PDF - ACH Child and Family Services
Transcription
PDF - ACH Child and Family Services
reACH FALL 2015 ISSUE Celebrating a Century of Caring Providing a Lifetime of Care A Change in Perspective Check out photos from our 100th anniversary party in Sundance Square and learn about how one of our alumni changed the course of his life after living at ACH. (page 4) Meet one of our own, Cleveland Jenkins, who has dedicated his career to serving children and youth at ACH and leading our Youth Emergency Shelter. (page 16) Giving love and care to a child in need became their focus. Read about foster parents Toby and Erin Owen and how they overcame the fears of fostering. (page 18) 2 reACH reACH C O N T E N T S Fall 2015 ISSUE 3 100th Anniversary Silver Tea 4 Celebrating a Century of Caring 8 Centennial Alumni Reunion 9 Q & A with Greg Shirley, ACH Alumnus 10 Annual Senior Dinner 11 Holiday Guide 15 Our Supporters Make the Difference 16 Providing a Lifetime of Care: Meet Cleveland Jenkins 18 A Change in Perspective: Overcoming the Fears of Fostering 19 Consider Becoming a Foster Parent 20 Our Community Our Kids: Teaming for Innovation From Our CEO | Dr. Wayne Carson T his year, ACH Child and Family Services has reached an incredible milestone. We turned 100! Our centennial celebrations have brought together our alumni, supporters and staff to share memories and begin discussions about our next 100 years. My hope is through our celebrations, we’ve brought more awareness to our mission. At the heart of what we do are the children and families we serve. We have a strong legacy and look forward to continuing this Legacy of Hope for the next century. For those we have served, we are proud and honored to have been part of your life. You are our inspiration. For those who have helped us get here – our donors, volunteers and community partners – know that your support has made a meaningful impact on many, many lives. Thanks to you, we are a family and stand strong together so that we are here when children and families need us. This issue of reACH shares our celebrations in 2015, but more importantly shares stories from our alumni, foster parents and staff who describe the importance of protecting children and preserving families in their own words. These stories are powerful examples that our mission to protect children and preserve families comes alive every day at ACH. Our mission: Protecting children and preserving families since 1915. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Frank Anderson Karen Barlow Sarah Bennett Ted Crofford, M.D. Joe Greenslade Liz Hatley Brad Hickman Jack Huff Barry King Brenda King Jack Larson Meto Miteff Lynn Newman Peter Philpott Amber Robertson Esequiel “Zeke” Sanchez, III C. W. “Dub” Stocker, III Malcolm Street ALL CHURCH HOME FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS Earl J. Hoover Kelly B. Keller Fred Moore Susan Rose Robert Simpson reACH 3 Silver Tea | CENTENNIAL EVENT HIGHLIGHTS | 100TH YEAR O n May 17, 2015, ACH hosted our 100th Year Silver Tea at our Summit Campus. A cherished tradition at ACH, the annual Silver Tea served as a way to say thank you to the people and organizations of Fort Worth for their ongoing support and invaluable contributions to our mission. Those who attended spent the afternoon reminiscing years past and dreaming of what the future holds for ACH. We are forever grateful to Karen Barlow and her host committee for her leadership and vision that made this event a true success! 4 reACH A CENTURY OF CARING CELEBRATED IN SUNDANCE SQUARE A heritage of caring. A legacy of hope. Sunday, October 4, was a day of celebration for ACH Child and Family Services as we hosted our Century of Caring event in Sundance Square! Staff, residents, foster families, community partners, and friends of ACH gathered to celebrate 100 years of protecting children and preserving families. The day was full of activity, including performances by Sonny Burgess, Grady Spencer, and ACH alumnus Greg Shirley. The grand finale was a musical performance by Kids Who Care, reminding us to “Look Up” at the world around us. For ACH, it was a way to thank the Fort Worth community for the legacy this community created and to look to the future, to the next 100 years of providing safety and stability to children and families in need. reACH 5 “After this year, most of us will exhale a huge sigh of relief and be able to relax a little as far as celebrating our first 100 years of taking care of children in their time of distress. But ACH staff will go on serving kids and families, outside the public’s eyes, redeeming kids like Greg Shirley for years to come. ACH’s work is so noble and worthy. Believe us when we say they are our heroes!” ~C. W. “DUB” S TO CK E R I I I , ACH Boar d C h a ir 6 reACH “What a 100 years it’s been! I hope with hard work, programs and prayers that abuse will be eradicated from all corners of Texas, and that ACH can reach that goal within the next hundred years, diminishing the number of abuse cases to zero. ACH will continue to be the standard for Texas and our nation.” ~ B A R R Y K I N G , ACH Board Member reACH We’re collecting videos via social media that answer this simple question: What does "protecting children" mean to you? Submit your own or look up our video submissions on Twitter and Instagram at #ProtectingChildren. 