1. How much does it cost to operate Cookson Hills each year?

2. What contributes to the cost of taking care of a child at Cookson Hills?

3. Do the families of the children placed at Cookson Hills pay a fee for the residential care program?

4. Does Cookson Hills receive government funding for its support?

5. Does Cookson Hills have a Board of Directors?

6. How old are the children cared for by Cookson Hills? Will they return to their parents?

7. How many children can Cookson Hills care for in residential care on a daily basis?

8. How do children come to live at Cookson Hills?

9. Where do your children come from?

10. Where are you located?

11. How can I help?

12. How can I make a donation to Cookson Hills?

13. My church/group would like to do a mission trip/project with Cookson Hills. Who should we contact?

14. My church/group would like to have a Cookson Hills Representative speak to us about the ministry. Who should
we contact?

15. Do you accept gifts of new and used clothing, household goods, vehicles, etc? Who should we contact?

16. How do I make a donation in memory of or in honor of someone?

17. Who do I contact to include Cookson Hills in my will?

18. Are my contributions tax deductible?

19. Will you provide me with documentation of monetary donations for tax purposes?

1. How much does it cost to operate Cookson Hills each year?

Approximately $2.3 million.

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2. What contributes to the cost of taking care of a child at Cookson Hills?

Several factors contribute to the cost of residential group childcare. These include:
• 2 full-time houseparents per house
• 1 full-time social worker per 24 children 
• 1 full-time program director 
• 10 houses with up to 10 children each (utilities, maintenance, insurance, etc.)
• Counseling costs (counselor salaries, equine program maintenance, insurance, etc.)
• Education costs (teacher salaries, fees, supplies, etc.) 
• Transportation costs (vehicles, gas, insurance, maintenance) 
• Food, clothing, and health care 
• Insurance (employee health, liability and worker's compensation) 
• Dining Hall and food service staff (commercial restaurant standards required by licensing) 

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3. Do the families of the children placed at Cookson Hills pay a fee for the residential care program?

We invite families to financially support their child to the degree that they did while the child was living in their home. However, no child is turned away because of a family’s inability to contribute financially. Contributions from the families of children in care is less than 1% of our total costs.

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4. Does Cookson Hills receive government funding for its support?

No, Cookson Hills does not accept state or federal funds. Doing so places restrictions on the Christian values and biblical truth that is taught to the children in care. Our current budget is funded by contributions from individuals, churches, private foundations, bequests from estates and income from beneficial trusts.

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5. Does Cookson Hills have a Board of Directors?

Cookson Hills has a Board of Directors consisting of members who are involved in varied ministerial and business occupations. Oklahoma licensing requirements dictate that a majority of our board members must reside in the state of Oklahoma. Our Board of Directors governs and oversees the program of Cookson Hills, budget and policies, employs and oversees the Executive Director, and meets quarterly.

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6. How old are the children cared for by Cookson Hills? Will they return to their parents?

Cookson Hills cares for children in residential care between the ages of 5 and 18. We have two tracks in our program: Family Reunification track (1-2 year stays) and Long Term Care track (children stay until graduation from high school). In family reunification, the goal is to reunify the child with his/her family. Once a stable home environment has been established, a child can return to his/her family. In long term care, Cookson Hills continues assisting them after graduation from high school while they pursue a college degree or become employed.

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7. How many children can Cookson Hills care for in residential care on a daily basis?

We have a current total bed space capacity of 115. Staff children fill 44 of those beds, and 68 are available for placed children. These numbers vary based on the number of staff children at a given time and turnover of placed children at various times of the year. During 2009 Cookson Hills cared for a total of 80 children in the residential care program.

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8. How do children come to live at Cookson Hills?

Children and families are referred to Cookson Hills by family members, clergy, school personnel, and other agencies. If the child requires services not provided by Cookson Hills, the child or family is referred to appropriate agencies for placement and/or services.

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9. Where do your children come from?

We serve children from the U.S. with a majority of our placements from the following states: Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Indiana, and Illinois. All children are privately placed with the consent of their parent and/or guardian when the family is in a crisis situation.

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10. Where are you located?

We are located in Northeastern Oklahoma, five miles south of Kansas, OK on Highway 10. Click here to access a map of our location.

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11. How can I help?

PRAY: Your prayers for both children and staff are greatly appreciated.  

PROMOTE: Tell your friends, church, and organization about our services and encourage them to partner with us.

PROVIDE: Your financial contributions and volunteer labor are what allow us to continue. Click here to make an online financial contribution.

Click here for information regarding estate and planned gifts. 

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12. How can I make a donation to Cookson Hills?

There are several ways to make a donation to the Children's Home. Click here to make a secure online donation using your credit card. You can also make checks payable to Cookson Hills Christian Ministries and mail to:
RR 3 Box 200
Kansas, OK 74347

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13. My church/group would like to do a mission trip/project with Cookson Hills. Who should we contact?

Contact our Mission Trip Coordinator at 918-597-2192 x327 or email  missiontrip@cooksonhills.org or click here to get more information.

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14. My church/group would like to have a Cookson Hills Representative speak to us about the ministry. Who should we contact?

To schedule someone to speak, call 918-597-2192 or email cooksonhills@cooksonhills.org.

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15. Do you accept gifts of new and used clothing, household goods, vehicles, etc? Who should we contact?

Lightly used clothing, household goods, vehicles, tools, etc. are welcome contributions. Call 918-597-2192 for additional information and to make drop off arrangements or email  cooksonhills@cooksonhills.org. 

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16. How do I make a donation in memory of or in honor of someone?

There are several ways to make a donation in memory or honor of someone. Click here to make a secure online donation using your credit card. There is a place to acknowledge the donation is in memory or honor of someone. You can also make checks payable to Cookson Hills Christian Ministries and mail to:
RR 3 Box 200
Kansas, OK 74347

Please include who you would like the donation to be in memory or in honor of, as well as where you'd like the acknowledgement sent.

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17. Who do I contact to include Cookson Hills in my will?

Click here to find out more about Planned Gifts and Estate Planning. If you have any questions, contact:
Rick Bayless
Executive Director
rbayless@cooksonhills.org
918-597-2192

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18. Are my contributions tax deductible?

Yes, we are a 501(c)3 under the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and accept tax deductible gifts.

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19. Will you provide me with documentation of monetary donations for tax purposes?

Yes, every contributor will be sent a receipt each time we receive a contribution. Contributors will also be sent a year end statement in January listing all contributions made during the preceding year. 

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