Alot of Help From Our Friends

People ask me all the time how we do the work we do. Well, actually, we do it with a lot of help from our friends. Through our many collaborations, Promise House provides over $1,000,000 worth of in-kind services to our teens and families every year! If we had to pay for these services, we'd be in big trouble, and our expenses would almost double.

So, what are these services? Well, when you think of everything it takes to raise a child, that is what we provide. Here are just a few:

• Medical Services through the Parkland HOMES Van and Parkland Hospital Services
• Dental services through the First Presbyterian Stewpot's dental program and Parkland's Dental Van
• Food through the North Texas Food Bank
• Child care slots through the Vogel Alcove
• STD education through Planned Parenthood
• Hygiene supplies from individual and corporate contributors
• Shoes through the Wilkinson Center's annual shoe drive via Pay Less Shoes
• Two on-site DISD classrooms with certified DISD teachers
• Baby supplies from Captain Hope's Kids
• Baby showers from various churches

On top of those listed above, Promise House is connected to ALL metroplex colleges and universities. Via our training institute, graduate and post-graduate level psychology, social work, marriage and family, and counseling interns receive free clinical supervision in return for providing counseling to ALL our teens and family members. Talk about win-win!

And, we continue to develop new collaborations. This summer, we will be working with the University of Dallas on a 7-week math/science/astronomy camp, with the last week being a trip to Western States University in Colorado to view the stars through a HUGE telescope--all paid for through a grant written and submitted by the university. How cool is that??

In addition, we are hoping that Junior Players will be awarded a grant they submitted that will provide on-site theatre and drama training for our teens. AND, we recently began discussions with Junior Achievement to take part in their Finance Park financial literacy program this coming year. Finally, we will be working with Dallas Metrocare to provide psychiatric services to our teens this coming year.

These collaborations are so exciting and SO beneficial to our teens. And instead of a little help from our friends, Promise House is incredibly fortunate to be getting ALOT of help from our friends.

Thank you. The part you play in healing our kids is immeasurable.

Snow Day!

Dallas is blanketed in snow. Really a beautiful sight. A snow like this brings out the kid in us. My assistant just got back from running errands and told me she never saw so many different kinds of snowmen--she even saw a square one! If I had the right parka on, I'd go make snow angels--my favorite thing to do as a kid.

Snow this heavy quiets things. It hushes footsteps, makes you want to whisper. The world seems brighter, even with gray skies. Because it is such a rarity here, everyone's talking about it, watching it, wondering how long it will last. I'm sure if it did this all winter, I'd be sick to death of it, but today it is beautiful, almost heavenly.

When I let my dogs out this morning, they were like, "Huh? What? What is this?". Millie, the prissy one, tiptoed through it to do her business. Tucker, the hulk, went barreling all over the yard, jumping up and down, having a great time. Neither one could find a familiar scent--the snow covered everything!

The mermaid in my fountain looked like the Snow Queen, my Japanese Maple was gorgeous, with each limb lined with powder, and my crepe myrtles looked like a row of huge snow bouquets. Even the garbage cans looked better with their coats of snow!

In a few days the beauty will turn to ugly slush. But for today, Dallas is dressed in her finest white coat of the season! Enjoy!

Rise Up!!

So, it's February, the ground hog saw his shadow, and spring seems very far away. I'm sure it seems especially far away to those teens who are sleeping outside, trying to keep warm. We continue to bring in three or four teens a NIGHT directly from the streets. With the help of our fabulous Street Outreach, Shelter, and Transitional Living teams, they have all been taken care of....so far. If going home was an option, they went home, some with the help of Greyhound's "Home Free" program (free bus ticket for runaways to go home), others were moved into our transitional living program, some were helped to find a job and apartment, and a couple are in our shelter. But we are out of room, and yet, they keep coming. So, they sleep on pull-out couches or cots in our living room.

HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY, UNTIL THESE KIDS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, WE WILL NEVER END HOMELESSNESS??? We have 30, count them, 30 girls on our waiting list for an apartment. What do they do while they wait? Double up, sofa surf, stay with someone they shouldn't be staying with, roam the streets.

These are GOOD kids. One young woman in our transitional living program is on track to be VALEDICTORIAN of her high school. And she has done this while dealing with a totally unacceptable living situation. Just think what she could do with support???

