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Introduction
The DFW HOG Ladies of Harley have adopted The
Assessment Center of Tarrant County as the Chapter's
charity. The Chapter takes donations of money and
goods for The Center and conducts several rides a year to visit
the children at The Center.
Contributions and
Needs List
What is The Assessment Center?
The Center serves children who have been
removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect until a
disposition can be made in their case.
The children stay at the center for up to 90 days until
placed with other relatives, foster care or returned to their home
after counseling and the home environment has been stabilized. At
any time there are up to 20 children at the Center with
approximately 300 kids going through annually.
For more information, see the "Program
Description" below.
The Kids
Most of the children have had sad (if not
very sad) lives, very little joy and not enough love in their
life. They do not have nice clothes, shoes or everyday products and
necessities that we normally take for granted.
They have been removed from their home because they were in
danger, neglected and/or the home was inappropriate for a child.
Regardless of the circumstances, their removal from home is very
traumatic and they find themselves in a situation in which they
have no control and do not understand. Each child there represents
a situation that none of us would wish on anyone. These
children need all the help they can get, materially and
emotionally.
Unfortunately, we seldom hear about the
plight of these children. They are not newsworthy except in the
most extreme cases. Nonetheless, there is a steady stream of kids
through the center year-round.
We do not have pictures of the Center or the kids.
Pictures are strictly prohibited.
These kids are essentially in hiding until a disposition is
made in their case.
The courage these kids show in dealing with their situation is
astounding. Each time the Chapter has visited the center,
the kids are friendly, well behaved and try to put on the best
face possible in a very difficult and stressful time in their
lives. Even so, there are always a few of the children that
are visibly sad and reluctant to join in the activities.
Many times all it takes is a kind "Hi there, what's your
name?" or a " Want to sit on my motorcycle?" and
you've got a new friend. Regardless of how they act, they
are all worried about their home, their family and their
future. Definitely not the things children this age should
be dealing with. A visit from us is always a happy little
diversion for them.
Rides to Visit the Kids
LOH
schedules rides to visit the kids every two to three months.
The
rides are often near a holiday which makes a theme for the ride
(For example, on Halloween the kids go "Treating" from
bike to bike). On most of the visits, the kids come out to
see the bikes. They really get excited and have a great time
sitting on them and talking with us. Occasionally, we go
into the center to visit and you can see the kid's living
area. It is basic but functional. The visits usually
lasts about 30-45 minutes and then we go for lunch or
dinner. The main thing is that the kids enjoy the visits and
you will too.
A Word from the LOH Director:
The Assessment Center is run by the Catholic
Charities Organization. The Catholic Church is not affiliated with
the Center, but does however, make a once a year donation and that’s
it. The Center’s main revenue is from the State of Texas Child
Protective Services. Individuals and Companies also
contribute money and useable goods. So Members, it’s up to
us and other “donatee’s” to keep this Children’s Center
running. That is why they are so thankful for our donations and
about “us” coming out to visit. These kids don’t have
visitors, no one (family members, relatives) know where the kids
are taken. This is a “safe” house for them. That’s why
pictures are prohibited. They do permit Polaroid pictures as
long as the pictures stay with the kids. At this point in their
lives, this is probably the only picture they have and it is
sitting on a Harley with a new "HOG Friend".
 The Assessment Center can only hold 20
Children, from babies to 15 year olds. The Children are brought to
the Center at anytime during the day or night. They are taken by
police intervention, fights break out, parents are arrested, abuse
has occurred. There are many different reasons for their removal,
never pleasant. The kids then have nightmares and have no
parent around to comfort them. Not the kind of home life, I’m
sure we were used to. The Children are then assessed and they
might go back to a parent, a relative in most cases, or a foster
home. The parents are usually in jail. These children need Love, a
Hug, a pat on the back, encouraging words, any kind of attention
that WE CAN PROVIDE. Not only that, but clothing is needed
as well. Like I say, sometimes they arrive with only the clothing
they have on and THAT’S IT! I
apologize for painting a “grim” and “depressing” story,
but that is why I care so much and want you to, as well. So please
come join us on a ride to visit the kids, 2 hours out of your busy
day, that’s all and you know what, you will make a DIFFERENCE
and that Child will probably remember you for the rest of his/her
life. TRUST ME…
Program
Description
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Assessment Center Program Description
(From the ACT Information Sheet)
The Assessment Center (ACT) is a
twenty-four bed emergency shelter for abused and neglected
children ranging in age from birth to 13 years. ACT
accepts children when removal from their home is necessary
to insure their protection and safety. The Center also
provides residential care and assessment for children from
disrupted foster home and adoptive placements.
The focus of ACT is not only to provide a stable and
nurturing place for children to stay, but to assess and
evaluate the children and provide assistance to Child
Protective Services in planning. During this time, the
children receive crisis-oriented counseling and various
evaluations.
The following services are currently
being provided:
- Residential care in a stable environment for up to
90 days
- Crisis counseling
- Medical assessment
- Psychological assessment
- Psychiatric assessment
- Educational evaluation and on-going education
program
- Family social history
- Behavioral assessment
- Supervision of family visits when needed
- Comprehensive evaluation
- Transportation to off-campus doctor appointments
- Multidisciplinary staffing and coordination of
services
The goal of ACT is to serve the abused children and
family promptly at one location. Rather than transport
children to various professionals and agencies at a time
when the children are already traumatized, the
professionals are brought to the children. The children
receive crisis counsel soon after their removal from their
homes to help them deal with the immediate trauma and
fears about their current situation. Specialists in
children's problems utilize standardized methods of
assessment. There is an increased exchange of information
among involved professionals by way of sharing reports and
case staffing. It is believed that thorough assessments
and early treatment for the children and families will
decrease subsequent out-of-home placements and decrease
the need for long-term treatment later.
The Center recently opened The ACT Toddler House to
accommodate four babies and/or toddlers in their own
building. The focus is on providing a nurturing family
environment for the youngest children in our care. ACT
staff provides assessments for these children.
The Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
pays a fee per child for services. |
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