Davilla Named To New Vice Presidential Position
Trey Oakley, president and CEO of Methodist Children’s Home, announced the hiring of Brooke Davilla to the position of vice president for organizational effectiveness.
Davilla has served as assistant vice president for programs at MCH since 2021. In her new role, which begins June 1, 2023, Davilla will provide leadership and support in the areas of Human Resources, Quality Improvement, and Employee Communication and Engagement. Davilla assumes the role from Bryan Mize, vice president for strategic initiatives. Mize will transition on July 1 to a part-time role as a strategic initiatives specialist where he will assist the president and executive team on selected projects based on his experience and expertise developed over more than two decades at MCH.
After receiving a master’s degree in social work from Baylor University with a concentration in community practice, Davilla began her career at MCH in 2010 as a foster care case manager in Waco and transitioned to director of Waco Family Outreach in 2013. She was promoted to the role of program administrator in 2020 before being named assistant vice president for programs.
“During her tenure at MCH, Brooke has provided leadership to all areas of our continuum of care including residential, transition services, foster care, family preservation, aftercare, and educational services,” Oakley said. “Brooke’s knowledge of MCH, leadership skills and community engagement will serve her well in this new role.”
In addition to her program experience, Davilla serves an adjunct professor for the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor. In this role she educates emerging leaders about organizational assessments and strategic development methodologies through the lens of social welfare.
Davilla has led staff development opportunities at MCH, evaluated programs and systems needing improvement, participated in strategic planning, and provided leadership during the Council on Accreditation (COA) process.
“In her role as vice president for organizational effectiveness, Brooke and I will work together to develop strategies that support the agency’s strategic vision and culture of excellence in all areas under her supervision,” Oakley said. “I am excited to see how God will utilize Brooke’s knowledge, experience and personal gifts to help shape the future of organizational effectiveness at MCH.”
Davilla holds certification as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and a Licensed Child Placing Agency Administrator (LCPAA). She and her husband, Marcus, live in Waco and are parents to 3-year-old daughters Brooklyn and Katelyn; Jacob, 21; and Marcus, 26, and his wife Alli, who have a 1-year-old daughter, Lennon.
MCH Staff Recognized For Years of Service
Thirty-six MCH employees were recognized for their tenure at a service held in March. The employees, marking five, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 35 years of service to children, youth and families in Texas and New Mexico, represent a total of 425 years of ministry at Methodist Children’s Home.
Albuquerque Hosts Caregiver Event 
The MCH Family Outreach office in Albuquerque, NM, hosted a Caregiver Empowerment Group (CEG) in March that served 21 parents, caregivers and children at the Explora Children’s Museum.
CEGs are designed to provide support to caregivers by enhancing their knowledge, helping them cultivate new skills, providing them with access to community resources, and providing a space where they can receive support and encouragement from peers. Topics often discussed in these groups include financial issues, legal matters, children’s behavior, self-care, advocacy, and family bonding.
Having the event at a museum allowed the children to socialize and engage with their peers in a positive way while parents and caregivers shared parenting stories with one another and MCH Albuquerque staff.
Nicole Goodman, director of Family Outreach in Albuquerque, said the event was one of the best-attended CEGs.
“Our goal is to continue to host CEG on days when schools are closed,” she said. “In doing so, families will have an opportunity to spend time together while engaging with likeminded individuals and peers. Also, we have arranged for each person in attendance to have free admittance to the museum after each CEG. We received feedback from one family who stated their preteen children spent four hours in the museum after our group meeting in February.”
Abilene Case Manager Receives Community Award
Rachel Lopez De Castilla, a case manager in the MCH Family Outreach office in Abilene, received the Child Welfare Award at the Champion for Children conference in Abilene. The annual award honors individuals who are helping children and families lead better, safer lives and celebrates the unsung heroes who dedicate their lives to assisting communities to take better care of vulnerable children.
According to fellow Abilene case manager BrieAnna Vine, “Rachel is a skilled case manager and clinician who meets her clients where they are. She is thorough, organized and effective in her cooperation of care for MCH foster children. We are blessed to have her expertise and wisdom on the team.”
The Champion for Children conference helps communities throughout the Big Country region of Texas kick off Child Abuse Prevention/Awareness Month, which is observed in April each year.
