Press Releases Archives - Arrow Child & Family Ministries

On January 28, 2025, several of Arrow’s leaders attended the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services (TACFS) Advocacy Day at the State Capitol in Austin. This annual event provides an invaluable opportunity for child welfare agencies to connect with legislators, share insights, and advocate for the needs of the children and families we serve.

During the event, Arrow leaders met with state decision-makers to discuss critical issues impacting families and children, while also highlighting the broader priorities of service providers like us. Advocacy Day serves as a platform for Alliance members to ensure their voices are heard, fostering meaningful collaboration with policymakers.

Scott Batson, Associate Vice President of Capacity Development, shared his thoughts on the event, saying:

“This was my first time attending Advocacy Day in Austin. It was impressive to see 180 people from across Texas coming together to advocate for mental and behavioral health, community based care, T3C implementation, and preservation services. It was exciting to be a part of an organization that is actively engaged with our State leaders and helping to implement new initiatives for the betterment of families and children.”

Arrow’s participation in Advocacy Day underscores our commitment to advocating for better policies, greater resources, and stronger support systems for the families we serve.

To learn more about TACFS Advocacy Day and the work being done to support child welfare, visit TACFS Advocacy Day.

Together, we’re making a difference—one conversation at a time.

Arrow Child & Family Ministries is at the forefront of addressing the pressing need for foster families equipped to care for children with complex medical, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Laura and Mark Hutton, foster parents for over 24 years, exemplify the dedication and compassion needed in this field. Their journey highlights the profound impact foster families can have, from supporting children through intensive medical treatments to providing a stable home for adoption.

Rob Basler, Associate Vice President of Arrow, emphasized the organization’s commitment to attracting more families through its Enhanced Treatment Foster Care (ETFC) program. This initiative offers additional training, in-home sessions, 24/7 on-call support, and a higher monthly stipend of $5,193 to foster parents caring for children with intensive needs.

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified challenges in recruiting foster families, but Arrow is seeing a recovery in interested families, providing renewed hope. With a significant drop in the number of licensed foster homes in Maryland—from 3,267 in 2021 to 1,027 in 2023—Arrow’s efforts are more critical than ever to ensure children are placed in safe, supportive environments.

The need for families willing to provide stability and care for children, particularly those with special needs, remains urgent. Arrow’s programs are designed to meet these challenges head-on, fostering brighter futures for Maryland’s youth.

“They just need a home. They just need hope,” said Carl Price, a former foster child turned advocate, capturing the heart of Arrow’s mission.

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Cerebral palsy are lifelong conditions that affect movement and co-ordination, caused by a problem with the brain that occurs before, during or after birth.

Berkeley Research Group generously donated over 300 personal hygiene supply bags and housekeeping items to ACFM Maryland. We are so grateful for their kindness and support in helping us serve our community and make a difference for kids. Thank you, BRG, for helping us spread joy this holiday season!

Arrow is thrilled to receive over 100 Christmas gifts donated to Arrow kiddos by PennyBacker Capital! Joan Norton, Arrow’s Austin’s recruiter was on hand December 4th in downtown Austin speaking to a full house of PennyBacker employees and then the employees got busy wrapping up the gifts for our Arrow kiddos. Each year, PennyBacker does a philanthropic event and this year Arrow was a recipient.

Longview, Texas (KLTV) -New forever families continue to be formed in this National Adoption Month. On Nov. 15, six families adopted seven children into their families inside the Gregg County Courthouse, one pair being twin brothers Mathew and Makai. Their adoptive mother Verniita Gipson says the twins’ adoption was a moment that was years in the making. “Their mother is a relative of mine, and unfortunately she was going through some things in her life, you know,” Gipson says. Agreeing to foster the brothers since they were just four months old, Gipson was able to be there for them when their biological mother couldn’t. “We had spoken previously to her having her children, if she ever got in a situation… that I would be willing to help her as much as I possibly could.”

