They had no school or structure, only survival, until ACH stepped in.
Lucas*, 16, and his siblings Isabella*, 17, and Dylan*, 15, were removed from their parents after they were found panhandling around Fort Worth. Their parents sent them out daily to ask for money. For the children, there was no school, no structure, just survival. When Child Protective Services stepped in, the siblings were placed in the Pat O’ Neal Youth Emergency Shelter, one of ACH Child and Family Services 15 programs that serves children and families in North Texas.
Breaking Barriers
The challenges were clear from the beginning. The children refused to speak English and had no school records or history of formal education. The shelter’s team used the Trauma-Informed, Relationship-Based® approach (TBRI) to build trust, knowing the kids had every reason to be wary of adults.
At first, staff believed the children spoke Romanian. It turned out they spoke three languages, including Spanish and English. With a Spanish-speaking translator, communication became easier, and the kids slowly began to engage.
To help them feel more at home, ACH worked with CPS and the children’s mother so that she could cook traditional Romanian meals and have them delivered to the Shelter. This small act made a big impact. It gave them a sense of comfort and connection to their culture.
Though they couldn’t return home, ACH prioritized keeping family ties strong. The siblings were given regular visits with their mom, which helped them feel safe and supported.
The Chance to Move Forward
After 90 days, the children were stable and ready for the next step. Their uncle stepped forward as a placement option, and with ACH’s help, the transition went smoothly. The siblings left not in fear, but with trust and hope.
Lucas, Isabella, and Dylan’s story shows how ACH’s mission—to keep families connected whenever safely possible—comes to life through care, patience, and consistent support. What started with crisis ended with a safe placement, and the chance to move forward as a family.
*Names and likeness changed for privacy purposes.
About the Pat O' Neal Youth Emergency Shelter
The Pat O’Neal Youth Emergency Shelter (YES) is the only 24-hour emergency shelter in Tarrant County offering 24/7 safe shelter to runaway and homeless youth, and trafficking survivors, ages 5-17. ACH works to reunite them with their families, or find safe and stable alternative living arrangements. The program provides outreach, education, advocacy, counseling, and case management services for foster care and community youth who are experiencing family crisis, family conflict, or homelessness.
Our 2026 expenses for the Pat O’ Neal Youth Emergency Shelter are greater than our resources and we are projecting a funding gap of $579,366.
If you can help, please consider donating. We appreciate any support, as it helps our community with needed programs and services like the YES.