Author: Jeannie Norris

Iris Herring has seen it all working in a group home. There is pain – with parents who put their own wants before their children’s needs, or kids who can’t see their own worth and potential. But there is also purpose, resolve, and love.

Children come to our group homes when they’re in trouble at school, or running away, or involved in drugs or gangs. They stay for six to eight months, and it is Iris’ job to help them and their families plan for what’s next. How best to get these kids back home, using what they’ve learned, without the bad influences or toxic family dynamics that caused their problems in the first place?

After 27 years in direct care, Iris will retire at the end of August. You can read some of her thoughts and memories here – and please leave her a message at the bottom of the page!

On children we serve:

They need love, just like everybody else. They need to know that you care.

They need discipline. And even though they pretend they don’t want the discipline and the structure – they really do want it. We can hear their conversations in the home. They want somebody to care enough to put a rule down or put some structure and discipline down.

They also need the truth. We found out here they want you to tell them the truth. Whatever it is.

They need to know that you won’t give up on them. No matter what they do, we will always be there. We will not give up. Because a lot of them feel like, “I messed up.” We say, “We’re going to work through this. You’re going to have a consequence; however we are still not going to give up on you.” They need to hear that.

On families we serve:

[Iris works with children and Everybody is the same – they have needs, just like everybody else. They want their children to succeed, just like everybody else.

A couple of favorite memories:

Thanksgiving meals, with families gathered around the table all saying how thankful they were.

And the Easter egg hunt and family fun day – watching families team together to have fun. No one out there is wearing a label, and nobody is worried about who has an offense. It’s just people, just pushing through – trying to get the last seat in the musical chairs. Because they would push you down to make sure they got the seat at musical chairs – it was serious! Then the children in the bounce houses. And grandmamas losing their wigs when they raced in the goofy-wear race. Everybody was laughing. The grandmamas too.

Jordan Child & Family Enrichment Center | 1305 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh NC 27605

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If you have a kindergartener, and you need a safe place where your child can learn, we can help.

Our 5-star Jordan Center in Raleigh is expanding class space for kindergarten students.

One class has been filled – but we are taking applications now for a second.

Two options are open:

• direct kindergarten instruction by certified Birth-Kindergarten teachers
• support and supervision for kindergarteners enrolled in Virtual Academy through Wake County Public Schools

Email us at earlychildhood@mhfc.org to apply or ask questions.

Our record –

For 21 years we’ve been preparing preschoolers for kindergarten. When they leave the Jordan Center, a full 100% of children with typical development meet or exceed expectations for kindergarten readiness. We will use a standardized curriculum and Teaching Strategies Gold – a developmental continuum (ages birth to 6) that aligns with Common Core objectives – to engage and prepare your kindergartener for 1st grade success.

The protest movement around the mistreatment of African Americans in our culture is a movement that is good – and the message has to be heard:

Enough has to be enough.

Watch the complete message from Rev. Bruce Stanley, our President / CEO

– Rev. Bruce Stanley, Methodist Home for Children President / CEO

Of all the things that Jesus did – healing the blind and lame, multiplying fish and loaves, walking on water – there is Biblical record of the disciples asking him to teach them only one thing. They asked, “Lord teach us to pray.” They knew that all Jesus did was undergirded and guided by prayer.

When I was taught to pray I was instructed first to be careful for what I prayed. It is serious business and God does hear. As a for instance I was told not to pray for God to give me patience, because patience is a spiritual discipline that is developed over time, and if I prayed for it God would arrange for me to have to wait on something. I was instructed second not to pray for something that we can achieve on our own. For instance I was told not to pray for God to give us peace, because peace can be negotiated and mediated and arrived at by us. Instead I learned to pray for transformation of self so that with greater wisdom, forbearance, compassion, and understanding, I might be able to advance the cause of peace.

As George Floyd joined a tragic list of Americans that includes Emmett Till, Amadou Diallo, Trayvon Martin, and too many more to enumerate, our nation has engaged in protest. There are so many things that I do hope will emerge from this moment of action and anguish. I hope our policing standards for application of force will be re-examined and re-defined. I hope that irrespective of the color of someone’s skin, persons will be looked on with eyes of compassion and trust and not suspicion and fear. I hope that systemic racism deeply entrenched will be rooted out and named. Because I hope I know that this can be a turning point for our nation and not just a burning point.

For this to be a turning point I pray and ask you to pray with me for all things needed.

Dear Lord of us all, give us renewed inner vision that our souls might be made clean. We pray for the ability to look upon others and have our only judgment be that they too are created in the image of God. We pray for the forbearance to understand others’ perspective and point of view. We pray for our leaders in law enforcement and government that you will give them all they need to live into the oaths they have taken. Be with us, guide us, and give us all necessary things. Amen.

Congratulations to our newest college graduates –

Send them an encouraging note at the bottom of this post>> Leave a Reply

Rayshaunda graduated from Marymount University, Arlington, VA, with a BS in health fitness management and a focus on pre-chiropractic medicine. She works as a personal trainer, and she plans to go to chiropractic college next year.

Shavonna graduated from NC Central University with a history degree. She starts classes this summer at Johns Hopkins University to earn a master’s degree in education – while she also teaches 8th-grade social studies in Baltimore. As a guest speaker at our higher education (HELP) luncheon, Shavonna has encouraged other teens in our care to stay focused on their goals.

Rebecca graduated summa cum laude from Meredith College with a psychology degree and a communications minor. She was certified in February as a registered behavior technician and works now at the Carolina Center for ABA and Autism Treatment. She’s considering graduate school to become a board certified behavior analyst.

Tyanna graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in family and community services and a child-development concentration. She is interning in our foster care program and plans to earn a master’s degree in social work. Tyanna has shared her story as guest speaker at our higher education (HELP) luncheon and First Chance for White Pants event in Greenville.

These young graduates got where they are today because of grit and hard work – but also because of friends like you. Gifts to our Hackley Education & Learning Program supported their higher-education goals.