Reach Hurting Kids Institute is an interdisciplinary team of researchers, mental health professionals, and children’s ministry experts.
Our purpose is to provide trauma-informed children’s ministry resources that empower the Church to reach the hurting kids in our congregations and communities. Together, we will tear down the barriers that prevent hurting kids from coming to Jesus and welcome the most vulnerable among us into the family of God.
Our mission is to empower the Church to reach hurting kids.
Our vision is that the Church would become a supportive community that realizes the widespread impact of childhood trauma, recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma, and responds to children’s needs in a way that helps them heal and draw closer to Christ and His Church.
Our core four organizational values include: fostering trauma-informed faith communities, Christ-centered and research-based intervention, ecumenical and interdisciplinary collaboration, and honoring the value and agency of children.
Trauma-informed children’s ministry experts Pastor Kayla Smith, Dr. Robert Crosby, and Lori Crosby, MFT at the Children’s Pastors Conference (CPC) 2023.
Reach Hurting Kids Institute represents a collective effort by Christian researchers, pastors, mental health practitioners, professors, authors, conference speakers, professional networks, and parachurch organizations to reach the hurting kids in our congregations and communities.