Spring Newsletter 2023

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Miracles Are All Around Us

Hope for Families through Services

Nikki and Chris Spencer became foster parents about four and half years ago. Although they had no biological children, they were eager and felt prepared. Little did they know the extreme challenges they would soon face.

The Spencers welcomed a two-year-old boy and four-year-old girl into their home. The siblings had already lived in five foster care homes and several temporary shelters before coming into state custody. The pair had experienced trauma, including neglect and sexual abuse, in their short lives. These factors made adjusting to their new home exceptionally difficult.

“On the outside we looked like we were holding it together, but in reality we were scared, lost and feeling hopeless,” said Nikki. She added, “Some nights when I tucked my son into bed, he responded by trying to choke me. My daughter experienced the most horrific night terrors and clawed at me when I tried to comfort her.”

Nikki and Chris knew they needed help. She’d heard about PCHAS from a friend and contacted a Child & Family Specialist. It was a decision she wouldn’t regret.

“From my very first correspondence, I felt safe, seen, valued and never judged. The wrap-around support services PCHAS provided brought our family back to life. It was not an easy process, and it took time, but I’m forever grateful they came alongside us.”

While both children received therapy, the specialist worked with the adults on more effective parenting. Over time, Nikki and Chris learned “how to help our kids feel safe and how to respond to their behavior so we could start building the foundation of our family.”

PCHAS support of the family didn’t end there. When faced with adversity due to Chris’ job loss, the agency remained steadfast in its support of the family. “PCHAS stepped in and helped us to be able to get daycare assistance, helped get my children Christmas gifts and school supplies. I cannot put a price on those services or what it meant to have them available to us,” said Nikki.

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This year is the 120th anniversary of our founding, and we are celebrating the wondrous power of hope. As always, I’m proud to share stories gleaned from children and families who come to us in their darkest hour and volunteers who help PCHAS continue its mission of service.

In this issue you’ll meet Nikki and Chris, whose desire for a family brought them three children desperate for their love. The family utilized PCHAS’ services to provide the nurturing and care needed for abused and neglected children. There’s 20-year-old Asia, a young adult in search of direction. She found her way thanks to a PCHAS mentor helping her navigate the sometimes turbulent high school years and gain the courage to pursue college. Then, there’s the success story of a volunteer, Dustin. His path is sure to inspire!

I am reminded of a quote from our Board of Trustees during the Great Depression.

“The close of 1937 found us able to pay practically all bills except the superintendent’s salary…”

The Board of Trustees yearly report goes on to document six cases of scarlet fever, one case of diphtheria and 20 cases of measles, as well as dental examinations and fittings for “spectacles.”

A message from our president

I find tremendous inspiration in our history! Through epidemics, world wars and economic uncertainty, PCHAS showed resilience. It’s what we continue doing today. PCHAS remains faithful to its mission of providing Christcentered care and support to children and families in need and we’re grateful that you have remained faithful in your support. Together, we continue to nurture resilience in individuals and strengthen communities. After 120 years, hope still grows here.

Striving to serve like Jesus,

David Thompson President and CEO

P.S. PCHAS wants to ensure all of its supporters receive information in a timely manner. As a result, we will be offering print and digital versions of our newsletter. If you prefer digital, please share your email with us.

Volunteers Run For A Reason

Dustin James is familiar with pushing himself to reach a goal. In his professional life he is a research scientist and his personal life includes overcoming cancer. He has also competed more than 10 times in the Chevron Houston Marathon. But this January, he showed a new kind of stamina.

Volunteers run on behalf of PCHAS in the Marathon. Team Butterfly, as they call themselves, participate in the Run for a Reason category, which raises money for charities. Dustin was

their organizer this year. When the race began, he felt fine, but started experiencing problems with his balance. “I stopped at two medical stations, but everything checked out,” he said. “For a while I held onto a fence to keep myself running in a straight line.” Determined, Dustin used a wheelchair to cross the finish line. He recovered quickly.

Like the kids and families in our care, Dustin showed strength and resilience to meet his goal. PCHAS is grateful to him and his team for their persistence. Team Butterfly raised $10,000 this year to support our programs.

Soon after, full of hope and the tools needed to provide for the children, the Spencers adopted the children in 2019. They didn’t stop there. The following year, the children’s biological sister was born prematurely and drug-positive. CPS asked Nikki and Chris to foster her. “I was torn about whether we could handle the responsibility and if I was even capable enough to raise a baby,” admits Nikki. “We called my family specialist, and once again, met with support and encouragement. We ended up bringing home the baby. PCHAS stepped in and gave me the tools to embrace her. Last December, we adopted her as well.”

