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A Mother’s Plea for Help

ACH Child and Family Services often witnesses acts of selflessness, and we are there to make sure those sacrifices are not in vain.

This past April, an FBSS (Family Based Safety Services) worker contacted ACH Child and Family Services’ Assessment, Intervention, and Referral Services (AIRS) department for help. She was desperately trying to find placement for two youths on her caseload but had been turned down by numerous programs and shelters in the community. The children had been living with their mom in her truck due to chronic homelessness and their mother’s addiction.

The FBSS worker explained how the mom had been accepted into a rehab program in Dallas. However, she needed to find a place for her children to live while she completed the program due to her limited social support network. Once enrolled in the program, the mom could not leave the campus, or she would forfeit her spot.

“The stakes were high for this family,” says Kara Holmes, a clinical manager at ACH. “If the mom did not successfully complete this rehab program, she would lose custody of her children, and they would be placed in the child welfare system. If she didn’t find a place for her children to safely live, she couldn’t enter rehab.”

A Lifeline: ACH’s Pat O’Neal Youth Emergency Shelter

Since the mom was the legal guardian of the children, AIRS instructed the FBSS worker to have the mom call back and complete a referral form for ACH’s Pat O’Neal Youth Emergency Shelter. The shelter, which is for ages 5 to 17, is the only 24/7 shelter for youth in Tarrant County.

Determined to start her path toward recovery and keep her family together, the mom followed through and completed the shelter referral form. The shelter leadership team immediately accepted placement of the siblings.

The two siblings were placed at the shelter the Monday after Easter, and the mom reported to the rehab program that same day.

Coordinating Care and Support

When children enter the shelter, there are naturally some adjustments and challenges. They’ve often been uprooted in a short amount of time, there are new faces, and strange-to-them routines. In this case, one of the siblings needed some prescribed medications. Because the mom was the only person with the right to consent to any kind of treatment, our youth and family engagement specialist diligently worked with the FBSS worker, the caseworker at the rehab facility, and the mom to coordinate care for this child.

On another occasion, both children reported feeling sick. Again, the youth and family engagement specialist coordinated care with all involved parties to make sure the needs of the children were met.

These siblings were enrolled in our on-site FWISD charter school and successfully completed their school year. They received weekly individual therapy to support their emotional well-being during their stay at the shelter, as well as weekly connection and support from our youth and family engagement specialist. Our team ensured their basic needs were met, including purchasing clothing and supplies for the siblings.

A Mother's Journey to Recovery

Their mom completed her rehab program in Dallas, and as a result, she qualified for assistance in obtaining a job and securing housing. The youth were in our shelter for a total of 63 days.

When a child has experienced significant trauma such as this, it’s important for them to continue receiving support as they navigate a new normal. ACH’s continuum of care is tailored to help children and families no matter where they are on their life’s path. For this family, once the children were discharged from the shelter and received their mother’s permission, the children are now receiving free weekly outpatient counseling through our Real Help for Real Life program.

Real Help for Real Life provides help and support for youth, ages six to 17, and their families through our Youth and Family Counseling and Skill-Building Classes. These services are provided at convenient locations in Tarrant, Johnson, Parker, Hill, and Palo Pinto counties.

When a mother was ready to help herself, ACH was there to lovingly care for her children until she was able to get back on her feet.

AIRS serves as a portal to ACH programs and services, offering 24-hour crisis call response, centralized assessment to ACH programs and referrals to other services in the community. In 2024, AIRS referred 3,513 individuals to ACH programs and other services in our community.

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 10-17.  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.

Archie’s Journey to Stability and Growth

When Andrea, an ACH Child and Family Services Kinship Connections specialist, was assigned to Archie’s case, she knew the journey ahead would require patience, empathy, and a strong network of support. Archie, a bright and energetic five-year-old boy, had recently been removed from his mother’s home due to trauma and an episode of paranoia that led to an unstable and unsafe environment.

The trauma Archie experienced left deep emotional scars, and his behaviors were often misunderstood, especially since he also displayed signs of autism. The road to stability and growth for Archie was going to be a long one, but with Andrea’s guidance, both Archie and his aunt, who had taken on the role of his primary caregiver, would soon find a way forward.

The Initial Challenges

Archie’s journey to safety and understanding started when Texas Child Protective Services (CPS) removed Archie from his mother’s home, located in Tarrant County. Since Archie’s father was not in the picture, CPS placed Archie in the care of his Aunt Sarah, a compassionate woman who also lived in Tarrant County. She had always wanted to help Archie but had never anticipated taking on the full-time responsibility of raising him. At first, Sarah struggled to connect with Archie, especially when his behaviors—such as heightened anxiety, meltdowns, and difficulties with communication—began to escalate.