7 8 reACH CENTENNIAL ALUMNI REUNION Saturday, October 3, ACH held its bi-annual alumni reunion at the Wichita Street Campus. It was a beautiful day full of fun, family-friendly activities. Kids and adults alike enjoyed the petting zoo, pony rides, bounce houses, face painting and refreshments provided by the In-N-Out Burger food truck. Alumni were able to share memories of their time at ACH and browse old albums for photos of themselves growing up. Due to unfortunate circumstances, many alumni don’t have photos of themselves as children. They were able to scan photos they found of themselves and friends to keep. Everyone who attended had a great time and they are already looking forward to the 2017 reunion! reACH 9 | Q&A WITH ACH ALUMNUS | GREG SHIRLEY If you met him, you probably wouldn’t know that Greg Shirley had a rough start to life. He’s a Nashville recording artist, successful business owner, husband and dad to five children. His love for life shows through his beaming smile and how he treats others around him. He credits ACH for his success. We credit his strength, resilience and determination to change his family’s legacy. During our 100th Anniversary Alumni Reunion on October 3, we had a chance to sit down with Shirley and learn more about what brought him to our organization and how he has used that experience to his advantage. to. It was during one of the brief but many incarcerations of my father that my mother fled to Fort Worth, Texas. She later filed for a divorce. I treasured this gift, but most of all, I treasured that someone had taken notice, not of my bad behavior, but of the lost child that was behind it. At the time, I was 10 years old and my sisters were eight and six. We often lived in motels in the Fort Worth area. My mom would walk to work as a waitress at the local bars. It was during this time my mother began to abuse alcohol and drugs. She became distant from us and would be gone days at a time. I would take small jobs to get money to get us food. One time we went into a neighbor’s house and were caught taking food from their kitchen. I believe this is when Child Protective Services was called in. They picked us up and took us to ACH. Q: What does it mean to you to be back in Texas performing and celebrating with ACH for our 100th Anniversary? A: I’m so honored to be asked back here to celebrate ACH and all the positive effects it has had over the years, not only on children and their families, but the Fort Worth community as well. I know my time spent at ACH has had a lot to do with my involvement in helping children. Q: What led you to ACH? A: My father was an alcoholic with a very unstable lifestyle. My parents’ relationship and our life were very turbulent. We were constantly on the move, mostly on the run from the various illegal and troublesome situations my father would get himself into. He was often abusive to our mother as well as us children during the times he was drinking. Q: What was your experience like when you arrived at ACH? A: While trying to locate our mother, ACH staff gave us much needed attention. We got immediate health care, clothing, food - just the basics. But to us, we were finally in a structured, nurturing environment. We missed our mother, but even at that young age, we knew we were better off at ACH. We grew up with very little structure, everything from our homes, schools, friendships, were all temporary. This is where my love of music became not only a hobby, but a tool of coping with the sadness and frustration that children in these types of lifestyles are subject Q: Is there a particular memory that stands out? A: Our house mother bought me a cassette player along with the Grease soundtrack. I was so proud to have something of my very own. She had noticed I loved listening to the radio. Shirley and his wife of 25 years have fostered children and made several trips to Honduras to help build safe houses for abandoned children. He made it his priority to provide a solid life for his family and lead by example. That meant putting his singing career on hold. He returned to writing songs and recording five years ago. His new album, Raised on the Run, is about his life as a child. Fittingly, his son, Dallas, came up with the name. Shirley brought his story full circle when he sang a few of his songs and shared about his childhood during ACH’s Century of Caring event in Sundance Square on October 4. You can find Shirley’s music at www.gregshirley.com and on iTunes. 10 reACH Annual SENIOR DINNER In June, ACH held a dinner to celebrate our high school graduates who live on-campus. For many of these kids, this was their only opportunity to celebrate this special life accomplishment. Jon Bonnell, a renowned Fort Worth chef, graciously hosted the dinner at Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine. During a word of encouragement from Dr. Wayne Carson, ACH CEO, he reminded our graduates to “spread your wings and seek opportunity wherever it calls you.” He added to embrace independence, but remember that ACH will always be their family. This year’s graduates had plans to go into the army, attend college, and start culinary school. More Space to PLAY This winter, the Behavioral Care program is moving to our Wedgwood Campus. The new facility will continue to provide children, ages 4 to 12, a safe and highly structured home when moderate to severe behavioral problems prevent them from living with their families. The program teaches adaptive behaviors, supports successful child development and promotes family reunification, when possible. The interior space of the new home has been carefully designed to maximize group activities, while also providing essential rooms for therapy sessions, experiential sensory play and family visitation. Best of all, the children will have access to our Wedgwood Campus park and play area, which includes a paved bike trail, basketball court, and the newly renovated Carson Field. your holiday guide for making spirits bright! YOUR ACH HOLIDAY CHECKLIST: Become Santa for a day. Give your gift of time – include family and friends. Make a child’s wish come true! your gift of time Deck the Halls Santa’s Workshop November 18 - 20 Decorate the administrative buildings for Christmas. Volunteers can use available decorations or donate new items. Open to groups or individual volunteers of all ages. Santa’s Helpers December 16-18 Help our kids experience the joy of giving to their immediate family. Decorate Santa’s Workshop, arrange gifts, help children create craft gifts or select and wrap family gifts. Afterwards, Santa needs a crew to clean-up. Volunteers must be 16 years or older. Christmas Store Set-Up December 7-11 Set-up and organize the Christmas store where ACH staff select gifts for children in their care. Volunteers must be 16 years or older and able to lift large items. Un-Deck the Halls To schedule your volunteer time or for more information, contact