Today SPRING 2010
D e P e l c h i n C h i l d re n ’s C e n t e r
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A Miracle Child: Caleb’s Story When officers from the Houston Police Department found fourmonth-old Caleb, it looked like it was already too late. He was in the bathtub of a dingy hotel room, strapped into a car seat, with his eyes rolled back into his head. There were cigarette burns covering much of his tiny body, his foot was broken, his hand had been severely burned, and the skin on his head was completely raw. He was alive—but barely. According to the doctor who treated him, if the police hadn’t checked the bathroom before leaving that hotel room, Caleb would have died within hours.
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t had been nearly a year since Caleb’s father Michael had heard from Caleb’s mother. They split up when she was pregnant, but started talking again about a month before the baby was due. “Right after Caleb was born,” Michael remembers, “I went over to her apartment to see him. It was completely empty, and I didn’t hear anything from them again until CPS had Caleb.” Caleb’s mother’s boyfriend had a warrant out for his arrest when they checked into the hotel where Caleb was found—and the hotel’s policy was to run basic background checks. When HPD was notified, they came to arrest the boyfriend. Just before they escorted him out and shut the door behind them, one of the officers quickly checked the rest of the room. The emotion is thick in Michael’s voice: “If Caleb’s mom and boyfriend hadn’t chosen a hotel that checked for warrants...if the police hadn’t come when they did...if they hadn’t checked the rest of the hotel room...it’s just miracle after miracle after miracle. It’s absolutely a miracle that he survived.” Caleb was two years old before he was finally placed in the custody of his father. He had already gone through several surgeries and skin grafts to correct some of the damage from the abuse, but some hurts can’t be fixed with surgery. “Caleb would wake up in the night just screaming,” says his grandmother, Janet, who lives with Michael and Caleb. “He’d shut himself in the bathroom and curl into a fetal position.” Janet and Michael began noticing some other issues with Caleb—behavioral issues they couldn’t explain. “He would get very angry all of a sudden,” recalls Janet. “He would be just fine, but then he’d go into his room and come out and throw a book at me.” She sighs. “We would go to the grocery store and he would run away from me. He was defiant.” Janet stayed home with Caleb while Michael worked. “It was very hard to manage at home.”
That’s when Caleb’s pediatrician recommended the Counseling Services at DePelchin Children’s Center. DePelchin offers a variety of counseling and mental health services for children and families trying to cope with emotional, behavioral, or other psychological issues. “I never even realized that a family like ours could go to DePelchin and get this kind of help,” says Janet. “And it’s hard to describe how much they really do help—it’s hard to understand until you experience it.” Counseling Services at DePelchin are designed to help clients on a variety of levels. In Caleb’s case, many people worked together from different angles to give him and his family the help they needed. Blanca Hernandez, Ph.D., LPC, was Caleb and Janet’s therapist. “I was just one part of the treatment Caleb received,” she notes. “It was really a combination of several things— family therapy, psychological testing, medication, help at school—that made a difference in Caleb’s life.” Caleb and Janet worked with Blanca for a year. “The type of therapy I did with Caleb and his grandmother is called Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, or PCIT,” says Blanca. “We gear this type of therapy mainly toward the caregiver—teaching them how to interact with the child in ways that help change the child’s behavior.” Through interactive play periods, Janet learned how to communicate positively and how to respond when Caleb became angry or frustrated. According to Blanca, “Caleb soon realized that he didn’t have to misbehave to get attention and he began to be more receptive when his grandmother asked him to do something. I saw great results with Caleb and Janet.” Although Michael wasn’t able to participate in the family therapy sessions because of his work schedule, he quickly began to witness the change as well. “It has made a world of difference in our family,” he
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From the Board Chairman Holiday Project Unwraps the Gift of Hope Operation School Supplies Getting to Know The Beaumont Foundation
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Now, I can’t wait to come home from work and hear about what Caleb did today.
