LSS By the Numbers: 2011 Accomplishments

By February of each year, award season is in full swing, and “Best of” and “Top 10” lists have been publicized in every magazine on the rack. In addition, organizations – both for-profit and non-profit – have compiled their year-in-review recaps and statistics. Lutheran Social Services is no exception, as we take stock annually of just who, and how many, we serve in a given year.

We recently posted the list of “2011 Accomplishments” on our website. The total scope of our services may surprise you! Categorized into four areas of service – Children’s Services/Senior Services/Families in Crisis/Disaster Response – the numbers tell quite a story. What they don’t tell is the sheer volume of hard work and loyal support of our volunteers, donors, and a statewide staff of more than 850 that makes all of it possible.

We invite you to take a look at our 2011 accomplishment list below. We’re pretty proud of it!

Children’s Services

· 1,871 children provided foster care in 16 communities across Texas—Amarillo, Austin, Bryan/College Station, Conroe/The Woodlands, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Harlingen, Laredo, Lubbock, McAllen, Mesquite, Robstown, San Antonio, Tyler, and Victoria, Texas.

· 500 formerly abused children, ages 6-17, served across three residential treatment centers: Krause Children’s Center in Katy, New Life Children’s Center in Canyon Lake, Texas, and Nelson Children’s Center in Denton (now closed).

· 444 child refugees served at Bokenkamp Emergency Shelter, Corpus Christi, Texas.

· 184 child refugees provided transitional foster care in El Paso, Texas.

· 148 Texas children adopted through LSS domestic adoption program.

· 52 children from countries such as China, Korea, Ethiopia, Colombia, India, Russia, Uganda, Ukraine, The Philippines, Kazakhstan, Thailand, and Taiwan adopted through LSS international adoption program in partnership with other international adoption agencies.

· 9,430 volunteers made life better for children at New Life, Nelson, Krause, and Bokenkamp.

Senior Services

· 84 older adults served through our Adult Day Care Center in El Paso, Texas.

· More than 850 older adult residents of LSS senior living options, ranging from independent living to skilled nursing and memory care, in Houston, Brenham, Victoria, Round Rock, and Lubbock, Texas.

· 297 individuals served through Care-Connect senior care management services, now serving clients in Austin and Spring, Texas.

Services for Families in Crisis 

· 13,968 individuals provided emergency assistance with rent, utilities, prescriptions, and other basic needs at Neighborhood House in Lubbock, Texas. More than 62 tons of food and hygiene products were distributed.

· 1,606 individual patients served during 7,280 patient visits through Health For Friends Clinic in Lubbock, Texas.

Disaster Response

· 8,102 Hurricane Ike-affected households were provided case management by LSS Disaster Response through the RISE program.

· 6,448 Hurricane Ike-affected households received more than $9.5 million in direct assistance for housing-related unmet needs, such as furniture and appliances.

· 22,213  individuals served by LSS Disaster Response in 2011.

· $13,993,064 total value of services provided by LSS Disaster Response in 2011.

A BeREAL Christmas

[Story by Christie Kieschnick, BeREAL

Director of Education & Career Development]

 More than 100 people gathered in New Orleans for a special celebration on December 15^th when BeREAL held its annual Christmas party.  Ten different organizations provided gifts for close to 100 children and youth.  The grateful recipients were either part of the Greater New Orleans Foster and Adoptive Parents Association (GNOFPA)or BeREAL*. 

GNOFPA brought lots of food (and it was delicious): chicken, shrimp fried rice, chips, and fruit boxes.  The BeREAL “family” provided music, sandwiches, drinks, and desserts.  Then it was time for games, and GNOFPA led everyone in a Christmas quiz and musical chairs. Why is it that musical chairs always seems to be even more fun for the adults than the kids? Next, a very jolly Santa stole the show when he gave out the presents.  Kevin Kieschnick from LINCNewOrleansserved as MC of the event, and commented that the BeREAL Christmas party just gets better and better every year! 

