METHODIST CHILDREN’S HOME REACCREDITED BY COUNCIL ON ACCREDITATION
For the 11th consecutive year since 1986, Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) earned national reaccreditation from the Council on Accreditation (COA), announced MCH President and CEO Trey Oakley.
During the review process, COA evaluated more than 1,000 standards covering every aspect of the organization, including programs and services, governance, financial operations, risk management, human resources, ethics, fundraising, policies and procedures, and overall organizational practices.
“I am especially proud to report that MCH was expedited through the accreditation approval process because we received zero out-of-compliance ratings in all fundamental practice standards,” Oakley said. “This meant COA required no formal corrective responses or follow-up action plans from MCH before advancing our accreditation recommendation.”
Many MCH staff contributed directly to the accreditation process by gathering documentation, participating in interviews, completing surveys, hosting site visitors, and supporting the extensive self-study process.
“What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it was accomplished while our dedicated employees continued the important work of serving children, families and communities across Texas and New Mexico,” Oakley said.
According to COA, organizational accreditation demonstrates accountability in the management of resources, sets standardized best-practice thresholds for service and administration, and increases organizational capacity and accountability by creating a framework for ongoing quality improvement.
“These results affirm the strength of our mission, the quality of our services and our approach to ministry,” Oakley said. “I hope this communicates to our community, supporters and partners that MCH remains a trusted, accountable organization committed to continuous improvement and best practices.”
LEADERSHIP PRESENT AT METHODIST MINISTRIES NETWORK NATIONAL CONFERENCE
MCH leaders joined ministry partners from across the country in Indianapolis for The Gathering Conference in March. As a member of Methodist Ministries Network, MCH was grateful to be part of this year’s conference, which brought together human services ministries from five denominations for a meaningful time of collaboration and shared learning.
Trey Oakley, MCH president and CEO, and a member of the Methodist Ministries Network Board of Directors, participated in the CEO panel “The Future Starts with a Question.” Brooke Davilla, vice president for organizational effectiveness, and Traci Wagner, vice president for programs, also presented “Beyond Burnout: Building Resilience and Cultures of Care” during a breakout session.
TRACI WAGNER APPOINTED TO STATEWIDE COMMUNITY-BASED CARE SUBCOMMITTEE
Traci Wagner, Methodist Children’s Home vice president for programs, has been appointed to serve on the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services’ Community-Based Care (CBC) Subcommittee for a two-year term.
The CBC Subcommittee brings together leaders from across Texas to discuss Community-Based Care implementation, operations, expansion and opportunities to strengthen services for children and families. Wagner’s appointment reflects both her expertise and leadership, as well as the growing recognition of MCH as a trusted voice in shaping the future of child welfare across the state.
“MCH has served children and families for more than 130 years, and this appointment reflects the depth of experience and commitment our team brings to this work every day,” said Trey Oakley, president and CEO of Methodist Children’s Home. “We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to statewide conversations that will impact the lives of vulnerable children and families for years to come. Traci’s leadership will ensure that practical experience and a child-centered perspective are represented at the table.”
Wagner said she is honored by the appointment.
“Community-Based Care continues to evolve, and there is tremendous value in bringing providers together to learn from one another and address challenges collectively,” Wagner said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and to share the experiences and insights we’ve gained at MCH as we work toward stronger outcomes for children, youth and families throughout Texas.”
Wagner’s appointment represents an opportunity for Methodist Children’s Home to help shape important statewide discussions while continuing its long-standing commitment to serving children, youth and families. Her participation on the subcommittee will bring the organization’s experience and perspective to conversations that influence the future of child welfare in Texas.
GRADUATING SENIORS RECEIVE COMMUNITY AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Ahead of their graduation from the MCH charter school, several seniors received special community awards and scholarships. Aid’Ron Brightmon received the $5,000 Resilience Scholarship at the Greater Waco Chamber’s Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) program’s annual recognition banquet.
Brightmon will attend the University of Texas-San Antonio to study computer engineering in the fall. Damien DeLaCruz received the Youth Citizen Award at the Rotary Club of Waco’s Youth Citizenship Awards annual luncheon. DeLaCruz enrolled in the Independent Living Program at MCH and plans to study exercise physiology with the goal of becoming
a performance coach.
CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS MAKE CONNECTIONS DURING CAREER FAIR
High school students connected with professionals from across the community during this year’s career fair at the MCH gym in March. From healthcare and law to construction trades and community service careers, students explored opportunities, asked insightful questions and began imagining their future ahead.
“The career fair is one of my favorite events because you get to see new hopes and dreams come alive,” said Cortney Richardson, student events and volunteer supervisor. “Our students get to hear from adults outside of our staff that they can achieve bigger things than they ever imagined. This event truly couldn’t happen without the numerous volunteers from our community who take great care and time in preparing resources and investing in our youth.”
GATHER & GROW CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON CONNECTION, SHARED PURPOSE
This spring, staff from across MCH came together for Gather & Grow, a time of learning, collaboration, encouragement and connection.
From breakout sessions on Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), leadership and burnout prevention, to opportunities for fellowship and idea sharing, the two-day event reflected the heart behind our work every day: empowering all we serve to experience life to the fullest.
“Gather and Grow created space for connection, creativity and shared purpose,” said Traci Wagner, MCH vice president for programs. “Bringing together staff from across our agency for learning and team building reflects our commitment to growing stronger together so we can serve children, families and communities even better.”
We are grateful for every team member who continues to invest in children, youth and families across Texas and New Mexico!
MCH FAMILY OUTREACH CORPUS CHRISTI TEAM HOSTS EASTER-THEMED BASH
The MCH Family Outreach team in Corpus Christi hosted a family engagement event at the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center. Families enjoyed a festive egg hunt, took family photos, and explored the gardens — from butterfly exhibits to bird habitats and even spotting turtles.
At least a dozen families attended the event, which drew about 70 people.
It was a wonderful way for families to connect, make memories, and enjoy time together during Spring Break.
MCH STAFF CERTIFIED AS TBRI PRACTITIONERS AT TCU CAMPUS
Methodist Children’s Home staff members took part in TBRI practitioner training on the TCU campus in Fort Worth in April.
Trust-Built Relational Intervention (TBRI) is the flagship training program of the Karen Purvis Institute of Child Development and is used throughout MCH. The program equips professionals to implement TBRI within their work and to train others in their organizations.
The training consists of self-paced coursework online and five days of intensive training in-person with the focus on real-world settings.
“The TBRI Practitioner training was honestly such a transformative experience for me,” said Jordan Davis, residential supervisor at the Boys Ranch. “It really changed the way I think about connection and the importance of truly meeting people where they are. I wanted to participate because I care deeply about the kids and families we serve and wanted to learn better ways to support them, as well as empower my team with some of those same tools.”
He found the training thoroughly worthwhile.
“I left the training feeling really encouraged, challenged, and more confident in how I can build trust and create meaningful relationships every single day,” Davis said.
Adriel Klett, case manager in Abilene, said the training was “a paradigm shift.”
“While I’ve always been a huge fan of TBRI, after participating in the training, I realized there are leaps and bounds still yet to learn, share, and teach others,” she said. “I am so excited to be able to provide this training to our families, within case management sessions, but ultimately to strengthen my own connection and rapport with my loved ones, and the people I come in contact with along the way.”
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