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says. “Before we went to DePelchin, I dreaded coming home from work because I knew I’d have to face ‘what Caleb did today.’ I didn’t know how to fix it. Now, I can’t wait to come home from work and hear about what Caleb did today.” Emotion wells up in his voice again, but this time it’s pride. “He’s amazing.” Caleb is now seven years old and in the second grade. He doesn’t run away from his grandmother in the store anymore, he’s not angry or defiant, and he’s got the manners of a Southern gentleman. Ask him what he likes to do for fun and he’ll respond just like many other second grade boys: “I like to play with Legos, and I like recess time at school. And I like to play Wii games with my dad. Do you want to know all of the Wii games that I have?” As he happily lists each and every video game on the shelf, it’s difficult—really, impossible—to see any hint of the darkness that lurks in Caleb’s past. He seems just like any typical seven-year-old kid. But those who know Caleb’s story know that he is far from typical. Perhaps his grandmother knows better than anyone: “He’s a miracle child.”
Tackling Mental Health: DePelchin’s Annual Luncheon 4 Changing of the Guard 5 Holiday Happennings 6 Everyday Heroes 6 Volunteer Spotlight: Natalie Synnott
Today
| Spring 2010
From the Board Chairman Dear Friends,
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s I begin my service as chairman of the DePelchin Children’s Center Board of Directors, I want to reach out to each of you. I am honored to have this opportunity, and it is my goal to lead this great organization through the next two years with the same sense of responsibility and foresight as have my predecessors for the last 118 years, notably those of the last eight years—Jim Henderson, Tom Bellows, Flo McGee, and Charles Szalkowski. I wish to recognize their leadership, their expertise, and their inspiration, all of which have contributed to the excellent condition in which DePelchin finds itself today. I have been a member of the DePelchin board for the past 13 years and have served on the executive, finance, program and planning, and public policy committees during that time. The opportunity to have worked with so many facets of the organization has given me an in-depth view of its operations, challenges, and successes. This experience will also give me a strong foundation upon which to build for DePelchin’s future. One of our current initiatives is the expansion of children’s behavioral health services. Since the early 1950s, DePelchin has provided mental health services for children, many of whom have been traumatized by abuse, neglect, and abandonment. But there is much more that we can do given the significant need for these services in our community. We are embarking on an ambitious expansion of our behavioral health services, starting with a national search to recruit a new Chief Clinical Officer to lead this initiative. With DePelchin’s existing programs as a strong platform, we will expand our team of mental health professionals with the aim of ensuring that a greater number of children receive the help they need. We are committed to moving forward quickly, and we will keep you informed of our progress.
Since I began my career as an attorney, my professional focus has been on the health care industry. And, since I began my tenure at DePelchin, my focus has been on the health and well-being of children. I look forward to serving the agency over the next two years. Thank you for your contributions, encouragement, and support. Sincere best wishes,
Chairman, Board of Directors
Holiday Project Unwraps the Gift of Hope
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or too many children and families in the Houston community, receiving a gift during the holiday season seems like a far-away dream. But thanks to the 319 sponsors and donors of DePelchin’s 2009 Holiday Project, many of these families were able to experience a holiday dream coming true. This year, over 140 volunteers took the time (more than 530 combined hours!) to sort and distribute an estimated 5,260 gifts for children in crisis. Because of the fantastic response and dedication of the donors, sponsors, and volunteers, more than 1,300 children who benefited from the Holiday Project received more than presents this year—they received the gift of hope.
Operation School Supplies J
ust imagine your first day of school—the nervous excitement, the new environment, the smell of clean paper and new pencils. Did you know that many children don’t know what it’s like to go to school with new school supplies? Some kids go to school without any supplies at all.
At DePelchin, we want to help kids have a great start at school—but we need your help. Consider participating in our upcoming school supply drive. Your involvement will ensure that no child has to go to school empty-handed. To get involved or receive information about our annual school supply drive, visit www.depelchin.org/supplydrive or call 713.802.7792.