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Five-year-old Morris (not his real name) attended his 2^nd BeREAL Christmas party and certainly had a much better time this year. Last year he was so scared of Santa he was in tears – this year not only did he sit on Santa’s lap with a huge smile on his face, but he wouldn’t leave Santa’s side!!

BeREAL wishes everyone a very, very happy 2012!

* BeREAL (Ready, Educated, Accomplished Leaders), a project of Lutheran Social Services in collaboration with the Louisiana Dept. of Children & Family Services, provides transition services for youth ages 13-25 aging out of Louisiana’s foster care system, through training, support, and mentoring programs.

Serve-A-Palooza in New Orleans: Event Draws Volunteers to BeREAL

Transition Coach Michael Patrick at Serve-A-Palooza

BeREAL* joined 40 local nonprofit and community organizations at the Delgado Community College (DCC) Serve-A-Palooza, an event coordinated by the Service Learning Department at DCC.  BeREAL hosted a booth in the Student Life Center on the Delgado City Park Campus, as hundreds of students came to mill about, enjoy music, food, and door prizes, and learn more about internships and volunteer opportunities. The Office of Service Learning promotes civic engagement and service learning across the College and the Greater New Orleans community.

BeREAL’s Transition Coach Michael Patrick and Director of Education & Career Development Christie Kieschnick were able to connect with many students, professors, and other community organizations about volunteer opportunities with BeREAL—over 20 students signed up for more information about mentoring!  College-aged mentors have proven to be very effective with high school youth, so this was a happy day for the BeREAL team.

“Delgado Community College is the main college that BeREAL youth attend, so the DCC campus was the perfect venue for us,” Christie Kieschnick said. “Serve-A-Palooza offered an ideal opportunity to get the word out about BeREAL and network to learn about other community connections that can benefit the BeREAL youth.  BeREAL hopes to be a part of more events like this at various universities in New Orleans.”

* BeREAL (Ready, Educated, Accomplished Leaders), a project of Lutheran Social Services in collaboration with the Louisiana Dept. of Children & Family Services, provides transition services for youth ages 13-25 aging out of Louisiana’s foster care system, through training, support, and mentoring programs.

BeREAL Celebrates Education New Orleans-Style

 [Story by Christie Kieschnick, Director of Education & Career Development, BeREAL]

About 60 guests rallied at the BeREAL* site on September 15^th for the second annual BeREAL/Foster Parent’s Association Back-to-School party.  Nothing says “New Orleans” like music and great food, and the crowd celebrated with shrimp fried rice and fried chicken (a favorite of BeREAL youth) from Louisiana Pride Seafood.  Our wonderful BeREAL mentors provided desserts for all.  The youth and children played basketball and air hockey, danced, and had many great conversations—with each other and the adults too.

At BeREAL, education is the top priority and main focal point for all of our youth’s future plans and goals.  That priority was celebrated with a “Learning Wall,” where every participant had the chance to write or draw what they like to learn about.  Everyone, young and old, got into the act. Comments on the Wall ranged from “I like to learn about ANTS,” to “I want to learn how to work with surgeons during an operation.”

As I was driving one of our BeREAL high school seniors home after the party, he said “That was a great party.  I loved the people there – the kids – and the adults were great too!”  Not often that you hear a high school senior appreciate having adults at a party! It was a good event for everyone involved and an excellent start to the new school year.

* BeREAL (Ready, Educated, Accomplished Leaders), a project of Lutheran Social Services in collaboration with the Louisiana Dept. of Children & Family Services, provides transition services for youth ages 13-25 aging out of Louisiana’s foster care system, through training, support, and mentoring programs.

Graduation, Recognition, and a Promising Future for Akieba

Sheer determination and support proved to be the pivotal components behind the academic and personal success of graduating senior Akieba Sims, a BeREAL* youth in New Orleans. In May, like multitudes of seniors everywhere, Akieba received her high school diploma. While this might not qualify as earth-shattering news, it is, in fact, quite remarkable.

