Children leave the facility with bags filled with donated clothing, hygiene products and toys.[/caption]
Parks Youth Ranch is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 2011 by Fred and Mable Parks to serve abused, at-risk and homeless youth in Fort Bend County. It provides a safe and structured environment for children ages 7-17.
Most are referred from the Department of Family and Protective Services. According to Development Director Jessica Crute, this is not a facility for children who have caused disruption, as children are usually placed at the ranch when there have been situations within their families, such as abuse or neglect.
“There can be this misconception sometimes in the community; they will ask us if this is a place for bad kids, and I say ‘Absolutely not,’” Crute said. “Our kids have not done anything wrong.”
Crute said there is a housing crisis in the state of Texas for kids in foster care. The ranch has experienced this shortage firsthand as it has had to turn away an average of 10 children per day due to being at full capacity. At the moment, the facility can accommodate 10 boys and 10 girls, but an expansion to add an additional eight beds is planned. This will allow the ranch to serve 40 percent more children.
“To rise up to meet the needs of the community, we are proposing to expand our facility in order to accommodate more children,” Crute said.
The primary goal of the emergency shelter is to meet the basic human needs of the child, including providing clothing, meals, school transportation and counseling. Clinical Director Shana Pierson, said the shelter also teaches children positive coping skills and how to prepare for the future.
“One of my biggest roles is to make sure [the kids] are prepared for when they do leave to be successful,” Pierson said. “[I] help them connect [how] the choices they make today will impact their future, 10 or 20 years down the road.”
The ranch services 20 children at any given time and averages 130 children annually who have an average stay of about 120 days.
“In general, they can stay as long as they need to, as long as they are thriving in this environment,” Crute said.
Parks Youth Ranch 11614 FM 361 Road, Richmond 281-392-5794 parksyouthranch.org
