Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why do families come to Isabel’s House?
A. Families come to Isabel’s House when they find themselves in a crisis situation and are concerned about the safety and wellbeing of their children. These situations might include loss of a home or utilities, overwhelming parental stress, drug or alcohol rehabilitation, emergency hospital stays, fleeing domestic violence, and other similar crises. Please note: Children who are currently in the foster care system are not eligible to stay at Isabel’s House.
Q. What is it like for a child staying at Isabel’s House?
A. Isabel’s House was designed as a home: an encouraging, nurturing and comfortable place for both the family and the child. We try to provide as little interruption in a child’s life as possible. Children at Isabel’s House are fed nutritious meals and snacks in our family-style dining area and enjoy safe sleep in one of five kid-friendly themed bedrooms under the supervision of our 24/7 childcare staff. Children attend school, engage in curriculum, play in our multi-purpose room or on our playground, read or work on the computer in our library, create art and craft projects, and so much more.
Q. How many beds are available at Isabel's House?
A. Isabel’s House can provide care for up to 20 children ages birth to 12 years old, but the number of kids in our house at any given time varies. If you are facing a family crisis and need to know if we have space for your child, please call our 24/7 line at (417) 865-2273.
Q. What should I expect when I bring my child to stay at Isabel’s House?
A. Our goal is to consistently provide a quality, family-centered, culturally competent intake process for our children and their parents or legal guardians:
Q. Who will take care of my child?
A. Children are cared for by group of dedicated, trained and caring staff at all times.
Q. Where will my child sleep?
A. Children staying at Isabel’s House are grouped with similarly aged children in one of five shared bedrooms, with consideration given to level of development, gender, sibling groups, and need for supervision. Our team is committed to determining the most appropriate bedroom arrangement for each child.
Q. My family needs clothing, food and personal hygiene supplies. Can Isabel’s House help?
A. Isabel’s House can meet the basic needs for all children who stay with us, including clothing, food, and personal hygiene products. Clothes are individually selected and fitted, appropriate to the season, and regularly cleaned.
Q. May I visit or call my children at Isabel's House?
A. YES! Your children belong to you, and while your children are staying at Isabel’s House, you and your approved contacts will be able to visit and call. Your child will only go home with the parents or legal guardians listed in the paperwork you complete with our Family Advocate team.
Q. Will I be charged for using Isabel's House?
A. NO. No family will ever be charged to receive help from Isabel’s House. Our services are continuously supported by our community so we can focus on caring for children and supporting families in crisis.
Q. Can Isabel's House really help my family resolve our crisis?
A. Last year, over 80% of the families that used Isabel’s House for homelessness or an unsafe home resolved their short-term crisis; over 90% of the families that used Isabel’s House for hospitalization or to receive mental health care resolved their emergency situation; and almost 77% of the families that used Isabel’s House for overwhelming parental stress saw a reduction in stress after receiving crisis care services through Isabel’s House.
Q. Who runs Isabel’s House?
A. Isabel’s House is privately owned and operated and is funded by donations, grant funding, and a renewable contract with the state of Missouri.
Q. If I bring my children to Isabel's House, will they be taken away from me?
A. NO. You maintain legal guardianship of your child. While we cooperate with state and county case workers, our mission is to allow families to remain intact whenever possible. Our services are confidential and focused on child safety and crisis resolution. All Isabel’s House team members are mandated to report suspected child abuse or neglect, but Isabel’s House does not take custody of children.
A. Families come to Isabel’s House when they find themselves in a crisis situation and are concerned about the safety and wellbeing of their children. These situations might include loss of a home or utilities, overwhelming parental stress, drug or alcohol rehabilitation, emergency hospital stays, fleeing domestic violence, and other similar crises. Please note: Children who are currently in the foster care system are not eligible to stay at Isabel’s House.
