Introducing Ruth Harbor 2.0
In January, we described the changes we are seeing in the women who are reaching out to Ruth Harbor for help. We described the transition we’ve seen from serving as a home for unwed teenage mothers in 2001 to women deep in the grips of generational poverty and the many consequences this brings with it.
Understanding Generational Poverty
Generational Poverty is a systemic, root problem in the lives of many Iowans and its effects profoundly impact the lives of women and children in multiple ways. As its name implies, Generational Poverty is passed on from one generation to the next, mother to child. The women coming to Ruth Harbor in 2024 are simply living out the life of their mother. A common goal for our moms is to give their child a different life than what they have experienced thus far.
Unplanned pregnancies are only one symptom a woman may experience living in generational poverty. Others include toxic relationships, limited educational opportunities, homelessness, mental health problems, criminal background, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, and trauma. This is illustrated well in the Tree of Poverty.
Ruth Harbor 2.0: From Surviving to Thriving
Starting in 2024, we are making significant changes to Ruth Harbor’s programming and model of care to better address the needs of the women and children coming to us for help. We are calling this “Ruth Harbor 2.0.” A significant part of this redesign is implementing our Family Life Care program. This is an opportunity to continue working with women and their children after they leave Ruth Harbor’s home. Evidence suggests that it can take as long as five years to overcome generational poverty. We need to stay in trusted relationships with women after they leave Ruth Harbor’s home.
Join Us on This Journey
I would like to invite you to join us on this journey of discovery. God has already worked in some mighty impressive ways in January and February. There is a lot to tell, and you are a key part of Ruth Harbor’s success, and the ministry of healing and transformation God has called us to.
Rather than flood everyone’s email box with unwanted updates, we are creating a separate list we are calling Ruth Harbor Insider. We will provide more detailed and frequent updates on Ruth Harbor 2.0. For those of you who prefer to stay up to date, but with less information, we will continue to provide our monthly eNewsletter.
To become a Ruth Harbor Insider, simply click the button below and sign up via a simple email request form. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our staff.