Children's Aid Society of West Texas Inc.

 

Reaching Those Who Need Help ---One Child, One Family At A Time...

They come to us every day, holding the hand of a social worker or a teen runaway escorted by the security of a police officer. Their eyes tell their stories.  The children and teens learn they're safe at the shelters from the abuse, neglect, abandonment, and rejection. Some have come before; some will come again. They stay until it's safe to go back home or out-of-home care can be found. Our shelters are a place for children to heal physically and emotionally. Children may remain in care for a few hours, or for several weeks, or for a few months. Referrals come from law enforcement, CPS, schools, Safe Place Sites, and the community. The children often come to our shelter with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. We provide clothes, hygiene items, toys, school supplies, and all the basic items that they need to adjust to our shelters.

The Children’s Home and Teen Shelter are committed to providing youth, a safe, supportive environment in which they can make constructive decisions about their future and their relationships with others. We work with other state organizations to care for youth until a foster home or alternative forever home can be found. We also house homeless youth who were abandoned or thrown away. These youth are taught independent living skill and we also work to seek alternative placement for them if going home is not an option.

Our Services Include: Basic Care Emergency Shelter & Assessment Services for youth ages 1-17. We provide food, clothing, school supplies, personal items, life skills, and recreational items like gifts and toys. Advocacy through the medical and legal systems. Transportation. Confidential counseling- individual, group, family, and after-care. Information and referral to other community services. Community and education and outreach. on average we house in our shelters over 300 youth per year. We provided out reach services to an estimated 7,500 youth per year. We want to keep our children and teens safe form the dangers of abusive homes and also the dangers of living on the streets like human trafficking. 

Our vision: Every child has a safe and nurturing place to call home!

Please consider a gift to help make a positive difference in the lives of our children and teens!  They need your help now more than ever. 

Our $10,000 Goal will help improve our art and play therapy services. 

Art and play therapy help kids facing trauma by providing safe, non-verbal avenues for emotional processing and expression, fostering a sense of control and agency, and promoting healing and resilience. These therapies allow children to engage with their trauma in a way that feels comfortable and manageable, which can be particularly beneficial for those who struggle with verbal expression. 

In essence, art and play therapy offer children powerful tools for healing from trauma by providing a safe, creative, and non-verbal space to express their emotions, process their experiences, and develop the resilience needed for recovery.

We appreciate your support.