CAFB July News - Child Advocates of Fort Bend
CAFB July News

Friends,

What a great end of school year for our children!  We celebrated with a party at MajestKids for our N.E.S.T. children who achieved their academic and behavioral goals and had a great time!  We have kicked off our Summer WINGS Program and already visited 6 colleges – Texas A&M, Sam Houston State, Texas State Technical College, University of Houston, WCJC and University of Texas, Austin.  The youth loved learning about higher education and what their futures could look like attending and graduating from college. We are so excited to kick off our first College Signing Day for a young woman who graduated from high school and will be heading to TSU in the Fall to pursue her undergraduate degree.

The number of children coming to our Children’s Advocacy Center for forensic interviews is increasing so much each month that it is breaking records. As you can imagine, we’ve been very busy due to this increase in need. Because of the dedication of our staff, we have been able to provide a safe place for more than 600 children this year to tell their stories of sexual and severe physical abuse and get the help they need.

Thank you to our program staff in CASA and the CAC and to all the CASA and CAC Volunteers who have stepped up with these expanded responsibilities to make sure that no child falls through the cracks and that children can thrive while in care, heal from trauma and go on to pursue bright futures!

For the Children’s Sake,

Ruthanne Mefford
CEO, Child Advocates of Fort Bend


Fort Bend Cares!
Thank you, Fort Bend Cares, for helping CAFB provide another year of help for abused children in our community. When a child in foster care reaches 9 years old, the likelihood of adoption drops significantly. This year, CAFB’s CASA Infants & Toddlers and N.E.S.T. programs has received a generous $5,000 award from this esteemed group. Funds will go towards expediting permanency, ensuring babies meet developmental milestones and providing educational enrichment for children up to age 13. Fort Bend Cares’ Founders, longtime residents of Fort Bend County, identified the growing needs of disadvantaged youth, and receiving a Fort Bend Cares grant is a high honor as recipients are rigorously evaluated by a Grants Committee consisting of established community leaders who personally visit each charity.

Photo Caption: Patty Ward – FBC Grants Chair, Ruthanne Mefford – CAFB CEO, Angel Tapia – FBC Executive Director at the June awards ceremony.

 

It’s Convenient. It’s Easy. It’s Informative.
Introducing Our New Planned Giving Website.
www.cafblegacy.org

Helpful features for you:

  • Online Wills Planner
  • Personal Gift Illustrations
  • Gift Planning Stories
  • Savvy Living
  • Financial News & More

Good planning requires good information. We now have it for you. Online! www.cafblegacy.org

Sign up for our free quarterly Planned Giving eNewsletter.
Questions?  Contact: Jessica Jubin, Development Officer jjubin@cafb.org or 281-344-5136

We always honor your privacy and confidentiality.


Au revoir. . . Sylviane Hoare

A dedicated Court Appointed Special Advocate, a Children’s Advocacy Center Volunteer, Volunteer Council Member AND a member of our Voices for Children team, Sylviane is always on the lookout for information and resources that will help us and the children we serve. In fact, in 2015, she was named Child Advocate of the Year for her hard work and dedication to the children and our mission.

Recently, Sylviane told us of her plans to move back home to Canada this summer. We are sad to see her leave but know that she will carry on her advocacy work wherever life takes her. We have been so blessed to have her as a part of our team and we hope that someday, she may return to Texas and work with us again. Good luck, Sylviane. . . it’s au revoir – for now!

We’re Looking for. . .VOLUNTEERS!

Volunteers make it possible for us to do what we do each day. Our Children’s Advocacy Center volunteers help check in the children and families, play with the children, keep an eye on things in the playroom and help out at the front desk. If a therapist needs to speak to parents privately, or Law Enforcement or CPS needs to discuss with them what their child disclosed in a Forensic Interview, our volunteers watch the children in the playroom while the parents meet with them.

With summer here, many volunteers are traveling.  And as we all know with our busy lives, sometimes last minute things pop up that have to be done. This creates openings in our shifts that are not filled. When this happens, staff members have to interrupt their already full day to lend a hand in the playroom or at the front desk.

CAC volunteers work a 4-hour shift (either morning or afternoon) one day a week. If you’d like to work more than that, let us know. We’re happy to have you! Volunteers must be 21 years of age and have completed our volunteer training class.

If you have already completed the volunteer training and are interested in taking a shift OR if you are flexible and can fill in when we need a substitute, contact Melissa Johnson at mjohnson@cafb.org.

If you haven’t taken the training but would like to become a volunteer, contact Lauren Jordin at ljordin@cafb.org.

 

Effect of Childhood Trauma on Children Across Their Lifetime
PTSD doesn’t just affect veterans. It is something children across the country are dealing with after a trauma. June 27th was Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day. Childhood trauma, left untreated, can progress to health issues as a child grows. Our Children’s Advocacy Center works to treat childhood trauma and prevent the symptoms from growing worse or into other health issues.

Check out the TED talk below to see how childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime, if no intervention is made.

