Angel’s Hope is a new non-profit organization in Mercer County that wants to bring hope to families who have had their children taken out of their home due to drug and alcohol addiction and other forms of neglect or abuse. The organization was established in December, but it has just recently started seeing clients, special events coordinator Crimson Claycomb said. 

“We are open, but we are going to be full-blown open in April,” she said. Angel’s Hope has a Mercer County location and offers services to people from many surrounding counties. The organization plans to open a Boyle County location in April , at which time it hopes the Boyle County courts will begin sending clients its way.

“We provide services and therapies to children who have been removed from the home … whether it’s disabilities, sexual abuse, drug or alcohol addiction — whatever the problem may be,” Claycomb said. 

Angel’s Hope offers court-ordered supervised visitations between the child and their parent, along with parenting classes, individual counseling for children and teenagers, family therapy, case management services, art and play therapy, and adult peer support services. 

Claycomb said as of now, Mercer County parents who want to have visitation sessions with their child have to use facilities in either Boyle County or Frankfort. That’s because Comp Care in Harrodsburg closed, leaving Mercer County without any place for supervised visits, she said.

If the court system provides for supervised visits, parents are allowed one-hour sessions at a location determined by the court, Claycomb said. If a client uses Angel’s Hope instead, “we are able to provide a three-hour window for them to visit with their child,” she said. 

From the time a child is removed from a home, the court system only has six months to get the child back with their original parent, Claycomb said.

According to Claycomb, Federal Law states that if a child is placed in foster care 15 out of 22 months, termination of parental rights can be pursued by the state. If the child is placed with another relative, there’s no limit to get them back to their parents. However, there are cases that can take years to complete, she said. 

“In that time, that’s when we’re seeing them and giving them therapy and services,” she said. “But you can’t allow [therapy] to happen if there are no services available.”

Angel’s Hope started because there is a need for this kind of service, Claycomb said. 

“There’s nothing for these kids,” Claycomb said. “This all came about because there is a huge need for it — there’s nowhere to turn.” 

Claycomb said she seen bad situations for kids who come before the court.

“My first week (with Angel’s Hope), I saw a four-year-old girl who had been removed from the home because she was found eating flour out of a bag because she couldn’t wake Mommy and Daddy up because they had overdosed in the bed,” she said.

“That’s why Angel’s Hope has come about — so we can break that cycle,” Claycomb said. 

When a child is removed from the home, “It is very traumatizing to them,” she said. 

Claycomb said there are several children who need this kind of assistance. 

“It’s unfortunate and it happens, and we need to be there to get them what they need and what they deserve,” she said. 

The motto of Angel’s Hope is “breaking the cycle of broken and injured families due to drug and alcohol addiction,” Claycomb said. “That’s what we want to see — the kids coming to therapy and seeing parents coming to therapy — that’s our goal.”

“We don’t turn anyone away,” Claycomb said. “It’s not about the income, but about the outcome. My goal is whoever shows up, we need to make their lives better. It’s about making these families whole again.”

Donations 

Claycomb said 100 percent of Angel’s Hope’s funding comes from donations, and the staff is unpaid, so any donations do not go toward paychecks. 

In order to provide the services, Angel’s Hope needs individuals and groups to donate. 

Claycomb said donors can sponsor specific services for parents and children or make a donation of their choice in any amount. 

For those who want to make a donation, checks can be sent by mail to 112 S. Main St. Suite 101, Harrodsburg, KY 40330. Donations can also be sent through PayPal on their website at www.angelshope.net. 

If there are any questions regarding Angel’s Hope or how to donate, email Crimson Claycomb at crimsonclaycomb@hotmail.com or call (859) 325-6075.