Nikki spoke at a PCHAS event a few months ago. She shared a photo of her son, who struggles with aggression and attachment, gently holding his baby sister. “This is a miracle,” she said. “That these three siblings get to live together is a miracle. My prayer is that my children can someday be a part of something on this earth that reaches out to embrace hurting families and hold them tightly with God’s love and support. Because of PCHAS, they are getting to grow up in a family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do.”

Mentors Make it Possible

“I had no idea where I was going,” says Asia. “I had my challenges in middle school and high school, and some mental demons to contend with. This program helped me realize the kind of person I want to be.”

Before Asia was referred to the PCHAS, she was anxious and angry. She candidly states that she “never understood how to speak with others and would cause fights with everyone.” She even began harming herself. But then the PCHAS mentoring program matched her with Simone Zachary.

Simone taught Asia to see possibilities for herself. They set goals together and laid out a path to reach them. Having an adult who believed in her gave Asia the encouragement to stay in school. “Simone encouraged me to grow as a student and as a person. She inspired me to consider how I want my future to unfold.”

Numerous studies show that mentoring decreases school absences and reduces behavior problems. Youth who meet regularly with a mentor are 37% less likely than their peers to skip a class and 52% less likely to skip a day of school. PCHAS trains its mentors to meet at least weekly with children and customize plans to overcome long-term struggles.

Asia set goals beyond high school. She is a college student now with a 3.4 grade point average. At Indiana State University, she herself has become a mentor, helping freshmen navigate their first year of college. “I want to thank everyone who has helped me on my journey to success,” Asia says. “I hope to be a part of something that matters to others the way mentoring has mattered to me.”

For information about becoming a paid part-time mentor or to refer a child, ages 5-19, to the program, call 800.888.1904 or contact us online

The Child & Family Program keeps families together in more than a dozen cities. Many participants face poverty, illness or other crises. Learn more about the program at pchas.org.

HISTORY OF PCHAS

This year PCHAS celebrates the 120th anniversary of its founding. Through epidemics, mining accidents, the Great Depression and two World Wars, the agency has cared for children and families in need. Here is a brief look at the early years of the agency.

In the spring of 1903, as the redbud trees began bursting with life, Mrs. Blaney’s heart was heavy. She knew that she was dying of tuberculosis. She contacted the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas about her four children, whose father was gone. To care for the children, the Ladies’ Missionary Society rented a house and hired a matron. By the fall of that year, the Society had admitted more children and approached the Synod of Texas to take over the program. The Synod began searching for a larger property for the Presbyterian Home for Children. Because of Mrs. Blaney’s early death, many children would have a secure home.

Become a PCHAS Prayer Partner!

If you would like to volunteer your time to pray for the children and families still in our care, please email info@pchas.org and let us know that you would like to receive a monthly prayer request email.

In 1904, the name of the home was changed to the Texas Presbyterian Home and School for Orphans. That same year, the Files family donated 342 acres in the Files Valley, east of Itasca, Texas, to build a new campus. The organization believed that housing children in multiple houses, instead of one factory-sized institution, was in the best interest of the children. In 1906, 22 children moved from the Dallas home to Files Valley. Trustees soon changed the name to the Southwestern Presbyterian Home and School for Orphans, to reflect the support of the Synods of Arkansas and Oklahoma.

By act of the Texas Legislature, the Itasca campus grounds were incorporated into an Independent Public School District. The Home operated its own school from 1912 until 1957.

The history of PCHAS includes mergers with other organizations. The first was with the Reynolds Presbyterian Orphanage and School, which was founded in 1916. The Presbytery of Abilene opened it in Albany, Texas. Within a few years, enrollment was up to 100 children. By 1923 it was re-named Reynolds Presbyterian Home and re-located to northern Dallas. The Synod of Texas accepted ownership of the Home three years later.

This new campus, although in the city, consisted of 72 acres with barns and sheds. The Home featured a nursery for children three to six years old; a dormitory with separate units for older boys, small boys, older girls and small girls; a vocational building for a workshop and storage; a library; a laundry, and a hospital with 14 beds.

The length of a placement in these group homes varied. Some children grew up without ever seeing family; others visited with family periodically and still others returned to their parents after only a few years.

While these two Presbyterian homes flourished in Texas, another was growing in Missouri. About 75 miles from St. Louis there was a farming community and a center for the mining industry called Farmington. In the early 1900s, Presbyterian ministers were called to establish an orphanage at a school that had closed. For the next 55 years, the orphanage provided a high level of care for up to 145 children at a time.

The Presbyterian Orphanage of Missouri weathered its early years and the Great Depression with resourcefulness and the generosity of regional donors. When in 1932 it received a large contribution of stock, it began raising funds for an administration building with a larger kitchen and dining room. This was completed in 1940. Another major donation funded a hospital, also completed in 1940. As in Texas, a printing press enabled the orphanage to publish a newsletter regularly.

