Houseparents

Westview Boys' Home, a children’s home that has served boys for over 50 years, has, from time to time, openings for houseparents as a permanent part of its program for youth.  This position represents an opportunity to acquire extraordinary experience working with a team of 18 other godly women and men serving neglected, rejected, and troubled youth on a full-time basis.  Our Home is located on a 1,600 acre ranch spread over rural Harmon County, OK.  In spiritual matters, the Home partners with the Childress Church of Christ, which has 300 members.Enjoying houseparenting

Qualifications

  • Sound spiritual, mental, and physical health
  • Able to work as a part of a team
  • Life-long learners
  • Couples who have been married for at least two years
  • Successful completion of high school or a GED; college experience is a plus
  • Valid driver’s license; no criminal record
  • Outstanding references from their church leaders
  • An active member of a local Church of Christ

Ministry mentors

  • Counseling – Shiann Metheny, MSMFT, LPC, Harding University
  • Social Work and Household Management– John Moore, MEd, University of Oklahoma
  • Conflict Management - Terry Owens, MBA, Colorado Technical University
  • Bible and Teaching – Troy Metheny, BMin, Harding University
  • Youth Ministry – Ron Bruner, DMin, Abilene Christian University
  • Animal Programs – Doug Gonzalez, Ranch Manager

Job description

  • Participate in the daily lives of our boys, including:
    • Preparing and eating meals with them
    • Assisting boys with school work, extracurricular activities, and animal projects
    • Working, and supervising their work, on campus
    • Traveling with them to church, youth meetings, and other recreational activities
    • Demonstrating grace, forgiveness, appropriate conflict resolution, and how to correctly handle mistakes
    • Modeling a daily life of faith
  • Provide a stable and safe environment for our boys to live in
  • Care for the house in which the couple lives and the vehicles entrusted to their care
  • Keep written records required by Westview Boys' Home policy and law
  • Participate in the life of the local church as a active, working member
  • Join the boys on “fun” trips planned by others (Six Flags, baseball games, etc.)
  • Handle other assignments to projects and teams as assigned by the Executive Director

Training we provide

  • Initial training
    • Residential Child Care Standards
    • Handling of Confidential Information
    • Westview Boys’ Handbook (our behavioral management program)
    • Westview Houseparent Handbook (supervisory policies and procedures)
    • Red Cross First Aid and CPR
    • Safe driving of 15 passenger vehicles and use of child safety restraints
    • Managing aggressive behavior
  • Ongoing training
    • Behavior management
    • Childhood and adolescent psychology
    • Spiritual care and development of children and adolescents
    • Personal development

Challenges

  • Hollis (population 2,000) is a rural farming and ranching community in a county with a low per capita income (Harmon).
  • The nearest Wal-Mart is 35 miles away; there is a United Grocery and a Dollar General.
  • Churches in Southwestern Oklahoma tend to be very conservative; regardless of the couple’s personal theological boundaries, they should be able to operate respectfully within the theological and political setting of this region.
  • Working with our boys is exciting, interesting, and emotionally demanding.  Gains are slow and hard-won.  Team members encourage one another, resist relational triangulation, and patiently and persistently model the life of Christ.
  • This couple will have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our boys and a contribution to our team of godly Christians.  At the same time, those who come to learn with us will fare better than those who think that they have all of the answers.  Regardless of your years, your age is both an advantage and vulnerability.    

To apply, send a resume with cover letter to Ron Bruner, Executive Director, Westview Boys' Home, P. O. Box 553, Hollis, OK 73550, or e-mail these to wbhdir@aol.com. 

"));