April is Child Abuse Prevention Month...
How Can You Help?

When Mary came into the care of Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services she was a very sad and withdrawn little 8 year-old girl. Mary never looked anyone in the eye, she was very timid and frail. Mary lived her first eight years of life scared of the people who should have loved her the most, her parents.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The welfare of children in Texas is frightening. In 2002, Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (TDPRS) (Texas' child protection agency) reported 266,864 allegations of abuse and neglect. Of those, 74,199 cases were investigated and 47,409 children were confirmed as victims of child abuse or neglect. TDPRS was able to take into custody 30,167 of those confirmed abused children. What happened to the other 17,242 confirmed abused children? What happened to the 192,665 allegations that didn't get investigated? The state child protection agency cannot possibly help all of the abused and neglected children in Texas...

The Mission of Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services is to provide a variety of Christ-centered services to children and families in need. In 2002, we served 293 children in our residential group homes and therapeutic foster homes and 424 families and 922 children in our community based Child and Family Programs. The children we serve know the trauma of abuse, neglect, abandonment, and other family crises.

Mary, now in fifth grade, has grown immensely in the past three years. Mary has been on the "A" honor roll the first two quarters of 5th grade, she is active in Girl Scouts, and she is playing her third season of soccer. Mary now looks you in the eye when she is talking to you. Mary smiles!

How can you help?

Please pray for the children in your congregation, in your community, in the care of PCHAS, and in Texas. Be aware of the children around you who are seeking guidance; refer children and families in need to PCHAS; study Bible stories that involve children and scripture that teaches how to treat children; provide an after-school program for latch-key children in your community; or create a committee to brainstorm ways to include children and youth more broadly in the life of your church.

How can you help Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services?

Keep the children entrusted to our care in your prayers, visit one of our homes or outreach programs, invite PCHAS to your Sunday school class/other church gathering or civic club to share our story. You can also invite PCHAS children to participate in your church's youth mission project, volunteer at one of our homes or programs by transporting children, running errands for houseparents, tutoring a child, teaching piano lessons, mowing the lawn, or cooking meals. Consider becoming a mentor or a sponsor family to one of our children; it is unbelievable the impact a positive adult role model can have in a child's life. PCHAS is committed to using your financial support wisely to provide quality care for the children and families placed in our safekeeping. We invite you to contact us toll-free at 1-800-888-1904 to find out ways you can provide a tax-deductible gift, e.g. gifts of cash, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, or a bequest through your Will.

HELP US HELP A CHILD!
1-800-888-1904
www.pchas.org

March 2003