Becky Rasbeary at 682.432.1131 or Becky.rasbeary@ ACHservices.org. December 21-23 Help return the administrative buildings to order by clearing trash and vacuuming or removing, packing and safely storing decorations. Climbing ladders and lifting may be required. Open to groups and individuals of all ages. SUN november/december 2o15 Assist ACH staff with filling their Holiday Wish List orders and help keep toy shelves well-stocked and arranged. Thursday, December 3 and Saturday, December 5 MON TUES WED THU FRI SAT 151617 18 192o 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 3o 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 91o11 12 13 14 15 161718 19 2o 212223 242526 27 28 29 3o 31 be santa for a day Organize a Toy or Gift Card Drive Gather family, friends or co-workers to collect toys on our Wish List—or gift cards, which allows ACH flexibility in meeting the holiday gift and year-round needs of the children and families we help. Deliver items to ACH by December 16 Seven $10 movie theater or skating rink gift cards provide an outing for youth in residential care. One $25 Target gift card provides a new outfit or personal music player for a teen in our Emergency Youth Shelter. Five $30 QuikTrip gift cards allows families to spend time with loved ones when they otherwise could not. Donate a Holiday Meal Share your holiday spirit with those who won’t be with family. Bring a purchased or home-cooked dinner (the latter requires a food handler’s license) or make a gift designated to purchase a meal. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but for many of the children and families ACH serves, past holidays haven’t always been so wonderful. YOU can make a child’s wish come true today! Start planning now how you want to make happy holiday memories for children. For more information, please contact the Development team at 682.432.1054. Your Generosity Celebrates the Season Make an outright donation or a gift in honor or memory of a loved one and we’ll mail a special holiday card notifying them of your generosity. For more information or to make your holiday tribute, go to http://wishlist. achservices.org/make-donation or contact Tina Casey at Tina.casey@ACHservices.org or 682.432.1120. Three $100 Walmart gift cards provides Christmas dinner for the children in one of our residential homes. For more information about donating toys or gift cards, contact Anna Morales at 817.886.7132 or Anna.morales@ ACHservices.org. holiday wish list Little Ones Gift Cards All Ages Learning Toys such as VTech & LeapFrog Cradle Swings & Car Seats Little People Play Sets Clothing (sizes newborn-5T) Increments of $10-$25 work best Board Games Youth and Young Adults Personal Music Players with Headphones Texas Sports Teams Clothing Scented Lotions and Soaps Alarm Clock Radios Graphic T-shirts (all sizes, male and female) Perfumes and Colognes (Axe Brand) Makeup * Baseball Caps Duffle Bags and Rolling Luggage Drawstring Backpacks Small Purses and Wallets * Journals Hair Accessories * Picture Frames Sweatshirts & Sweatpants Wal-Mart Target Bus Passes Fast Food Restaurants Local Malls Movie Theaters Gas Stations Pre-Paid Phone Minutes Game Stop Hair and Nail Salons Books * Stress Balls Craft Kits and Art Supplies Movies (G & PG only) Fun Pillows and Sleeping Bags Undershirts, Underwear, Bras, Socks Batteries (AA most needed) Christmas Gift Wrapping Supplies (Bags, Paper, Tissue, Ribbon) Coats, Hats, Scarves, Gloves Twin Bedding * Blankets Elementary-Age Children Themed toy items: Littlest Pet Shop, Disney Princesses, Star Wars, Minions, Paw Patrol * Barbies and Dolls (diversity is great!) Play-Doh * Legos * Sports Balls * Superhero Toys, Games, and DVDs (G & PG) * Hot Wheels with Race Tracks All items must be new and unwrapped. Deliver items to ACH by December 16, Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. 1424 Summit Avenue Fort Worth, TX 76102 Please park on Rio Grande in front of building C, the Administration Building. For more information, please contact the Development team at 682.432.1054. You change lives everyday. reACH 15 | A H U G E T H A N K YO U TO O U R S U P P O R T E R S | YOU DID IT! B I M B O B A K E R I E S U S A’ S G O O D N E I G H B O R PROGRAM HELPS REBUILD ACH BASEBALL FIELD If you’ve ever been to a Texas Rangers game at Globe Life Park, then you know how well-groomed the grounds are – from the health of the grass to the pitcher’s mound. ACH has a baseball field too! One that is wellloved and used often by more than 35 children and youth who reside on our Wedgwood Campus. Without the benefit of a full-time grounds crew, our field was in need of additional care. Two employee teams from the Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) Good Neighbor Program stepped forward to help rebuild our baseball field. Our children and youth were excited to hear the news. During the summer, the field was re-graded and built to Little League standards. New base lines were created, sod was laid, the backstop fence repaired, benches installed and the scoreboard repainted. The children, youth and ACH staff at our Wedgwood Campus watched as the work progressed. On Saturday, October 17, volunteers from BBU and TD Industries – BBU’s partner organization on this project – threw out the opening pitch for the fall baseball season at the newly refurbished Carson Field, which was named in December 2006 for ACH Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Wayne Carson. No baseball game would be complete without hotdogs, so TD Industries’ volunteers grilled Ballpark franks and served Sara Lee snack cakes and donuts to everyone in attendance. ACH extends a huge THANK YOU to our friends with BBU’s Good Neighbor Program and to TD Industries for their generosity and hard work. Thank you! SERVING AS A BEACON FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED: BRANCH BANKING A N D T R U S T C O M PA N Y Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T) Lighthouse Project is celebrating seven years of rolling up their sleeves and making a difference in surrounding communities. “Serving as a beacon for neighbors in need” is BB&T’s mission. Partnering with ACH this year, the company’s volunteers helped create a beautiful Reflection Garden on our Wichita Street Campus. The garden gives our clients and families a place for quiet retreat, where they can go to relax or think about the future. We are beyond grateful to BB&T for choosing ACH and the Reflection Garden to be their 2015 Lighthouse Project. 