of Northwest Alabama Inc.
Attention Homes
Lauderdale Colbert Franklin
Copyright 2021 The Attention Homes of Northwest Alabama Inc. | All Rights Reserved
The Northwest Alabama Attention Homes Inc. is a licensed non-profit organization
The Homes
The Attention Homes of Northwest Alabama operates two residential facilities, a Boy's Home in Sheffield and a Girl's Home in Florence. Each home has a capacity for seven children plus house parents, rotating 100-125 children a year. In 2010, The program provided 3,321 childcare days of service to are children. The homes provide various services which include daily living skills, drug and alcohol education and healthy relationships. Support is also provided to parents of the youth by helping connect the family with other available community resources.
The children are exposed to new ventures by living in the homes. They are given the opportunity to attend UNA sporting events, volunteer with local organizations and are taken on trips to the library. The North West Alabama Attention Homes works closely with local public school systems to help improve school attendance among members of the homes. Children who are having trouble in school are given one-on-one tutoring and have the ability to enroll in GED classes.
The Attention Homes are like families. The house parents act as real parents: they supervise activities, counsel the young people, prepare meals, plan group outings, and assign responsibilities. Privileges are granted to the children only as they are earned. Rules are flexible but firm. The homes diligently strive to meet each individual's physical, mental health, educational, and emotional needs.
Chad Epperson Testimonial
"Living at the Attention Home was a good experience for me. Kids who come to the home come from homes without structure and they come for many different reasons, whether it is because of bad parental choices, drugs, abuse, or they had got into trouble. For me, I had gotten into trouble. In 1983, I spent three months in the Boy's Home. It taught me both structure and how to work well with others. Mr. Freeman, the house parent at the time, spent time with us and took us fishing. We didn't have a lot of that before, so it taught us a different way of life. Of course I believe in the program. I have served on its board of members for three years and am currently serving as its Vice President. I am the owner and CEO of United Treating & Distribution where we are constantly searching for ways to give back to the community."
