Local organization aids children, families

SAN MARCOS — The Greater San Marcos Youth Council (GSMYC) was formed in 1986 by concerned citizens in an effort to provide shelter to children and support services to families. Nearly 40 years later, the organization is going strong and hopes to continue to strengthen and advocate for families. There are two programs within the youth council: a shelter and the Family and Youth Success Program or FAYS. The first, which GSMYC Residential Program Director Marissa Lopez oversees, houses up to 16 children from ages two to 17 at the shelter. According to Lopez, the shelter takes in children from Hays County who are removed by Child Protective Services (CPS) for neglect or abuse. “My understanding is, [when the organization formed], there wasn’t any type of resources to help the children who needed the help. Even to this day, I think the closest shelter — as far as what we do, that provides shelter for children who have been removed — is either Austin or New Braunfels,” explained Lopez. The shelter acts as a transition to long-term placement, with the average length of a stay being 45 days. While here, staff members attempt to replicate as much normalcy as possible. This includes taking them to school, doctor visits, activities, as well as giving them learning tools to ensure they are on track developmentally. “We try to work with the schools when they transfer from their home school to their new school. We always try to tell them, ‘Hey. [This child] was in marching band or football, basketball, what have you and we do utilize our monetary donations or our funds to pay for that, so they can stay in those extracurricular activities,” the director said. Lopez stressed that what makes this portion of the youth council so important is not only that it provides a home to these children in a time of need, but that it also keeps familial bonds strong. Because the children often stay in the same town as their family, or at least nearby, they receive more face-to-face contact and access to services provided by CPS. While the shelter focuses on children removed from homes, FAYS aims to address in-home situations by discussing everyday struggles and conflict, promoting strong families and developing coping skills in order to prevent delinquent behaviors, runaway, truancy, child abuse and neglect, according to its website. FAYS is a free counseling program for students ages 6 through 17 who attend Hays County schools, or live within the district, that provides up to 16 sessions that gives youth the opportunity to speak with a licensed counselor. Once a month, there is also a family session, which allows the child and any family members to touch base and discuss what is going on. To sign up for these services, residents would submit an “intake,” by calling 512-754-0500, said Lopez. This is a series of questions that would be answered and would then be given a time to schedule services or be placed on a waitlist. Although FAYS is a youth counseling program, there are also parenting classes available if needed. “I think it’s super important for everyone to understand that children between the ages of 6 and 17 do struggle in school and just daily life. It’s important for everyone to be able to notice that. So, utilizing the free counseling services, it’s not a way of noticing those weaknesses; it’s a way of support,” Lopez stressed. She also noted that the children at the shelter do not use these services, but they are connected with a counselor outside of FAYS weekly or bi-weekly, though, sometimes the children simply want someone to whom they can express their feelings: “While they are here, we are kind of that ear that listens to them, the shoulder that they cry on if they feel like they weren’t able to get things off of their chest while they were at home.” Each year, the GSMYC holds a fundraiser to further support the children they work with and care for. This year, the Pull for Hope Sporting Clay Fundraiser for Abused and Neglected Children will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13. It will be located at Moyes Shooting Sports, 12901 FM 20, Kingsbury. The organization also takes monetary donations on its website or general donations, such as clothing, gifts for children (birthday, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, etc.) and necessities like paper towels, toilet paper and hygiene products. For more information, visit www.gsmyc.org or call 512-754-0500, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.