The Voices of Child Advocates of Fort Bend SEPTEMBER 2023

The ofVOICES

Inside / Inside /

CEO

WINGS Campus Crawl and Lifeskills Program and N E S T Summer Programs get youth ready for life after foster care and the new academic year Check out the great things we did with the youth this summer!

THESE DATES

Save these dates and plan to join us for these upcoming events

from the ceo

September is here and we are back in “schooltime” mode with a very busy calendar of upcoming Fall events which you can read about in this month’s VOICES newsletter. September is Hispanic Heritage Month and with the LatinX/Hispanic community representing 46% of children served by the Children’s Advocacy Center and 26% of children served in CASA, read how we have expanded our Spanish-language services, increased outreach to these communities and added cultural sensitivity training for staff and volunteer advocates to ensure that we provide equitable and inclusive services to our Hispanic children and families.

This month’s edition of VOICES discusses Suicide and Suicide Prevention, a topic of concern to us. We have all heard that the incidence of mental illness increased dramatically during the pandemic Suicide is the leading cause of death in the United

States. For children who have suffered abuse, these statistics are compounded and even overshadowed by the impact of their histories of abuse. Children who have experienced physical, sexual, and emotional abuse or neglect are nearly three times more likely to attempt suicide during their lives, according to the largest research review of 262,000 adults who were exposed to childhood abuse and neglect. Children who experienced multiple types of abuse are five times more likely to attempt suicide. And the abuse has a lifelong impact because as these children age, the risk of suicide attempts increases. In another review of 337,000 participants, the study found that childhood maltreatment was associated with 2.5 greater odds for suicide ideation and that sexual abuse was even higher with a four-fold increase for suicide plans. These findings are not only in the U.S., but Hong Kong and Canada have similar research findings

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We are back in “schooltime” mode. . .

But there is hope Although these studies provide solid evidence that childhood abuse and neglect is associated with increased likelihood of suicide risk as adults, the children most at risk are those who are not under the care of clinicians When children are able to access therapy and mental health services and when we can introduce community awareness and early intervention, suicide attempts can be decreased and even prevented These studies highlight the need for raising public awareness and incorporating suicide prevention strategies into treatment planning and suggest that a primary focus of psychological treatment should be the amelioration of the effects of adverse childhood experiences

At Child Advocates of Fort Bend, we take suicide seriously Our staff is trained to identify risk factors, implement risk assessments, provide crisis intervention and therapy, access psychiatry services, and engage mental health professionals immediately when a child is in danger.

Across the agency from our forensic interviewers to our clinical family advocates to therapists and psychiatrists to court advocates and outreach educators we have plans and protocols in place so that children can receive the highest standards of care As these research studies emphasize, with clinical care and community education, we can reduce the incidence of suicide and help more children when they are young and grow into adulthood

Thank you for all your continuing support and joining us on our journey to end the cycle of child abuse

For the Children's Sake,

Ruthanne Mefford, CEO

Summer Program Success: WINGS Campus Crawl and Life Skills Program

By Aly Ferrante

That’s a wrap! In July, we finished up our WINGS Summer Program. This year we were thrilled to have 14 youth participate in our Campus Crawl Week and another 14 youth participate in our Life Skills week! Each year, we build our summer programming around the specific needs of our current youth ages 14+.

This year, we added Connection Days to help kick off our busy weeks of programming by helping youth build connection with their peers and CASA staff to foster an environment of felt safety so they could get the most out of each day’s activities during the week. We spent our first Connection Day during Campus Crawl learning about mindfulness, teamwork, and self-regulation through tons of fun activities l d b T d W llb i Ad

post-secondary education opportunities available at each school. Not only did youth get to tour each campus, learn about admissions, and dine on campus, but they met with each campus ’ s foster alumni student organization and foster care liaison. Connecting youth with these organizations is a critical component so youth know they have foster-specific support they can turn to as college students.

Our Life Skills Week was packed with opportunities for youth to get hands-on experience practicing and learning about important life skills (career readiness, online safety, housing, health, education, after care resources, cooking, financial literacy, transportation, and self care).

Y th t t d th k b ti i i

also worked on Collaborative Family Engagement tools aimed to help youth identify past, present and future connections they have in their lives and what they want those connections and relationships to look like going forward.

