Isaiah 117 House expansion meeting held in Dayton

DAYTON, Tenn. (WDEF) — An Isaiah 117 House campaign was held Sunday for individuals to learn about an expansion that will be coming to Bledsoe and Rhea counties.

Isaiah 117 is a Tennessee-based organization that cares for children awaiting foster placement.

A kickoff event was hosted at First Baptist Church of Dayton to raise awareness of foster care and the mission behind Isaiah 117.

The event introduced am expansion campaign with a presentation by Founder and Executive Director, Ronda Paulson.

“Isaiah 117 is an opportunity for us all to be a part of the solution. We hear all the time about the foster care crisis, and if you don’t know where to start how do you help? We hear all the time about children sleeping in offices. Become part of Isaiah 117 House. That’s what we’re attempting to do. Instead of a child going to a government office, they come to a home where all of their immediate needs can be met and they can be reminded that they are loved, they are not in trouble, and they are not alone,” Paulson said.

Isaiah 117 is a nonprofit organization that provides physical and emotional support in a safe and loving home for children awaiting foster care placement.

It allows children to stay at a home after removable day instead of waiting in the child welfare services office.

“I think a lot of times people think about a child being removed out of a really hard situation and they celebrate that fact. But for the child, that’s the only life they’ve ever known. So, they just got removed from their mama. A mama that they love. They just left a home that they live in. They maybe left their brothers and sisters, their pets, their school. Like every aspect of this child’s life comes crashing down,” Paulson said.

There are currently 23 locations across Tennessee and a total of 52 houses across 12 states.

Paulson’s hope is for others to find out about their mission and to support the children who are undergoing the foster care system.

“… And the current plan across this nation and in Rhea County and Bledsoe County is for them to go to a government office. We want to love on them in that moment. You know, we’ve learned so much about what the brain does in traumatic events, and we’ve learned no child ever forgets removal day. So of course, let’s step in on that day with God’s love and God’s hope and meet their needs on a day that they’re never going to forget,” Paulson added.

The kickoff for Rhea and Bledsoe counties acted as an informative event for community members to learn about how they can offer their support to the organization.

There is an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for an Isaiah 117 House in Hamilton County on Monday.

“The fact that we’ve grown this much in five years it says two things: it talks about the need, and it is massive. And it talks about how big my God is,” Paulson said.