Children's Aid Society of West Texas Inc.

 

Children's Aid Society of West Texas Inc. -Helping abused, neglected, abandoned, runaway and homeless youth for over 113 years!

The Children’s Aid Society of West Texas Inc. has been sheltering youth facing abuse, neglect, abandonment, running away, or homelessness for over 113 years in 11 counties of North Texas. 

Every day, we receive children at our facilities, often brought in by a social worker or police officer aiding a runaway teenager. Their expressions reveal the depth of their struggles. Within our shelters, children and adolescents find a safe haven, away from the suffering caused by abuse, neglect, abandonment, and rejection. Some may be returning, while others are new faces. They reside with us until it is safe for them to return home or until we can help them find suitable alternative care. Our shelters serve as a sanctuary where children can begin to heal both physically and emotionally. The duration of their stay may range from a few hours to several weeks or even months. Referrals come from law enforcement, Child Protective Services, schools, Safe Place Sites, and community members. Often, these children arrive with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing. To help them during their time with us, we provide clothing, hygiene items, toys, school supplies, and other essential resources.

At the Children’s Home and Teen Shelter, we emphasize creating a safe and supportive environment where young people can make positive decisions regarding their futures and relationships. We collaborate with multiple state organizations to assist these youths until appropriate foster homes or long-term solutions can be secured. Moreover, we offer refuge to homeless youths who feel abandoned or discarded. While we search for alternative placements, these young individuals receive training in life skills for independent living, especially when returning home is not viable.

Our Services Include:
Emergency Shelter and Basic Care Assessment Services for youth aged 1-17. We provide food, clothing, school supplies, personal care items, life skills training, and recreational products such as gifts and toys. Additionally, we offer advocacy for medical and legal affairs, transportation, and confidential counseling options, including individual, group, family, and aftercare counseling. We also provide information and referrals to additional community resources while actively participating in community education and outreach initiatives. Each year, we serve over 300 youths in our shelters and extend outreach efforts to approximately 7,500 youths. Our mission centers on fostering the well-being of the children and teens we serve. We envision a future where every child has a secure and nurturing home to call their own.

We invite you to consider making a contribution to positively influence the lives of our children and teens. Your support is more essential than ever.

Our goal of $10,000 is aimed at enhancing our shelters and improving the services we provide.

In order to upgrade our shelters, we hope to acquire new bedding, including mattress protectors, sheet sets, comforters, and pillows for 30 beds. Additionally, we seek to replace all window coverings in the bedrooms. Our bathrooms also require updates, including new towels, face cloths, hand towels, and bathmats. Moreover, we would like to address the costs associated with meals and food service.

We aim to renovate our Art Room and enhance it with new materials. Art therapy has the potential to encourage healing and resilience, allowing children to engage with their trauma in manageable and comfortable ways, particularly for those who struggle with verbal communication.

We also intend to improve our recreation and physical activity initiatives. This includes updating sports equipment in our gym, enhancing the play area for toddlers, and introducing new bicycles for young people to enjoy on our bike trail.

Items needed in-kind:
Gift Cards - For shelter needs, birthday gifts, outings, and special occasions for kids.

Walmart, Target, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Dollar Tree, Academy, and 5 Below

Movies @ Cinemark, Restaurants, ChuckECheese, Bowling, Skating, The Plex, Texoma Fun House, Urban Air, and Mini Golf.

For those who prefer online shopping, we have created an online Wish List!
You can access our Amazon Wish List here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/4NG4G9JU71IA? ref=cm_sw_sm_r_wl_mw_Nsp7fWluj5Vt0

Donations can be delivered or directed to:
Children’s Aid Society of West Texas Inc.
1101 30th St., Wichita Falls, TX 76302

Your will make a difference!