The Opportunity
We’ve all heard the sayings: “Children are the future” and “It takes a village to raise a child”…
Our community cannot afford to allow children – a community resource – to go to waste. Their potential contribution to society cannot be calculated. The children of today are the adults of tomorrow. They are our future leaders.
What we spend now to encourage, heal, and direct them will pay dividends in the future. Helping these children develop and unleash their potential will lead to more productive citizens, stable leaders, and healthier families, both now and for generations to come!
Hope Ranch of Missouri costs approximately $27,000 for six months per child in residential care. The state of Missouri will reimburse a significant portion of this cost in the form of placement fees. However, while this provides for future sustainability, it does not cover construction costs.
One fact is certain: if we ignore the needs of these at-risk children and youth now, the costs that our community will incur in the future are substantially higher.
Investing in the Future
Studies show that society ultimately pays the costs if we ignore the needs of these at-risk children and youth. Whether it’s through incarceration, homelessness, and/or reliance on government assistance, unless—or until— the cycle is broken, our children are at further risk throughout their lives and directly, or indirectly… we will all pay.
The Missouri Department of Corrections reports the annual cost of incarceration is $20,000 per inmate (2016).
The Missouri Department of Social Services reports that the annual adult government assistance benefit is $14,000.
Stop for a moment and compare these costs:
Short-term residential treatment program = $27,000
10 years of incarceration = $200,000
10-years of government assistance = $140,000
We must do better… We will do better.