Formulate a plan

1. Formulate a plan Harper Davis, Nick Grubbs and Madhav Patel

2. collaborators • Austin Children’s Shelter, Helping Hand Home for Children and Texas Children’s Baptist Home • We chose who we wanted to work with based on who needed the most • Larger children’s shelters had more resources and partners that helped them

3. Texas children’s Baptist home • Founded in 1950 • Provides a place for children and families in crisis through its residential programs for children and single-mother families, as well as community-based outreach and prevention programs • Programs include: The Campus Life Program who serves children who are typically placed voluntarily by family members due to a temporary crisis in their home • The Family Care program serves single mothers and their children in an attempt to strengthen fragile families in crisis, and prepare them for successful independent living after they leave the program

4. Texas children’s baptist home • The HOPE (Healthy Opportunities that Protect and Empower) Program is a community outreach program that exists to build stronger families by helping them discover and build on their strengths and equipping them with resources to reach their goals

5. Needs • We talked with Brenda Gilbert and asked what were the main things the children needed and she said the children are always in need of food supplies, any personal items (toothbrushes etc.) • Toys and games • Most importantly they need people to spend time with the children and be a good influence in their lives (making a meal and eating with the children, playing games with the children)

6. Texas children’s baptist home • Originally, we wanted to work with the people that lived on the campus in the cottages • When we talked to Ms. Gilbert she told me that most of the children that live there are teenagers who don’t necessarily want to be helped by other kids their age • At first we didn’t understand why, but hearing the different perspectives we learned that it could send the wrong message, or make the kids feel uncomfortable • Working with the HOPE children turned out to be a much better option because they are young kids who need older role models and usually come to the campus after school and don’t live on the campus

7. Our plan/possible plans • We contacted Brenda Gilbert, the volunteer coordinator for Texas Children’s Baptist home • We told her about our interest in giving back and she invited us to the campus to take a tour • We met with Michael Harrison, head of the HOPE program who accepted our help and enabled us to make a plan of action • Texas Children’s Baptist Home has a volunteer page on their website that allows volunteers to sign up for the various opportunities (painting rooms, dinner with the children etc.) • Our plan is to sign up for one of the volunteer activities with the HOPE children and get to know them • Once we talk with the children we will formulate a large activity based on their needs or what they want to do (play games etc.)

8. Our plan cont. • We know that no matter what we do with the children we are going to need to gather resources which means we will need money • Our plan is to have a fundraiser or donation drive depending on what we need (money/supplies) • Students who contribute will receive service points for their help • Our drafted plan is to spend a day with the children, starting with a large game or activity where we can spend time with the children and have fun with them as well • After the activity we want to cook dinner for the children using the resources and money we gathered • Since the HOPE program is a Christian based organization, after dinner we will join the bible study with the children

9. Our goal • We hope that after this day, we will form new bonds with the children and continue to volunteer and donate to the Texas Children’s Baptist Home and the HOPE program • We are hoping to make an impact, even if it’s a small one, with the children and impact their lives in some way • We want to set a positive example and provide the children with what they need and NOT what we think they need • We hope that by getting Austin High students involved we can inspire them to contribute to children in need