Cherish Our Children International has supported a number of grass roots programs in the US that serve vulnerable children. Our focus has been on financially supporting local programs that provide critically needed services to children that are not supported by the systems in this country. We have sponsored a meals on wheels program for hungry children in Texas and were immediately on-site with humanitarian aid and social services for the thousands of Katrina victims that found shelter in the Houston Astrodome. Additionally, COCI coaches young people to be leaders through "kids helping kids" events, children serving on our Board and visiting our programs overseas. This focus continues to be a high priority for COCI and we are excited about providing young leaders with opportunities to contribute globally.
Life Houston - Local Infant Formula for Emergencies
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LIFE/Houston "cannot underscore the importance" of the assistance it receives from COCI. Annually, LIFE/Houston has been providing formula to almost 6,000 infants, with over 75% of the babies less than six months of age. Statistics continue to demonstrate that most families access LIFE/Houston's services only twice, indicating that LIFE/Houston is truly meeting the family's "emergency."
The ethnic base of LIFE/Houston is primarily Latino (69%) and African-American (24%). Sixty percent are single mothers, with 47% being referred by WIC (Women and Infant Child Program). Over 80 % do not breast feed, a number LIFE/Houston is hoping to reduce through counseling.
Although COCI typically focuses on longer range programs, this project continues to be one that speaks loudly to our vision of providing all children with the opportunity to live life fully and make their unique contribution. Hungry, vulnerable children do not thrive and this project proves that often times a quick intervention can have a lasting impact in a child's life.
 Lianna Long, Lead President, NMVI 2007-2008, performed in New York recently for the COCI fundraising event. She is also the 2nd year Captain of the Coleen Drill Team and 2nd Runner Up for Ms. Smiley, 2007-2008 |
In Houston, Texas, COCI is honored to support NO MORE VICTIMS, INC. (NMV), Advocacy Agency for Newborns and Children of Incarcerated Parents. In 1993, Marilyn Gambrell established NMV, Inc. while serving as a parole officer with the criminal justice system. She was shocked and moved when she became aware that there are 2.1 million children who have a parent who is incarcerated, that 8 out of 10 with at least one parent in jail will later end up in prison themselves, and that these children are twice as likely as other children to experience abuse and display violent disruptive behavior. These children are likely to be beaten, raped and molested. Some engage in illegal activities and self-mutilation.
No More Victims focus is to assist these at risk children in preventing the continuing cycle of
addiction, abuse, violence and incarceration by providing a safe facility for them to go. By supporting the high school age children, they are better able to positively help their younger siblings.
Since the year 2000, NMV has served 700 students at M.D. Smiley High School where nearly 70 percent of the students are economically disadvantaged. The school is located in one of the poorest communities in the Houston area.
No More Victim's is housed in a building not far from the M.D. Smiley campus. The doors are open early in the morning and into the night to any the student who may have been abused or raped the night before and provides the loving care of an adult who will listen and take action on their behalf.
The University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work evaluated the impact of the program and produced a report in October 2005 stating:
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The children showed significant improvements in lower rates of depression and a higher rate of self-esteem. Improving GPA, resilience, reducing anxiety, stopping deliberate self-harm, suicidal behavior, non-index delinquent crimes, improved problem-solving skills and improving quality of life distal outcomes.
Today it costs taxpayers $56,000.00 per child per year to be housed in a Texas prison. NMV kept hundreds of children from going to prison, 137 in 2006 alone, for almost the same amount.
With continued success we estimate the crime rate to go down another 5% per year for the next 5 years.
There is no doubt that NMV is making a huge difference in the lives of these vulnerable children, and contributing to a more stable community. Since the year 2000, 700 students have graduated, gone to college, joined the military or attended vocational school. The older children are role models for the younger children. NMV has greatly impacted the M. B. Smiley High School through the reduction of violence and crime on campus, teen-age pregnancy and gang involvement. The students participating in the program have greatly improved behavior, grades and attendance creating an overall safer school environment.
In 2007, all 40 NMV seniors graduated!
 Graduation Celebration, 2007, NMVI Students, M.D. Smiley High School |
The organization has received tremendous media coverage:
- articles in the U.S. News and World Report, People and Prism Magazines
- A Lifetime Movie Original titled "Fighting the Odds: The Marilyn Gambrell Story" was released in August, 2005 on the Lifetime Movie Channel.
- CNN's - "News Night with Aaron Brown" released a special feature news story about Ms. Gambrell
- Nick News with Linda Elerbee (2007)
- PBS Living Smart hosted by Patricia Gras
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Living Smart #204: Healing At Risk Children  Watch video here - Related videos |
