Marshall Health News
Project Hope for Women & Children prepares to welcome new arrivals
7/11/2023
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Project Hope for Women & Children is preparing to welcome five new babies in the weeks ahead and is planning a special virtual baby shower to assist with needs.
Project Hope, which is a comprehensive residential treatment facility for women and their children owned and operated by Marshall Health, specializes in supporting mothers on their journey toward long-term recovery, developing healthy parenting skills and building safe family relationships.
After serving more than 150 families over nearly five years, the program continues to show positive outcomes. Project Hope is the only residential treatment facility of its kind in West Virginia and is unique across the United States. The average length of stay at Project Hope is six months, followed by the option for transitional housing at Hope House.
“It is true when they say ‘it takes a village’ because our families often come to Project Hope with little or no resources,” said Lyn M. O’Connell, Ph.D., licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), associate director of addiction sciences at Marshall Health and associate professor of family medicine at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. “It is important that we help take care of the needs of the entire family including baby items, clothing, groceries, transportation and child care supports so the mothers can focus on their recovery and parenting. Hearing a mother say, ‘You gave me a chance when I never thought I’d have a chance again. My son was born here and I love being a mother,’ is the reason we do what we do at Project Hope.”
As part of creating a supportive environment that encourages hope and resiliency, Project Hope also provides fun activities such as baby showers, gender reveal parties, holiday gatherings and pregnancy photos.
“Since Project Hope for Women & Children opened nearly five years ago, community support for our families has been tremendous,” O’Connell said. “As we prepare to welcome five new babies very soon, we desperately need infant supplies for our soon-to-be new mothers,” O’Connell said.
The virtual baby shower with an Amazon Wish List is currently open. For more information about how individuals or organizations can support the programming and families at Project Hope, please visit marshallhealth.org/projecthope or contact O’Connell at 304-696-HOPE (4673).
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Media Relations Contact
Michele McKnight
Assistant Director of External Affairs
304-691-1713
mcknigh4@marshall.edu
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