His social interactions were challenging, and he was often misunderstood by family members, school staff, and even peers. Archie’s struggle with language was one of the biggest barriers. He had been raised in a household where only his mother’s language was spoken, and now that he was in a new environment, his lack of English skills made it difficult for him to understand or communicate with others.

Understanding Archie's Behaviors

After CPS placed Archie with his aunt, Our Community Our Kids referred Sarah to Kinship Connections so she could receive additional resources. That’s when Andrea was assigned to the kinship family.

From the beginning, Andrea knew that understanding the root causes of Archie’s behaviors was crucial to helping the family build a foundation of trust and connection. Through close collaboration with Sarah, Andrea identified how Archie’s behaviors were a combination of sensory sensitivities, social anxiety, and struggles with communication—common traits for children on the autism spectrum. It was clear that the behaviors weren’t just disruptive; they were a way for Archie to express confusion, fear, and frustration in a world that didn’t always make sense to him.

Andrea began coaching Sarah on how to respond to these behaviors using a trauma-informed, child-centered approach. She introduced her to Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®), a model developed by TCU’s Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development that empowers caregivers to build connection through empathy and understanding. She also implemented Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which focuses on reinforcing positive behaviors through structured, supportive methods.

Positive Reinforcement Through a Reward System

Andrea also worked with Sarah to implement a token economy at home, where Archie could earn tokens for exhibiting positive behaviors. These tokens could be exchanged for small rewards, such as extra playtime or a favorite snack. This system gave Archie a sense of accomplishment and control over his environment, which was vital for a child who had experienced so much instability.

TBRI’s emphasis on empowering principles—such as giving Archie a voice in decisions, using calm and consistent guidance, and maintaining a predictable routine—made an immediate impact. Sarah learned how to respond to Archie’s needs in ways that were both compassionate and effective. She began to notice that when she used clear, direct language and offered choices, Archie felt more secure and less anxious. 

A child's hand slides a red token across a table.

As a result, his outbursts became less frequent, and he started to engage more with her and his surroundings. The token economy, combined with TBRI’s emotional support techniques, allowed Sarah to see Archie’s progress in real-time, creating an environment that was nurturing for both of them.

Advocacy within the ISD

However, Andrea didn’t stop there. She also advocated for Archie within the school system. Knowing that Archie’s challenges were not only behavioral but also academic—especially with his language barrier—Andrea worked with the school district to secure additional resources for him. She arranged for English as a Second Language (ESL) support and for a dedicated special education professional to help Archie navigate the classroom.

After three months with Andrea, Archie and his Aunt Sarah are on the path to happiness. Today, Archie is thriving in a stable, loving home with his aunt. He is no longer defined by his past trauma or misunderstood for his behaviors. He is beginning to show signs of emotional and social growth, and Sarah continues to implement TBRI principles in their daily routines.

A Journey of Empathy and Growth

Though there are still challenges ahead, both Sarah and Archie know they are not alone. With the support of Andrea, ACH Child and Family Services, and a community that has rallied around them, they have created a home that is filled with understanding, connection, and hope for the future.

Archie’s journey is a testament to the power of empathy, advocacy, and trauma-informed care. Thanks to ACH and Andrea’s expertise and unwavering support, Archie is now on a path to success, surrounded by the people who care for him most.

ACH Child and Family Services strongly promotes the philosophy and practice that when children cannot be with their parents safely, the next best option is a relative such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling, or close family friends. Our Kinship Connections program places foster children in the home of a relative or person who knew the child before he or she was removed from the home. Research shows that kinship placements provide a sense of stability, identity and belonging during a time of crisis and help preserve the child’s cultural identity and relationship to their community. Kinship Connections is voluntary assistance to help families in the child welfare system adapt to their new role as caregiver. ACH also offers a similar free program, Kinship Navigator, for youth and families in the community who are not in the child welfare system.

Comic Book Artist Draws Praise from Kids in Transitional Living

Professional comic artist Tadd Galusha gives a drawing lesson via Zoom to residents at ACH Child and Family Services Wedgwood Transitional Living Program.

Good overcoming evil. Protagonists, antagonists, and antiheroes. Origin stories brimming with traumatic pasts and challenges and topped with resilience and hope. It’s not hard to see why the children in ACH’s care are often drawn to all things comics. 