Throughout the week, youth visited and heard presentations from Wharton County Junior College and Technical State Technical College to learn about available programs and career paths; Workforce Solutions to learn about career services and assistance they provide; Amegy Bank to learn about savings, budgeting, and all things personal finance; Gillman Honda to learn about purchasing a car and careers within the automobile industry; Depelchin to learn about their Supervised Independent Living Program; Parks Youth Ranch to learn about their Transitional Living Program; Fort Bend Health and Human Services to learn about

nutrition and healthy choices; La La Land Kind Café to learn about employment and their 8-week long foster youth mentoring program and resources; DFPS PAL Specialist to learn about their specific after care benefits; and Waterstone at Cinco Ranch to learn about renting an apartment. Youth also heard a presentation regarding online safety from our very own, Lindsey Castellanos who also taught youth how to make overnight oats. Youth even participated in a cooking class at Cooking with a Twist where they learned to make four different recipes!

It was a busy two weeks, but each day was filled with meaningful opportunities for growth and learning. That being said, we couldn’t have done it without our wonderful community partners who shared their time, expertise, insight and compassion with our WINGS youth. Thank you all!

NEST

At CAFB, the first week of August was filled with meaningful opportunities and experiences for youth served through our NEST Program (6-13 year olds) NEST Summer Program participants spent the week interacting with their peers through Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) activities that encouraged connection, mindfulness, communication, self-regulation, teamwork and compromise. Youth also participated in fun and educational field trips throughout the community. We visited the Health Museum, Museum of Natural Science-Sugar Land, and the Children’s Discovery Center all to give youth a hands-on approach to learning about health, science and the world around them. Youth also had the opportunity to go to Reining Strength, a local equine therapy provider where they learned about horses and even got to brush, paint and feed them!

Krys Vann from Westlake Fire Department showed youth around the fire station and gave a presentation on safety and what it takes to be a fire fighter. Youth also participated in a presentation from Fort Bend County Health and Human Services on nutrition and making healthy choices.

Our very own board member, Irfan Motiwala, graciously hosted our group to dine at Alings Chinese Bistro and provided a cooking class where youth were able to learn how to make their own cream cheese rangoons! Each day youth were excited to have fun, learned a lot long the way, and started to get used to having a daily routine to help prepare them for school.

By the end of the week, participants left the NEST Program with new positive experiences, useful selfregulation skills, fun memories, new friends and even affirmation posters they each created to hang on their walls at home to promote growth mindset and positive selftalk as they start the new school year!

NEST and WINGS summer programming always fills our cups at CAFB and serves as an important reminder of our WHY and the impact we can make together.

Assessing for Suicide Risk at Child Advocates of Fort Bend

By Jheri Walters, Clinical Director and Courtney James, Clinical Family Advocate

Ensuring the mental well-being of children and adolescents who experience trauma is a critical concern for our staff at Child Advocates of Fort Bend. The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) staff and therapists encounter clients daily who may be experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm. It is common for trauma to accelerate feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and isolation. These feelings can sometimes lead a child or adolescent to a place where they are contemplating taking their own life. When a client walks through our doors, we want to ensure that they are in a safe place where they are able to express how they are feeling. Due to this, we are adamant about ensuring that our staff has the tools to work with children who may be experiencing

thoughts of suicide or self-harm, having these tools gives us the ability to assess and possibly save a life.

When a child comes to the CAC, their first step is to complete a forensic interview. It is common for a child to disclose self-harm or suicidal ideations during this interview process. When this occurs, the interviewer asks minimal questions which provides the Clinical Family Advocate and the partners with information to know better how to address the situation. During the forensic interview, the CFA meets with the parent/caregiver. During this conversation, the CFA provides psychoeducation regarding self-harm and suicidal ideation and what that can look like .

and how the parent can best support the child

A screening form is available with consent to gauge a variety of behaviors Based on those results of suicide, the CFA will work with the child to complete the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale which provides a better picture of where this client is at and indicates whether immediate intervention is needed Once there is a determination on the severity there will either be a safety plan made with the child, or an outside crisis intervention team will be called for further assessment

The CAC therapists utilize a variety of advanced assessment tools to identify and address potential suicidal ideation and behaviors One of the tools utilized is the AS+K framework, which is known as “About Suicide To Save A Life” This framework represents a modern approach to addressing the sensitive topic of suicide among children and adolescents There is an emphasis on open conversations, education, and intervention as key components in preventing suicide This provides the therapists with the ability to create a safe and non-judgmental space for young individuals to discuss their thoughts and feelings Along with the CFAs, the therapists also utilize the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) which enables the clinicians to categorize individuals into

different levels of risk and gauge the immediacy of the risk and tailor their interventions accordingly. The third tool utilized is the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen which is an assessment designed to identify experiences of trauma and assess their potential impact on mental health. This assists therapists in recognizing traumatic events that might contribute to a child’s emotional distress and suicidal tendencies By addressing the underlying trauma, therapists can develop targeted interventions that address both the trauma and its associated consequences, reducing the risk of suicide