Just one year ago, Akieba was told by school advisors that going back to high school wasn’t the best plan and was advised to get a GED.  She refused to take that route. It was her dream to attend classes again and get a regular high school diploma. 

A period of homelessness and the birth of her son in November 2010 made Akieba’s goal of graduating seem even less attainable. But she was not alone. Her friends, the Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS), and her team at BeREAL were all behind her. Akieba’s DCFS caseworker helped her find a high school willing to take her, and BeREAL provided a Transition Coach, volunteer mentor, and a Gap Team tutor, along with direct funding support for bus passes, clothing, groceries, fixing her laptop, and graduation fees. 

With a determined focus on beating the odds, Akieba proved the doubters wrong. Not only did she graduate with the class on May 19^th, but she received three awards at Senior Awards Night! These included top honors in Sociology and Environmental Science, and a Leadership Scholarship from Delgado Community College. Akieba, now 20, is making plans to attend Delgado in the fall. Everyone at BeREAL is so proud of her!

* BeREAL (Ready, Educated, Accomplished Leaders), a project of Lutheran Social Services in collaboration with the Louisiana Dept. of Children & Family Services, provides transition services for youth ages 13-25 aging out of Louisiana’s foster care system, through training, support, and mentoring programs.

BeREAL Artist Shows His Stuff

BeREAL* youth Joseph Hensley had two paintings featured in the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) show “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Teen Artists’ Perceptions of Time.”  Joe’s medium is acrylic on paper, and his works were titled “Self Effigy” and “A Native in Green.” Joe is a junior and a talented visual arts student at John McDonogh Senior High School in New Orleans.  His BeREAL Transition Coach Michael Patrick, BeREAL Program Director Christie Kieschnick, Department of Child & Family Services (DCFS) caseworker, and friend Akieba Sims (who is also a BeREAL youth) accompanied Joe to view his art on display.

The art display ran from March 19 through May 1.  It showcased the teens’ interpretations of past, present, and future personal experiences, dreams, fears, and hopes.  The CAC Teen Board curated this eclectic collection of recent student artwork, representing 16 local area schools. The CAC provides support to artistic teenagers by giving them a place to display their work and develop their artistic passions. 

Congratulations, Joe!

* BeREAL (Ready, Educated, Accomplished Leaders), a project of Lutheran Social Services in collaboration with the Louisiana Dept. of Children & Family Services, provides transition services for youth ages 13-25 aging out of Louisiana’s foster care system, through training, support, and mentoring programs.

BeREAL Eggstravaganza

BeREAL (Ready Educated Accomplished Leaders) in New Orleans hosted not one but TWO Easter egg hunts, for their partners Greater New Orleans & Jefferson Foster & Adoptive Parent Associations and CASA New Orleans. 

More than 135 children, youth, and adults got into the Easter fun with traditional egg hunts, games, prizes, food, and music.  The kids scattered all around the property on the hunt for eggs and prizes, and every face had a smile on it. The weather totally cooperated and the grownups had as much fun as the kids.

BeREAL provides transition services out of a renovated gymnasium, where youth (13-25) aging out of their foster homes find training, support, and mentoring programs. Activities like the egg hunts help to raise awareness and encourage community engagement and support for Louisiana’s foster youth.

BeREAL Volunteers Tie the Knot

BeREAL (Ready Educated Accomplished Leaders) in New Orleans has been home to many “firsts”: It’s the first LSS program for foster teens in transition; for most of the participants, it’s the first time they’ve had a mentor or someone to help them navigate life after foster care. And now we’ve had the first BeREAL wedding between two of our volunteers.

Jenny and Charles were married at Audubon Park in New Orleans on Friday, March 25^th and had an outdoor reception at BeREAL on Saturday, March 26^th, complete with a New Orleans brass band!

Christie Kieschnick, BeREAL’s director of education and career development, and her husband Kevin were the matchmakers who introduced Jenny and Charles. Kevin Kieschnick is a Lutheran minister and performed the ceremony.