Now I know why I haven't posted much in a month. I just didn't want to get angry all over again. Where is the justice for these teens? Where is the help? The Family Youth Services Bureau is the only federal agency that provides funds for transitional living programs for teens; BUT they only fund about 90 a year NATIONALLY. The Department of Housing and Urban Development will not accept any new projects unless they are permanent supportive housing for "chronically" homeless. Well, guess what? These teens haven't been on the street long enough to be chronic---but they WILL be, I promise you, unless they get help.

I'm also tired of being nice about this. Why don't we WAKE UP and see what is around us?? Those of us in this field have been saying for YEARS that the population of teens aging out of foster care is going to cause a second homelessness crisis. Statistic? Forty-two (42%) percent will be homeless at least once within two (2) years.

One glimmer of hope, the Department of Family and Protective Services is developing programs for teens to stay in care up to age 21; or to come back into care if they have aged out and haven't done well. But there is soooo much more that needs to be done,

So, if any of you out there are looking for a cause, are looking to change a life, want to witness miracles; or if you have alot of money just sitting around, and you're wondering what to do with it??? HERE IS YOUR CAUSE.

We were all teens once. We know how tough it is to get through those years,even with help. Our teens are trying to navigate those years under horrendous conditions. As I say over and over again, if it was your kid on the street, you would want all the help you could get.

I'm not asking for your help anymore, though. I'm challenging you to take up this cause for the sake of these kids, our community, our country.

They are the ones who need all the help they can get.....WILL YOU RISE UP?

Way Too Young

So, I’ve been doing some research on teen prostitution. Did you know that the AVERAGE age of teens getting into prostitution is 14??? And that a girl on the street will be approached by a “pimp” within 48 hours of her arrival on the streets? And, that the age of girls that “johns” want is getting lower??? And, that teen prostitution crosses all socio-economic levels, all races? And, that 99% of girls who get into prostitution were sexually abused as a child? And, that law enforcement was arresting these girls, but not the pimps or johns? And, that it takes less than a week for a girl to believe she has no alternative but to stay with her “pimp”? And, that although the average age is 14, it is not unusual for 12 year olds to be picked up for prostituting? And that many of the girls who come into PH directly from the street are prostituting?

The good news? There is finally some attention being paid to the fact that these girls are VICTIMS, not criminals. Law enforcement has begun to change their philosophy on arrest of these young girls. Youth-serving agencies are becoming educated on best practice treatment for these kids and on attending to their critical needs. One of the most immediate needs of these girls is medical attention; most have some kind of STD, could be pregnant, or HIV positive.

As long as law enforcement fails to focus on the perpetrators of these girls, NO progress will be made. Unfortunately, historically, the perpetrator was the LAST to be arrested. However, I've yet to meet a girl who entered prostitution willingly. I don't think they wake up one morning and say, "Hmmm, I think I'll become a prostitute". Let's change the focus to where it will have an impact--on the perpetrators of these young women.

Don’t mean to be a downer on Friday, but these are our kids…..they are lost children. It behooves us at PH and as a community to know all we can about this issue, and embrace these teens just as we do others.

What I Learned on My Christmas Vacation

My holiday is almost over, and since I like to have everything wrapped up in nice packages, I thought I'd do the same with my time off. So, here is what I learned this holiday season:

1. If you sit around all day and watch T.V. and/or movies, you WILL gain weight.
2. As I said in my pre-holiday missive, all families are dysfunctional--and mine certainly is--but I had a blast with them this year.
3. Snuggies were the top White Elephant gift.
4. Milk Duds call to me at ANY movie theatre at ANY time, day or night.
5. One can tire of going to movies.
6. Promise House CAN survive without me.
7. Great surprises are in store if you're open to them.
8. I LOVE being around my and my friends' grown children.
9. I'm over New Year's Eve.
10. NEVER go to a movie at North Park right after Christmas unless you have a limousine and a driver.
11. My father is a real person.
12. My brother is a younger my father.
13. My oldest sister has been transformed.
14. My twin sisters should be in a movie.
15. Old, and I do mean chronologically, family friends are delightful.
16. I LOVE being in my house alone.
17. Amelia has to have been sent from heaven.
18. I'm probably going to end up with Hermit Crabs that should be going to Austin with my youngest.
19. My dogs are great people to talk to--they don't talk back.
20. I still love my almost step-kids madly--but not as much as I love my fabulous, gorgeous, brilliant, funny, daughters.
21. My son-in-law is fabulous.
22. I make dynamite black-eyed peas and cornbread.
23. I'm with the bears--we should hibernate til spring, which I could do very easily.
24. Meryl Streep is a goddess.
25. I'm newly in love with Alec Baldwin and re-in love with Robert Downy, Jr..