For a long time, the press, operated by some of the boys at the orphanage, helped to earn income for the home.

Because the Orphanage rented eight acres for cows and a garden, the children enjoyed fresh dairy products and vegetables. By the start of World War II, the acreage netted a worthwhile profit.

Eventually, gifts from Joseph Sunnen, a St. Louis businessman, enabled the Orphanage to purchase land for farming. The 85 acres included enough pasture for 21 horses and four cows. Its orchard consisted of 75 fruit trees and a vineyard.

Soon the Orphanage, called Farmington Children’s Home by locals, purchased a neighboring property and the combined land was known as the “farm campus.” During the next couple of years the older boys moved to the farm and the Orphanage built two log cottages there. The “town campus” opened a fireproof dormitory for small boys and another for the girls, both in 1946.

Self-sufficiency has always been a priority for the children in our care. All our campuses emphasized education and the trades so that they could provide for themselves as adults. In Itasca, trustees established a loan fund for the Home’s college students.

Originally each of these group homes took in orphans whose parents had died from illness or accident. Then in the 1930s, the Great Depression deprived many families of their stability. As society changed, fewer children were abandoned and more were removed from families due to domestic violence or substance abuse.

The next issue of HOME will document a few of the agency’s transformations in the second half of the 20th century as it continued to serve children and families in need.

ED KNIGHT HERITAGE SOCIETY

Planning Ahead in Uncertain Times

Each of the following are powerful tools to help you craft a dependable future for yourself:

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY

Fund a charitable gift annuity and receive favorable fixed rate payments for life. You also receive an income tax deduction this year.

CHARITABLE REMAINDER UNITRUST

Transfer appreciated stock to us without paying capital gains, then get an income stream and other tax benefits for the rest of your life.

LIFE ESTATE

Transfer title from your house or other property to PCHAS and continue living there for life, while receiving income tax benefits today.

It’s All About Relationships

Jeff took a leap of faith three years ago and attended a Foster Care & Adoption Event at PCHAS. He was almost 45 years old and single, but he knew he wanted to be a dad.

He committed to learning as much as possible and found ways to volunteer and gain experience. He had been a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and learned a lot about the foster care system, what kids in care need and the value of relationships with everyone on the team.

He also learned about kids in foster care. Seventy percent of the children are minorities, and almost all are schoolaged and part of a sibling group, so Jeff began preparing to adopt minority siblings. Although he likes learning about other cultures, he asked himself, “Where are my blind spots?” He asked for feedback from professionals and trusted friends, too.

When Jeff felt it was time to choose an agency, he attended an information session and met Brooke, a PCHAS employee. She was warm and personable. He narrowed his search to PCHAS because of her. Choosing to work with the agency became easy because he wanted to work with an agency that wanted to work with him.

He began meeting with Lacey, his Home Development Coordinator, who listened to his concerns and noticed his strengths. Lacey helped Jeff see how his life experiences, both good and bad, uniquely qualified him to see and meet the needs of kids with a history of trauma. She ensured he was a safe family for them.

In January 2021, PCHAS verified Jeff as a foster and adoptive parent. The agency had just received information about two brothers who needed a family and Jeff seemed to be a good match. Seven-year-old Xavier and nine-yearold Emmanuel had been in foster care for more than five years. They had experienced strong disappointments but also had people who had been working on their behalf

for years: The same judge presided over their case from when they entered foster care until they exited through adoption. Their attorney was with them for several years, as well, even recusing herself from the case to become their kinship caregiver for a time. She’s still very important in their life, and the boys call her “mom.” Jeff is grateful for their relationship.

For almost 12 months, Jeff was the foster dad for Xavier and Emmanuel. Jeff is committed to giving them positive racial mirrors and learning their history. He’s intentional about choices like healthcare providers and entertainment, and the family alternates between Jeff’s own church and a predominantly African American church, where they are building new relationships. He found a local bookstore with drumming classes and the boys went to a summer camp promoting STEM courses for African American children.

PCHAS encourages parents to build a support network not only for companionship but for parenting guidance. Jeff looks to friends for advice and belongs to a Facebook group for white adoptive parents of African American children. When Jeff adopted Xavier and Emmanuel, PCHAS was there, along with many other supporters. Jeff is grateful for PCHAS and the many people who continue to show up for his family and play essential roles.

Jeff wanted to be a dad. Today, his dream is a reality because of his effort, commitment and the invaluable relationships he and his sons have experienced.

Are you thinking about adopting? Are you willing to go the distance and invest in relationships? PCHAS Foster Care & Adoption Guides are eager to connect. Call 512.212.5700, email fosteradopt@pchas.org, or Join an Online Info Session to learn more.