“At MCH we are dedicated to providing Five-Star Service, Authentic Accountability, Focused and Flexible Ministries, and promoting a Culture of Learning for our clients, staff and community partners,” said Traci Wagner, vice president for programs at MCH. “We are proud of Rachel and the way she represents MCH so well in Abilene community.”
MCH Competes In McLennan County Junior Livestock Show
MCH residents and Day Students attending the University of Texas–University Charter School participated in the annual McLennan County Junior Livestock Show at the Extraco Events Center in Waco. Thirteen students involved in the MCH Ag program showed animals in the Goat, Sheep and Swine divisions, with seven moving on to the Sale of Champions .
“Our students represented MCH and the charter school FFA chapter in championship form,” said Steve Kruse, ag teacher at the charter school.
“I truly feel like the animals are secondary to what we are trying to accomplish with our students – I tell people all the time we are using a four-legged creature to help mold and make these students into better people.”
MCH Staff Earn TBRI Practitioner Status
Three MCH employees earned their TBRI Practitioner status in February at a regional conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Laura Bonner, clinical and compliance administrator; Kevin Brown, director of training; and Ethan Varzeas, staff trainer, are now able to teach the TBRI Caregiver Package trainings to our staff and collaborative partners.
MCH has a longstanding relationship with the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development (KPICD) at TCU as a TBRI Ambassador Organization. TBRI-trained MCH staff are frequently utilized to educate other organizations in TBRI.
“It was a great week of in-depth learning on TBRI, meeting new people, reconnecting with people we haven’t seen in a while, sharing about MCH, and learning more about other organizations,” Bonner said. “We are excited for MCH to have three new practitioners and ready to start training and leading discussions on TBRI principles.”
MCH also endorsed employees from Youth With A Mission (YWAM) El Paso/Juarez and Reflection Ministries in Midland – agencies MCH has collaborated with over the last year – for acceptance to into the TBRI Practitioner training. Both organizations had representatives earn their TBRI Practitioner status in Jacksonville who returned to their agencies to work toward TBRI implementation in their areas of service with children and young adults who have experienced harm in the Juarez, Mexico, and Midland communities.
Bulldogs Make History At State Track Meet
The MCH Bulldogs made history on April 22 at the Texas Christian Athletic Fellowship (TCAF) State Track & Field meet in Boyd, Texas. The boys team finished first overall and took home the Men’s Championship award, a first for the MCH team. The girls team finished fifth as a team, “which is extremely impressive considering the girls team had five student-athletes,” said Matt Rodgers, MCH athletic director. Several youth also set both personal and new MCH records at the state track meet.
Many of the student-athletes had never participated in track before this season. The team is made up of MCH residents and Day Students who attend the University of Texas–University Charter School on the Waco campus. Darell Williams, athletics coordinator, is the newest member to the MCH Athletics staff and brings his expertise in track and field events from his 28-year coaching career.
“I told our student-athletes at the beginning of the season that we were going to win state,” Williams said. “It was a goal they couldn’t even fathom then. But they were eager to learn and they put in so much hard work to attain that new state title.”
The team took on a new mindset and conditioned themselves every day to attain their goals – even working out together on weekends. The culmination of their talent, hard work and determination manifested into what Williams called “something special” at the TCAF State Track & Field meet.
“The kids were checking the app on their phones to see how we were progressing in points as a team,” William said. “I got emotional because they were winning and I knew no one could catch up to us. Then, I saw one of our young men and he gave me a hug.”
After the final relay, all of the participating teams and their supporters gathered around centerfield. The stages were set, medals prepared and point totals were in. The announcer shared the results and the entire MCH Bulldogs team cheered and hugged one another.
“There was just sheer happiness in that moment,” said Williams, whose son is a Day Student and part of the track team. “Feeling our kids’ energy and watching them proudly hold up that trophy – there’s nothing else like it.”
Williams shared the rapport the team has built goes beyond winning medals and trophies.
“We have the opportunity to help these young people grow in life. Sports are one of the greatest tools to help students grow into adults because they learn responsibility and accountability.”
The MCH Bulldogs already have their eyes set on their next goal.
“Our team knows the only thing that can stop us, is us,” Williams said with a smile. “We plan to take home the state title again next year.”
Congratulations to the incredible Bulldogs Track & Field team and to the MCH Athletics staff who continue to empower MCH student-athletes to experience life to the fullest on and off the track.
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