Archived News
Help Make a Child’s Christmas Special This Year JACKSON, MS, November 9 – Mississippi Children’s Home Services (MCHS) is holding an annual toy and gift drive for children in their care ages 6-18. Many of these children have been abused or neglected, and they all need your love and generosity this holiday season. Please help by adopting a child’s wish list or providing general gift donations. We ask that all gifts and toys be new, and gift cards to Wal-Mart or Target are an excellent way for the kids to pick out exactly the right gift. The unwrapped gifts should be delivered to Mississippi Children’s Home Services at 1900 N. West Street in Jackson, MS between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday – Friday by December 14, 2009. If you or your company are interested in spreading joy this holiday season, please contact Lauren Smith, Development Coordinator, at 601-709-1251 or Lauren.Smith@mchscares.org for more details and guidelines.
Enjoy Great Food and MCHS has teamed up with Bravo, Sal & Mookies, and Broad Street Baking Company for a fundraiser benefiting Mississippi Children’s Home Services for National Adoption Month. Please click on the link below and print out coupons. Bring your coupon to any of these 3 great Jackson, MS restaurants on November 10th, 11th, or 12th, and MCHS will receive 10% of your ticket price! Starting in 1990, November has been recognized as National Adoption Month to focus attention on the children waiting for placement with families. Since 1912, MCHS has served as a home finding agency placing over 7,000 children in adoptive homes. Please help us support MCHS and children and families across the state by donating or visiting these 3 great restaurants on Nov. 10th-12th. (Don’t forget to bring your coupon.) For more information, contact Lauren Smith, Development Coordinator, at (601)709-1251 or lauren.smith@mchscares.org. Thanks for your support!
Mississippi Children’s Home Services Supports National Make a Difference MonthJackson, Mississippi, November 2, 2009 – To celebrate National Make a Difference Day, children and youth in the CARES and ARK programs of Mississippi Children’s Home Services gave back by making care packages for troops overseas, participating in a Habitat for Humanity project, and working at Mount Leopard horse ranch. National Make a Difference Day is a celebrated on the fourth Thursday of every October. According to Ian Jones, Recreation Coordinator with Cares School, “This day was a platform to integrate our kids back in the community through service. The kids in our care often have volunteers helping them but this allows them to give back and make a difference.” The first project was planning and making care packages for the troops overseas. These packages included hand sanitizer, chapstick, Kleenex, gum, candy, and more. On Friday, October 23, the day before National Make a Difference Day, students gathered together to present care packages to the troops to members of the Air National Guard. “All the packages will be taken to Iraq or Afghanistan for soldiers in the field,” said Lt. Col. James Hartline who gladly accepted the gifts from the MCHS students. “It really means a lot to the soldiers to know that people back home care about them.” In addition to the care packages, children and youth, ages 6-17, rolled up their sleeves to work on a Habitat for Humanity house, while others spent Saturday working at Mount Leopard horse ranch.
(From Left to Right) Demetra Foster, James Hartline, Countess Gaitor, Kevin Myers, Megan Martin, and Annie Cassidy, members of the Air National Guard, pose after receiving care packages from MCHS youth.
Kids from Mississippi Children’s Home Services Cruise the Scarecrow Car Show On the crisp and breezy Saturday morning of Oct. 17th, 24 children and youth ages 6-17 bundled up to attend the Scarecrow Cruise and Car Show in Madison, MS as a special treat. The car show was hosted by Mississippi Classic Cruisers and features over 350 cars, pony rides, a magic show, and lots of shopping and entertainment. Despite the cold, the kids enjoyed viewing the cars and picking out their favorites. Many loved the classics while others gathered around the new sports cars including the Nissan 370Z Coupe which is one of ten vehicles included in MCHS’s Fall for Kids Car Giveaway Raffle. After viewing the cars, the kids were treated to a free magic show by local magician Dorian LaChance. In addition, the kids received free event t-shirts to remember the day and hamburgers from Backyard Burger. “Many of the children are victims of abuse and neglect,” said Adriane Louie, MCHS Auxiliary President. “We coordinate activities so that the children can have positive experiences… We want the children to feel important and cared about.”
EWI Volunteers Read to Children at Mississippi Children’s Home Services A group of ladies from the Executive Women’s International (EWI) came to read to 12 elementary students at the CARES School of Mississippi Children’s Home Services (MCHS) on October 7, 2009. Volunteer, Tara Raynes, read “A Gerbil Named Grace” to the children before they ate snacks and received goodies. The group left signed copies of the book for each child along with treat bags filled with a Frisbee, a popup book, cards, a pedometer, bubbles, and more. Executive Women’s International is an organization for networking and leadership development for today's business professionals and their firms. EWI was established in 1938, and there are currently over 2,500 member firms and 2,800 representatives in major cities throughout the United States and Canada.