So, all in all, I think this holiday season was a hit. It's back to organized life on Monday, but surely all that I have learned over the last 2 1/2 weeks will keep me in good stead as I struggle to get back in the harness.

I turn 59 Wednesday (Epiphany for those of you who are Christian), and my own Epiphany for this season is that fun lurks everywhere--you just have to be open to it.

Happy New Year. May you have your own Epiphanies throughout this new decade.

My Christmas Gift to Me

I have been on vacation since December 19. It's really been wonderful. Promise House was a whirlwind of activity during November and December, as usual, and us "old folks" were exhausted by the time all the parties were over.
So, as a gift to myself this Christmas, here is what I've done:

I took Promise House, all the runaway and homeless teens, all the problems with grantors, any personnel issues, building leaks, electrical problems, graffitti on the outside of the building, and anything else that has anything to do with my job, and put them all very neatly into a box. I then wrapped the box in shiny paper, put a beautiful bow on it, and put it on the top shelf of my closet....not to be opened until Monday, January 4, 2010.

So, if you see me over the holidays, don't ask me anything about PH or try to start a conversation about what I do for a living. If you do, I will look at you blankly and immediately change the subject--cause I'm REALLY good at compartmentalizing; and until Jan. 4, PH is in the compartment of "non-existent".

By doing this, I will be raring to go in January and will be ready to take on the world again.

Thanks for indulging me. Let me know if I can do anything for you.

Holiday Thanks

I have sooooo many people and organizations to thank for their incredible generosity of time and dollars to make this holiday season special for our teens. So here goes:

• David Ross and his wife and huge dog for totally entertaining our teens on Thanksgiving Day
• Mike Scott and his wife, Ashley, and their friends for hosting a holiday party tomorrow for our shelter teens
• The Promise House Professionals for hosting a holiday party last Saturday and bringing gifts for 21 young transitional living women and their children
• Joyce Mazero and her daughter, Dom, for their contribution of winter coats and hosting a movie and popcorn night for the shelter teens
• Mountain View College for their upcoming annual holiday dinner and gift exchange with the girls and babies of Wesley Inn
• Jesuit High School for their food drive for our street outreach program
• Debi Moses for organizing the board of directors to host a holiday party for our shelter teens
• Angela Choquette for hosting a holiday party for her friends and donating proceeds from a trunk show to PH
• Kessler Park United Methodist Church for hosting a holiday party for our Wesley Inn girls
• Junior League of Dallas for hosting a slumber party for the Wesley Inn girls
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Plano Youth Group for hosting a holiday party for the shelter teens
• Carver Heights Church for donating blankets and toiletries for the girls at Wesley Inn
• Women of Sacrifice and Obedience for conducting clothing and food drives for PH
• First Presbyterian, Forney for blankets
• The Perfect Light for dressing up Wesley Inn with outdoor lights
• Greenhill School for collecting bath items and toiletries for Wesley Inn and our street outreach program
• Anytime Fitness, Oak Cliff for collecting clothing
• Mattel for donating toys for our babies and toddlers
• Amica Insurance for collecting items for our STAR wish list clients
• Dallas Chapter of Charms for hosting a holiday party for Wesley Inn
• Akita Group for donating clothing and food
• Dick Patrick Studios for food drive
• Fiserv for donating blankets for our street outreach program
• Dots Fashion for donating accessories from their store
• Delta Sigma Theta - TWU for hosting a holiday party for the shelter teens
• CC5 for their donation of Target and Walmart gift cards for Wesley Inn mothers
• Supreme Lending Mortgage for raffling a big screen TV and donating proceeds to PH
• The Promise House Development team for picking a STAR family to provide Christmas for

Whew! And I'm sure I have not gotten everyone. New donations and contributions are coming in daily. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has opened their heart and their wallets to give ALL of the teens and their family members at Promise House an outstanding 2009 holiday.

WE LOVE YOU!