After two and a half years of fostering the boys, Gipson took the steps to take them in fully. “I’m grateful that she made the decision to put them first, you know, and realize that she wanted something better for them,” Gipson expresses. A better life is what Gipson shares she wants to give the brothers. Having had three children of her own, Gipson is relearning how to be a mother of toddlers again, but it’s an experience she welcomes with joy. “Basically, give them everything that I got to offer to them, what I gave to my first three children,” Gipson says. During Gipson’s court hearing, 307th District Court Judge Tim Womack took the time to acknowledge the adoptive mothers’ efforts up until that point. “There’s just not many people… that have that in them. And you’re one of those very special people, so on behalf of this court …and me personally, I thank you so much for all that you have done and all that you will do,” said Womack. According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, each year, approximately 700 to 900 foster youth age out of foster care.

Womack says that’s why their county’s adoption day means so much. “The fact that we get to do this once a year, bring some attention to this and hopefully, just like you said, maybe bring some new parents into the fold and maybe begin some new families,” Womack says. For people interested in helping children in the system, Gipson’s advice is to just go for it. “There are so many children, and they need that love. It’s nothing, like if you’ve raised one, you can raise another one,” Gipson says. Luckily, the energetic 3-year-olds will never have to go through life alone from this point forward.

If you would like to see kids available for adoption in East Texas, you can email [email protected] or visit the Heart Gallery East Texas.

By Noemy Sanchez

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Arrow had an incredible time sponsoring the Supply Chain Golf Tournament! We connected with amazing individuals, shared our mission, and felt the overwhelming support from those eager to learn about the impact we’re making in children’s lives. It was a fantastic day of networking, community building, and fun on the course! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn more about Arrow. Together, we’re driving change for a brighter future!

Despite a rainy and muddy start on Saturday, September 28, 2024, Arrow Child & Family Ministries proudly participated in the Legacy Chase Event by sponsoring the Stick Pony Races for children 12 and under. Thankfully, the sun made its appearance just in time to dry things up and kick off the races! Due to the overwhelming interest, a total of seven Stick Pony Races were held, bringing so much joy to all the participating children.

Legacy Chase is an incredible family event filled with steeplechase racing, picnicking, and tailgating, or you can even entertain family, friends, or clients with your own tent. This event plays a crucial role in preserving a historic local working farm, ensuring it continues as a venue for steeplechase racing and family-friendly activities for the past 22 years. Managed by the Land Preservation Trust and local non-profits, the committee is made up of young professionals across Maryland who are passionate about preserving open spaces.

Arrow was honored to sponsor this amazing event, and we cherished every moment of sharing our impactful work with everyone who attended. Thank you to all who came out, supported us, and learned more about the difference we are making together. We can’t wait for what next year will bring!

Last month the Arrow Center for Education Tangram School staff proudly participated in the Autism Speaks Walk, raising both awareness and funds to support the autism community. @AutismSpeaks fuels innovative research and provides vital, lifelong resources and services.

We’re deeply grateful for the ongoing support from our parents, students, and staff, who helped us surpass our fundraising goal. Thanks to your generosity, the ACE Tangram Team raised $1,554.24 to further this important mission. 🙏 Together, we’re making a lasting impact!

Last month, Arrow proudly attended the Region 6B CPS Kinship Unit’s Fall Festival! Marlena Cantu, Alexis Hunt, and Scott Batson represented Arrow, hosting a fun bean bag toss and popular giveaways like tattoos, slime, and insects. Families enjoyed activities like a petting zoo, face painting, and tractor rides, with lots of interest in Arrow’s kinship program and Behavioral Health Services!

On October 24th, Arrow hosted a Young Professionals Happy Hour at Saint Arnold’s Brewery. This event was an opportunity for young professionals in the Houston area to learn about Arrow and the services we provide to children and families. Adrienne Walker Wilson provided an overview of the organization while Scott Batson offered some background information on the child welfare system in Texas. We had a great time introducing our organization to the attendees and sharing our mission to Help Kids & Strengthen Families!