STAFF

Betty Helmer is our new Director! Our Director is responsible for the overall leadership of the facility including hiring and supervising staff, leading staff meetings, intake of new residents, outreach to the community, speaking engagements, grant writing, etc.

Betty graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1998 with a degree in Social Work.  Her past employment history involves working in Child Protection, assisting families with treatment focused plans, working as a supervisor of a residential facility for adults with mental health and/or chemical dependency matters, and employment as a Women Veterans Coordinator through the State of North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs.

She is originally from the Valley City, North Dakota area.  She is married to Josh Helmer and has three beautiful daughters.  The oldest is Michaela age fifteen, then Mya age seven and Alysson age five.  Josh and Betty are also licensed Path Foster Parents.  Their family resides in the West Fargo school district. 

Betty has great passion for working with women and can truly relate to young unwed mothers as she has experienced this in her life journey.  The Serenity Prayer has brought her great peace in her life journey:

“God, grant me the
 Serenity to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can, and the
Wisdom to know the difference.”

Click here to read Betty's Life Journey in her own words.

Valerie Haajata is our House Parent. Here is a letter from Valerie:

Dear Faithful Supporters of the Perry Center,

Thank you for the opportunity to join with you in this ministry. I rejoice in the journey the Lord has brought me through to bring me to this point.

Upon graduating from Philadelphia Biblical University with a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science in Bible my heart’s desire has been to invest my life on behalf of the salvation of the lost (1Thess 2.17). My treasure is in God’s work; therefore, I sought an opportunities in Christian ministry to invest the gifts and education the Lord has granted me.

In preparation for service at the Perry Center the Lord had me serve as an intern at a victim service agency, and as a corrections worker at a juvenile detention center. Through my experiences as I grew in the Lord my heart was challenged to live my life as a vessel of God’s hope and healing in the midst of brokenness and chaos. Upon researching the Perry Center I was confident I found an organization in which the Lord displayed His love and provided a haven of rest, and I wanted to become a part of the ministry.

As the Perry Center house parent I strive to be a channel of love and kindness, a source of encouragement, and a constant support for those who reside at the Center. I long for each woman to know they are a treasure and that in Christ they have a hope and a future. It is my desire to instruct each of them in life skills, wise living, and obedience to Christ.

Please continue to pray for the Lord’s work to be done in and amongst the women. Thank you for the opportunity to partner with you in God’s work at the Perry Center.

Sincerely,

Valerie Haataja
Perry Center House Parent