The role of the Presbyterian Home for Children has changed over the last four decades, and Sharon Moore’s career as a social worker changed with it. But one thing hasn’t changed.
“I love the Home,” Moore said. “I love it.” She will mark her 40th year at the Presbyterian Home for Children on Oct. 31.
Moore came to the Presbyterian Home for Children “fresh out of college” with a bachelor’s degree from Alabama State University. She started out working with adolescent girls, and after earning her master’s degree in social work from The University of Alabama, she became a supervisor. She worked in several programs at the Home during her career, and she now serves as Vice President of Transitional Housing and the Director of Family Bridges Program for the Home.
When she started, the Home continued to provide residential care for decades to children in custody of the Alabama Department of Human Resources and were always known as the “Cadillac” among group homes. About 10 years ago, many of the kids required more intensive care than the Home could provide, and DHR moved toward placing children with families rather than in group homes like PHFC.
In response to these changing circumstances, the Home pivoted from residential care for children to what Moore described as “serving single moms and female caregivers that need safe and secure housing with program supports.” The Home has been providing hope and healing to moms and children through the Secure Dwellings program for those same 10 years, and the program has expanded to take up to 30 children and 24 female caregivers at the Talladega campus.
“It’s another set of population,” Moore said. “It was sad to see the old program go, but we had to change to meet the new and pressing needs of children and families.”
The Home’s previous mission remains alive with the annual Alumni Day reunion of children – now adults – who once called the Home home. Every summer, the alumni come back to campus to reminisce, sift through old photos, play games and see what new projects are helping children in need at Home of today.
“We were home to a lot of kids,” Moore said. “Sometimes we have a good turnout for the reunion, sometimes not so much, but they still want to know that we’re here.”
Whether serving children removed from troubled homes as in the past or its current mission of helping families seeking housing and care, the Home’s clients have one thing in common: trauma. And for over a century, the Home’s trained social workers – like Sharon – have worked hard to give what they all need: safety, security and love.
“It’s traumatic for a child to be moved to a place you’ve never been to and to trust that strangers will take care of you when the people you loved didn’t do it,” Moore said.
Mothers and their children sometimes come to the Home after living in their car or after staying at the homes of families and friends.
“It’s traumatic to lose your house and to live in a car or to be couch surfing,” Moore said. “People will only put up with you for so long, especially if you have children. It works on your self-esteem.”
Moore said, “Trauma affects behavior. Social workers help clients manage some behaviors. I say social workers are more focused, more aware of trauma.” And social workers know how to help their clients access resources from DHR and nonprofits.
Homelessness has always been a problem, but Moore said it seems to be a growing issue because it costs more for a family to survive.
Through it all, there have been many success stories. Moore recalled working with a young client who was “a fighter. He’d fight at the drop of a hat.” During a counseling session, he revealed that he was beaten often in his youth. “He said, ‘Nobody’s ever going to beat me again. I’ll go down fighting.’ We were able to start a meaningful conversation. He went on to be successful and a great dad.”
A young lady graduated from the Home and went on to work in her field of study and is doing quite well. Another went on to own her own place, and her daughter earned a master’s degree.
“Your heart does a tap dance when you had a small part of someone’s success, when you saw where they came from,” Moore said. “You had a small part. They did the work, but you provided some resources, some guidance. Your heart just does a tap dance.”
In her 40th year at the Home, Moore said she is happy with her career choice. “I wanted to be in some helping profession,” she said. “This is where I landed, and I love it. I have a passion for it. It requires a lot of ‘above and beyond.’ It would be very difficult for me if I didn’t have a good support system.”
PHFC President Doug Marshall said the Home has been blessed to have Moore on staff for four decades, bringing her heart, wisdom and experience to the Home’s critical, life-changing programs.
“Sharon is one of the most genuine and caring individuals that I have ever worked with in my entire career,” Marshall said.
As a career social worker, Moore said she would recommend the field to anyone, “but not if you’re coming because you think you’ll make a lot of money,” she joked. “Social work is good if you want to make a change in someone’s life and be impactful, and you want to try to change the world. But don’t be disappointed if you can’t save everybody. If you can save one person, that’s a success.”
“Why some overcome their circumstances, and others do not is in God’s hands,” Moore said. “But some people have a problem relating to God. They wonder why God let these bad things happen to them. It comes down to whether the resolve is in the person to make them want to do better.”