Q. What is it like for a child staying at Isabel’s House?
A. Isabel’s House was designed as a home: an encouraging, nurturing and comfortable place for both the family and the child. We try to provide as little interruption in a child’s life as possible. Children at Isabel’s House are fed nutritious meals and snacks in our family-style dining area and enjoy safe sleep in one of five kid-friendly themed bedrooms under the supervision of our 24/7 childcare staff. Children attend school, engage in curriculum, play in our multi-purpose room or on our playground, read or work on the computer in our library, create art and craft projects, and so much more.
Q. How many beds are available at Isabel's House?
A. Isabel’s House can provide care for up to 20 children ages birth to 12 years old, but the number of kids in our house at any given time varies. If you are facing a family crisis and need to know if we have space for your child, please call our 24/7 line at (417) 865-2273.
Q. What should I expect when I bring my child to stay at Isabel’s House?
A. Our goal is to consistently provide a quality, family-centered, culturally competent intake process for our children and their parents or legal guardians:
- Upon arriving at Isabel’s House, a Family Advocate meets with the family at a designated time, or on a walk-in basis. Isabel’s House team members will meet with the family privately.
- Children are given special activities to allow the parents quiet time to comfortably answer questions.
- Every family is treated with respect. Confidentiality is of utmost importance. Isabel’s House is always empathetic to parental stressors, stress levels and mental state.
- A child’s parents or legal guardians are the primary decision makers in this process. Our team is committed to offering a solution-focused dialogue.
Q. Who will take care of my child?
A. Children are cared for by group of dedicated, trained and caring staff at all times.
- Every child receives a check-up from a nurse practitioner, and if children become sick during their stay, medical care will be provided at no cost to their family.
- All Isabel’s House team members and volunteers have passed state and federal family and criminal background checks, as well as a drug screening. Staff engages in ongoing training, certification, and professional development to ensure the consistent use of current best professional practices in child care.
Q. Where will my child sleep?
A. Children staying at Isabel’s House are grouped with similarly aged children in one of five shared bedrooms, with consideration given to level of development, gender, sibling groups, and need for supervision. Our team is committed to determining the most appropriate bedroom arrangement for each child.
Q. My family needs clothing, food and personal hygiene supplies. Can Isabel’s House help?
A. Isabel’s House can meet the basic needs for all children who stay with us, including clothing, food, and personal hygiene products. Clothes are individually selected and fitted, appropriate to the season, and regularly cleaned.
- Family Advocates can usually assist families in need of additional supplies.
- All clothing items that a child brings/wears to Isabel’s House will be laundered and sent home with the child when he or she leaves.
Q. May I visit or call my children at Isabel's House?
A. YES! Your children belong to you, and while your children are staying at Isabel’s House, you and your approved contacts will be able to visit and call. Your child will only go home with the parents or legal guardians listed in the paperwork you complete with our Family Advocate team.
Q. Will I be charged for using Isabel's House?
A. NO. No family will ever be charged to receive help from Isabel’s House. Our services are continuously supported by our community so we can focus on caring for children and supporting families in crisis.
Q. Can Isabel's House really help my family resolve our crisis?
A. Last year, over 80% of the families that used Isabel’s House for homelessness or an unsafe home resolved their short-term crisis; over 90% of the families that used Isabel’s House for hospitalization or to receive mental health care resolved their emergency situation; and almost 77% of the families that used Isabel’s House for overwhelming parental stress saw a reduction in stress after receiving crisis care services through Isabel’s House.
Q. Who runs Isabel’s House?
A. Isabel’s House is privately owned and operated and is funded by donations, grant funding, and a renewable contract with the state of Missouri.
Q. If I bring my children to Isabel's House, will they be taken away from me?
A. NO. You maintain legal guardianship of your child. While we cooperate with state and county case workers, our mission is to allow families to remain intact whenever possible. Our services are confidential and focused on child safety and crisis resolution. All Isabel’s House team members are mandated to report suspected child abuse or neglect, but Isabel’s House does not take custody of children.