Inclusion Event Recap

Peace of Mind, Redefined

By 7017444915 • March 26, 2026
There is a certain kind of peace that comes when you know someone you love is safe. One mother, Jeanelle Stokes, shared that before Smart Living, there was always a quiet tension. Even when things were going well, that lingering question remained: What if something happens when no one is right there? At Hope Haven, we believe safety and independence should not compete with one another. They should work together. That belief is what led to the development of Smart Living. Smart Living blends personalized technology, remote support, and in-person care to help individuals live more independently while maintaining a dependable safety net. From our Remote Support Center in Spirit Lake, trained professionals are available 24 hours a day, ready to respond when assistance is needed. Jeanelle put it simply: “I don’t feel like I have to hover anymore. I know someone is there if he needs help.” Homes are equipped with thoughtfully selected tools such as motion sensors, wearable devices, secure video connections, and interactive reminders, all tailored to the member’s individual needs. These tools aren’t designed to replace care, but to enhance it. For Jeanelle’s son Jerrod, constant staff presence was increasing his anxiety. When part of his support transitioned to remote monitoring, there was a noticeable change. Within days, he began reaching out just to say, “Hi, I’m okay.” With that change, he had more space while still knowing support was just a call away. As Scripture reminds us, “The Lord himself watches over you.” - Psalm 121:5 Smart Living reflects that same premise of watchful care, encouraging independence while still keeping support within reach. As this initiative expands, more individuals will have the opportunity to live confidently in their own homes, and more families will experience the peace that comes from knowing help is always near. Your generosity makes that growth possible. It allows us to expand Smart Living into more homes, strengthen our Remote Support Center, and ensure that independence is never separated from safety. If you wish to contribute, please CLICK HERE to donate today. Thank you for your continued support, prayers, and partnership in Hope Haven’s mission.
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On Thursday March 18 2021 over 30 people representing twenty churches in northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota gathered for an interactive Zoom event  From Inclusion to Belonging: Welcoming People with Disabilities.  The goal was to explore ways churches might welcome advocate for and reach out to people with disabilities. Guest speakers were Rev. Terry DeYoung (Coordinator for Disability Concerns Reformed Church in America) and Rev. Mark Stephenson (Director of Disability Concerns Christian Reformed Church in North America). Jim Hudzinski and Dan DeVries in the Spiritual Support Department of Hope Haven along with Kyle Crist from Rejoice! Community Church in LeMars IA coordinated the event.

“We met for ninety minutes and the second half was spent discussing the benefits of a church being part of a learning community of churches in their community on a journey of becoming more welcoming and inclusive to people with disabilities ” said Hope Haven Spirtual Support Manager Daniel DeVries. “Our prayer is that several learning communities will start up in the towns of our region. We are not content with simply being able to recognize friends with disabilities but hope that many more of us can acknowledge that people with disabilities are our co-laborers in God’s kingdom–all of us “created in Christ Jesus to do good works which he has prepared in advance for us to do.” 

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