16 reACH | MEET CLEVELAND JENKINS | THE ACH YOUTH E M E R G E N C Y S H E LT E R The ACH Youth Emergency Shelter (YES) is a residential-based program that offers homeless, runaway, and trafficked youth, ages 10 to 17, emergency housing and care while ACH works to connect them with appropriate social services, and reunite them with their families or find safe and supportive long-term living arrangements. The only shelter in Tarrant County providing specific services to teens with 24-hour supervised emergency care, the YES houses as many as 20 residents, typically for periods up to 90 days. Most homeless and runaway youth were victims of physical abuse, extreme emotional abuse, or human trafficking and feel that they have no alternative but to leave their homes. Some have sought short-term living arrangements with family or friends and have “couch surfed” for long periods of time. They learn about the shelter primarily from law enforcement officers, school counselors and members of the ACH Safe Place staff. PROVIDING A LIFETIME OF C leveland Jenkins, a 25year employee of ACH Child and Family Services, began his career with the agency as a consultant working with teenage boys and girls. Today, he is the Youth Emergency Shelter (YES) Supervisor. “I’ve been very fortunate that ACH has been willing to put up with me for 25 years,” Jenkins said. “But I like to consider that I’ve been helping the clients who come through the programs. Some of the kids who I worked with are still in touch.” Jenkins knows each of the youth who stay at the shelter. He and his team build relationships, teach structure, and show love every day. “We care about the job we do and the services we provide,” Jenkins said. “And we try to meet our youth and their families’ needs where they are during crisis.” This winter, a new YES building will be completed on our Wichita Street campus. According to Jenkins, the building maintenance will be easier and the shower situation will improve, but he knows the services we provide to the youth and their families won’t change. That’s what matters to him. “In our new building, we’ll be meeting the same challenges with our clients,” Jenkins said. “We are there for the community. We provide respite care for families who are in crisis at the moment. What that looks like is shelter for the young people and time away from their families so they can work on their problems.” Jenkins and his team work hard to make a positive and lasting impact on the youth they work with each day. “My day quite often is captioned with addressing crisis,” Jenkins said. “But part of being able to do a good job and survive in the business is understanding that you can’t help everybody.” While Jenkins and his staff know that statement as truth, they don’t stop pushing forward and believing they can make a difference in the lives of | MEET THE YES TEAM LEADERS | Making a difference everyday. TERESA BELL WALLACE BRIDGES DEANDRE JOHNSON AMONOO KOFI reACH CARE each youth who walks through the door. Jenkins said he encourages those who have moved on to come back for the Alumni Reunion. “We want them to participate. Our alumni like to visit and show their loved ones what room they stayed in,” Jenkins said. “And it tells my age when they say, ‘this is my child’ and that child is a teenager.” Keeping those relationships is one of our key values. And Jenkins has demonstrated that by mentoring and guiding youth at ACH since 1991. “I believe in ACH because we care about the clientele we serve,” Jenkins said. “We are there to meet the child and family’s needs.” ACH is continually working to bridge the gap and help families during the most challenging times in their lives. One of those ways is opening a new Youth Emergency Shelter to better serve our youth who need a warm bed, a meal and guidance. Another is to sustain quality staff who care about the children, youth and families they work with on a daily basis. 17 JUNIOR LEAGUE OF FORT WORTH S E L E C T S AC H F O R S I G N AT U R E P R O J E C T A N D W E L L N E S S P R O G R A M F O R S H E LT E R YO U T H ACH is grateful to have been chosen as The Junior League of Fort Worth’s 2015/2016 Signature Project. Our two agencies have partnered to create a “Wellness Program for Shelter Youth” that includes $100,000 of funding for a dining room in ACH’s new Youth Emergency Shelter building as well as volunteers for one year. The Junior League of Fort Worth Dining Room will provide common space for the youth to eat together in a family-style setting. The Wellness Program includes volunteer interaction with the youth during informational classes focusing on nutrition, exercise, job skills, and other skill-building areas. The program was kicked off on August 5, 2015, with a Meet and Greet dinner and icebreaker game. Our youth had the opportunity to give input about the types of skills they would like to gain from the program. Since the beginning of the program, ACH staff and volunteers have received an amazing response from our shelter youth. Through this program, they have had the opportunity to learn that people, even those they don’t know, care about them. Projects have included vision boards, exercise activities, and making homemade, healthy pizzas with tortillas and veggies. Everyone is looking forward to seeing the longterm success of this new program. 