Search Results for: blog trying to rescue disadvantaged kids

Trying to Rescue Disadvantaged Kids

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Nancy and I had worked with disadvantaged young people who lived near our church for some time. We were determined to give at least some of them a chance to be successful. At best, it was always a “three steps forward, two steps back” proposition. Most of the kids lived in cramped apartments characterized by poor living conditions. Many of their parents had substance abuse problems and the kids had very little supervision. Crack dealers operated openly where they lived, no one seemed to care. The young people were quick to get angry and were always one smart remark away … Continue reading →

Work of the Devil: Cocaine

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In my last blog, I wondered whether drugs have some of the blame for the increase in child abuse cases in our country. There have recently been a number of incidents in elementary schools where children have brought cocaine to the classroom. A few days ago, an eight year old boy in Houston brought three packets of cocaine to school. Apparently, several of his classmates told a teacher and the Houston police were called in. The boy told authorities that he did not know what the substance was, other than that it was valuable. He had taken it from one … Continue reading →

Black Males Are Lagging Academically

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A school board member at Houston’s largest school system has noticed the discouraging state statistics showing that African American males are lagging behind all other demographic groups academically. He checked the records in Houston and found that black males were scoring at or near the lowest levels in every course and at every grade level. This fact is something that almost everyone in educational circles knows, but few are actually talking about. He has a plan to try and turn the situation around in Texas. His plan is called the Texas Minority Male Youth Initiative. He hopes to stir up … Continue reading →

Week in Review Jan. 22-28

Week in Review Jan. 22-28 This week the adoption blog has moved from personal stories,to practical tips, to questions about our society, and back again. Monday, January 22 Services Provided for Former Foster Children Ed tells us that many foster care children age out of the system at age 18, suddenly homeless without means of support. He shares a model of a center set up in Texas to provide them with counseling and referrals and suggests that other states look into this. He also notes that, with all the material needs foster children have, the number-one request many have at … Continue reading →

Educational Crisis in Texas

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In my two previous blogs, I wrote about disadvantaged children that my wife and I had worked with in Houston. One of the really sad aspects of their lives is the fact that the majority of them will not graduate from high school. Our adopted children would have grown up in similar circumstances. The problem is that there is no one to rescue these kids. Several private organizations have released startling statistics that reflect that disadvantaged children in Texas have a poor chance of graduating. In the average year, over thirty per cent of the kids who started high school … Continue reading →

Hard Work with Little Return

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Our former church worked with the children in a housing project in north Houston for many years. It all started when a woman in the church starting bringing a few children from there to church. More and more kids wanted to come to our church and other volunteers started helping. I have been in most of the worst housing projects in Houston in terms of poverty, living conditions, and crime. Jefferson Park (not the actual name) ranks right up there with the very worst. Drug dealing, robberies, rapes, and murders were common. Once when our volunteers returned the children from … Continue reading →