The Teen Emergency Shelter and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Wichita Falls, Texas, have had a long relationship. Trinity's Women of the Church have given a monthly donation to the Teen Emergency Shelter as part of their mission work for eleven years. They have also collected clothes and Christmas gifts for the shelter every year. The Church even buys shoes for teens when the need calls for it. Because of Trinity's loving heart, the teens are always welcome at any of the socials they have, and many teens have attended with fond memories. Every year, the female residents go to the Women of the Church Christmas party.

With our congregation’s share of the Pentecost Offering, the shelter was able to provide several outings that were not in the budget. All of the teens enjoyed themselves immensely and were thankful that someone cared enough to give them the means to go to these special places.

The Teen Emergency Shelter is a coed facility with eight beds that opened in 1992 to meet the needs of teens who are homeless, runaways, potential school dropouts, etc. It operates under the charter of the Children's Aid Society, a non-profit agency. Admission to the facility is voluntary, but often the result of a referral by a school, juvenile probation, Child Protective Services, police, or one of the Safe Place sites in this area, with the average stay being two weeks. The facility is licensed to accept children, ages ten to seventeen. It is the only shelter of this kind within a 100-mile radius.

An integral part of the Teen Emergency Shelter's program is counseling to teens and families. The youths receive social skills training and independent living skills in an environment that encourages them, nurtures them, and helps them to develop coping-skills. Aftercare counseling is offered to families at no cost. Substance abuse counseling and prevention counseling are also provided.

The Teen Emergency Shelter is committed to providing youths a safe, supportive environment in which they can make constructive decisions about their future and their relationships with others.

Don Monroe
Session Member
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Wichita Falls, Texas 76308