Here at the CAC, we are purposeful and intentional in ensuring that children and families receive the support and compassion from everyone that they encounter while in our care Whether that be through the forensic interview, the crisis intervention with the CFA, or through the therapy process If a child expresses having thoughts of suicide, it is our duty to ensure that the child is in a safe place, physically and mentally, prior to leaving our agency Each staff member and volunteer that meets a child or adolescent is aware of the importance in fostering a safer and more nurturing environment to allow for a child to express their thoughts and feelings without feeling isolation or judgement

We are purposeful and intentional in ensuring that all children and families receive the support and compassion from everyone that they encounter while in our care.

monthly spotlights

Training updates and MORE!

SAFE – Sleep and Adjustment in Foster Environments…Thank You!

Special thanks to licensed clinical psychologist, Dr Candice Alfano, Director of the Sleep and Anxiety Center of Houston (SACH) at the University of Houston for providing an incredible training about Healthy Sleep and its Importance in Child Development Information was shared about her work with SAFE, Sleep and Adjustment in Foster Environments – the first trauma-informed behavioral sleep intervention for foster caregivers and the children they care for If you missed the training but would like more information about this program and how the children you serve could benefit, please reach out to Dana Mersiovsky at dmersiovsky@cafborg

ARMS WIDE and CAFB Empowering Partnerships

Child welfare work does not happen in a silo There are many components to the work we do and many partnerships that drive the pieces that provide healing and hope to the children and families we serve We are grateful to ARMS WIDE for their work and sharing details of their permanency support, foster care adoption and kinship programs available to Child Advocates of Fort Bend and our community of helpers

Thank you to the Thomas Family for recently donating several toys and games to our agency! When they reached out to us, they mentioned their 3 children had been blessed to receive so many wonderful toys over the years for special occasions. They have taught their children the importance of giving by choosing their favorite items and donating the remaining items to help those

in need. We appreciate the Thomas Family for stopping by our agency and allowing their children to tour our campus so that they could see where their donations would help our children and families. Thank you so much for choosing us and teaching your children the importance of giving back to their community!

September 7, 2023 – CAFB Emperor Room

Healthy Boundaries Series – Session III

What Does this Behavior Mean?

Presented by Sue Profilet, PhD

FBC Behavioral Health Services

SPANISH SPEAKING PRESENTATIONS

It is important for child abuse prevention education and awareness to be easily accessible

It is important for child abuse prevention education and awareness to be easily accessible for anyone who cares for children. We know that families are the best place for prevention for anyone who cares for children. We know that families are the best place for prevention to begin. Children are safer when their parents are aware of the risk factors for abuse and to begin. Children are safer when their parents are aware of the risk factors for abuse and neglect and can address those risks with their own resources and support. Child Advocates neglect and can address those risks with their own resources and support. Child Advocates of Fort Bend offers parent education presentations in the Spanish speaking community so of Fort Bend offers parent education presentations in the Spanish speaking community so we can be one of the resources available. Access to these expert trainings in the primary we can be one of the resources available. Access to these expert trainings in the primary language of a parent or caregiver builds a bridge of trust we have with our community. language of a parent or caregiver builds a bridge of trust we have with our community. Our presentations cover topics related to discipline, dynamics of child abuse and neglect, Our presentations cover topics related to discipline, dynamics of child abuse and neglect, how our own childhood influences the lens we have of children and behavior, and how to how our own childhood influences the lens we have of children and behavior, and how to talk to our children about safety topics talk to our children about safety topics.

If you are interested in learning more about presentations we offer in Spanish, please email Lindsey Castellanos at lcastellanos@cafb.org

Indo-American Charity Foundation

Child Advocates of Fort Bend has been fortunate to be a recipient of the generosity of the Indo-American Charity Foundation (IACF) since 2002 and most recently with a grant award in 2023

Since 1988 IACF has appealed to the philanthropic spirit of the Indo-American community in Houston to target four key areas: Education, Family, General Welfare and Healthcare Their motto “ we live here, we give here,” furthers their mission to act as a bridge between the Indo-American community and mainstream causes

IACF is a non-profit charitable organization run 100% by volunteers and a dedicated group of board members Their mission is to help the underprivileged and needy with monetary and volunteer work contributions through established and emerging organizations [501(c)3] in the Greater Houston Area Their vision is to foster a local community whose basic needs are met and where everyone can lead enriched lives through better health, education and growth opportunities

CenterPoint Energy

Child Advocates of Fort Bend has been fortunate to be a recipient of the generosity of the CenterPoint Energy Foundation with a recent grant award focused on Preparing Foster Youth with LifeSkills and Workforce Readiness

