Jenks Organization Works To Help Families With Children, Young Adults With Disabilities

A Jenks organization the "Will's House" is expanding to help more families with children or young adults with disabilities.

Co-founder Jeanette O'Hara says the organization was just approved by the Oklahoma Department of Disability Services as a contracted respite care provider and specialized foster care home.

O'Hara and her husband launched "Wills House" after her eight-year-old adopted son died in 2017 due to medical issues.

As a part of the group’s expansion efforts, it is getting programming ready to open the facility in January.

O'Hara says having a home to offer services will allow them to support families in more ways.

Prior to the addition, the organization had to go into people's homes to help them. The new site will also help it build relationships with kids across their different developmental stages.

O' Hara says the home is handicapped accessible and can be customized for a person's needs.

“It’s like going to an aunt’s house or a family member’s house versus a facility or hospital kind of environment. We just want this home to feel safe and comfortable with people you know. We also want the community to see this house as support that our town offers to people they can rally behind,” O' Hara said.

O'Hara says it was challenging getting the contract since they are not operating as a traditional care facility.

“Will’s House" plans to open it’s doors in January of 2023.