18 reACH N ewly married and fresh out of college, Toby and Erin Owen began working as house parents for ACH Child and Family Services in 1995, then known as All Church Home. “We were house parents in the Walker building on the Summit Campus for a large group of kids,” Toby said. For two years the couple nurtured, guided and mentored the teens living in their home. “The seed to foster was planted in my mind at the end of that time,” Erin said. “We had such an impact on those kids from just loving them and doing all the parenting things we got to do.” When Toby took on a role as a case manager in 1997, Erin moved on to work at the Child Study Center. Toby spent a total of 14 years on staff with ACH. During that time, the Owens started a family. They had three children and got busy with life. Toby had the opportunity to lead another Fort Worth nonprofit agency and he became the CEO of Presbyterian Night Shelter in 2009. Over the years, Toby and Erin said their desire to become foster parents didn’t waver. But the doubts and fears still lingered. It’s National Adoption Day! Tarrant County Adoption Day is November 20, and National Adoption Day is November 21. LEARN MORE AT: www.NationalAdoptionDay.org | A CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE | OVERCOMING THE FEARS OF FOSTERING AND TAKING A LEAP OF FAITH “It was a roundabout journey,” Erin said. “There were points along the way when the Lord would remind me and I thought, ‘I can’t do that, I’m not up to it.’ I began praying consistently that the Lord would prepare me for that because he had put such a desire in me. My fear was that foster care would be hard because we would have to let go of the kids who came into our care.” Admittedly from Toby and Erin, it took a change in their perspectives to move beyond the potential challenges and decide to become foster parents. “Going back to that fear of letting go of the children in our care, I came to the realization that these children who need a home don’t have a choice in dealing with the suffering or trauma in their lives,” Erin said. “I’m an adult and I can deal with grief if I have to. These kids need nurturing, stability and knowledge that someone is trustworthy and cares about them. Turning it around put it in perspective. It’s an opportunity for a child, not for me or my family.” Erin made the decision in her heart to become a foster parent in 2011. She knew it was the right decision for her family. Toby wasn’t ready to make the leap yet. reACH “Toby had a heart for being a foster parent,” Erin said. “Through his work, he knew all the difficult things that could happen. Being ready to move forward was a matter of being in alignment with one another, sharing that same dream and knowing we could do it.” Two years later in 2013, a shift in Toby’s perspective brought him to that place of readiness with Erin. “In the spring of 2013 our family went on a mission trip to a thirdworld country,” Toby said. “I had been praying about fostering for a while, and that trip sealed the deal for me. I knew we had love to give, but it opened my eyes and made me realize that we have everything we need to provide for a child in crisis.” Taking the plunge, Toby and Erin contacted ACH when they returned from their mission trip and got the ball rolling to become licensed foster parents. Erin Shook, the Owens’ case manager, has worked with them since 2014. She said a key to the Owens’ success as foster parents was their unwavering commitment after they made the decision to move forward. “They’re very realistic,” Shook said. “The child currently in their care has significant medical needs and Toby and Erin are committed to giving him the best care possible. They also attend every court hearing, child protective services meeting, and family group conference related to the child in their care.” The Owen family has embraced what it means to provide a loving home for children in crisis. Even knowing the challenges that exist with becoming a foster parent, Toby and Erin share a message as often as they can. “Go in with your eyes open,” Toby said. “Take that step and take that leap of faith that things will be ok. You’ll make a tremendous difference. Knowing that you’re helping a child who had virtually no future and was born into an unfortunate situation makes all the hard work worth it.” Erin agrees. “Don’t be afraid of being hurt by losing a child in your care,” she said. “It’s more important for them to have someone who loves them, even if it’s for a short time.” Their three children were excited to hear the news when Toby and Erin decided it was time to become a foster family. “My kids were on board the moment we told them,” Toby said. “I think Erin and I were more nervous than they were.” 19 CONSIDER BECOMING A F O S T E R PA R E N T You can help change a child’s life by opening your heart and your home. Each year, individuals just like you step up to provide love, care, and shelter to the thousands of abused and neglected children who are no longer able to live with their own parents or families. There are many types of children in need of families willing to provide a place for them to thrive. They are children of all ages, sibling groups, and teens who require patience, skill, and love Their three biological children, Natalie (16), James (13), and Andrew (9), have shown each of the children who spend time in their home a warm welcome and made them feel like part of the family. from their foster parents in order “This experience has brought the best out of our kids,” Erin said. “They are so giving, loving and nurturing. That’s been a really surprising blessing.” parent or respite provider might The child currently placed in the Owen’s care needs a permanent home. They are in the process of adopting him, and will continue to provide a temporary home for other children in need. to survive and flourish. If you think becoming a foster be right for you, have questions, or would simply like to talk to someone at ACH, call Nikki Bowman or Lois Miller at 817.886.7140. You can also visit our website at www.experiencefostercare.org. 20 reACH FOSTER CARE REDESIGN What is Our Community Our Kids? In 2013, as part of a statewide Foster Care Redesign effort, the Texas Department of Family Protective Services selected ACH as a Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) to oversee the delivery of foster care services in Texas Region 3b, which includes Tarrant, Palo Pinto, Parker, Johnson, Hood, Somervell and Erath counties. Oversight and accountability for foster care providers in our network is