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Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the children of CHRIS Kids come from?
The majority of children are from the greater metropolitan Atlanta
area. The children in our Keeping Families Together Program are
living with their families and may be referred through the Department
of Family and Children Services, the Juvenile Courts or the Division
of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases.
The children in our residential programs are referred at the State
DFCS level and may be from anywhere in the State of Georgia, but
most are from the greater metropolitan Atlanta area. These children
have suffered significant abuse, neglect and rejection. They have
bruised and battered souls. Removed from their homes, some have
lived in as many as 30 failed placements and most are wards of the
State. They are afraid, and their fear is cloaked in anger. The
adults in their lives have proven to be untrustworthy and, as a
result, these children have behavior that is difficult to manage.
They protect themselves by pushing people away – until they
learn new behaviors at CHRIS Kids.
What is CHRIS Kids?
CHRIS Kids is a community based non-profit organization. All of
our services are provided in homes, in schools and in neighborhoods.
In our Keeping Families Together Program, we go out to meet with
parents, grandparents, other relatives and kids on their turf and
partner with them to develop the skills and resources they need
to be effective parents, responsible children and ultimately become
self sufficient and strong. In our residential programs, CHRIS Kids
provides children, ages 6 - 17, with a real home in a neighborhood
setting. Older youth, ages 17 - 21, live in supervised apartments.
Our kids attend school, learn life skills and receive the therapy
they need to help them begin the process of healing. Old patterns
of anger and distrust are slowly replaced through positive interactions
with caring adults. The children of CHRIS Kids are helped to get
their lives on track and learn all the things that responsible parents
teach their children so they can have a real chance to become productive
members of the community. By changing one life at a time, we strive
to break the cycle of abuse for this generation and the generations
to follow..
Who funds CHRIS Kids?
People are the lifeblood of CHRIS Kids. Every year we lose more
government funding. Support must come from people like you who care
about helping victimized kids heal and become good citizens. We
need your help to heal bruised and battered souls and to help these
kids learn how, most positively and effectively, to play the hand
that they were dealt in life. Every dollar matters in a very real
way.
When children are given the opportunity to heal the emotional wounds
of abuse and neglect, they have the chance to achieve their full
potential. Your gift provides them with this chance. Volunteers
and donors together with CHRIS Kids staff, play a crucial role in
reclaiming young lives, as each child is able to blossom into a
happy, secure, and responsible citizen. The positive parenting that
they see molds their perceptions, and when they are able to raise
their own children using these methods, the cycle of abuse has been
broken.
Examples of our funding include:
- State and Federal Grants
- Corporations
- Foundations
- Individuals
- Awards and donor designated gifts from organizations such as
the United Way
- Special events and fundraisers
- Congregations, civic organizations
Where will my donation go?
Your donation will save lives. These children and families are
at a fork in the road; your donation can tip the balance and put
them on a new path – a path toward a good outcome. Contributions
may be assigned according to your preference. There is a funding
gap – a need – in every program. Based on a value assessment
of successful outcomes in each of our programs the costs of these
programs and a lifetime savings determined through a study at Vanderbilt
University of $2 million for every child diverted from a life of
crime or destitution, CHRIS Kids demonstrates a return of $150 per
year/per child for every single dollar that is invested.
What is a CHRIS Kids Group Home Like?
The Group Homes provide hope and healing for abused and neglected
children with severe problems, ages 6-17. While living in a CHRIS
Kids home located in residential neighborhoods throughout Atlanta,
children receive intensive therapy, counseling and support while
attending public schools and participating in extracurricular activities.
The family-like setting helps the children adapt to life in a “normal”
family, thereby increasing their chances of living successfully
with a parent, an adopted, foster or extended family upon their
graduation from CHRIS Kids.
What happens to older children?
At age 17, youth in the State system may be referred to the Independent
Living Programs (ILP). Homeless youth may come to the Rainbow Program
a subset of ILP which is especially designed to assist homeless
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (GLBTQ) youth.
In ILP, youth live in supervised apartments and receive life skills
training in the areas of finance, employment, household management,
social adjustment and responsible citizenship. Emphasis is on completing
educational goals and job skills training.
What kinds of community services does
CHRIS Kids offer?
The CHRIS Counseling Center provides counseling, therapy and group
therapy to children and families from the greater community. Keeping
Families Together Prevention and Reunification Programs offer children
and families a unique, flexible treatment and support partnership
in their own homes, schools and communities. Identifying and developing
strengths, resources and natural support systems create positive
family relationships and promotes self-sufficiency. The Behavior
Aide Program provides one-on-one support from trained "special
friends" to children having extreme difficulties so that they
can learn responsible behavior and develop self-esteem. Camp CHRIS
is a nine week summer day camp for children with emotional and related
behavioral problems that helps children succeed and enables their
parents to maintain employment knowing their children are supervised
and safe over the summer months.
How can I volunteer?
Contact robert.lewis@chriskids.org or 404-564-3407 to learn more about volunteering.
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