More information about the Ruth Harbor Home

Statement of Purpose and Faith
Statement of purpose and faith for Ruth Harbor
Our Mission
Ruth Harbor is a Christ-centered home for young women who are facing unplanned pregnancies and in need of assistance. Under the guidance and direction of live-in house parents, women live together as a family learning to care for both their home and one another. While at Ruth Harbor women receive:

Counseling	Quality Healthcare
Education	Spiritual Guidance
Life-Skill Training	Parenting Training and/or Adoption Assistance

Our Philosophy
This interdenominational ministry was founded on the belief that Christ is at the center of life change. Grace and compassion are the cornerstones of every aspect of Ruth Harbor. Each woman is encouraged to develop her unique gifts and talents, learning along the way that through the power of God's love the course of her life, and the life of her baby, can be positively changed. The circumstances which bring women to Ruth Harbor are of little consequence. Who they are when they leave is the focus.

Our Program
Ruth Harbor's live-in houseparents serve as heads of the Ruth Harbor household, ministering to the women by providing a model of a loving Christian family. Young women interested in coming to the Ruth Harbor home must desire life change and participate in the various aspects of the program.

In addition to participating in daily family life, women will attend church and pursue their education or career, receive parenting training or adoption assistance. The goal is to prepare the women for independent living.

The Ruth Harbor professional team assists residents with their medical, spiritual, emotional, educational, and other needs. When appropriate, a woman's family members and the father of the baby will be included in the counseling.

The Need Is Real
Currently, there were more than 1,600 out-of-wedlock births in Polk County, nearly one third of those were teen moms. In addition, there were more than 10,000 out-of-wedlock births in the state of Iowa. Ruth Harbor is the only Christ-centered home in the state reaching out to young pregnant women with a comprehensive set of spiritual, physical, educational, and medical services.

Newsletter
We have on-line newsletters to keep you posted on our accomplishments and upcoming events. Please let us know if you would like to receive our monthly newsletter on-line by sending us your email address. newsletters@rutharbor.org
Read current or past newsletters

How You Can Help Today

Refer young women who are pregnant and in need of our services.
Contact Ruth Harbor if you need additional information.
Contribute
Volunteer
Provide Service and In-kind donations
Introduce Ruth Harbor to your Church, Business, Service Club or other organization.

Ruth Harbor Staff
	Ruth Harbor Staff L-R: Mark McDougal, Executive Director; Lilyan Lehan, Office Administrator; Barb and Jim Gamble, house parents; Sherry Stroup, Relief House Parent; Lyn Helton, Counselor; Steve Stroup, House Parent; (not pictured, David and Darlene Turner, Relief House Parents).
Ruth Harbor Board of Directors
	Ruth Harbor Board of Directors L-R: Peggy King (Treasurer); Peggy Hutchinson (Vice President); Doug Smalley (President), Jennifer Handsaker, Abbie Ruisch, Becky Zemlicka (Secretary/Founder), Jessica Dunker (Founder)
Ruth Harbor Founders
	Ruth Harbor Founders L-R: Carrie Leiran, Becky Zemlicka, and Jessica Dunker