Rick's House of Hope

Meet Our Director

Chaplain Carol Kelly is serving as the Interim Director of Rick's House of Hope. She comes to the program with a wide range of experience working with children and families, and a true compassion for the bereaved.

Carol has served Genesis Health System as Chaplain and Coordinator of Grief Support Services. She received her Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University in Elementary Education and Family Environment, her Masters in Pastoral Studies from Saint Ambrose University and has completed training from the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. She is a Commissioned Lay Pastor with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has served her own congregation as the director of children's ministries.

Familiar with interim ministry, Chaplain Kelly has previously held interim positions as a Christian Education Associate, Lead Chaplain, and Grief Recovery Coordinator.

Her goal is to continue the compassionate spiritual care that was provided by the Reverend Rick Johnson, the vision of Founding Director Reverend Robyn Plocher, and the professionalism of Rick's previous director Denise Tatioan.

Carol has been a life-long resident of the Quad Cities, and raised seven children in the area. She looks forward to moving forward with the program and adapting to whatever changes and concerns the future might bring for children in the community.