now managed by Our Community Our Kids, a newly formed division of ACH. Our Goals for Foster Care Redesign • Keep children closer to home and connected to their communities and siblings. • Improve the quality of care and outcomes for children and youth. • Reduce the number of times children are moved between foster homes. TEAMING FOR SUCCESS O ur Community Our Kids (OCOK), a division of ACH, began its second year of foster care redesign in September 2015. As of then, there were 1,399 children in foster care within the seven county region OCOK serves, and only 674 families fostering in our community. The shortages are felt by all. The challenges that were in place at the beginning of the year – not having enough foster families to care for our children in need – are still evident. In the spirit of teamwork, OCOK has initiated targeted recruitment strategies with our network of providers to seek out specific foster families in the rural communities and those who specialize in serving a therapeutic role for teens. Our team has participated in peach festivals, dragon boat races, Father’s Day picnics, Rock the Parks, ministerial alliances, city festivals, meet the teacher events, business expos and adoption picnics. OCOK network providers are seen as a team in the community to recruit foster parents. As an example of the non-traditional team recruitment approach, Palo Pinto County has seen an increase of 100 percent in the number of homes that are currently being trained to become foster homes. “We have seen the possibility of when we work together as a team, how effective we can be for the children of our community,” Dr. Wayne Carson, ACH CEO, said. These words are echoed by the team of dedicated professionals who are giving their time, talent and overwhelming support through their commitment to changing the way foster care is delivered in our communities. reACH 21 Thank You to our Generous Donors March 1 – September 30, 2015 Corporations, Organizations and Foundations Accel Imaging Systems, Inc. Albertsons Safeway Amazon Smile Foundation America’s Charities Anonymous AT&T Employee Giving Campaign Azle Independent School District Bank of America Bank of Texas Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas Bruckner’s Truck Sales, Inc Cartwright-Sells Fund of the Community Foundation of North Texas Community Partners of Tarrant County Cook Children’s Health Care System Craddock Moving and Storage Co Dura-Tech Processes, Inc. Estes Financial Services, Inc Equifax Robert A. & Jane W. Ferguson Charitable Fund in the Community Foundation of North Texas First United Methodist ChurchMansfield Fort Worth Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Fort Worth DAR Kenneth and Cherrie Garrett Foundation Gladney Center for Adoption GM Financial Hahnfeld Hoffer Stanford Architects/ Planners/Interiors Harris, Finley and Bogle, PC Higginbotham Community Fund of the Community Foundation of North Texas The Holloway Family Foundation JPMorgan Chase Employee Giving Campaign Kapp and Miller, PC Kids in Need KPMG’S Community Giving Campaign Legacy Christian Fellowship Linbeck Group, LLC Live Oak Foundation LMEPAC Charity Program Lockheed Martin AERO Club Marquette Financial Companies Masonic Home Ex-Students Association MHMR of Tarrant County Meridian Bank Texas MHBT Inc. MillerCoors LLC The Sally P. and Scott W. Mooring, III Charitable Fund Moritz Dealerships O’Neal Oil & Gas Parker County Child Protective Services Board The Gary Patterson Foundation Pier 1 Imports Polytechnic United Methodist Women Principal Financial Group Southwest Business Center QuikTrip Corporation Radiology Associates of North Texas Mrs. Renfro’s Salsas Sid W. Richardson Foundation River Oaks Lodge #1311 Roach Howard Smith & Barton Roger Williams Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Rotary Club of Fort Worth Rylander, Clay & Opitz, LLP S&K Plumbing of Fort Worth, Inc Schollmaier Foundation Nancy and John Snyder Fund in the Community Foundation of North Texas The Sara and Peter Sterling Family Fund SYNC-Results Nonprofit Consulting Group LLC Texas Capital Bank Texas Health Gives Campaign Texas Youth Development Corporation Therapeutic Family Life TriQuest Technologies, Inc. Tutorial Association of Fort Worth United Way of Central & Northeastern Connecticut United Way of Greater Portland United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Inc United Way of Tarrant County U.S. Trust The Walsh Foundation Weaver and Tidwell Private Foundation Martin H. and Helen M. Wikierak Memorial Fund for Abused Children Wise County Child Welfare Board Individuals Jarrell Adaya Denise Alba Sean and Bridget Allen Frank and Tasa Anderson Lt. Col. James and Virginia Anderson Mary Kathryn Anderson Alita Andrews Rick and Vicki Andrews Delane Angelini Janet M. Anna Anonymous George and Glenda Appleby Gordan and Louise Appleman Margaret Wall Augustat Larry and Tiffany Autrey C B Baird, Jr. Steven and Len Baird Charles and Georgia Baker Kay Baker Ben and Alice Barlow Dr. Karen Barlow Bill and Sandy Barnes Bob Barnes Greg and Caroline Barnes Sharon Bartells Russell and Patricia Barton Sarah Barton Steve and Phyllis Beckman Anne Bernardy Richard and Shannon Berquist Patrick and Hillary Bessinger Shannon Bettis Bobbi Bilnoski Joseph Bird Greg and Laura Bird Carolyn Bishop Lou Ann Blaylock Dr. Susan Blue Marcelle Houston Borgers Bonnie Bowman Roxanne Boyd Lucy Brants Jennifer Broberg Julie Brown Katherine Brown Caroline Brownlie Katherine Brownlie Smith and Teresa Brownlie Larry and Sally Brumbaugh Jon and Lori Brumley Jon and Rebecca Brumley Dante Bryant Walter and Janet Buchholtz Monica Buecher Gary and Sidney Buff Carie Burnette Mary Burnette Grant and Michelle Bushaw Jerry and Judy Cagle Gary and Betty Caldwell Sherrie Caldwell Corinthia Campbell Donna Campbell Dave and Stephanie Canfield Sam and Sara Cantey Elizabeth Cardin Wayne and Vickie Carson William and Jane Carson Louise Carvey Glen and Tina Casey Sam and Bliss Caver John Allen and Sue Chalk Baker and Florine Chapman James and Angie Childers Tilden and Gretchen Childs Melissa Christenson Jim and Joann Clifton Mattie Peterson Compton Jason