NONPROFIT Trel’s Home for Children Nonpro t adding residential centers for youth T rel’s Home for Children, a Conroe-based nonpro t, is expanding its capacity to licensed to care for 11 youth up to age 18, most children are ages 9-17, Ken said. He said the center has served more than 300 kids. “We have seen an increase [in
BY ANNA LOTZ
CHILDREN without PLACEMENT
Trel’s Home for Children cares for children for whom a suitable placement cannot be found, known as children without placement. Data shows that number jumped in 2020. Number of children without placement in Texas
serve children in foster care with two new residential treatment centers in Magnolia and Spring slated to open in early April. Ken and Taneshu Collier started the nonpro t in 2019 in honor of their late son, Kentrel. The organization began with one 90-day emergency shelter in Conroe, a refuge for chil- dren in foster care for whom the state cannot nd a suitable placement. Trel’s Home for Children also launched a child-placing agency last summer, meaning the organization can license families to care for foster children, said Ken, the organization’s chief operating o cer. “We see kiddos who we feel deserve a fair shake at life, so we wanted to be able to place those kiddos with phenomenal families,” Ken said. While the Conroe shelter is
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need]; it’s why we decided to move forward with opening other facilities, because the need is just so grand right now,” he said. The new Spring center will be able to house up to 11 youth until age 18 or when a foster home is found for them, Ken said. In Magnolia, the new center will speci cally care for youth with more intense needs, such as psychiatric health, Ken said. He estimates the center is one of three in Texas. “That program will be focused on helping those kiddos learn appro- priate coping skills; they’re not able to go to school … so we’re able to provide school on-site for them,” he said. “So it’s going to be very unique, very intense, but very needed.”
1,572
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SOURCES: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, TREL’S HOME FOR CHILDREN COMMUNITY IMPACT Trel’s Home for Children will open 2 additional treatment centers in April. Each shelter can care for up to 11 children.
Ken (right) and Taneshu Collier started Trel’s Home for Children in 2019. The nonpro t will hold a fundraiser gala April 29. (Courtesy Ken Collier)
Trel’s Home for Children 1110 N. Loop 336 W., Conroe
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936-217-1047 www.th4c.org
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512-232-5000 EdServices@austin.utexas.edu
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CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION • MARCH 2023
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