PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

By Barrett H. Reasoner Gibbs & Bruns, L.L.P.

Many Opportunities
Inside and Outside the Bar to Help
Houston’s Youth

This is the time of year when many people consider increasing their involvement in programs that help the community. Many of Houston’s youth are especially vulnerable and need our help on a number of fronts. Our bar association has a wonderful history of helping young people in our city, and I hope you will consider getting involved in one of these efforts. In addition to our new partnership with Communities in School that we started this year, the HBA offers the following programs:

• The IDEA Program – A partnership between doctors and lawyers to educate fifth grade students throughout Houston about the legal and medical consequences of drug abuse.
  
  
• Lawyers in Public Schools (“LIPS”) – Attorneys serve as substitute teachers in the Spring Branch Independent School District, allowing teachers to attend training programs and the district to save money.
  
  
• Speakers Bureau – Attorneys make themselves available to speak at schools (and other organizations) regarding topics of interest.
  
  
• The Adopt-A-School Program – Our partnership with B.C. Elmore Middle School, in which we provide tutoring, reading incentive programs,
  and assistance with other school projects.
  
  
• Campaign for the Homeless – One of the most important efforts of this committee is our Spring Children’s Clothing and Diaper Drive.
  
  
• Juvenile Consequences Partnership – A collaboration between the Houston Bar Association, the Harris County Probation Department, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and the Houston Police Department. The program educates youth who have recently gotten into trouble and their parents about the juvenile justice system and the consequences if they do not do better in the future.
  
  
• Law Week Committee – As part of the celebration of Law Week, this committee sets up and judges student essay and art contests focused on the importance of law in our society.
  
  
• Lawyers for Literacy – This committee conducts an annual book drive, including books for kids, and participates in tutoring.
  
  
• Special Olympics – Volunteers support the Special Olympics program by helping with athletic competitions, including those involving young athletes.
  

While I am proud of the array of programs the HBA offers, I am equally proud that we are blessed to live in a city where these efforts represent only a fraction of the wide array of programs aimed at helping our youth. I learned more about some of these programs while attending the American Leadership Forum’s Houston Chapter’s breakfast at which ALF Class XXV unveiled a report entitled A Study of Solutions: Dismantling the Cradle to Prison Pipeline in Houston and Texas. The “pipeline” reference comes from a Children’s Defense Fund’s report documenting how negative factors are channeling youth away from productive lives and into a spiral that is almost impossible to get out of. The list of factors will not surprise to you: illiteracy, poverty, poor health care, domestic violence, mental health issues, teen pregnancy, unemployment, lack of positive role models, and truancy, among others. What I was not aware of was the great breadth of programs available in Houston that attempt to address these problems.

Class XXV identified twelve programs that are doing great work in these areas. In the area of juvenile justice, the report identified three programs:

a. Harris County Stay In School Program, which focuses on truancy prevention through warning letters, truancy learning camps and media campaigns;

b. Harris County’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, which was developed in partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation and establishes systems for the proper screening, intervention and collaboration to make sure that juveniles are only incarcerated when necessary; and

c. Systems of Hope, which provides support services to youth diagnosed with severe emotional problems.

In the area of education, the Class identified the following programs:

a. Genesys Works, which trains at risk students for jobs with major corporations;

b. Pro-Vision, Inc., which runs a very successful all male charter school; and

c. Cristo Rey High School, which allows students to earn tuition costs through corporate internships.

In the area of health and mental health, the Class identified the following programs:

a. The Harris County Hospital District Community Behavioral Program, which offers early, professional interventions for children;

b. The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston’s K.I.N.D.E.Rx Clinic, which helps pregnant women avoid drugs and alcohol; and

c. The Baylor College of Medicine’s Teen Clinics, which educate teen parents on how to be good parents.

Finally, in the area of prenatal care and early childhood development, the Class identified the following programs:

a. Healthy Family Initiatives, a program that provides in-home visitation for at-risk families to improve parenting skills and prevent child abuse;

b. ChildBuilders, which teaches youth about safety, relationships and parenting at a very low cost; and

c. The Lee High School Infant/Toddler Childcare Center, which provides onsite childcare to reduce teen dropout rates and increase infant development skills.

I certainly cannot do these programs justice with just a few words about each. I hope only to raise your awareness about all the inspiring work that is going on. You can help with any of these programs by volunteering time or expertise, providing financial assistance, or just helping to get the word out. In this season of giving, all of these programs are worthy of your consideration.

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