Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services

Previously PCHAS operated group homes for children in foster care. In Itasca, TX, the agency converted one of these communities into the Foster Care Village. Each of the family-style homes serves up to six children between the ages of five and 17.
 
Each home is managed by foster parents who are carefully screened, trained and supported by PCHAS.  They surround the children with love and emotional support, and work hard to help them overcome the traumas they have faced in their young lives.  For those that need additional support, PCHAS provides professional counseling services.
 
When a child's family of origin wants to remain involved in their child's life, the foster parents help facilitate and encourage healthy family relationships and work toward the goal of reunification.
 
The importance of education is emphasized from the time children enter our care.  They attend local schools and receive daily supervised study time and tutoring. Nearly all of the children participate in extracurricular activities and church groups.  Some have part-time jobs.

When facing a crisis such as illness, violence, homelessness, alcohol or drug addiction or when depression or just the pressures of daily life become too much parents feel overwhelmed and need help keeping their families intact. Many parents have difficulty developing an emotional attachment to their children because they did not experience it in their own childhoods.
The Child and Family Program addresses these issues before a crisis results in out-of-home placement of children. Child and Family specialists, all of whom have master's degrees in social work or counseling, work with families to address their physical, emotional, social, educational, spiritual, and financial concerns. They provide individual and family therapy, teach parenting and life skills, including how to build healthy relationships, and help families locate and access community services.
These services are free of charge.

The SINGLE PARENT FAMILY PROGRAM provides a much-needed safety net for struggling single parents and their children.  In addition to housing, the program offers emotional and spiritual support as well as family therapy that focuses on building on each family member's strengths rather than focusing on problems.
 
The Single Parent Family Program specialists teach parenting and life skills, including budgeting and financial management, time management, goal setting, and healthy eating.  The program also supports parents in their job search and academic endeavors.
 
Only when families' physical, emotional, social, educational, spiritual, and financial needs are met, can the parents focus on achieving self-sufficiency for the family as a whole.
 
The Single Parent Family Program operates in San Antonio, Houston, and Waxahachie in Texas, and in Farmington, Missouri, about 90 minutes from southeast of St. Louis.

Growing Together is open to any pregnant parent or those with a child 0-5 years of age residing in Navarro County, Texas who desires a stronger attachment with their child. Stronger family attachment during the infant, toddler and preschool years creates a foundation for healthy development and educational success.
We help by providing
· Free, family focused services
· Strength based parenting support using TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) and The Ready Method
· Flexible hours – We meet in the family home at their convenience
· Parents Better Together Support Group - semimonthly social support

The TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAMs are for teens and young adults, including those aging out of foster care. The transition into adulthood and economic independence, which can be challenging for any adolescent, generally occurs over many years and involves substantial support from family and friends. However, some young adults do not have support from family members and friends during this important time.

This program helps 16-24 year old young adults who do not have a family support system as they transition into independence. It helps them graduate from high school, learn life skills such as budgeting and meal planning, find part-time work while in school and plan for full-time employment.

In Texas we have branches of this program in Waxahachie and San Antonio. In Missouri this program is in Springfield and Farmington.

PCHAS mentors are specially trained to help children ages 5-19 who suffer with emotional or behavioral disorders and/or learning disabilities. Some common problems they face are abuse, neglect, bullying, truancy, post- traumatic stress disorder, depression, ADD/ADHD, bipolar disorder, delinquency and drug abuse.
Trained, paid mentors work with each child and his/her family to determine goals (such as character, college or career). Mentors then meet with the children at home, school or community locations every week for approximately a year. There is no charge to the participants.
The program is so successful in seven St. Louis-area school districts that it has expanded to Troy, Columbia and Farmington. PCHAS launched the program in Temple, Texas in 2022.
• 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
• 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
• 52% less likely to skip school
• 32% less likely to hit someone or act out violently

This program provides mental health services for children, families and groups. Therapists have offices in Houston (Cypress) and San Antonio as well as Farmington, MO. The Texas therapists are able to conduct sessions face-to-face as well as virtually (by video call).