CenterPoint Energy has a strong history of supporting diverse organizations in the communities where we live and work The Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations whose programs and services align with their core-giving pillars and invests in initiatives that help build a strong foundation for tomorrow

Their focus on Workforce Development aligns with our CASA LifeSkills and Campus Crawl Programming Specifically, CASA provides resources to connect youth with resources for internships and jobs throughout the year and deliver a concentrated summer program focused on STEAM learning and career development We offer a summer LifeSkills Program where youth visit area businesses to hear about different trades and skills During Campus Crawl, high school students travel with our staff and CASA Advocates to visit technical and vocational schools, area colleges and universities to expose youth to campus life, including information on financial aid and admission processes They also visit medical clinics, county social services, area businesses and other community organizations to expose children to opportunities they otherwise might not experience outside of the program

Thank you IACF for your continued support!

Thank you CenterPoint Energy Foundation for supporting youth!

Heather Cody

CASA Program Assistant / Quality Assurance Specialist

My name is Heather Cody, I recently joined the CASA team parttime I decided to transition from the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) over to the CASA program when this position became available so that I could have more time at home with my 4 kiddos and husband I loved my time working at the CAC in my role as an MDT Coordinator, reviewing abuse intake reports and interacting with partners and co-workers I learned so much in my 3 years with the team and made lifelong connections I am really excited for this new opportunity

Welcome Naomi Pastrano, LCSW Courtesy CASA

I chose to come out of retirement to get back to working with our children. I spent 30 years working with CPS in Dallas County and then retired and worked for Irving ISD as a Social Worker with homeless students. I have been retired for 4 years and have missed this work that has been so important for most of my life My heart goes out to all our children in foster care Too many children have had many hard challenges to overcome and way more than most people have in a lifetime Our children can never have enough positive attention Each person that enters their life can make a difference Volunteers are invaluable as they give children a strong message that they matter, are important and are truly cared for. Each day volunteers give their most precious asset of time to our children and do so freely. I know this impacts our children. Volunteers may not always see the fruit of their hard work, but they do make a difference. By returning to work with CASA, I want to do my part to ensure children get the highest standard of care possible

Are you interested in joining our team? We have openings. Click here for more information or to apply today.

License to Help!

Did you know that Child Advocates of Fort Bend participates in the TX CASA Specialty License Plate Program?

You can order a custom license plate with the phrase “Big Voices for Little Texans”. Not only can you spread awareness and show your support for us but a portion of the cost of the plate goes to Texas CASA and the local programs to increase our statewide efforts to advocate for

every child in the foster care system. To order your plate go to https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/lice nse-plates and search for CASA under specialty plates OR visit your local tax assessor ’ s office and ask for the Court Appointed Special Advocate license plate

This month, we have immediate need for:

Blankets size 50" x 60"

Stuffed animals

Additional items can be found on our WISH LIST

Our

32nd Annual Christmas Home Tour!

PresentedbyFredandMabelR.ParksFoundation

The32ndAnnualChristmasHomeTourisscheduledforDecember8thand9th.Thetwo-dayHomeTour hostsvisitorsfromalloverFortBendCountyandsurroundingareasOver2,000guestswilltourthehomes, includingthe600volunteerswhotaketheirtimetovolunteerandbeapartofthisveryspecialevent!

DoYOUliketodecorate?

InterestedinhavingyourhomefeaturedontheHomeTourorknowsomeonewhowouldliketogetmore information?Wewouldlovetotalktoyou.PleasecontactTarinaatTSheridan@cafb.orgtochat!

DoYOUwanttohelp!

Pleasegrabyourfriendsandbeahost,aHomeTourcommitteememberORshareyourbakingskillsby bakinghomemadecookiesfortheTour.FormoreinformationcontactTarinaatTSheridan@cafb.org.

/ The Voices of Child Advocates of Fort Bend/

save these dates

September 7

Healthy Boundaries Series Session III

“What Does this Behavior Mean?”

Presented by Dr. Sue Profilet, FBC Behavioral Health

Noon - 1:30pm

RSVP to Dana at DMersiovsky@cafb.org

September 12

TBRI Overview

10am - 4pm

More info

September 26

TBRI Correcting Principles

10am - 4pm

More info

“Thanks for making me less worried and “Thanks for making me less worried and more comfortable…It takes a good strong more comfortable…It takes a good strong hearted person to do what you do." hearted person to do what you do."

- B.V. - B.V.

(Youth who attended our WINGS Summer Life Skills Program)

(Youth who attended our WINGS Summer Life Skills Program)