Tara Raynes reads as the children intently listen
Mississippi Children’s Home Services JACKSON, MS, July 16, 2009 – July marks Social Wellness Month, a time of the year to help others feel good about themselves and build stronger social ties with others. For children, this is important, according to child mental health experts at Mississippi Children’s Home Services. “Social wellness is one of the most integral pieces of your child’s wellness plan,” said Dr. John Damon, Chief Operating Officer at Mississippi Children’s Home Services. “It is important for a child to feel loved and cared for, and taking the time to build a bond with your child will help them feel this sense of emotional support.” Children should be equipped with the best social skills and talking with your child about their social interaction with others is a topic that should be discussed in the home. At Mississippi Children’s Home Services, staff teach children and youth in their care the importance of sharing and using open and honest communication with them. Children and youth in the care of Mississippi Children’s Home Services have seen neglect first hand and many are victims of abuse. Many of them have not been cared for in a nurturing environment and as a result experience behavioral health and social health issues. “It’s so important that we expose them to a variety of social situations to help them build a social network of their own,” says Dr. Damon. “We teach them to trust, to socially interact with others so that they have support and structure for their emotional stability and well-being.”
Mississippi Children’s Home Services Hosts Annual Meeting at the Jackson Country Club JACKSON, MS, June 29, 2009 – Mississippi Children’s Home Services (MCHS) hosted its 2008 Annual Meeting, themed “Lasting Impressions,” at the Jackson Country Club. Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering was the keynote speaker to a crowd of over 100, prestigious recipients were honored, and the new 2009 – 2010 MCHS Board of Directors introduced during the annual event. According to Chris Cherney, Chief Executive Officer with Mississippi Children’s Home Services, “every one present at this meeting has made a lasting impression in the life of a child.”
“The Annual Meeting is a time to reflect back on the accomplishments of the past year, and for our constituents, friends, government liaisons, Board of Directors, volunteers and others to see the strides this agency has made thanks to their endless support and vital partnerships,” added Cherney. Keynote speaker Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering shared his personal story: he is a product of a family who is the direct beneficiary of a children’s home. Pickering’s grandmother grew up in the Masonic Lodge in Meridian during the Great Depression, a time when his great-grandmother, a widow, lost everything and could not afford to raise five children. The Meridian orphanage was the only option for her children to receive care at the time. “Many children from broken homes face the greatest obstacles right out of the starting gate,” said State Auditor Pickering. “They face higher rates of divorce, abuse, often have dysfunctional families of their own and at times make bad choices that impact their future. Mississippi Children’s Home Services steps in to fill the gap and takes on the responsibility of making a difference in the life of a child, a family in need.” The Masonic Home in Meridian, an organization like MCHS stepped up to the plate, said Pickering. “My grandmother’s brothers became executives in the insurance industry, the women became productive mothers and wives, and others in the family furthered their educations, gaining their master’s and Ph.D. degrees,” said Pickering. “I look at my daughter and the future we have before us as a family that would not have been possible without a children’s home standing in to fill in the gap in 1930. It was a ministry and a legacy that we are celebrating and carrying on today.” Pickering challenged the crowd to “embrace the heritage and legacy that you are leaving behind by helping raise funds and sharing the great things that MCHS is accomplishing. There are thousands of stories to tell across this great state and many more to tell. It takes all of us working together to make a lasting impression on the lives of children and families. The ultimate difference is worth it.” CEO Chris Cherney recognized MCHS’s Prestigious Award recipients. The 2008 Distinguished Community Support Award goes to Mississippi native and country music star Faith Hill and her husband Tim McGraw. 2008 Public Partner Award recipient is Kristi Plotner, Bureau Director for Mental Health Programs at the Mississippi Division of Medicaid. The Mississippi Children’s Home Services Auxiliary received the 2008 Friend of Children Award. The 2009 – 2010 slate of Mississippi Children’s Home Services’ Board of Directors were presented: President, Carol Biedenharn; Vice-President, James N. C. “Red” Moffat; Secretary, Cathie Bailey; Assistant Secretary, Lauren Benner; Treasurer, Sherribeth Farmer; and Assistant Treasurer, Jeffrey Webster. New members also joined the 2009 – 2010 MCHS Board of Directors: Charlita Cloman, Barney Daley, Helen Dalehite, Alfredo Donaldson and Brad Maley.