DePelchin Children’s Center Board of Directors Officers of the Board Debbi M. Johnstone, Chairman Pamela Lovett, Vice Chairman M. James Henderson, Past Chairman H. Richard Walton, Secretary Board Members Arthur Baird John C. Bass Valerie Bergeron Efrain Bleiberg, M.D. Jay Allen Chaffee Steve R. Cherek Nancy I. Cook, Ph.D. Susan Distefano Laurie Dorfman
Anne S. Duncan Karey Dubiel Dye Stephen T. Dyer Henry Florsheim Miles Harper III Peggy A. Heeg Margaret C. McNeese, M.D. Ginni Mithoff John S. Moody Jr. Carolyn J. Pope Pat Powers Mary Eliza Shaper Ellie Sweeney H. Richard Walton Janeana White, M.D. Geraldina Interiano Wise Don Woo
Foundation and Trust for DePelchin Children’s Center Jesse H. Jones II, Chairman Susan Light Lawhon Rahul Mehta Robert W. Paddock Paul J. Sarvadi John E. Stokes Charles Szalkowski
Our Vision We envision a world in which every child is safe and healthy.
Our Mission We strengthen the lives of children by enhancing their mental health and physical well-being.
DePelchin Psychiatric Services Manuel C. Ramirez, M.D., Chairman Efrain Bleiberg, M.D. Matthew N. Brams, M.D.
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713.730.2335 www.depelchin.org
DePelchin Children’s Center
Getting to Know the Beaumont Foundation Established in Texas in 2001, the Beaumont Foundation is a non-profit, grant-making institution dedicated to enriching the lives of less fortunate children, youths, families, and the elderly. Through grant-making areas such as education, health care, youth programs, and social services, the Beaumont Foundation addresses many unmet social needs in the underserved and disenfranchised populations of Texas and beyond. All across the United States, grants from the Beaumont Foundation help strengthen institutions, develop knowledge, foster creativity, and advance human welfare—including the welfare of children.
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ccording to foundation President Frank Newton, the system that serves children who have no permanent homes has undergone a transformation over the past two decades. “There has been a definite move away from institutional care and toward foster care services,” he says. “And while that’s a dramatic improvement in many ways, far too many states—including Texas—have used that shift as a way of reducing funds for these children.” That’s where the Beaumont Foundation comes in. “We don’t accept unsolicited applications for our grants,” says Newton. “Instead, we research areas of need and identify places where funds can best serve those needs. In Harris County, that means DePelchin.” Each year, the Beaumont Foundation supplies a grant based on the number of children in DePelchin’s foster care program. The grant provides money to buy new clothes for the children—something that many of them have never had. Since the partnership began, the Beaumont Foundation has provided nearly one million dollars in grant money and donations to DePelchin. “Our ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for these children,” says Newton. “We’re happy to be able to support DePelchin in this effort.”
Daryl Ann Borel, director of grants for Beaumont Foundation, presents a check to
Curtis C. Mooney, Ph.D., president and CEO of DePelchin.
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We research areas of need and identify places where funds can best serve those needs. In Harris County, that means DePelchin.
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Tackling Mental Health: DePelchin’s Annual Luncheon Team up with DePelchin at the Hilton Americas downtown for the Annual Spring Luncheon on Thursday, April 29, 2010. Co-chairs Susan Apple and Jill Imhoff want you to help us Tackle Mental Health by supporting increased mental health services for some of the most important members of our community—our children.
