The Magdalene House to feature two-year program

A new organization joined El Dorado’s community in 2017, with the Magdalene House of El Dorado starting with a mission to help women survivors of sexual exploitation, violence and addiction.

The group started through St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, where Magdalene House of El Dorado board president Becky Choate works.

The idea originated with Magdalene House Nashville, which was founded by Becca Stevens in 1996, Choate told the News-Times in December. Choate had looked into the organization, along with members of the St. Mary’s congregation, including Connie Tarver, vice president of the board.

Choate said in December, after returning from a conference for the Magdalene House organization, she “came home on fire” to start something similar for the local area.

“We’re trying, out of love, to help women get a second chance,” Choate said. “It’s a movement of love.”

The goal is to purchase a home and fill it with furnishings, clothing, etc., where several women can be housed. Women will go through an interview process to establish if they have the “right heart and willingness,” Choate said. The women will be set up in the house and provided with everything from medical, dental and mental health services to every day necessities, along with “lots of love and support.”

Women who take part in the process must be clean when they arrive at the house, Choate said.

Choate hopes to serve six to eight women, stating “they have to make a commitment to us.”

She said it’s likely that many of the women they serve will come from the prison system, having forced to be clean.

The program lasts two years, which will entail the women taking part in a business enterprise, which as of December, Choate said is still being worked out.

The organization will assist women in finding work, returning to school or entering Thistle Farms operation, as well as offering a matching saving program to help them prepare to be economically independent when they leave the house.

Choate said the ultimate goal is to keep women from having to go back to prostitution or other exploitation in order to support themselves.

As of December, Choate and Tarver said they have been making contacts and meeting with area police, the sheriff and judges to ensure the program truly meets the need locally.

“We know we’re on the right track,” Choate said.

The board includes representatives of mental health, human services, pharmaceutical, medical and financial experts in the area.

“You’re not going to save the world, but you’re going to save generations,” Choate said.

The organization held one of its first events in early March, a ladies only moth ball.