The New Social Worker Vol. 20, No. 1, Winter 2013 | Página 14

Challenge House Retreats: Building Resilience in At-Risk Youths by Mary Fran Davis, LCSW, Sherry S. Cruise, B.S., and Nancy Bandel, B.S. H opkinsville, Kentucky, is located in rural Christian County. According to census data, Hopkinsville has a population of 29,100 (2009). About 26.4% of the population is under the age of 18. The unemployment rate in July 2011 was 11.2%, coupled with a poverty rate of 17.3% (http://www.infoplease. com/us/census/data/kentucky/hopkinsville/demographic.html). Hopkinsville city data indicate that the percentage of Hopkinsville residents age 25 or older who have a high school education is 76%, whereas those with bachelor’s degrees is 16%. Of the families with female householders with children under 18 years old, 42.1% fall below the poverty level. Many of these families live within the six inner-city neighborhoods of Hopkinsville (http://www.city-data. com/city/Hopkinsville-Kentucky.html). Within the city of Hopkinsville is a unique social service pro