Calling Hope Meadows Home

Four years ago, with a $1 million grant from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Brenda Eheart purchased 80 homes on a former military base and launched an entirely new approach to foster care, reports CBS News Correspondent John Roberts.

She recruited families willing to raise hard-to-place foster children and senior citizens willing to lend a hand. Most of the children placed here had spent years in the foster system, moving from home to home, never finding stability.

"They've come here from very neglectful environments, and sometimes abuse as well. They are not children, in the sense that they rarely smile," Eheart said. "Now, four years later, the children really are well on their way to healing."

When CBS News visited Hope Meadows in 1996, the program was only two years old. The faces of many children couldn't be shown on camera because they were still in foster care status.

Since then, almost all of the children have been adopted.

In 1996, the Calhoun family was raising seven children. Since then, they've adopted three more.

While it is getting crowded at the Calhoun home, Kenny Calhoun believes that, "God ain't going to give you too much of a load where it's going to be a burden on anybody."

If children are the heart of Hope Meadows, the seniors are its backbone.

In exchange for reduced rent, they act as surrogate grandparents, volunteering as crossing guards, tutors and baby sitters. And it's not just the children who benefit.

"Most of the seniors that have come here will tell you that they felt that they were washed up. That's the words that they'll use," said Eheart. "That their life didn't have a purpose. And when they come here, they get so excited because there is so much for them to do."

Gwen Pryor moved to Hope Meadows just after losing her husband last year.

"He died in August, August 25 and I moved in here November 6th, 1999. I didn't waste anytime. I knew it was something that would keep me going," said Pryor. "You know, you have a grief period and I went through grief, but this helped me get through it."

Many of the seniors say that their physical health has actually improved since joining the program

"You're so busy you don't have time to think about whether you feel good or not," said Hella Hall.

"Everyone — no matter what their background, no matter what their age, no matter what their race — everyone has a contribution to make to help make the lives of others better," said Eheart.

That is the idea behind Hope Meadows: bringing together marginalized groups to help each other.

To judge the success of hope meadows, one need only listen to children who live there.

"I can stay with my mom for ever and ever," said Steven. "I have two sisters and one brother … They are adopted too, just like me."