“We’re doing a bad, bad job of support for kids,” said Sarah Childers, co-founder of Raising Youth Services. “Once they offend, they end up getting a stigma.”
Childers and Comanche County Sheriff Chris Pounds aim to combat this stigma and elevate kids beyond a bad reputation to give them hope for a better future. This is the goal of RYS, headquartered in DeLeon and serving youth from Erath, Eastland and Comanche counties.
Childers reported the nonprofit was formed in 2020 because she knew, as a former educator and counselor in training, that school was the safe space for some children. The group also cites a Texas Department of Public Safety statistic in its founding which stated there was a 200% increase in juvenile incarcerations from 2014-‘18.
Reports also indicated that 64% of youth under probation supervision in 2010 were re-arrested within three years while 77% of youth released from a state-run facility in 2010 were re-arrested in the same period.
“We try to get under the surface of why they’re offending,” said Childers. “We offer tough love and boundaries, and they know that someone is in their corner advocating for them.”
“In the past 25 years in Law Enforcement, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges young people face from poverty and broken homes to substance abuse,” added Pounds. “We try to be positive role models for the youth and engage whatever is facing them with support and encouragement for them to become productive members in the community.”
Following an intake interview, youth 13-18 are enrolled for at least 12 weeks into a schedule that includes:
■ mentoring via a weekly group meeting
■ Life Skills lessons (like reading recipes, sewing, budgeting and managing bills
■ Alternative High School Graduation Options (for teens that have been struggling in the traditional high school setting)
■ Assisting with post secondary matters like filling out college applications and college scholarship applications
■ Assistance with obtaining a Driver’s License Childers also reported that they try to expose them to as much culture as possible whether that is a field trip to Tarleton’s planetarium, playing chess, visiting a local art exhibit or just teaching the kids to use chopsticks.
Once a week, they also have a communal dinner and talk about what is going on with them. “Food is a universal love language,” said Childers.
Childers said that grades are monitored and they stress that kids show proper respect to the people around them including mentors and other kids. They also assist in getting students necessary community service hours.
Although Pounds is the sheriff of Comanche County, Childers reported with a laugh that she has the reputation of being stricter.
The average enrollment time of kids in the program is one year with more than 95% choosing to stay with RYS after a probation period is over. Childers also reported they have had several siblings of students come in after their brothers told them about the program.
After five years and 70 youth entering RYS, Childers said she hopes to do the work for another 20. She recalled the heartbreak of seeing a 15-year-old be remanded to juvenile justice and come back with ‘the stare,’ indicating a far-off and dejected look. This contrasted with her success stories as she reported a student flourishing at RYS after being reported for terroristic threats. Childers said he really responded to the program and has found success and purpose in a military career.
She also has helped 15-20 with alternate graduation plans (through a GED) when they found that the public school system wasn’t working for them.
One former student offered a quote: “Sarah Childers and Chris Pounds through RYS changed my life. They believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself, guiding me with patience and honesty. Because of them, I found the direction and drive to build a successful future.”
Childers said the reward is seeing a student without an anchor start to thrive. “They are amazing,” she said of the students.
“Some of the students have the saddest stories you’ll ever hear,” she said. “All they know is neglect and abuse.”
With these backgrounds, she delights when they open up and she gets to see their sense of humor. “Some of them are just the goofiest things,” she said.
They do all they can, but Childers encourages those in the community that can to offer support if they see a kid in need.
“For every kid we get, there are probably 50 that fall through the cracks,” she said.
For more information on RYS, visit raisingyouthservices.org or email raisingyouthservices@gmail.com