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or decades, DePelchin has been a leader in diagnosing and treating mental and behavioral health disorders in children, and this year, we want to cheer on some of our teammates who also champion this cause. The starting lineup for the luncheon includes guest speaker Dr. Octavio Martinez, Jr., executive director of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, and luncheon honorees Janice and Bob McNair, community leaders and owners of the Houston Texans. The McNairs are vocal advocates for mental health who put their beliefs into practice by making the Texans the first NFL franchise to provide mental health parity for its players and employees. Another important player in the game, the Texas Bowl, will present a check to DePelchin at the luncheon. In 2006, DePelchin Children’s Center was named as the Texas Bowl’s official charitable beneficiary. Over its three-year history, the Texas Bowl has donated more than $200,000 to DePelchin. Thanks to supporters such as the McNairs, the Texas Bowl, and our donors, DePelchin is staying ahead of the game and truly championing the cause of mental health services for children. The Annual Luncheon is sure to be a fantastic event that will help the children of DePelchin be the biggest winners of all. To learn more about tickets or sponsorship details contact us at advancement@depelchin.org or 713.802.6268.
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Today
| Spring 2010
Holiday Happenings heading goes here Shop for Jocks
Over the past several years, Shop for Jocks has given children from DePelchin the experience of a lifetime—a shopping spree with Houston Texans football players. This year, wide receiver David Anderson and nine other Houston Texans joined 50 kids from DePelchin on a three-hour Wal-Mart shopping spree.
Lakewood Holiday Carnival This past December, 75 volunteers from Lakewood Church helped transform DePelchin into a winter wonderland with a Holiday Carnival featuring games, music, food, face painting, moonwalks, gifts, a special dance competition, and more. The carnival helped make the holidays brighter for more than 200 DePelchin children.
Texans Moms host Baby Shower Nearly 25 teen mothers participating in DePelchin’s Teen Parenting Program were showered with love from the mothers of several Houston Texans players. Karen Johnson (mother of wide receiver Andre Johnson) and other Texans moms hosted a beautiful baby shower, complete with decorations, fun games, food, cake, and gift bags filled with baby items for each of the expectant mothers. Perhaps the most meaningful gifts of all, though, were the inspirational parenting stories and words of encouragement from the hostesses and the guest speaker, Yolanda Green of Houston’s Channel 39.
Texas Bowl On December 31, 2009, the Texas Bowl saw the Navy Midshipmen score a 35-13 win over the Missouri Tigers in an action-packed holiday football battle. As the Bowl’s official charitable beneficiary, DePelchin was honored to host the teams during their visit to DePelchin prior to the big game. The kids had a blast getting autographs and hanging out with the players, cheerleaders, and mascots. The 500 children and families from DePelchin who attended the game had a wonderful time cheering on the two teams. As part of its enduring legacy to the community, the Texas Bowl will donate a portion of the proceeds from the game to DePelchin at the agency’s Annual Luncheon on April 29, 2010.
Rooms to Go Grand Opening Rooms To Go cut the ribbon for its new Katy/Brookshire Super Center earlier this year. Ever since Rooms To Go came to the Houston area, they have been a proud supporter of DePelchin, providing $25,000 worth of furniture for the young mothers in the Transitional Living Program and for the Residential Treatment Center each year. DePelchin CEO Curtis C. Mooney, Ph.D., was honored to speak at the ribbon cutting, noting that, “Rooms To Go has quickly become a vibrant and caring member of our community. They have assisted us on many occasions as we work to enrich the lives of children and families in Houston.”
Our Children Need Friends
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riends of DePelchin is a group of young professionals committed to supporting DePelchin’s mission through community awareness, philanthropy, and volunteerism. The funds raised by Friends of DePelchin, through membership and events, directly support the core programs and services at DePelchin Children’s Center. Additionally, this group organizes networking opportunities, an annual fundraiser, and two service projects. Members have the satisfaction of supporting one of Houston’s most well-established charitable organizations and knowing that their time and effort truly impact the lives of at-risk children and families. Friends of DePelchin currently has over 70 members who helped raise nearly $10,000 in 2009. In 2010, the Friends are planning networking opportunities through Happy Hour gatherings at 6 p.m. on April 8 and August 26 (free for members; $10 donation for non-members) as well as a Cinco de Mayo membership drive at 6 p.m. at Vintage. Friends of DePelchin will also host their annual fundraiser in September. Please join the Friends of DePelchin by visiting www.depelchin.org/friends.
