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Throughout ministry growth, Green, Eberlein keep heart in care of children
By Bob Murdaugh

For many years, the primary scope of Alabama Baptist Children's Homes was to provide homes for children at agency-owned and agency-operated facilities.  As changing needs have mandated new child care approaches, Dr. Louise Green and Carolyn Eberlein have been at the forefront of implementing them for over 20 years.  Since their initial assignments as social workers for the Children's Homes in Mobile, Alabama, Louise and Carolyn have been instrumental in developing new services.

While in Mobile, they saw the beginnings of emergency shelter care, a home for mentally challenged children, maternity care for unwed girls, and expansion of foster care and adoption services.  Louise and Carolyn agree that children's problems have definitely become more complex as years have gone by.  "When Louise and I came to the Children's Homes, few of our children were identified as victims of sexual abuse," Carolyn said. She added that changing child care laws in Alabama have brought much transition to the ministry.

Strict regulations and mountains of government paperwork have not kept Louise and Carolyn from giving children undivided attention and compassion. This attention and compassion are essential for each child to heal from the deep physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds of abuse and abandonment.  "When kids hurt, we want to fix it," Louise says. She returned to school and earned her doctoral degree in counseling. Under her supervision, the Children's Homes began to intentionally expand its ministries to families by opening the first professional counseling location in Birmingham in 1995.

Reunion of children with their parents and/or other relatives is desired but not always possible. Louise and Carolyn have developed close ties with many of the children who have spent most of their lives at the Children's Homes. The two social workers always maintain special connection with every boy and girl they help.
"I am especially proud of attempting to find permanency plans for children in their adoptive homes," Louise says. "Pretty much every adoptive child stays in touch.
"I have found that having the opportunity to assist a young woman in making the difficult decision to place her baby for adoption and then providing the child with a loving adoptive family is probably the most rewarding part of my ministry," Louise comments.

As maternity care social worker at the Children's Homes, Carolyn believes counseling pregnant teen-agers' parents is as important as counseling the pregnant girls.
"A crisis pregnancy is a very difficult time in all of their lives, and having my listening ears often helps them bring peace to the family," Carolyn reports.

She and Louise recall a young girl who came to the Children's Homes in handcuffs and shackles. She was angry with her parents, the legal system, and God. A personal relationship with the Lord was not a part of her world, but during her stay at the former maternity care home she met Jesus Christ.  "Most of the children and adults we work with don't know the Lord, and church is not part of their lives," Louise says. "Carolyn and I want people to know that Alabama Baptist Children's Homes & Family Ministries is a mission field to which we and other staff have been called by God."

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Alabama Baptist Children's Homes - Central Administration
P.O. Box 361767, Birmingham, AL 35236-1767
Phone: 205-982-1112, Toll Free: 888-720-8805, Fax: 205-982-9992

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