January Newsletter

Vol. II No. 1 Editor: Sharon D. Willis January, 1998

A World For Children

Changing the world...one child at a time.

The year 1997 has taken its rightful place in the pages of the history of mankind. It will be remembered for good times and sad times, happy days and just plain bad days, but to all of us at A World for Children, it will always be remembered as the time of the beginning. At the very beginning this agency was designed, and we believe, destined to make a distinct contribution to "CHANGING THE WORLD.... ONE CHILD AT A TIME".God has smiled on us and it is almost beyond our ability to grasp what has really been done in nine short months. During that time, we have served over 200 children in some of the finest foster homes to be found in America. We have assembled an outstanding, experienced staff that is the envy of many who are in the child care business in the State of Texas. We have established a solid reputation with the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services as an agency that conducts its business according to the standards required by them and in a manner that neither bends nor breaks the rules. Our financial stability is beyond question because of our earned reputation and relationship with one of the largest banks in Texas. This is not meant as bragging. We simply want to share these good things with you and say Thank God and thank you for making it all possible. Because without either of you and this exceptional staff none of this would have been possible. But the end is not yet. The foregoing is only the foster care side. As all of you know, we have also opened an emergency shelter/assessment center with a license to serve 24 hurting children. Since the third day it was opened, it has remained near full capacity. Sheila Falco and the staff have already established shelter services which are second to none.

In our nation there are multitudes of children that someone forgot or refused to love and they are left to the whims and actions of whomever their care giver happens to be at the time. There is no way we will ever be able to reach all of these children. However, we, as a staff, have committed ourselves to make a difference for those that we can reach. We are determined to work closely with all the appropriate people in making every effort to see that no one ever hurts our children again.

May God bless all of us and make this the best year ever for us and our children.

In December, AWFC Emergency Shelter/Assessment Center received a license and contract with TDPRS to serve up to 24 children.

Sheila Falco, Shelter Administrator, states our goal is to provide quality services for children and expedite the needs of case workers.

The AWFC Emergency Shelter opened in September as an agency group home with capacity to serve 12 children.

Because of the delivery of quality services, the AWFC Shelter has run at 100% capacity. The additional bed space is designed to fulfill a much needed service.

The community has rallied in tremendous support of the Shelter and Foster Care Programs. The community provided a Christmas of Christmases for our children in care.

Note the attached appreciation note which describes the overwhelming outpouring of friends for the work of AWFC.

As the shelter gears up to serve 24 children, there will continue to be many needs. The community has been so supportive unbelievably by providing gently used clothing, toys, furniture, and household items.

Because of the constant turnover of children in the emergency shelter, there is a continuing need because children depart with a supply of clothing and their favorite toys.

Drop donations by the AWFC office and call for specific information - (512)218-4400.

The Harker Heights Fire Department and a group of AWFC Foster Parents and staff collaboratively created the "spookiest" of Spook Houses.

In a community spirit, many hours were devoted by foster parents - Derrell Moore, Mike Southerland and staffers - Dave Wilkins, Tyler Wilkins, and Tish Elliot to converting commercial store space into a haven for the ghoulish witches and spooks of Halloween.

Their efforts were successful in providing a community activity for the youth as well as a substantial donation for A World For Children. The $600 donation was presented at the AWFC Christmas party by Derrell Moore and Mike Southerland to Dr. Paul Willis. Dr. Willis, AWFC President stated "This will be used to provide for special needs of children in care of AWFC".

AWFC is launching a Suicide Intervention Initiative which will include expert training in intervention and prevention strategies for foster families and staff. Mark your calendars and plan to attend one of the upcoming training's:

As another part of AWFC's commitment to quality care through specialized training, AWFC recently sponsored an 8 hour training on Working with Sex Offenders by an expert in the field - John Morris .

In addition to the specialized training, AWFC is offering support groups, medication training, restraint training, foster parent initiative training and foster parent orientation. Contact AWFC for calendar of upcoming training.

AWFC staff concur that quality training is vital to improving services of foster families and staff.

Santa made an early, unscheduled appearance at the recent Christmas Parties in Round Rock and East Texas. Santa surprised the good little boys and girls with many Christmas toys and treats donated by generous community elves. Santa, complete with beautiful silver hair and beard, watched and listened as the children shared their desires as "sugar plums danced in their heads". Santa's helpers passed out wonderful hand made stockings and gifts selected with much love and tender care for each child. Thanks to Bob Jeffers and Paul Sisk for their Santa assistance!

The skating party in Round Rock was deemed a super success as the kids experienced many adventures. The parents and staff learned many new skating techniques - mainly how to gracefully ascend from the floor.

The party in East Texas filled with the aroma of turkey and dressing and all the trimmings and bright shiny faces was a tremendous success. Arylene and Art Dahl and the super families of that area created an evening of joy as their special children celebrated the season. A special thanks to Reverand and Mrs. Jewelus Pulley.

In addition to full tummies, memories for years to come, gifts and stockings, foster families took home turkeys to grace Christmas Day dinner tables.

All that were present truly understood how special Christmas really is as they watched the light dance in the eyes of these very special children.

AWFC Family grows as new foster parents are verified. AWFC welcomes the Burtons, Gleasons, Colons, Howgs, Renshaws, Fergusons, Gherardys, and Doherty-Plunketts. As the AWFC family grows, so does our ability to make appropriate matches with children's needs and family strengths.

As we welcome new families to our agency, we pause to thank all the AWFC families for their tremendous work. We will always be mindful of the AWFC Charter Families that helped us establish a firm foundation on which to build the most outstanding child-placing agency anywhere. Thank you and may God always bless you

In response to a demonstrated need, AWFC has targeted East Texas as a growth area. After researching the needs regarding children in care of Region III, it was evident there is a need for therapeutic foster care.

AWFC administration and staff are working with the Regional Contract Manager as well as CPS supervisors to determine future needs.

AWFC program director, Rebecca Allen commented, AWFC has a core of extraordinary foster families in the East Texas area. We are currently training additional families to meet the needs of children in care in this area. Foster parent training for new families in East Texas is scheduled for Saturday, January 31 in Grand Saline. Contact AWFC for information.

AWFC takes another step forward in the technological world by creating a WEB page on the Internet. Frank James, Information Services, created the WEB page complete with services and pictures.

Visit AWFC at www.AWFC. org. for a variety of information regarding A World For Children.

Jeanne is the oil that makes the AWFC wheel turn smoothly. As the Financial Director, Jeanne is in charge of managing AWFC finances. In addition to that important function, Jeanne assumes the personnel director functions. Those are her official responsibilities, but those who know Jeanne understand how vast her talents are in supporting all aspects of AWFC from clerical - to computers - to foster homes.

Jeanne has had much experience in finances and computers in both the private sector and in the social work arena. Jeanne was instrumental in organizing AWFC and has been vital in taking AWFC from a dream to a living reality. AWFC appreciates JEANNE!

TDPRS staff has been super in their responses to AWFC. They were tremendous in assisting with the licensure and contract process of both the foster care program and the emergency shelter program.

Special thanks to Sheila Tucker, Scott Engelke, Mary Huntzinger, Angela Lee, Nancy Kimble and Jetty Sutton!

AWFC Staff also appreciates the confidence the state caseworkers have shown in placing their children in our care! AWFC takes that responsibility very seriously and pledges to provide the highest quality care.