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DePelchin Children’s Center
Volunteer Spotlight: Natalie Synnott As the Manager of Volunteer Services at DePelchin, Za’ndra Jackson supervises nearly 2,000 volunteers every year—all people who take time out of their busy schedules to make a real difference in the lives of DePelchin’s children and families. And while Za’ndra gets to work with some pretty fabulous people every single day, once in a while someone really special comes along. Natalie Synnott is one of those people. “She’s just a ray of sunshine to be around,” says Za’ndra. “She gives the children hope.”
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atalie has served the children in DePelchin’s Residential Treatment (RT) program for three years through her volunteer placement with The Junior League of Houston. Over the course of the League’s 14-year relationship with DePelchin, volunteers such as Natalie have helped coordinate activities such as movie nights, career days, picnics, field days, holiday events, and field trips for the children in the residential treatment program. “It’s important to remember that we’re there to give the kids a day when they can just be kids—a day when they can smile and have fun,” Natalie says.
come from times when they witness a child who struggles with depression light up and laugh at a fall carnival, or when they see a non-responsive child interact with a volunteer at a field day. “Those moments are great,” says Natalie. “But the best moments are the in-between times—the totally unplanned times when there is a pause in the activities and we just get to sit and talk with the kids. They ask about us, and they tell us about their hopes and dreams. It’s just talking about life, but it’s so real. Those are the really special times.” These days, things in Natalie’s life are changing. She recently traded a demanding career in oil and gas investment banking for another demanding career: stayat-home mom. Her Junior League chairmanship will end in May. “Everything’s pretty new right now,” she says. “So I don’t know what it will look like...but I plan on continuing my relationship with DePelchin in the future.” And how could she resist? “I love that I’m able to work directly with these kids [in the RT program]. They’re great kids, and I get to see the impact we have on their lives,” says Natalie. “As volunteers, we may not be able to change their circumstances—and some circumstances are beyond what we can imagine—but we can have a part in making their lives a little better, even if it’s just for a day.”
Natalie isn’t just a volunteer, though; she is also a leader. Since June 2009, she has been the League’s volunteer coordinator and chairman for the DePelchin Special Projects program, overseeing 19 Junior League volunteers at DePelchin’s two residential treatment facilities. Of course, she’s quick to deflect that spotlight. “I might be the chairman,” she says, “but the only reason I’m being recognized for anything is because I have 19 other amazing volunteers who work hard and love what they do here. Plus, it’s really fun to plan the activities. I can’t take credit for that!” With as much time and effort as the Junior League volunteers put into the activities they coordinate for the kids, it would be easy to think that the best memories
Everyday Heroes 2009 Foster Parent of the Year – Rebecca Williams “I always knew I wanted to work with children with special needs,” says Rebecca Williams, recipient of the 2009 Foster Parent of the Year award presented by the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services. “It’s a great feeling to be honored, but I didn’t know I was doing anything special. I just treat my foster kids as my own. I love them.” Rebecca works closely with caseworkers, families, and the DePelchin team to ensure that each child placed in her home receives the highest quality of care. “She goes the extra mile to fight for children to have the services they need,” says Wendy Brueckner, a foster care clinician who works closely with Rebecca. “She works tirelessly and always has patience and energy for her children.”
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n her six years as a foster mom, Rebecca has fostered 17 children and provided respite for many others. She currently has seven children in her home: her three biological children, three foster children, and her roommate Sybil’s adopted daughter. “Sybil plays a huge role in helping me care for the kids,” says Rebecca.
