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The children at Rainbow Children’s Home are cared for by a team of caring professionals called Residential Specialists. The position of Residential Specialist carries a lot of responsibilities while working at Rainbow Children’s Home. Some of these duties include transporting children to and from appointments, helping them with homework, assisting in personal hygiene, and teaching them proper discipline and our expected behaviors. Being a Residential Specialist requires a lot of patience, love, passion and discipline. Most may think that loving, caring and encouraging these children would be simple but unfortunately it is one of the most challenging aspects of our job. Taking in and caring for abused and neglected children carries many obstacles. Some of them have been the “mom” or “dad” to younger siblings. Some have never had rules or structure and many have never been loved or even understand what love is. Gaining their trust takes time, patience and work, and it is only the first step of a long journey for these children. Being able to become part of their lives is beyond rewarding. To be a small part of their success is what makes being a residential specialist worth every minute.
“From the first day I learned of Rainbow Children’s Home, I felt God guiding me to work with the abused and neglected children. Often times, abuse is a multi-generational issue. We want to stop the cycle of abuse by healing their wounds through counseling, preparing them for the future through education and training, and connecting them with a great sense of hope through spiritual guidance. It is an honor to serve our children because I know that we made a difference in their lives.”
Associate in Science- Southern Union State Junior College, 1990 Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education- Auburn University, 1992 Master Degree in Community Agency Counseling- Auburn University, 1994 Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)- State of Alabama, 2000 Certified Foster Parent, 2001 Certified Crisis Intervention Specialist, 2005 Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)- State of Georgia, 2006 Doctorate Degree in Psychology- Southern California University, 2007
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Melinda Rollins has served as the executive director for Rainbow Children’s Home since March, 2000.
“Being a Residential Specialist can be very frustrating at times.
Knowing that each of these children have a special story in their heart
makes the job self-rewarding. I know that God hand picks each of these
children and puts them in my path for a specific reason. To be able to
be a small part of their life, is a mission for my life.”