TED Talk childhood trauma and children

 

Children’s  WINGS Program visits TSTC and Witnesses Former WINGS Youth in Action 
Our WINGS Summer program for youth 14 – 18+ kicked off in mid-June. The teens have already visited six colleges – Texas A&M, Sam Houston State, Texas State Technical College, University of Houston, WCJC and the University of Texas in Austin. While touring Texas State Technical College on June 19, 2018, we ran into a former WINGS youth who was in training at the school. He was excited to show the youth the skills he is learning at the school’s Electrical Lineworker Technology Program. This youth will graduate from school in August with a degree in Electrical Lineworker Technology and already has a job in place when he finishes the program!

 

30 Schools in 30 Days a Huge Success!
As you may have heard, April was nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month.  To celebrate, Child Advocates of Fort Bend kicked off its “30 schools in 30 days” event to promote child abuse prevention in community schools throughout Fort Bend County. Our agency speakers were all over the Fort Bend community speaking to elementary, middle and high schools about ways to recognize child abuse and what they could do to report possible abuse or neglect.  Due to the overwhelming response from our schools, we had presentations in April and May for students and professionals!  Overall, we had over 35 presentations in our area schools!  A special thank you to our wonderful Volunteers who helped our staff by visiting the schools and passing out important information to the teachers and students during these busy months!

 

NEST Incentive Party Celebrates Achievements of Youth in School
Child Advocates of Fort Bend recently celebrated the great job that our NEST youth did during their most recent school year.  We were so proud of their accomplishments and rewarded each child with a night of fun, food and entertainment!  The event was generously donated and hosted by MajestKids Indoor Playland in Sugar Land.  We celebrated 16 children as they enjoyed a fun night, along with a goodie bag and certificate for all of their hard work this past school year.

CAFB Hosts Trust Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) Training
Seventy-one volunteers, staff, and partners were trained in Trust Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) on June 15th when our agency hosted TBRI® Introduction at the Gus George Academy.  Presenters Ally Matteson and Shandra Carter from the Karen Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University, gave an introduction and overview of TBRI®, the three TBRI® core principles and enhanced our understanding of how to interact with a child’s behaviors and respond in a manner that strengthens relationships and attachment.

We are looking forward to working with TCU on future trainings and will keep you updated as we get more information.

If you missed the training on June 15th but are interested in going, Fort Bend County Behavioral Health Services will be offering the training on August 3, 2018 from 8:30am until 4pm. The training is open to the public and CEU’s will be provided. There is no cost to participate BUT you must RSVP. To RSVP or for details go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tbri-training-tickets-47220663275

 

FRIENDS of CAFB Fill a Backpack Project

Want to help them?

You can sponsor a child or children by donating $75 and they’ll fill a backpack for you OR you can shop for supplies for a specific child from a list they will provide for you.

This is a great act of service to do with your kids, grand kids or on your own. You will be equipping these children with some of the most basic tools for success – school supplies! Your participation will certainly go a long way in helping these children start off the new school year in a positive way!

For more information or to help contact Brigit Engleman at bengleman@hotmail.com.

 




Christmas in July!
While you are busy trying to beat the heat, we’re already making plans for the Christmas Home Tour scheduled for December 7th and 8th. The two-day Home Tour hosts visitors from all of Fort Bend County and surrounding areas. Over 3,000 guests will tour the homes, including the 1,000 volunteers that take their time to participate.

In addition to the Home Tour, we are planning again for our 5th annual Wreath Raffle! Everyone will have an opportunity to purchase a raffle ticket and choose the wreath they hope to win. It’s a fun and selective opportunity to get into the holiday spirit and it helps the agency with a little extra fundraising.

Won’t you please help support us by donating a wreath or swag with a retail value of $150 – $500?

We would like to receive/pick up your gorgeous creation by Friday, October 5th.

If you’re interested in donating a wreath, participating as a volunteer, donor or would like to discuss showcasing your home and Christmas décor on the Christmas Home Tour please contact Lisa at LMoore@cafb.org.

 

Mark your calendar!

July 25, 2018  The Opioid Crisis: What Do We Need To Know?
1pm – 4:30pm
Gus George Academy
1521 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond, TX 77469

Details or to register

 

August 3, 2018 Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) Training hosted by Fort Bend County Behavioral Health Services
9am – 4:00pm
Gus George Academy
1521 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond, TX 77469

Hosted by Fort Bend County Behavioral Health Services, this is the same training we held on June 15th. The training will provide you with an introduction and overview into TBRI® and opportunity to put it into practice through role play. Free CEU’s will be provided. The training is open to juvenile probation, child welfare, service providers, attorneys, CASA, court staff, law enforcement and community members.

There is no cost to participate BUT you must RSVP.

RSVP or for more information

 

September 27, 2018:  Voices for Children Breakfast
7am – 8:30am
Sugar Land Marriott Town Square

 

October 1, 2018:  Golf for Greater Houston Golf Tournament
Black Hawk and Shadow Hawk Golf Courses

We are one of the beneficiaries of this event.
Learn more OR sign up to sponsor or play

 

 

 

 

 

  • All
  • No categories