The wildly imaginative world of comics allows kids a distraction from what they’re experiencing, but in a way that relates to the obstacles they’re facing in real life. Whether they realize it or not, comics are both an escape and a way to dream.

A Comical Night

Professional comic book artist Tadd Galusha rarely if ever gives a two-hour drawing lesson. But on a special night during one of the bi-weekly volunteer events at our Wedgwood Transitional Living program campus, that’s exactly what he presented to the young men in the program! Tadd, who is based out of Alaska and is friends with one of the Wedgwood volunteers, tuned in via Zoom and spent the evening drawing character after character — from Raphael (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) to Goku (Dragon Ball Z), plus a gnarly tyrannosaurus rex. The boys were glued to the monitor.

A few days prior, Tadd mailed several comics for each of the kids. They were all comics he had illustrated and/or wrote. In addition to publishing his own graphic novels, Tadd has worked for major publishers on properties such as Godzilla, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, GI Joe, and King Kong.

It’s not uncommon for the children at Wedgwood to be quiet and reserved when talking to adults. Their trust has been compromised, and they’re understandably wary of people they don’t know. Comic book night was NOT one of those nights.

Chatter, laughter and friendly teasing filled the room. Tadd had been briefed that the kids may be shy and that he may have to do most of the talking. It couldn’t have been farther from the truth.

Sometimes he could hardly fit a word in edgewise! The kids debated about hypothetical match-ups between comic characters (think Superman versus Batman), their favorite Marvel movies, their least favorite Marvel movies, and more. 

“When ACH’s volunteer mentors team up with our youth, amazing things happen!” says Kate Faggella-Luby, ACH volunteer mentor coordinator. “In the epic match up of community and belonging vs. isolation and trauma, COMMUNITY and BELONGING win every time.”

Heroes of Tomorrow

Eventually, the kids asked Tadd about his career. They peppered him with questions about illustration, graphic design, script writing, and college. The adults in the room glowed seeing the kids dream about a potential careers and goals. Tadd masterfully answered with optimistic and encouragement, but he was honest in that it’s a competitive industry that requires dedication and hard work.

The night flew by, and volunteers had to put a hard stop to the night when the clock struck 9 p.m. Both volunteers and children did not want the event to end.

It felt like a night of authentic comradery. People in our community and beyond showed up for these kids because they want to. Because they genuinely care and are invested in these children’s upbringing and future. Bridging the gap between our community and marginalized youth is one of the many ways ACH serves families and children. 

Thank you to Tadd, the volunteers, the Wedgwood team, and to Kate for orchestrating this unforgettable night!

Professional comic artist Tadd Galusha gives a drawing lesson via Zoom to residents at ACH Child and Family Services Wedgwood Transitional Living Program.

Wedgwood Transitional Living

Children who can’t live with their families or are difficult to place in a permanent family setting have a safe place to call home in the Wedgwood Transitional Living program. The program provides a stable, nurturing place for children ages 14-17 who have experienced severe trauma and, as a result, often have emotional outbursts, attempt running away, experiment with drugs, and other challenging behavior.

Wedgwood Transitional Living offers a place for them to heal, grow and learn independent living skills. Trained staff help the children graduate from high school, apply to college/continued education, enter the workforce, find volunteer opportunities, and develop healthy lifestyles. Counselors teach the children how to express their emotions in healthy, productive ways, cope, and manage their behaviors.

ACH is committed to providing safe environments for youth to begin the healing process and to develop lifelong skills that will support future placement through foster/adoption or independence. 

Wedgwood Funding Gap Flyer

2024 Fort Worth Thanksgiving Meal Resource

The holidays are meant to nourish the mind and body, when loved ones gather and plates are filled with comforting, delicious food. But for many in our community, it’s challenging to provide an entire meal. Whether it’s lack of time or funds, some children and families will not have a holiday spread of turkey, stuffing, cornbread, and other Thanksgiving must-haves. That’s where this Fort Worth Thanksgiving Meal Resource comes into play.

The resource below will help families who need a Thanksgiving meal. Simply click the image below and you’ll be directed to a PDF that has clickable links to local resources, such as the Tarrant Area Food Bank, Operation Turkey, and Taste Project.

Share the Fort Worth Thanksgiving Meal Resource with friends, family, neighbors and anyone who could benefit from a warm meal.

Click the Thanksgiving Meal Resource anywhere below to use the individual links.

The 2024 Fort Worth Thanksgiving Meal Resource helps families find Thanksgiving meals during the holidays.