Family Support

This program is the way we engage people right where they are in their journeys, offering resources and relationships that give them a boost and point them toward Christ.

Our prevention services make families stronger before the child welfare system intervenes and families are torn apart. Families are breaking the cycles of poverty and leading their families with strength and dignity.

We provide career workshops, financial literacy workshops, parenting workshops and more for individuals striving to take the next step for their children.

Help Transform Lives

Tangible needs for children and families

To provide for families, the following items are needed every day:

  • Child and adult clothing of all sizes
  • Household items such as kitchen supplies
  • Bedding such as pillows and sheets
  • Birthday kits and party supplies

FOOD NEEDS:

  • Healthy, yet kid-approved, cereals (i.e. Honey Nut Cheerios).
  • Fruits to include apples, Cuties, peaches and bananas
  • Canned vegetables and fruits
  • Oatmeal
  • Peanut butter and jelly
  • Sliced bread and English muffins (wheat)
  • Yogurt
  • Canned meats (to include tuna, chicken, etc).
VISIT OUR WALMART REGISTRY
More Than

14,449

services to children and families
More than

2,600

children and families
More Than

1,600,000

meals through our weekend backpack program
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Meet our passionate and empowering leaders.

Jerry T. Haag, Ph.D., CFP®

President/CEO

Dr. Jerry Haag is the president/CEO of One More Child. During his tenure as president, he has guided the expansion of ministry sites from nine locations in Florida to more than 50 locations around the globe. Under his presidency, One More Child has launched its Anti-Trafficking, Child Hunger, Single Moms, Family Support (prevention) and Global programs to meet immediate and long-term needs of children and families. Under Dr. Haag’s leadership, One More Child has increased from serving 3,351 children and individuals in 2007 to more than 324,467 in 2021.

Dr. Haag earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in finance from Baylor University and earned a Ph.D. in finance and real estate in 1995 from the University of Texas at Arlington. He has led and participated in humanitarian aid, emergency relief, childcare and ministry to children and families in countries around the world.

Having been appointed and reappointed since 2013 by both Gov. Charlie Crist and Gov. Rick Scott, Dr. Haag serves on the Florida Faith-based and Community-based Advisory Council which he currently chairs. He also serves on the board of directors of the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), where he has chaired its Faith and Foster Care Research Team and served on the President’s Advisory Council. In addition, Dr. Haag has served on the board for Hines Ugandan Ministry since 2018.

Because of Dr. Haag’s experience and leadership in launching global, prevention, and anti-trafficking programs, he has been invited on numerous occasions to share our organization’s expertise with national and world leaders – to include the United States Health and Human Services, the White House, the President’s Office of the Dominican Republic (in coordination with President Danilo Medina) and the Office of the First Lady of Guatemala (in coordination with First Lady Patricia Marroquin de Morales).

Dr. Haag is passionate about long-term policy change to impact vulnerable children, and he had the pleasure of participating in a distinguished seminar on Religion and U.S. Foreign Policy, sponsored by the Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs at Boston University.

He preaches regularly in churches throughout the nation, and he and his wife, Christi, also enjoy speaking together. Additionally, he has authored, presented and published academic articles relating to his business expertise and has been honored several times for his business, professional and civic achievements.

In 2018, Dr. Haag was awarded the 2018 George W. Truett Distinguished Service Award by the Baylor Line Foundation and was honored at its Hall of Fame Gala for his exceptional leadership in meeting the needs of children around the world.

Dr. Haag has served on the faculty and administration of both public and private universities, and he was named Baylor University’s Vice President for University Development in 2011, where he served before returning as president of One More Child.

From 2000-2007, Dr. Haag served as president and CEO of the South Texas Children’s Home in Beeville. He also has corporate work experience with AT&T and is a Certified Financial Planner.

Dr. Haag and Christi live in Lakeland, FL. Christi is a renowned speaker, thought influencer and spokewoman for One More Child.  Their eldest son, Ben, lives and works in Dallas, TX and their youngest son, Brady, resides and works in Austin, TX with his wife, Katie.

Do you need a brief bio for Dr. Haag for an upcoming speaking or preaching engagement he is participating in? We have you covered — find it here.
Contact Jerry

Phone: 863.687.8811

Leon Battle

Vice President of Strategic Partnerships

Leon Battle serves as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. He leads our efforts to connect people, businesses and churches with unique opportunities to do what they do best and are passionate to help us serve more children and families. 

Previously, he was the Executive Director of Child Hunger and Family Support Services at One More Child.

Leon graduated from Southeastern University with a bachelor’s degree in theology and a minor in business, he continued on to earn his master’s degree in human services, and completed his doctorate in 2022 with a dissertation on Gospel-centered feeding programs. 

Leon served as a youth pastor throughout college and soon after accepted a pastoral job in Albany, New York. During his time in ministry, Leon saw the immense trauma that families were being confronted with and desired to get a deeper look into the dependency system. He changed career paths and started working for the Department of Children and Families (DCF). During his time with the department, he investigated abuse within families and institutions, and he later became a human trafficking specialist. Leon helped children get out of abusive homes and helped rescue children from human trafficking rings. He received multiple recognitions from Governor Rick Scott during his time with DCF.

Leon is very involved in his community. He recently graduated from Leadership Lakeland and has been named the chair for human services for the program. He serves as the vice chair of the board of Tri-County Human Services which provides in-patient, outpatient, and residential care for individuals getting help with addiction and mental health issues. Leon also serves on the advisory board of the social work department at Southeastern University.

Leon helped Aaron Burke launch Radiant Church in South Tampa. In five years, the church has reached more than 5,000 people and is consistently growing and impacting the city of Tampa.

Leon has a deep passion for intervention. He desires to see Christ’s love and restoration brought to families during their times of hurt and crisis. Leon believes the local church is the greatest asset for families in need and desires to empower the local church to step into the call of Christ, which is to help the widow, the orphan and hurting families in their time of need.

Contact Leon

Phone: 863.687.8811

Melissa Poole

Vice President of Program Operations

Melissa Poole serves as Vice President of Program Operations for One More Child. She has worked with One More Child for more than 16 years, previously serving as the Executive Director of Foster Care Ministries and the North Florida Administrator and the Director of Community Ministries.

Melissa has been a Certified Behavior Analyst in the state of Florida since 1993 and has also been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida since 1995. She is also a qualified supervisor for counselors seeking licensure. Melissa has nearly 30 years of experience working with children, youth and families in crisis and has received specialized training in trauma-informed care as well as infant mental health.

Melissa is a member of Chets Creek Church and volunteers in the preschool ministry. She has been married to Ray Poole since 1991 and has a daughter and stepson, Hannah and Blake, along with two grandsons and one granddaughter, Addison, Colton and Kennedy.

Contact Melissa

Phone: 904.721.2711

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