Mississippi Children’s Home Services Presents Distinguished Friend of Children Award to Agency’s Volunteers JACKSON, MS, June 26, 2009 – Mississippi Children’s Home Services (MCHS) presented the Mississippi Children’s Home Services Auxiliary membership with the 2008 Friend of Children Award. The award recognizes an individual or group for the endless commitment to the children served through the agency. “Auxiliary members have impacted lives of our children through their acts of kindness, their servant hearts and their endless energy,” said MCHS Chief Executive Officer Chris Cherney. “While our Auxiliary members are a diverse group of women, they are united in their mission, to ensure that each and every child knows that they are safe and loved, and that someone truly cares about them and their well-being.” The Mississippi Children’s Home Services Auxiliary was founded in 2004 to assist in fundraising and to create and carry out projects that benefit the children we serve. Each month, the Auxiliary members host a monthly birthday party for ARK and CARES program residents. In addition to birthday parties, the Auxiliary conducts a reading program for the children, as well as grooming and etiquette parties. “Every female resident ages six to 18 experience an evening of being a Princess,” said Cherney. “Our Auxiliary members throw a Princess Party each year to help make our young ladies learn the importance of inner beauty. Former Mrs. World Pam Nail shares her story about the challenges she faced as a young lady in an abusive home setting and how she made the right choices in life.” During the Princess Party, Cherney added, each participant is treated to refreshments and leave the party with beauty products, tiaras, boas and an experience they will never forget. The Auxiliary members also coordinate and raise funds through the annual Mississippi Children’s Home Services Wine Tasting and Silent Auction. “Four years ago, our Auxiliary spearheaded the wine tasting event,” said Cherney, “and the results were impressive. This event went from netting approximately $10,000 a year to more than $70,000 annually. It continues to grow each year, and this feat would not be possible without their outstanding charisma and attitude about making this the premier wine tasting benefit in central Mississippi.”
Mississippi Children’s Home Services Presents Distinguished Community Support Award to Faith Hill and Tim McGraw JACKSON, MS, June 26, 2009 – Mississippi Children’s Home Services (MCHS) presented Mississippi native and country music star Faith Hill and country music star husband Tim McGraw with the 2008 Community Support Award at the agency’s recent 2008 Annual Meeting held at the Jackson Country Club. Hill and McGraw were unable to accept the award personally, but were recognized for their faithful efforts to better the lives of abused and neglected Mississippi children and youth and families in need. “Ten years ago, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw asked what they could do to help make the holiday season better for the children we serve,” said MCHS Chief Executive Officer Chris Cherney. “At that time, they made a commitment to make Christmas extra special for our children, and they continue to do so each Christmas.” Country music star Faith Hill was adopted and has been a visitor to the agency’s Jackson campus in the past, where she sang to MCHS children during a special visit.
Mississippi Children’s Home Services Presents Distinguished Public Partner Award to Mississippi Medicaid Official JACKSON, MS, June 26, 2009 – Mississippi Children’s Home Services (MCHS) presented Kristi Plotner, Bureau Director for Mental Health Programs at the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, with the 2008 Mississippi Children’s Home Services Public Partner Award.
“While there are many individuals deserving of this award, it is fitting that the Public Partner Award be presented to someone who has left an indelible impression on Mississippi’s at-risk children and families of Mississippi,” said MCHS Chief Executive Officer Chris Cherney. Plotner is an appointed member of the Board of Examiners for Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapists. She currently serves on the State Level Case Review team, the State Mental Health Planning Council and serves as Chairperson of the Interagency System of Care Council. She is Secretary of the Mississippi Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. The Mental Health Programs Bureau, which Plotner directs, is responsible for the administration of mental health serves offered by the Division of Medicaid, including Community Mental Health Centers, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities, Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review, and most recently the Community Alternatives to Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities Grant (MYPAC) – an effort that she has led that will forever shape the landscape of mental health services for Mississippi children and families. “The state of Mississippi has been blessed with many compassionate and competent public servants who are committed to doing the right thing at the right time, and the right way,” said Cherney. “We are fortunate to partner with such individuals within the Mississippi Department of Human Services, Mississippi Department of Education, Mississippi State Department of Health, Mississippi Department of Mental Health and the Mississippi Division of Medicaid. As citizens of this state, we should all be proud to live in a state that possesses such resources as the people who day in and day out devote their lives to the service of its citizenry,” continued Cherney. “Kristi’s efforts have been a blessing to so many children and families across the state, and her efforts will continue to make an impact for generations to come.”
Mississippi Children’s Home Services Auxiliary JACKSON, MS, June 19, 2009 – Today the Mississippi Children’s Home Services Auxiliary announced the 2009 – 2010 officers for the non-profit agency’s volunteer arm. Mississippi Children’s Home Services Auxiliary officers for 2009 – 2010 are: Adriane Louie, President The Auxiliary was founded in 2004 to assist in fundraising and to create and carry out projects that benefit the youth, children and families served through Mississippi Children’s Home Services. In addition to the monthly birthday parties, Auxiliary members conduct a reading program for the children, grooming and etiquette parties, and introduce new corporate, foundation and individual donors and volunteers to the agency. Call Kelly Bilbo at 601-709-1251 if you are interested in volunteering through the Auxiliary.