Two of Rebecca’s foster children have developmental delays resulting from premature births. With Rebecca as their advocate, they are now close to being developmentally on target. Her other foster child has substantial primary medical needs, yet he came to Rebecca without having had any real services. Due to her determination, Rebecca has been able to have a nurse in the home, orthotics for the boy’s legs, visual aide services through the school district, and a stander to help him build muscles in his legs and back. For Rebecca, it’s like this for every child. She will work to get whatever the children in her care need. As long as they are in her home, they are her kids. After all, she says, “this isn’t a ‘foster home.’ It’s a family.”
Lauretta “Pat” Sims, manager of adoption and post-
adoption services at DePelchin, is the 2009 Recipient of the Drenda Lakin Memorial Award. This award, presented by the National Voice for Adoption, honors a state, nonprofit organization, or individual whose programs provide valuable adoptive family support after adoptions are finalized.
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DeJuana Jernigan ,director of child welfare services
at DePelchin, has been appointed to the Texas Adoption Review Committee by the governor. This committee will identify obstacles to finding permanent placements for children and develop ways to improve the foster care system.
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D e P e l c h i n C h i l d re n ’s C e n t e r
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Changing of the Guard In many ways, DePelchin thrives because of the commitment of its supporters—people such as retiring board members Nancy Abendshein, Efrain Bleiberg, Marty Braniff, Stephen Fraga, Flo McGee, Roxann Neumann, Charles Powell, Leslie Sprague, Susan Tortolero, and Tandelyn Weaver. These men and women have faithfully worked in and for their community as members of DePelchin’s Board of Directors and, because of their service, have helped strengthen the lives of children and families throughout the greater Houston area. Although their time on the Board has come to an end, their legacy will continue in the lives of countless children and families who have benefited from their leadership.
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hile we must say goodbye to our friends who are leaving, we also want to welcome four new members to the board. Meet John Bass, Laurie Dorfman, Ginni Mithoff, and Mary Eliza Shaper, the newest members of DePelchin’s Board of Directors.
John Bass After a brief break following two previous Board terms, John Bass is excited to be back helping DePelchin serve the critical needs of children and families in the greater Houston community. For 22 years, John has been with JP Morgan & Co. (now in the Chase Capital Corporation principal investing unit). John and his wife Ellen have lived and worked in the Houston area for almost ten years now, and they enjoy serving their community and spending time with their children, Gardner, Sarah, and Margaret.
Laurie Dorfman Laurie Dorfman is no stranger to DePelchin, with experiences ranging from Office Angels back in the 1980s to coordinating the reunion for former clients when DePelchin celebrated its 110th year. She previously served on the Board as part of the Advancement Committee. Both prior to and since retiring from her banking career, Laurie has been an active volunteer in numerous other organizations such as the United Way, Texas Children’s Hospital, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, St. John’s School, and Camp for All. Laurie is happily married to Scott, and they are proud parents of Claire and Charles.
Ginni Mithoff After retiring from her teaching career, Ginni Mithoff began volunteering and serving on boards for organizations such as the Houston Ballet Guild, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Harris County Hospital District (HCHD), and many others. As part of her commitment to HCHD, she oversees the Children’s Health Fund, so she is acutely aware of the needs of children who have mental health issues. She is pleased to be a part of the work DePelchin is doing to address the needs of these children. Ginni and her husband Richard have lived in Houston for 35 years. They have two children—Michael and Caroline—and they enjoy spending as much time as possible with their four grandchildren.
Mary Eliza Lovett Shaper From the time she was very young, Mary Eliza Lovett Shaper knew all about DePelchin from the stories her father and grandfather (both former board members) would tell. As a member of The Junior League of Houston, Mary Eliza worked with DePelchin for a number of years, and as the 2008-2009 President, was involved in the League’s volunteer project expansion to DePelchin’s Richmond location. Mary Eliza also sits on the Rienzi Committee at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and volunteers with The Kinkaid School. Mary Eliza and her husband Park have three children—Lovett, Nell, and Jeffers.
While we must say goodbye to our friends who are leaving, we also want to welcome four new members to the board.