Jenny has been a BeREAL mentor since August, 2010. Charles coordinated the mural painting at BeREAL, and did much of the artwork himself. One thing the two of them have in common is the desire to be positive role models for youth.

Congratulations to Jenny and Charles, wonderful additions to our BeREAL family.

BeREAL, a project of Lutheran Social Services in collaboration with the Louisiana Dept. of Children & Family Services, provides transition services for youth ages 13-25 aging out of Louisiana’s foster care system, to help them succeed as they make the transition to college and the next chapters of their lives. 

Master Plan for BeREAL Youth

Clint with Gerald Billes

Clint, a 19-year-old BeREAL* youth, is just getting started at Delgado Community College in New Orleans, but he already has a pretty good handle on what he wants to do. Plus, he has the advantage of some up-close-and-personal contact with someone who is an expert in the field. With his natural ability in drafting, Clint has decided to pursue a career in Architecture.

Mr. Gerald Billes, an accomplished architect in the community, recently met with Clint to discuss the realities of architecture as a career, and offered Clint the opportunity to learn more by job shadowing at his firm, Billes Partners, LLC. Billes, owner and principal of architectural and planning firms since 1975, has extensive experience in architecture, urban design, and master planning. He has overseen and directed the development of scores of major projects in the public and private sectors, including the repairs and renovations to the Louisiana Superdome, and Brad Pitt’s “Make It Right” project in the lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans.

Right now Clint is enjoying his drafting class at Delgado and looking forward to learning a lot more about architecture from such a great role model and advisor, Gerald Billes.

Will the next Frank Lloyd Wright be a former foster child and a BeREAL alumnus? Only time will tell.

* BeREAL (Ready, Educated, Accomplished, Leaders), is a project of Lutheran Social Services in collaboration with the Louisiana Dept. of Social Services, where youth (13-25) aging out of their foster homes find training, support, and mentoring programs.

Interested in becoming a BeREAL sponsor, mentor, or volunteer? Contact Christie Kieschnick: Christie.kieschnick@lsss.org; (504) 931-3408, or go to www.lsss.org/BeREAL.

Keeping It Real at BeREAL in New Orleans

You never know what you might see on a Tuesday or Thursday evening at BeREAL. You could come across a take-no-prisoners game of basketball.  There might be a youth and her mentor with their heads together going over class work.   Or settled in on the computers, it’s likely you’ll find teenagers researching, reading, or listening to music.

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On “college night” you’ll hear a group of students now attending college discussing issues that are specific to them―young adults who “aged out” of Louisiana’s foster care system.

You will have arrived at the home of BeREAL (Ready, Educated, Accomplished, Leaders), a renovated gymnasium where youth (13-25) aging out of their foster homes find training, support, and mentoring programs. The gym was just about all that was left standing of the Bethlehem Children’s Treatment Center following Hurricane Katrina. BeREAL is a project of Lutheran Social Services in collaboration with the Louisiana Dept. of Social Services.

Community support plays an important part in helping BeREAL participants find their paths to hopeful, productive futures. Two recent examples:

1. The Kiwanis Club of Pontchartrain, dedicated past supporters of Bethlehem Children’s Center, have rekindled their relationship and support for BeREAL, and recently donated furniture to the BeREAL Center.

2. Ronald Baptiste, CFO of Veolia Transportation, sponsored a Saturday lunch for youth of BeREAL and Boys Town at the Center. Youth and staff enjoyed a meal of fried chicken, shrimp fried rice, drinks, and dessert. Efforts are being made in the community to have local businesses sponsor Saturday lunch for BeREAL.

Launched just over a year ago, BeREAL has some recent success stories to report:

· 1 youth passed her Graduate Exit Exam and is heading for high school graduation in May.

· 2 youth are in process of adoption

· 6 youth are now in college or post-secondary education

· College group nights and Saturday Center hours are very popular and well-attended

Interested in becoming a BeREAL sponsor, mentor, or volunteer? Contact Christie Kieschnick: Christie.kieschnick@lsss.org; (504) 931-3408, or go to www.lsss.org/BeREAL.