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Phone: 512-494-4056
FAX: 512-494-4892
Email: carole@ourtexasgrandchildren.com
“They’re everybody’s children, and nobody’s children. They are the forgotten children in the
Carole Keeton Strayhorn
Four years ago, as Texas Comptroller, I started an investigation into the Texas Foster Care System and did a full report that was completed in April 2004 that called for a massive overhaul of our foster care system. My Special Report on the Texas Foster Care System, Forgotten Children, documented the tragic failure of the system. And, at that time, I told my outstanding staff that worked so hard on the report that this was something I would never let go of -- the crisis is minute by minute and child by child.
Forgotten
Children received the 2005 Public Integrity Award from the American Society
of Public Administration, and I said then that I hoped it would keep the focus
on the plight of our forgotten children.
Part of the report focused on psychotropic medications and care
prescribed to our foster children. These
findings caused me great concern and led to my decision to put out a second
report as Texas Comptroller in December 2006,
The purpose of my first special report and my second special report was, and is, to give our forgotten children in foster care something they desperately need—a voice.
And that is the mission of Our Texas Grandchildren Foundation. We
will be the voice for our most
vulnerable Texans, our 34,000 forgotten foster children.
Two of our exemplary Texas State Senators, Senator Rodney G. Ellis from Houston and Senator John Carona from Dallas are Co-Chairmen of our Statewide Leadership Advisory Council.
As a
concerned mama and grandmamma, I, along with dedicated Texans Joyce Covington
from Brenham and Jim Stinson from Houston, and outstanding professional help
for the foundation from three fine Austin citizens, attorney, Tim Mashburn,
CPA, David Erickson, and management consultant, Thornton Keel--all giving of
their expertise and valuable time pro-bono-- have set up this public non-profit
foundation. I am President,
The foundation has a laser-like focus on educating and mentoring our foster children in school and providing opportunities from academics to art to athletics—and ensuring a stable, safe, loving, productive, living environment for these children. Many are moved 30, 40, or even more times in their young lives. Some are taken out of abusive situations, and are put in even more abusive situations.
Our Texas Grandchildren Foundation has
IRS approval as a tax-exempt 501(c) (3) public charity. We
accept corporate, business, and personal contributions, and all are tax
deductible.
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Providing foster children, our most vulnerable young Texans, with a
public voice and nurturing support by educating the public and raising public
awareness about our forgotten
· Fundraising on behalf of foster children and the Foundation’s sponsored programs and efforts-- this next summer, 2008, we will have a pilot camping/ranching experience for some inner-city foster parents and their foster children in West Texas, with the opportunity to make this an ongoing, permanent summer activity on the ranch property that has been generously provided to our foundation.
· Establishing, publicizing, and funding volunteer programs, such as:
Ø Mentoring in school, with retired teachers being the primary volunteers for this program
Ø
Foster Grandmas and Grandpas, working with other
organizations. The goal is to have a
senior volunteer for every
Ø Tutoring in foster care residential facilities
Ø Private lessons in music and the arts and in sports
Ø Technology assistance, such as computer acquisition and training
Ø Legal assistance
Ø Transition and independent living assistance
(A criminal background check will be run on every employee and every
volunteer of Our
· Providing support to advocacy groups, such as Advocacy, Inc.
· Funding promising pilot projects with sound outcome measurements
·
Establishing a vibrant Web site for
Ø Communicate with each other
Ø Report problems with their foster care placement or situation
Ø Share success stories
Ø Request assistance, such as mentoring or tutoring, for example, that is beyond the scope of basic care provided by the foster care system
Ø Provide information and advice to foster children, such as:
orientation information for new foster children
rights of foster children
how to report abuse or neglect
how to advocate for one’s self within the system
how to obtain an advocate through CASA
how to successfully communicate concerns to caseworkers, therapists, and other professionals involved in the foster care system
education and career opportunities
· Funding policy research related to foster children, such as identifying:
Ø successful programs for foster children
Ø worthwhile information on foster care in other states
Ø
problems, issues, recommendations to improve
foster care in
WE WOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE YOU JOIN WITH US
AS A CONTRIBUTOR AND/OR AS A VOLUNTEER
PERSONAL, CORPORATE AND BUSINESS DONATIONS ARE ALL TAX DEDUCTIBLE AND ARE MOST APPRECIATED
CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE OUT TO:
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AND MAILED TO:
CAROLE KEETON STRAYHORN
OUR
POST OFFICE BOX 5609