"What happens to the mamas who don’t have a tribe of people to help them? Who shows them like our families showed us?” These are the questions that led Selah Creek co-founders Ashley and Kevin Potts to create a place of healing and empowerment for young mothers facing unplanned or unsupported pregnancies. In 2015, Selah Creek Maternity Home was founded in Rockwall County, offering a home where women can grow and build a foundation for a successful future.
Selah Creek is more than just a bed and a crib. It’s a comprehensive support system, nestled on a 10-acre property and designed to nurture every aspect of a woman's well-being. With faith-based resources, mentoring, and loving care provided by professionally trained staff, Selah Creek offers a haven where women can find a renewed sense of hope.
This holistic approach includes fostering spiritual and emotional growth through Bible studies, prayer groups, and individual counseling. Residents develop essential life skills through workshops on cooking, budgeting, parenting, etc., as well as educational support and job assistance services, financial literacy training, and opportunities to save for independent living.
As Executive Director Jennifer Key explains, "Our vision is to see women transformed by the Gospel, creating long-lasting change." Selah Creek supports women through the routine parts of life, such as rides to the grocery store and doctor appointments, as well as the special moments, like the birth of their baby or the holidays. "We are not your typical shelter," reminds Jennifer. "We walk alongside these women as they work hard to break generational chains. That entails a lot of devotion, faith, perseverance, commitment, and time."
Selah Creek provides a nurturing home for women throughout their pregnancy, labor and delivery, and up to a year after their baby is born. Many of the women who arrive at Selah Creek have faced significant challenges and trauma. Without family support and often nowhere else to go, they come seeking a new beginning. Selah Creek offers them a chance to not only rewrite their own stories but also create a brighter future for their children.
"Celebrating every milestone, big or small, encourages the mothers on their journey," Jennifer shares. "In about the second or third month with us, we often see a shift where they are thinking through the decision-making process in a less reactive way, and in a more thoughtful, reflective manner."
Each mother at Selah Creek begins a program tailored to meet her unique needs and goals. This includes meeting with staff to discuss weekly priorities, participating in daily Bible studies, and reading books related to spiritual and emotional growth. Each mother also advances her education, either by obtaining a GED or pursuing a college degree or trade. With the help of staff, they also learn how to cook, clean, and maintain a home. Some moms have chosen to advance their lives through dental assistant school, cosmetology school, and pursuing a GED degree. Others have decided to immediately enter the workforce.
The Selah Creek journey doesn’t end with graduation. Selah Creek strives to continue to be a solid and continuous support system for all alumni, moms, and babies. Alumni support includes mentoring, spiritual guidance, tangible assistance such as clothing or diaper/wipe assistance, transportation, employment guidance, and more. “One Selah Creek alumna proudly shared at the Selah Creek Christmas party that she completed her associate's degree, a dream that was planted and watered during her time at Selah Creek. Another alumna just completed her real estate licensing exam, which was sponsored by a Selah Creek volunteer. The moms and babies of Selah Creek will always be welcomed back, and they have regular events to bring the Selah Creek family together,” says Program Director Kiley Parish.
In 2024 alone, Selah Creek received 79 applications, highlighting the dire need for these services in the community. If you are inspired by Selah Creek's mission and would like to get involved as a volunteer or donor, please visit their website at www.selahcreek.org.
"We are not your typical shelter. We walk alongside these women as they work hard to break generational chains."