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The Crossnore School Assumes Leadership of The Children’s Home of Winston-Salem

The Crossnore School Board of Trustees voted to assume leadership of The Children’s Home, a human services agency for children in crisis located in Winston-Salem. The affiliation creates an organization that will provide highly effective trauma-informed care within a wide range of services available at both locations. Most importantly, the affiliation combines the efforts of both organizations to create a sanctuary of hope and healing for children in western North Carolina who are suffering from the effects of trauma caused by abuse and neglect.

Brett A. Loftis, JD, Chief Executive Officer of The Crossnore School, will assume executive leadership of the combined efforts of The Crossnore School and The Children’s Home, including administrative, operational, and programming functions. Integration of services across both campuses will take place in the coming months while the governing Boards of both organizations work together to determine the appropriate governance structure for combined services to support healing children. Together, The Crossnore School and The Children’s Home leadership teams will evaluate opportunities relating to programs, facilities, land, and staffing at The Children’s Home.

With the foster care system in crisis, The Crossnore School has sought ways to expand services to include additional programs for more children. Chief Executive Officer Brett Loftis feels expansion is the greatest priority for The Crossnore School, along with leading the state’s child advocacy legislative agenda, and training more agencies in the Sanctuary Model® of care. The Crossnore School’s Strategic Planning Committee has worked tirelessly to investigate ways for these three priorities to become reality in western North Carolina, and this affiliation with The Children’s Home is an important first step.

“Today in North Carolina there are more than 10,000 children in foster care. Our current residential capacity at The Crossnore School is 83, and will rise to more than 100 with the opening of three new cottages this spring. That number is certainly meaningful in the lives of the children we serve, but is not enough in the scope of all the children who need help,” says Brett Loftis, CEO of The Crossnore School. “The goal of our strategic planning process has always been to serve more children. This affiliation with The Children’s Home will expand our capability to provide more services for more children. Our ultimate goal is to become the premier provider of children’s services in western North Carolina.”

“Our board and staff undertook a lengthy and deliberate process to determine how The Children’s Home can continue to provide the best care for the thousands of abused and neglected children in our region,” says Katheryn Northington, board chair of The Children’s Home. “The Crossnore School has long been recognized for its innovation and leadership in providing hope and healing for children. We believe this is an opportunity for The Children’s Home to realize its full potential and re-focus our programming on the changing needs of children and families. Additionally, the Board is pleased that the leadership of the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church has expressed their confidence in and enthusiasm for this partnership.”

For more than a century, both organizations have worked to transform the lives of thousands of children through therapeutic treatment programs provided in group home, single-family foster care, and educational settings. Combining efforts across two campuses provides a greater continuum of care to offer children in need.

“The Crossnore School Board of Trustees is thrilled with the results of our strategic planning process. We are excited that The Children’s Home is uniting with us to increase our capacity to serve more children in crisis from North Carolina,” says John Blackburn, board chair of The Crossnore School. “The Children’s Home is placing their trust in us, and we are grateful for this opportunity to work together.”

For more information about this exciting affiliation, please contact Holly Barrett, Director of Communications at (828) 733-4305 or hbarrett@crossnoreschool.org.

The Crossnore School

About The Crossnore School: The Crossnore School is a non-profit residential foster care home for children in crisis. Located in the quaint town of Crossnore, NC, the School is nestled on 85 acres in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. The mission of The Crossnore School is to provide a Christian Sanctuary of hope and healing where students in need rise above their circumstances and excel both in school and in life. For more information about The Crossnore School, please visit www.crossnoreschool.org.

About The Children’s Home: Founded in 1909 by the Methodist Church, Western North Carolina Conference, The Children’s Home has served more than 10,000 children and their families across North Carolina by providing safety, love, education, and therapy in times of critical need. Located on 212 acres of rolling pastureland in Winston-Salem, NC, The Children’s Home offers a unique environment that is serenely therapeutic, educational, inspirational, and most importantly, alive with potential. Through meaningful participation and one-on-one relationships with staff professionals, children facing severe disruptions in their lives begin to heal in mind, body, and spirit. For more information about The Children’s Home, please visit www.tchome.org.