Who we are
​Josh’s Hope was co-founded by Steve and Julie Jarrell Bailey in 2010 following the 2008 murder of their son, Josh, who lived with lifelong mental health issues and learning disabilities. Josh was adopted by the Baileys in 1996 at the age of 8 and lost his Medicaid benefits on his 18th birthday, leaving him unable to consistently access his mental health treatment. Without the former structure in services and supports he formerly had in place, Josh struggled with stability and began to self-medicate. Always wanting to fit in with others, he was easily exploited. In the end, these things led to him being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people and it cost him his life. The Baileys felt that if there had been a program in place able to offer him structured days with job skills training in a supportive environment, Josh would still be alive. Since no such program existed, they decided to create one. Josh's Hope serves young adults who live with a mental health condition or substance disorder, providing vocational training in woodworking, metalwork and farming for clients while also providing emotional support and educational workshops for parents.