About Us
Ashley House is a nonprofit agency whose sole purpose is to serve children and families of children with special health care needs. Ashley House is dedicated to helping families build a new life together with their medically fragile children. We provide high quality, cost effective health care in home-like settings to children who are medically fragile.
Ashley House was created in 1989 to fill a gap in services to medically fragile children. Prior to the creation of Ashley House, children, for lack of proper alternatives, were staying in hospitals longer than necessary, were going to adult nursing homes or were being placed out of state far away from their families.
When children with severe medical diagnoses leave the hospital they often still need complex medical care. Ashley House provides a transition between hospital and home for children who are technology dependent. Children can receive very skilled nursing care while the family can adjust and prepare for their child’s homecoming at a much lower cost than if the child stayed in the hospital.
The overall goal of the Ashley House program is to help families cope with crisis by providing a warm, caring environment in which they may learn how to deal with their child’s disabilities.
We are governed by an outstanding Board of Directors who represent a broad spectrum of the community: legal, medical, financial, law enforcement, and education. They fully support our mission of taking care of medically fragile children.
Donations
Individuals and groups can donate money or gifts, as well as time, to the Ashley House children. Ashley House is a non-profit organization that receives donations through United Way. At your place of employment designate your contribution to go to Ashley House. Ashley House may be chosen to receive “Remembrances”. All money donations from individuals or groups are accepted and greatly appreciated.
Clothing, books, and children’s music or movies are welcomed. Please contact Ashley House to inquire about the children’s needs. We welcome the generosity of the community to make the difference in the lives of our very special children.
Volunteers
Individuals from the community can volunteer in many ways at Ashley House. Sheryl Huskey coordinates the Volunteer Program and can be reached Monday through Friday to discuss the program and match the Ashley House needs with the individual or group of volunteers.
Groups of people from the community have organized painting or weeding parties to help beautify the homes. They have decorated the homes for holidays, washed Ashley House vans and planted flowers. Groups have sung carols, read books and played games with children.
Individuals may volunteer as well as groups. They may participate in many of the above activities or spend most of their time with the children. Volunteers may not provide personal or medical care. But they can provide the greatest gift, their time and undivided attention. The children benefit a great deal from the time the volunteers give in the nurturing activities of visiting, reading and playing with them.