PHOTO CAPTION 1: Pictured left to right are Mississippi Children’s Home Services Auxiliary Officers: Adriane Louie, President; Kelly Scrivner, Vice-President; Kara Washington, Secretary; and Kathy Eure, Vice-President, Membership. Not pictured are: Sheila Bratcher, Treasurer; Gwen Winters, Vice-President, Projects; Cathy Hudgins, Immediate Past President.
Mississippi Children’s Home Services Kids Bowl with NFL Pros Jerious Norwood and Deuce McAllister JACKSON, MS, June 17, 2009 – Thanks to the generosity of Mississippi natives and NFL stars Deuce McAllister and Jerious Norwood, children and youth from Mississippi Children’s Home Services (MCHS) participated in United Strikes for a Cause, a bowling benefit held at Fannin Lanes. Youth spent the day bowling, talking with the NFL stars and getting their autographs. Activities such as this enrich the lives of many Mississippi emotionally disturbed, abused and neglected youth. “Our kids gain so much from activities such as this such as practicing their social skills and learning how to interact with other people in the community,” said Ian Jones, Recreational Coordinator with MCHS. “They had so much fun meeting Jerious Norwood and Deuce McAllister, and we are thankful for taking time out of their busy schedules to show our kids that they care about them. Their acts of kindness made a lasting impression in their young lives.”
Mississippi Children’s Home Services Thanks Supporters JACKSON, MS, June 17, 2009 – “Thank you” was the theme of a recent reception at Nick’s held in appreciation of friends of Mississippi Children’s Home Services (MCHS) for endless dedication to helping abused and neglected Mississippi children. Over 100 guests enjoyed an evening of fellowship with the agency’s staff, Board of Directors and agency supporters.
PHOTO CAPTION 1: Friends of Mississippi Children’s Home Services: Marty and Dr. Lynn McMahan, MCHS Board President Carol Biedenharn and MCHS Past President David Sanders.
Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Officials Present Check and Tour New Mississippi Children’s Home Services Jean Austin Bagley Campus JACKSON, MS, June 16, 2009 – Recently Entergy Mississippi, Inc., officials visited Mississippi Children’s Home Services to present a $12,500 contribution to the organization’s Capital Campaign for expansion of services and tour the new 21-acre Jean Austin Bagley Campus. “We’re proud to help this organization that does so much to help Mississippi’s youth,” said Haley Fisackerly, president and chief executive officer for Entergy Mississippi, Inc. “At Entergy Mississippi, we work hard to make our state a better place for everyone and we’re glad to help Mississippi Children’s Home Services in their efforts to improve the lives of abused and neglected children.” Mississippi Children’s Home Services (MCHS) is devoted to nurturing children and youth with bruised pasts. Entergy Mississippi’s generous donation will enable the agency to provide much needed services to youth who will receive services on the new Jean Austin Bagley Campus located on the corner of North West Street and Woodrow Wilson Avenue. The new campus will serve an additional 60 youth in the two-story William Louis Albritton Arts and Education Building and provide residential care for 30 youth in three ten-bed cottages. Construction of the new facilities will be complete in October of this year. After presenting the check to MCHS, Entergy officials toured the new campus, currently under construction. MCHS Chief Executive Officer Chris Cherney explained to the group the need to serve many more youth who have been victims of physical and emotional abuse and ones that have severe behavioral and educational challenges that prevent them from attending a local school or remaining at home.
PHOTO CAPTION 1: Presenting a $12,500 check to Mississippi Children’s Home Services are Charles Bryan, Regional Customer Service Manager, Entergy Mississippi; Haley Fisackerly, President and Chief Executive Officer, Entergy Mississippi; Chris Cherney, Chief Executive Officer, Mississippi Children’s Home Services; Liz Brister, Manager of External Affairs, Entergy Mississippi; and John Mullins, Vice President of Customer Operations, Entergy Mississippi.
PHOTO CAPTION 2: Entergy Mississippi officials tour the inside of a residential cottage under construction on the new 21-acre Jean Austin Bagley Campus at Mississippi Children’s Home Services. Left to right are Nicole Edwards, Internal Communications Officer, Entergy Mississippi; Charles Bryan, Regional Customer Service Manager, Entergy Mississippi; Chris Cherney, Chief Executive Officer, Mississippi Children’s Home Services; Tara Marler, Community Outreach Coordinator, Mississippi Children’s Home Services; John Mullins, Vice President of Customer Operations, Entergy Mississippi; and Haley Fisackerly, President and Chief Executive Officer, Entergy Mississippi. |
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| WDAM Hattiesburg Excerpt 8-18-2008 |
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| Dream Car Giveaway Winner WLBT Excerpt 8-2-2008 |
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| WDAM Hattiesburg Excerpt 7-31-2008 |
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| Agency Expansion WLBT Excerpt 7-24-2008 |
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Excerpt from WLBT 3 News Website
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