| Home offers fresh start for youth | |
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By Patrice St. Germain patrices@thespectrum.com | |
ST. GEORGE - It's large, roomy and free. But the eight-bedroom house given to New Frontiers for Families is also empty. The "House Just Off Bluff," as it has been dubbed, will be used as transitional housing for those leaving or who have been told to leave the twin cities of Colorado City and Hildale. Michelle Benward, founder of the New Frontiers program, has until mid-August to have the eight-bedroom house staffed and furnished in time for the youth who will be staying at the home for school. As the deadline creeps closer, Benward said there are hundreds of youth from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that need support. "This is a small drop in a very large bucket," Benward said of how many the home will serve. Benward, who claims she has more than 100 kids to help, plans to approach the challenges in furnishing and keeping a home up and running the way she has approached the complex needs of those from the FLDS church in the past few years - with lots of caffeine and prayers. Living in Escalante, Benward has put more than 30,000 miles on her truck since December traveling back and forth to St. George to conduct weekly focus meetings, which also address life skills. With a quick, easy smile, Benward teaches the youth about life with a combination of tough love and motherly advice. "I talk to them like I talk to my own kids. I tromp all over their culture," Benward said. "It's no holds barred. I talk to them about drinking, drugs and sex." Despite, or maybe because of, her approach, Benward has forged a relationship with about 100 of the former FLDS followers - many of whom left the communities because they were told to do so. Paul Murphy, spokesman with the Utah Attorney General Office, said he has gotten to know Benward while serving in his role as the safety net coordinator. He is expected to bring government agencies and individuals together to solve problems and to help those in polygamist communities. "Sometimes, individual groups can do things the government can't," Murphy said. "This center will be different than anything else." Murphy said those leaving the community don't fit or work well in the normal channels because of the cultural barriers. He said Benward has a heart for the people. Thanks to funding from the Legislature, Benward has $95,000 to run the donated home, which covers administrative costs and insurance. Because the number of staff members is small and some are volunteers or are paid through other means, the money will cover expenses for about a year, but there's no extra money for food, clothing, items needed to furnish the home or utilities. Stays at the home for the youth will range in lengths of time depending on the age of those at the home. Some may stay for more than a year while they finish their schooling. For others, it will serve as a safe place to stay while they get on their feet and find employment. Benward got involved with the "lost boys" several years ago when her then-16-year-old daughter brought several home and told her mom to talk to them. As she got to know several of the youth, she became friends with Ben, who spoke on the condition that his last name not be shared. He left the community and later had several relatives dropped on his doorstep. Young and still learning about "life on the outside," Ben didn't know how to cope with several teenage boys and with more youth - primarily boys - leaving or being told to leave. "This gives the kids a safety net - a place to come together and have a place to stay and encourage the kids to move in a good direction," Benward said. | |
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TheSpectrum.com Originally published July 30, 2007 | |
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