and Megan Connally Isabella Contreras Brian and Tamara Cook David Covert Brad and Michelle Cowden Marvin and Linda Cowden Edward and Robin Cox Alice Cranz Rose Anne Cranz Leigh Crates Dr. Ted and DeLynn Crofford Betty Crow Connie Crutchfield Wesley and Deirdre Cunningham Mark and Sherrie Cyrier Mark and Elizabeth Daly Richard Dangel Wayne and Donna Darner Glenn and Julie Davidson Jackson Davis Joanne Law Davis Dan and Judy Davis Douglas and Monique Decker Gretchen Denny Robin Dettmer Jerica Dewey Raymond and Courtney Dickerson Richard and Phyllis Donnelly Virginia Dorman Emily Dotson David and Donna Dozier Nancy Dozier Tiffany Drapkin Mark and Barbara Duffy Patricia Dunbar Maynard and Laura Dyson Bridget Easton Tim and Janet Eaves David and Karen Ekstrom Dr. Greg Ellis Beth Engelhardt Patti Esposito Susan Essary Lindy Eubank Jay and Michelle Ewing Marion Faherty David and Catherine Fankhauser John and Terry Fant Jeff and Katie Farmer Marisol Febles Anne Felix Robert and Vivian Ferguson Mary Foose Kevin and Linda Ford Ben and Lisa Fortson Mark and Gina Fowlkes Joseph Frank Jan Frase Cornelia Friedman Lynn Gafford Elizabeth Gale Mark and Missy Gale Luis Galnares Charlie Galupi and Barbara Clark-Galupi Arthur and Barbara Garcia Victor and Linda Garcia Glenn and Marcia Garoon John and Janet Garrison Jo Anne Gilbert Allison Giles Mark and Kathleen Giles Nancy Romine Gillis Nadia Givens Katherine Glassey Paul and Susan Goelzer Lynne Goldstein Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. If an error has occurred, please accept our sincerest apologies and let us know of our mistake by contacting Tina Casey at Tina.Casey@ACHservices.org or 682.432.1120. 22 reACH Jessica Grady Trevor and Jennifer Graham Bill and Ann Greenhill Joe and Lillian Greenslade Paul and Kelly Greenwell Betsy Griffith Sara Groce Robert and Glenda Guinan Scott W. Hall Jennifer Hamant Lisa Hamilton Mary Hamilton Mary Haney Wysong Tom Harkrider Kenneth and Andrea Harrington Randall and Liz Hatley O.Z. and Brenda Helmer Dr. Angel Hernandez Elsa Hernandez Brad and Cynthia Hickman Brent and Debi Hicks Kay Higgins and Keith Spalding Lee Hill Patrick and Molly Hogan Latoya Hogg Paula and Earl Hoover Amaya Hopper John and Susan Hotard Jim and Teresa Hubbard Jack and Leanne Huff Chris Hughes Price and Judy Hulsey Sam and Isabelle Hulsey Wendy Hunsaker Gregory and Doris Hunt Zaira Ibarra Tom and Susan Idleman George and Vickie Jackson Tanna Jackson Bruce and Suzanne James Kimberly Jefferson Doug and Hillary Jennings Amy Johnson Cynthia Johnson Chris and Linda Johnson Wilma Johnson Jerry and Melinda Johnston Stephen and Diane Jones Julie Jones Jeff and Marie Jordan Laken Jordan Melinda Kallmeyer Olivia Kearney Chad Keeney Annette Keller Robert and Kelly Keller Maxine Kemble Catherine Kerrigan Meda Kessler Michel Ketter Jungmin Kim Barbara Kinard Barry and Leah King Jim and Brenda King Glen Kinser Art and Joan Kline Lorraine Kohls Bobby and Beverly Kouri Amy Kramer Margaret Kramer Annelise Kutzler Dr. Bea Kutzler JR Labbe Jayne Landers Jack and Nancy Larson Edward and Ellison Lasater Catherine Lawrence Lauri Lawrence Tom Lee Craig and Cynthia Level Angela Lewis Leo and Freida Liles Bob and Margie Lilly Karina Lockhart Tony and Deborah Loth Norma Loughridge Linda Low Brad and Barbara Lundgren Loyd Lynch Sandra Mackey John and Carol Maclean Cheri Maddox Stella Maggs Michael and Valerie Mallick Harrison and Ginny Markley Lee and Jacquin Matthews Judy Mayo Melissa McBride Debbie McCoy Doug and Lee Ann McCune Raquel McFadden LaMonica McKissic Kent and Debi Meyerhoeffer B.T. and Katherine Miller Cassidy Miller Bill and Laurie Miller Lois Miller Billye Miller Mark and Cynthia Milrany Meto and Virginia Miteff Robert Moon Bob and Debbie Moore Fred and Cheryl Moore Joel and Anna Morales Luke and Kara Morey Jack and Amy Morris John and Susan Morris Russell and Ann Morton Colby Mosseller Chris Munson Kris Naylor Claudia Newcomb Alexandra and Michael Newman Cam and Lynn Newman Stephanie Nick Janet Nocher William and Alann Nolan Elinor Normand Oberheu Family Hollis O’Brien, Fred Heitz, Scott Bedell, Anna Williams-Tasier, Leia Vanden Heuval, Anita Ritchie, Cheryl Chanslor, Chris Cinelli, Lori Arsenault Patrick and Jean O’Mara Pat O’Neal Melissa Opheim Walter and Sheila Owen Janice Pape Erin Parise Amber Patterson Herb and BJ Pease Kimberly Pease Joe and Barbara Penshorn Donald and Rosemary Pentecost George and Betsy Pepper Alan and Bonnie Petsche Arnold and Kathy Petsche Beth Phillips Peter and Anna Melissa Philpott Angela Popko Tutti Portwood Keith Pounds Marisia Powers Debbie Preissinger David and Sarah Proctor Tom and Michelle Purvis Patricia Purvis Janice Pyeatt Lizzette Quesada Madelene Rafalko Sathiyamoorthy Ramu Jane Rector Scott and Caren Rector Tracy Rector and Greg Fitzgerald Russell and Deidra Rice Martha Riddle Pat Rigler John and Jean Roach Edd and Terri Robinett Raquel Rodriguez Bill and Susan Rose Rosalyn G. Rosenthal Judy Rudoff Bridget Russell Nancy Ryan Jude Ryan Nancy Salmon Todd and Susan Samuelson Zeke Sanchez Matt and Adriana Sanders Betty “B.J.” Sanders Jeanne Van Zant Sanders Loretta Sanders H. Wayne and Ginny Sanderson Kerry and Gayle Sandifar Shelby Schafer Alan and Marcie Schonborn Joy Schroeder Lisa Schuessler Steve and Melisa Schultz Cathy Scott Bill and Barbara Shelton Tammie Shelton Richard and Karen Shepherd Erin Shook John Siehling Jacob Sigler Jan Simcox Davyre Simon Carolyn Sims Tara Sims Carolyn Singer Martha Slover Flavious and Melanie Smith Shelby Smith John and Beverly Snyder Sharon Soh Richard and Emily Sohns Justin and Elizabeth Sparks Dana Springer Rachel Stacy Matt and Katie Stadler Dulaney and Linda Steer Mike and Sandy Stepp Roderick and Claudia Stepp C.W. “Dub” and Valerie Stocker Virginia Stocker Leanne Stomski and Mark Frankel Gary and Rozi Stone Carla Storey Leslie Storey Loretta Storey Donna Stowe Malcolm and Lou Street Dennis and Karrie Sutton Larry and Cathy Sweeney BJ Syma Adam Tate Bradley Tatum Carolyn Teague Neel Teague David and Melinda Teitelbaum Jenny Terry Taylor Thomas Brigit Thompson Alicia Thoms Katie Tilley David and Jerre Tracy Mark Trieb Tad and