The Buckner Family Hope Center® in Midland celebrated its grand opening this week. The Family Hope Center is a child-centered, family-focused place where families can go to find hope, support and empowerment in their community. Its model is an upstream preventative approach to social services. Families in Midland will have access to free classes, like Jobs for Life and Faith and Finances, counseling and activities for the whole family.

According to the most recent study conducted by the United States Census Bureau, 10.5% of Midlanders live in poverty. The programs and services offered by the Family Hope Center will be a resource to help these struggling families.

Buckner has served the Midland area since July 1996 and since then, Buckner programs have grown and evolved.

“In 2022, our Buckner Midland team facilitated 52 foster care placements, placed eight children in their forever homes through local adoptions, provided safe and affordable homes for 20 single-mother families, while the mothers worked on earning a college degree to break generational cycles of poverty, and served more than 650 children and adults in the community – all that before we even had this wonderful building to operate out of,” said Albert Reyes, president and CEO of Buckner International.

Buckner Children and Family Services President Henry Jackson said it is more than just a building opening.

“Buckner builds families. Families are where we believe children belong and where God intended them to be,” Jackson said. "The Family Hope Center works on three levels: engage, equip and elevate. The result is we are teaching parents to break generational cycles of poverty and neglect. Our model emphasizes building sustainability for our families to move them from dependence to independence."

Among the guests who came to the ribbon cutting ceremony were the city’s mayor, Lori Blong, and a representative from the office of Texas State Senator Kevin Sparks. Regional foundations like the Warren Charitable Foundation, as well as leaders from local churches, schools, organizations and businesses also attended.

Mayor Blong presented Buckner with a proclamation declaring Feb. 28, 2023 as Buckner Family Hope Center® Day in Midland.

Learn more about how the Buckner Family Hope Center® strengthens and empowers families.