Spring Update from our ED
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month – as a community we have to be vigilant and protect our kids from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Our job as caregivers is to listen, listen, and listen some more to the needs and challenges of the kids we serve. These kids have suffered abuse, neglect, abandonment and do not trust adults to protect them. We work to connect with each youth, to build trust, to empower them to use their voice and tell us their needs.
Since the start of this year we have welcomed 16 new kids to the Ranch who have endured abuse, neglect and exploitation. We were happy see one of those youth return to family and three be placed with foster families. Our kids have received 52 hours of individual counseling. This is just the start of the healing process for each youth we serve.
At Parks Youth Ranch, we follow Trauma Based Relational Intervention, or TBRI. TBRI gives our team tools and strategies to connect and understand the needs of youth from “hard places.” The ways that we connect and see trust and safety build makes our work impactful.
We are proud to be part of the Fort Bend TBRI Collaborative to ensure that every person in Fort Bend County who works with our disadvantaged youth has the same strategies and tools to support our youth as they heal from the traumas of abuse and neglect. These principles of connection and empowerment serve as a foundation for our work to help our kids begin the healing process. To learn more or to register for TBRI Caregiver training visit www.fortbendTBRI.org.
April is also Volunteer Appreciation Month! We are so grateful to those who volunteer with our kids, and for our events and with the PYR Friends, your help is essential to Parks Youth Ranch! Your assignment for this April is to learn more about the kids in our community, volunteer with a youth in need, push the cart at the grocery store for the mama wrangling a toddler. We have to be vigilant and protect our kids. To learn about ways you can get involved at PYR – email volunteer@parksyouthranch.org.
Thank you for all you do for our kids!
Shannan S. Stavinoha, LCCA