Deborah Trout John and Suzanne Tucker Shannon Uehlein Valerie Valentine-Heath Jim and Cindy Vaszauskas Sid and Brandee Vincent Robert Viscome Ellen Vlassis Roy and Monique Waggoner Burch and Lisa Waldron Beverley Wallace Richard and Anna Jean Walsh F. Howard and Renee Walsh Lloyd and Rhonda Walsh Patricia Ward J.T. Ward Tom Ward Alice Waters Tracey Weaver Mark and Natalie Weimer Lindsey Weitzel Gigi Westerman Amanda White – Brown John and Suzanne Whitsell Al and Mary Madeline Whittinghill Jim and Debbie Whitton Jim and Becky Wilkes Bobbi Williams Glenn and Lee Ann Williams Jeff Williams Lyn Willis Greg and Sandi Wilson Stephen and Aubra Wilson Carol Witcher Martha Woodson Marsha Wright Lori Wynne Jake Yarbrough Arthur and Julie Zobal Gifts In Kind Roman Aguirre All Saints Episcopal School Amon Carter Museum of American Art Anonymous Taylor Ashley Autobahn Motorcar Group Len Baird Bank of America- Plano Sharon Bartells Richard and Shannon Berquist BIMBO Bakeries USA Jon and Melinda Bonnell Audra Brown Katherine Brownlie Smith and Teresa Brownlie Larry and Sally Brumbaugh Brumbaugh’s Furniture Chris Butler Rebekah Byrne Sam and Bliss Caver Community Outreach Committee Cousin’s Bar-B-Q Brad and Michelle Cowden reACH Rose Anne Cranz Leigh Crates Mark and Sherrie Cyrier Dan and Judy Davis Dayspring Family Church Robin Dettmer Vonda Diaz Rich and Emily Dotson Donnie Dycus Reagan Dycus David and Catherine Fankhauser Robert and Vivian Ferguson Fireside Sams Kelly Flanagan Autumn Fleck and Jeremy Ruiz Linda Ford Fort Worth Modern Quilt Guild Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Fort Worth Zoo David and Jan Frase Karen Gibson Glory Chinese Baptist Church Grace United Methodist Roman Guthrie Brittany Henderson Akilah Henry Earl and Paula Hoover Henry House Foundation Terry and Jayne Highfill Jack and Leanne Huff Rick and Tina Humphrey InsureZone, Inc International Leadership of TexasKeller Sharla Ishmael Doug and Hillary Jennings Stephen and Diane Jones Libby Kaczmarek Chad Keeney Robert and Kelly Keller Keller Retired Teacher Association Christian Kelley Kids Who Care Katja Kirsch Laura Korte Teri Kramer Kirk Lancaster Catherine Lauterbach Robert and Margie Lilly Linbeck Group, LLC Mike, Renee and Destiny Lindsey Tony and Deborah Loth Michael and Valerie Mallick Doug and Lee Ann McCune Daniel Robinson Meto and Virginia Miteff Amanda Moon Fred and Cheryl Moore New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Cam and Lynn Newman Carol Nichols Omni Fort Worth Hotel Omniana: Fort Worth Jr. Woman’s Club Oyin Onarinde Our Community Our Kids Walter and Sheila Owen The Pajama Program Madisyn Pasley Pat and Jadz Pate Amber Patterson Herb and BJ Pease GIVING AT YEAR-END W H Y T I MI NG M AT T ERS When you make a donation to ACH this year, we both benefit. Your generosity enables us to meet urgent needs and carry out our mission daily. You’re able to choose how your gift is used and receive a charitable deduction on your income taxes when you itemize. To receive these benefits, however, you must time your gift appropriately. Kimberly Pease David and Sarah Proctor Project Linus Tom and Michelle Purvis Danny and Becky Rasbeary Namtip Reynolds Roach Howard Smith & Barton Dennis Roberson Dale Robertson Brent and Barbara Ruggles Lee Russell Marci Sawilowsky Shire Pharmaceuticals Jason and Norma Silva Jason and Elizabeth Sparks St. Peter and St. Paul Episcopal Church Matthew and Katie Stadler C.W. “Dub” and Valerie Stocker Leslie Storey TDIndustries Texas Environmental Management SA, Inc. Cody and Christina Thompson Treat You Well TTI, Inc. UNTHSC Public Health Community Service Organization Volunteer Center of Tarrant County Melissa Weeks-Billeg John and Deb Whitehead Paige Williams Greg and Sandi Wilson 23 Century of Caring Event Sponsors HOPE SPONSOR Roger Williams Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FRIEND SPONSORS Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas Moritz Dealerships Craddock Moving & Storage Co. MHBT Principal Financial Group Southwest Business Center GIFT IN-KIND SPONSORS Sonny Burgess Mrs. Renfro’s Salsas Greg Shirley Grady Spencer Stretch-n-Grow | A Very Important Date All gifts must be completed on or before Thursday, December 31 to qualify for an income tax deduction this year. • Cash contributions sent through the mail are usually deductible if they are postmarked by midnight on December 31. • Stock is generally deductible on the date it is fully transferred (if done electronically) to our books—not the date you request the transfer. • Life income gifts are considered in place once you return the signed contract to us along with your donation. • Real estate gifts, in most states, are considered complete on the date a properly executed deed is delivered to us. • Tangible personal property gifts are complete once the property is delivered to us. •Life insurance gifts are considered complete on the date you sign the paperwork transferring ownership to All Church Home for Children Foundation, assuming the form is forwarded to your insurance company. It is because of you that we are able to carry out our mission to protect children and preserve families. For more information contact Barbara Shelton, CFRE, at 817.886.7115 or Barbara.Shelton@ACHservices.org. Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Fort Worth, TX Permit No. 156 3712 Wichita Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76119 www.ACHservices.org Community Partner /ACHchildandfamily CONNECT WITH US /ACHchildfamily /achchildandfamily /achchildfamily/ ACH has a new Young Professionals Group! yACH y Join? >FRIENDSHIP >PROFESSIONAL REWARDS >SOCIAL & SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES > YOU’LL BE A HERO >JOIN A LEGACY We are Young Adults Calling Heroes to: CREATE HOPE by being an advocate and showing others that we can all make a difference. CULTIVATE HEALING by helping the community and showing compassion to those in need. CHAMPION HEARTS by shining a helpful light, mending the hearts and lives of children. “Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me.” ~ Mr. Rogers Find out more at www.ACHservices.org/yACH