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GROWING UP 2010 ANNUAL REPORT 2010 Annual Report LETTER FROM THE BOARD CHAIRMAN DePelchin Children’s Center has been addressing the needs of abused, neglected, and abandoned children in the Greater Houston community since its founding in 1892. What began as a humble orphanage for three young boys has ‘grown up’ to become Houston’s largest provider of children’s mental health, prevention and early intervention, and foster care and adoption services. DePelchin’s success lies with its ability to evolve quickly in order to meet the changing needs of changing times. In the beginning, VISION DePelchin’s focus was on providing basic services such as food, clothing, shelter, and nurturing to abandoned children. Over time, We envision a world in which every child is safe and healthy. DePelchin evolved to become one of Houston’s largest adoption agencies, finding “forever families” for thousands of children. As social and political norms changed, our mission expanded from just finding permanent homes for children to also finding temporary homes through the foster care system. In addition, child development professionals realized that caring for the emotional and mental MISSION well-being of these children was just as important as caring for their physical well-being, and DePelchin responded with a range of We strengthen the lives of children by enhancing their mental health and physical well-being. mental health and prevention programs. We continue to ‘grow up’ and meet the changing needs of our children; and, today, our priority remains with expanding mental health. In the Greater Houston community, one in five children has a diagnosable mental health condition; and, sadly, only half of these children receive the care they need within a given year. The city and state’s lack of mental health resources is a major barrier to troubled children receiving the help they need and deserve. DePelchin is committed to addressing this critical situation by hiring more mental health professionals, offering more services throughout the community, and conducting more innovative research on ABOUT DEPELCHIN CHILDREN’S CENTER trauma-related issues. DePelchin Children’s Center is committed to meeting the needs of Houston’s children as the largest, most This annual report highlights last year’s accomplishments in expanding mental health in addition to our work in prevention and early intervention and foster care and adoption. In times of economic uncertainty, our services become even more critical as children are comprehensive provider of mental health, prevention and early intervention, and foster care and adoption services. often the first to feel its effects. Thankfully, our financial outlook remains strong, allowing us to serve those children who need us most. Caring for more than 20,000 children and their families each year, DePelchin offers a range of services including We would not be able to do so, though, without the contributions made by people such as you in our community. counseling, psychiatry, residential treatment, programs for at-risk youths, parent education, foster care and adoption. Today, more than 30 different programs are available to children and families at schools, community sites and in their Thank you for helping us meet the needs of our community’s children – yesterday, today, and tomorrow. homes as well as at the main Houston campus and five satellite offices. The center continues to be recognized at the state and national levels for its cutting-edge programs, including being awarded an esteemed federal grant as a leading Sincerely, child trauma expert in Texas. A non-profit organization serving Houston since 1892, DePelchin gratefully receives its support from government grants and fees, United Way agencies, corporations, foundations and individuals. Debbi Johnstone Chairman, Board of Directors DePelchin Children’s Center 2010 Annual Report Discovering Hope through DePelchin Autism Services As a toddler, Tyler always seemed to be one step behind his peers. When other children were learning to crawl, he was struggling to hold his head up on his own. When Tyler is right on par his peers began vocalizing words and phrases, he was barely making sounds. Tyler lagged socially as with his other classmates well; he made no eye contact even when spoken to directly. Concerned by his developmental delays, Tyler’s parents - John and Gwen Franklin - began looking for answers. Their search yielded little hope. After evaluation by numerous doctors, Tyler was diagnosed as “mentally retarded.” Even with this diagnosis, the Franklins sensed there was something else going on with Tyler. “We had a feeling that there was more at play than retardation,” Gwen recalls. “We just didn’t know 2 what it was - or how to find out.” 3 Thankfully, that’s when the Franklins learned through a friend about DePelchin Autism Services. After undergoing an evaluation by DePelchin’s multi-disciplinary team of autism experts, Tyler was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Though the news was disheartening to the MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Franklins, it also brought a sense of relief. In Greater Houston, one in five children has a diagnosable mental health condition, and only half of these children “For the first time, we felt like there was hope for Tyler and for our family,” John says. receive the care they need within a given year. In response to this growing crisis, DePelchin continues to expand its “DePelchin didn’t just evaluate Tyler, they recommended next steps and directed us mental health services with comprehensive care available both at its main campus and community locations. to the right resources.” DePelchin’s mental health services include psychiatric evaluation and medication management, psychological assessment, and individual and family counseling. With its expert team of psychiatrists, psychologists and licensed Today, thanks to therapy at DePelchin and the loving support of his parents, Tyler continues to professional counselors, DePelchin provides support for issues ranging from ADHD and anger management to progress both socially and developmentally. Now in the second grade, Tyler is right on par with his depression and other mood disorders. DePelchin also offers comprehensive autism services, providing other classmates at the special-needs school he attends. His mother says he never ceases to surprise multi-disciplinary assessments and social skills training for children who have autism spectrum disorders. DePelchin her with his determination and inquisitiveness. Autism Services also offers educational seminars for professionals and parents in addition to support groups for family members. DePelchin Children’s Center 2010 Annual Report DePelchin Selected as National Research Site to Study Prevention of Child Abuse In 2010, DePelchin was selected by the federal government as one of 17 sites nationally that will research methods for reducing child abuse and neglect. Some organizations are implementing models that focus on now I am at the top of that wall physical health; others, like DePelchin, are focusing on social welfare and mental health. DePelchin will implement an evidence-based model that helps parents better manage their child’s behavior - thereby looking down with a smile de-escalating issues that often lead to child abuse and neglect. The program, called “Triple P” - or “Positive Parenting Program” - has been implemented successfully in 22 countries around the world. DePelchin has selected Galveston County, an area with a high incidence of child abuse and neglect, for implementing Triple P over the four-year study. 4 Parenting Class Lifts Spirits of Struggling Father 5 Every week, parents across the Greater Houston area participate in DePelchin’s parenting classes held at locations throughout the community. The following is a recent letter from a father who attended one of these classes. “I started your class with a broken heart at the bottom of a tall ladder. After butting PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION my head against a wall for three months, I finally accepted that the ladder was there to help me grow from where I’d been and overcome what I thought broke me. My DePelchin offers prevention and early intervention programs to promote healthy families and decrease the future daughter was on the other side of that wall. This class gave me wisdom and need for more intensive services. These programs include services to at-risk youths facing substance abuse, truancy confidence to be a better parent, not only proud of my daughter but proud of myself. and other issues; support for families at risk for child abuse; teen pregnancy prevention; assistance to pregnant and I learned with each step up the ladder, and now I am at the top of that wall looking parenting teens; and family education programs to improve parenting skills and decrease risk factors leading to abuse down with a smile. I am taking the ladder with me to the other side, not just to climb and neglect. DePelchin’s programs are offered throughout Greater Houston at schools, neighborhood centers and in down safely, but to carry it with me, so when I run into another lost soul on my homes. DePelchin also offers general parenting classes to strengthen families and help those coping with divorce. journey, I can pass them the ladder to better themselves too. Thank you.” DePelchin Children’s Center 2010 Annual Report Adoptive Mother Rewarded for Her Unconditional Love When Ms. Thompson adopted nine-year-old Timothy out of foster care, she knew winning his trust would not come easily. Having cycled through 13 dierent foster homes, Timothy had already suered she knew winning his trust much disappointment in his young life. Still, Ms. Thompson - a single mom who had adopted another child just two years before - believed her steadfast love would help Timothy heal from his past and would not come easily develop into a healthy young man. As the years passed, Ms. Thompson remained committed to Timothy despite many behavioral struggles.