News & Info

Connie's Corner

Newsletter - January 2010

“HAPPY NEW YEAR!” I hope that 2010 will be an improvement over 2009, don’t you?

This month we will have our annual Board of Directors Planning Day. We will be going over our Strategic Plan, Budget, Policies and Procedures. Our Annual Report will be out in February. We anticipate another year of staying focused on our mission, accomplishing our goals, and meeting the needs of our children and youth.

When I asked our kids to share what they were thankful for this year, one said, “Second Chances!” Yes, that’s what we are all about. We had two more successful program completions/graduations in December. The boys said they had learned so much about themselves, their behavior, choices, relationships with family members, and how to solve problems. Our hope is that this “second chance” they received at Valley Teen Ranch will be the one that sticks!

When I shared the Christmas story with the kids during our parties, I let them know that Jesus gave us all a “second chance”, too. They know we are all about hope for a bright future. Some of our boys told me in private, after our party, that this was the first real Christmas they had in over five years. Another one told me he was locked up in Juvenile Hall last Christmas and it was horrible. This Christmas they had a wonderful, happy, blessed time with all of us sharing. One of our staff ladies worked together with her colleagues and boys to make tamales for everyone to enjoy! Our goal is to make new memories for our kids during the Holidays, as well as every other day of their lives.

We also placed a 16 year-old girl in one of our Foster Homes on December 14. She has a child that has been removed from her care; since she ran away from the home they were both placed in. The pain in her eyes was obvious. She is looking for peace and love, in all the wrong places. After talking with her and asking her for her Christmas list, she was almost able to look in my eyes. I didn’t hug her….yet! But I am sure the time will come when she will feel comfortable with that, too. Progress….not perfection! She’s receiving another “second chance” with us. It takes a long time to recover from the pain our kids have had to endure. We continue to go the extra mile to provide safe, healthy and consistent care, as well as HOPE for all of our children and youth, which is about 75 every day! I wish I could show you a video of our kids as they transform their lives. Know that the efforts of our staff, with God’s blessings, and the free will of our kids, is bringing life changing decisions in our kids’ lives.

As we go forward to the New Year, we need your continued support more than ever. Our Government, economy, budget process, and inflation are really “kickin’ us in the bank account.” Our hearts are full, our beds are ful,l and we are fully staffed. Our kids are making progress but it is more difficult to keep our bills all paid. There were no bonuses, pay raises, or any “frills” in 2009. We will, hopefully, be able to prepare and pass a balanced budget of 2010 at our January all day Board of Directors Retreat. It takes place in our office, as usual! Thank you in advance for your ongoing financial support for our work. Keepin’ Hope alive.

Your favorite “Hope Dealer”

Connie R. Clendenan, CEO Valley Teen Ranch

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