was laid, John Bush died.
By the end of 1936, his will was contested by his sister and nephew. In 1938, children were moved into John Bush’s former home, and the orphanage was begun. But just a year later, the sister was awarded all of her brother’s property, and the orphanage soon closed.
“Having the story of Judy and her father passing the property, and seeing the impact of Mr. Bush’s dream still inspire and birth this dream in Judy – even though his dream did not happen in his lifetime where he wanted to – is just a reminder to me that God’s will is always accomplished,” shared Pastor Todd. “It may not be in the time or the way that we would prefer, but God’s will is always accomplished.”
The entire Sunrise Somerset foster care team recently went on a “Foster Parent Appreciation Parade” to see their clients and show some Sunrise love to our families. While only able to physically be present with families during crisis or placement, the Sunrise team has truly missed spending time with the kids to laugh, hug, and just be together. The staff decided to take things “on the road” driving almost 200 miles throughout their region to share with their families how much they are loved. With horns blaring (sorry neighbors), signs waving, and staff hanging out of windows at times, Sunrise came in full force to announce YOU ARE LOVED!
“Families really loved the parade, and the kids were so excited to see us . . . even the teenagers,” said one Sunrise Somerset foster care team member.
Staff were sent messages from kids and families like, “That was pretty cool!” “They are crazy!” “It was nice.” One foster parent shared, “Thanks for loving our kids like you do, and for all the support you give us. We have been where we didn’t get any support before, and can’t imagine (still being in that situation) during this time.”
The day was made when one kiddo that is struggling shared, “That was nice; maybe they do care.”
Sunrise Vice President of Community Based Services Kenny Williams expressed, “We have a great team, and I am so thankful for all of them!”
The Conkright family adopted one of our Sunrise youth on June 3. Since the start of the foster-to-adopt program in 2006, Sunrise has celebrated more than 530 adoptions!
Are you interested in our Foster-to-Adopt program? Did you know that adoption eligible children, who are waiting in the foster care system can range anywhere from infants to young adults? Many of the children waiting to be adopted have siblings in the system who are also eligible for adoption. We strive to keep sibling groups together at all cost. The majority of foster care children are perfectly healthy children who need love, guidance, and a stable environment from a nurturing adult.
“It (COVID-19) has added the responsibility of keeping the kids aware of what is going on with the pandemic and processing their thoughts, questions, and fears.” – Sunrise Direct Care Counselor II Steve Dillard from Crossroads Treatment Center in Elizabethtown
“COVID-19 has certainly changed everything as we know it. It has impacted my job by introducing telehealth services in place of face-to-face sessions. This change has prompted me to engage in more creative interactions within sessions.” – Sunrise Owensboro and Bowling Green Foster Care Therapist Sheri Hunt
“Since mid to late March, our facility has been on full lockdown. Our families are not allowed to come in to see us, and we are not allowed to go see them; even churches that would come on weekends and give us a message or just play basketball with kids, are excluded. This time has given us all an opportunity to bond and create relationships with each other we didn’t know were possible.” – Ru Jones, former Sunrise Spring Meadows Center client, written May 2020
“Hello Guys- I just wanted to take a moment and say that I know the media is singing about the healthcare workers and other essential employees. I also sing their praise and feel VERY thankful for all the essential employees out working. However, there is a different story that will most likely not be nationally told. That story is of the residential mental health care worker. A mental health worker already endures a numerous amount of physical and emotional stress that comes with working with people in crisis. Words and stories rarely do justice to describe the strength it takes to work in this field. Now, add that our future is blurry, our home life has been shaken, and our clients are scared, and we must muster even more strength and courage to deal with the amplified mental health issues. We do this while dealing with a crisis of keeping our clients safe and while attempting to keep our own families safe. We are constantly shifting our roles from counselor, co-worker, mother, father, partner, friend, teacher, and Toilet Paper Hunter. We do this while we are also going through a very human experience of experiencing fear of uncertainty. I am proud to be a part of a team of amazing people that do this all while making it look easy. I just wanted to say that I know there is strength happening that will never get the attention it deserves, and I am proud to work with you.” – Sunrise Crossroads Treatment Center Program Director Jalena Robertson, written to encourage fellow Sunrise program directors
“They (Sunrise team members) have been warriors throughout this crisis. Many have families of their own that they leave in quarantine to take care of Kentucky’s orphans.” – Sunrise President Dale Suttles
The “new normal” has encouraged the girls who live at Sunrise’s Glen Dale Center in Elizabethtown to spend their time growing gardens.
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