ABOUT THE FOUNDER OF SHEPHERD'S REST MINISTRIES..

Kathryn D. Melton is the Founding President and Executive Director of Shepherd’s Rest Ministries, Inc., which was established in June of 1997 and provides emergency shelter for battered women and children, and services to victims of domestic violence.  Dr. Melton has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Cornerstone University, and served as Founder and former Executive Director of Dallas Family Counseling Center, Inc. in Dallas, GA, providing individual, group and family counseling.  Dr. Melton specializes in issues of domestic violence, sexual abuse recovery, & anxiety disorder, and concentrates her counseling efforts on healing and restoration.  She has provided services for Genesis Ministries, Inc. as a Clinical Director, and has served as a volunteer chaplain for the Cobb County Department of Corrections in Marietta, GA.

     In 1999, Dr. Melton received the Eckerd100 Woman of the Year Award for her spirit of volunteerism to her Paulding community.  At present, Dr. Melton works closely with the Domestic Violence division of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Department, and currently serves as Chairman of the Paulding County Domestic Violence Task Force that meets monthly at the Sheriff’s Office in Dallas.  Dr. Melton is also a certified Legal Advocate, and accompanies victims of domestic violence through the Paulding County Superior Court system weekly to obtain Temporary Protection Order’s against their batterers.  Dr. Melton has taught Anger Management Classes to Paulding County youth for the past five years through the 7^th Judicial Circuit.  She has earned a variety of certificates, is a licensed counselor, and is affiliated with a number of professional organizations and businesses.  Dr. Melton has worked in the field of mental health for over 25 years in both the public and private sector, and has traveled internationally with her work.

     Dr. Melton and her husband of 34 years have three grown children and two grandchildren.  Dr. Melton is a member of a local motorcycle ministry through which she enjoys riding her Harley and spreading the gospel.  Her hobbies include motorcycles, golfing, hiking, and music.

New 2005 Stats coming soon  

Shepherd’s Rest Ministries, Inc. 2004 Stats

In 2004, Shepherd’s Rest:

¨         Provided emergency shelter to 125 women and children

¨         Presented 3 of our shelter families with used automobiles that were donated to our program to aid them toward self-sufficiency.

¨         Assisted 12 Paulding County families with financial assistance with rental and utility arrearages, amounting to over $4,000.

¨         Provided 5 shelter families and 7 families in need outside the shelter with Christmas gifts and food during the holiday season.

¨         Averaged receiving approximately 40 calls per month from victims wanting to obtain Temporary Protective Orders against their batterer.

¨         Accompanied 240 victims through the Paulding County Superior Court to obtain a Temporary Protective Order against their abuser

Since Shepherd’s Rest opened in 1997, we have:

¨         Provided emergency shelter, food, and clothing to over 990 women and children.

¨         Have helped encourage and enroll 24 women in Chattahoochee Technical College, 1 in Vogue Beauty School, and helped numerous other ladies obtain their driver’s license and/or GED since the shelter opened in 1997.

¨         Helped locate long-term housing for 81 of our families.

¨         Have helped 96 Paulding County families, including 238 children, with toys, food, and clothing during our Christmas outreach

¨         Have presented 34 families with used cars donated that were donated to Shepherd’s Rest.