The Childrens Shelter

PROVIDE A SAFE TRAUMA FOCUSED PLACE FOR CHILDREN IN CRISIS.

FAMILY TAPESTRY - THE FAMILY TAPESTRY CONTRACT WAS TERMINATED BY THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER, EFFECTIVE JUNE 30, 2021. THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER WAS AWARDED THE BEXAR COUNTY SINGLE SOURCE CONTINUUM CONTRACT (SSCC) FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES (DFPS) TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY BASED CARE IN REGION 8A-BEXAR COUNTY. THE PROGRAM, KNOWN AS FAMILY TAPESTRY, WAS A RESULT OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE'S DIRECTIVE IN 2017 FOR DFPS TO EXPAND THE COMMUNITY'S ROLE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF SERVING CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE UNDER FOSTER CARE REDESIGN. COMMUNITY BASED CARE WAS A NEW WAY OF PROVIDING FOSTER CARE AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. IT WAS A COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH TO MEETING THE INDIVIDUAL AND UNIQUE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES, WITHIN A GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA.

EMERGENCY SHELTER CARE - THE SHELTER SHUT DOWN THE WHATABURGER CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND THE ZACHRY COTTAGE EFFECTIVE APRIL 26, 2021. THE COTTAGE STILL HAS THEIR LICENSE, HOWEVER THE WHATABURGER CENTER NO LONGER HAS THEIR LICENSE. THE CONTRACTS WERE TERMINATED ON BOTH PROGRAMS. THE WHATABURGER CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROVIDED TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH UP TO AGE 17, AND YOUNG ADULTS UP TO AGE 22 IN A THERAPEUTIC 20-BED FACILITY WITH ROUND-THE-CLOCK CARE. CHILDREN AND YOUTH MAY HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN DISCHARGED FROM A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, RELEASED FROM JUVENILE DETENTION, HAVE EMOTIONAL DISORDERS AND CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS, AND COMPLEX MEDICAL NEEDS. THE SHELTER HAD A SECOND FACILITY, ZACHRY COTTAGE, WHICH WAS A 66-BED EMERGENCY SHELTER THAT PROVIDED 24-HOUR CARE FOR CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO 16 YEARS OLD. THE CHILDREN RECEIVED COMPLETE MEDICAL SERVICES, COUNSELING, THERAPY, EDUCATION, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION - THE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM PROVIDES TEMPORARY CARE FOR CHILDREN BY RECRUITING FAMILIES FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO MATCH EACH CHILD'S ETHNIC BACKGROUND. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR POTENTIAL PARENTS. ADDITIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE CONTRACTED MENTAL HEALTH SERVCIES, PSYCHIATRIC CARE, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITES FOR THE FOSTER FAMILIES. ADOPTION PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT TO CHILDREN AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES DURING EVERY PHASE OF THE ADOPTION PROCESS. SUPPORT INCLUDES REGULAR HOME VISITS, FACILIATION OF A SUPPORT GROUP THAT MEETS REGULARLY. THIS PROGRAM RECRUITS, TRAINS AND DEVELOPS HOMES FOR CHILDREN THAT MEET THE DEFINITION OF SPECIAL NEEDS ADOPTIONS

MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY (HOPE CENTER) - THE SHELTER OPERATES AN OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC PROVIDING A CONTINUUM OF TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE SUFFERING TRAUMATIC AND EMOTIONAL DISORDERS IN THE HOPE CENTER PROGRAM.FAMILY STRENGTHENING - NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP - THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP HELPS FIRST TIME LOW INCOME MOTHERS PREPARE FOR THE BIRTH OF THEIR CHILD. ONCE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM, REGISTERED NURSES MAKE HOME VISITS FROM EARLY ON IN THE PREGNANCY AND UNTIL THE BABY TURNS TWO YEARS OLD. NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERHIP OFFERS KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY. FATHERS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN SERVICES. NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP HAS PROVEN RESULTS SHOWN TO IMPROVE MATERNAL/CHILD HEALTH, DECREASE SUBSEQUENT BIRTHS, INCREASE SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND DECREASE INCIDENCES OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP IS A FREE, VOLUNTARY PROGRAM.FAMILY STRENGTHENING - COMPADRE Y COMPADRE - THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER COMPADRE Y COMPADRE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM AIMS TO GUIDE MEN THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE OF CONNECTING THEIR HEAD AND HEART TO BECOME A MORE OPEN AND NURTURING FATHER. ONCE ENROLLED, PARTICIPANTS ARE PAIRED WITH A TRAINED PARENT EDUCATOR WHO PROVIDES SUPPORT DURING THE ENTIRE PROGRAM. THE COMPADRE Y COMPADRE PROGRAM OFFERS A MENTOR PROGRAM FOR PROGRAM GRADUATES. THE MENTORS ASSIST BY PROVIDING ENCOURAGEMENT AND FACILITATING LESSONS TO INCOMING PARTICIPANTS. ALL MENTORS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE VALUABLE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. COMPADRE Y COMPADRE IS A FREE, VOLUNTARY PROGRAM AND IS AVAILABLE FOR ANY MALE CAREGIVER.FAMILY STRENGTHENING - IPARENT SA - THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER IPARENT SA IS A COMPREHENSIVE PARENTING PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS PARENTS TO CREATE A NURTURING FAMILY. ONCE ENROLLED, A TRAINED PARENT EDUCATOR WORKS WITH THE FAMILY TO ENHANCE PARENTING SKILLS BY LEARNING POSITIVE DISCIPLINE TECHNIQUES, STRESS MANAGEMENT, HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT FOR INFANTS, CHILDREN AND TEENS, PLUS MUCH MORE! IN HOME AND GROUP BASED SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE. IPARENT SA IS A FREE, VOLUNTARY PROGRAM, AND AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS WITH CHILDREN AGES 0-17 YEARS OLD.FAMILY STRENGTHENING - HOPES III - THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER HOPE III PROGRAM PROVIDES PARENT EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN FROM INFANCY TO AGE FIVE, AND PRENATAL MOTHERS.