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Success Stories
Are You Ready for Some Football?!Lucky foster kids witness the invasion of the body tacklers
During July, children in foster care in Regions 6 and 7 enjoyed brushes with football greatness thanks to the generosity of a wide variety of community partners and the hard work of DFPS staff and volunteers. Smiles & Laughter in Region 6Overstreet Sports Management hosted a reception in Houston on July 17 for children in CPS care who are waiting for adoption. The kids got to meet-and-greet Pittsburgh Steeler Casey Hampton (a graduate of Galveston's Ball High School), San Francisco 49'er Tarell Brown (a graduate of North Mesquite High School), Green Bay Packer Michael Montgomery, Detroit Lion Victor Degrate, and Cleveland Brown Lawrence Vickers. This marked the third year that Overstreet Sports Management included CPS on their schedule during a week of events in support of the Early Overstreet Cancer Research Foundation. Agency owner Brian Overstreet established the foundation in 2000 as a memorial to his father. Other events this year included a celebrity football camp, a professional cheerleader camp, and the NFL Charity Golf Classic. CPS used the opportunity to showcase "Houston's Heart Gallery" featuring photos taken by Foster Home/Adoption staff member Harryl Hale. The portraits are used to help find permanent homes for Region 6 children in foster care. Community Initiatives Specialist Bernadette Cashin planned the event with help other staff members, volunteers, and community stakeholders including Harris County Protective Services for Children and Adults, Sam’s Club, and the Eagle’s Trace Woodcutters Group. "The best thing about the day was seeing the looks on faces of the children as they talked to the players," said Cashin. Each child left with an autographed football or plaque, but Cashin insisted, "The smiles, the laughter, and the fun were the most important things in the room." Honing Skills in Region 7The Texas Premier Football Camp gave a group of foster children the chance to hone their football skills with a host of legendary Texas Longhorn football stars. The sticker price on the camp was $225, but organizers welcomed children in CPS care at no charge. Held July 11-12 at Austin's LBJ High School, the Texas Premier Football Camp gave kids ages 7 to 18 the chance to learn techniques and exercises used by college and professional players - from blocking and tackling to throwing and running routes. Former Longhorns B.J. Johnson, Sloan Thomas, and Roy Williams hosted the camp, and Richard Hightower, currently an assistant coach for the Houston Texans, helmed the coaching squad. Guest coaches included Minnesota Viking Cedric Griffin, New York Giant Aaron Ross, Houston Texan Kasey Studdard, and Major Applewhite, now a Longhorn assistant coach. "Giving back to the community that has given us so much is incredibly important, and we’re glad that the Department of Family and Protective Services was able to participate," said Johnson, Thomas, and Williams in a statement. - submitted by Public Information Officers Gwen Carter (Region 6) and Chris Van Deusen (Region 7) APS Volunteers "Rebuilding Together"El Paso staffers give up a Saturday to restore house for elderly homeowners
The scene at 204 Toledo looked as if Extreme Home Makeover met "this old casa." APS workers-turned-home remodelers were busy scraping, painting and cleaning in a one-day final sprint to make the Estrada home ready for the big reveal. "This family got taken for all their money by providers," said Region 10 APS SME Liz Hinojosa, using the term loosely. Her clothes were splattered with white paint intended for a living room wall. El Paso's Rebuilding Together project was in high-gear on Saturday, April 26, and "Casa Estrada" was just one of 20 area homes getting a makeover. Building contractors donated services and materials while volunteers did the work. The community-wide effort rehabilitates "casas" for low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly and people with disabilities. Angels sent from heavenEighty-six year-old Carlos Estrada picked up a flyer at the Sambrano Senior Center, but he never thought he'd be chosen for the free home re-do. "It's like angels sent from heaven!" said daughter Dolores Estrada, who also lives at the family home along with her three grandchildren. After four generations and 44 years, the Estrada's home needed help, but they couldn't afford the massive repairs needed to keep their house a safe place to live. "If you saw this place before - the living room roof was caving in and there were holes in the bathroom floors," said Dolores. "We even had mice running around!" Fernando Garcia of Carefree Homes started the remodel project six weeks ago, installing a new roof, bathroom floors, windows, and refrigerated air. "This family is very deserving," said Garcia. True Dedication"I'm a believer in what comes around, goes around," said Dolores. "I've volunteered all my life with CASA, STARS, and Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Even in his 80's, my dad still volunteers for the Del Norte Food Bank." Now, a group of more than 20 volunteers from APS and other community groups were returning the favor. Investigator Melissa Padilla arrived at 7 a.m. with 11 kids ready to help out. APS staffers Ray Marquez and Jesse Ontiveros sweated in the midday heat to prep the eaves for painting - true dedication to a good cause! APS Subject Matter Expert Cindy Vizcarra, who was admittedly sore for two days after painting, indicates that the Rebuilding Together folks are hoping to redo another 20 homes in El Paso before the end of 2008. "Their focus is primarily homes owned by elderly, disabled, and low-income residents. I'm sure they'll be looking to APS for a few more referrals." - submitted by Paul Zimmerman, Region 10 Public Information Officer Region 5 Packs "Luggage of Love"High school students combine form, function, and foster care
Take an old piece of luggage, a paintbrush, some brightly colored paints and what do you get? If you are a Port Neches-Groves (PNG) High School art student, the answer is "Love." As part of a community service project with Child Protective Services, students at PNG created one-of-a-kind gifts for children in the foster care system. They called these gifts "Luggage of Love." Foster children often have very little to call their own, and they often use trash bags to transport their meager belongings. This can be embarrassing and potentially harmful to a child's self esteem. But, armed with some gently used hard-shell luggage and art supplies - all donated - the PNG students gave some foster children small, practical pieces of art to call their own. The students displayed over 50 of these suitcases at Central Mall in nearby Port Arthur as part of an art show and contest. Another student, who had shot a documentary about the "Luggage of Love" project, screened the video while the suitcases were on display. The brightly decorated bundles were then loaded up on a school bus and transported to Buckner's Children Village and received by foster children of all ages. - submitted by Shari Pulliam, Region 5/4 Public Information Officer Kids Helping KidsMiddle school students donate $800 of holiday cheer to Region 10 Rainbow Room
In December, 25 students from the Socorro Middle School Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program visited the Region 10 CPS Rainbow Room to donate items collected from their school. AVID is an elective class for 7th and 8th graders that helps students achieve their goal of attending college. They often participate in community service as part of their curriculum, and the El Paso Rainbow Room was the fortunate recipient of their hard work this holiday season. The students hauled in bags and boxes full of items from the Rainbow Room wish list: diapers, baby wipes, bibs, clothing, and Christmas gifts. They had so much to donate that they made several trips and required the assistance of Region 10 Resource/External Relations Specialist Luis Zamarripa to finish the job. In total, the value of their donations came to over $800 - one of the largest single donations of in-kind goods to the Rainbow Room during 2007. After a tour of the facility, the students heard from caseworkers representing the different CPS programs about their job responsibilities and average work week. The caseworkers' honest and frank accounts encouraged the students to ask questions, and together they shared an incredible two hours of learning. The AVID advisors treated the kids to pizza afterwards, and they are already planning another trip to the Rainbow Room for the students this spring. The Socorro Middle School youth are truly an inspiration - wonderful examples not just for their peers, but for everyone. - submitted by Region 10 Community Partners Coordinator Brandi Gurrola |
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