Everyone is blessed with individual gifts and talents, and these individual gifts allow each of us to bring something unique to God’s table in the service of his design.  As Clinical Director of Buckner Children and Family Services, Southeast Texas, I have been given the opportunity to see the diversity and breadth of experience that impacts the lives of at- risk children and families on a daily basis.  Over the last thirteen years, I have watched foster parents and child care specialists help children cope with the emotional and physical fallout of abuse and neglect.  I have also had the privilege of seeing the difference our case managers make in the lives of children as they provide support, coordinate services, and advocate for the needs of our children and their caregivers. I have been blessed to witness lives being changed by such care and compassion.   

     Buckner staff and foster parents are relentless in their efforts to meet the needs of our young clients.  Through the years, I have worked in various capacities with foster care, starting as an outpatient therapist in Beaumont and Port Arthur, and more recently (the last 3 years or so) as Clinical Director.  Historically, the Clinical Director has been responsible for guiding the clinical aspects of local Buckner programs such as Foster Care, Residential Group Care, and the Residential Treatment Center.  Specific responsibilities of the Clinical Director with foster care include coordinating regular clinical staffings of all foster care children in cooperation with case managers, monitoring prescribed psychotropic medications, and providing input into treatment planning and obtaining therapeutic services when needed.  My work with Buckner is very rewarding as I work alongside professionals and caregivers who truly understand how important it is to work together, as one body, for the greater good.

     With the recent transition of our residential campus to foster family group homes, the Buckner team continues to show remarkable commitment and concern for the needs of Buckner clients.  I am pleased that talented therapists Tammy Parsons, LCSW, and Laura Langley, MS, LPC are using their gifts to serve children in the foster care department.  Ms. Parsons brings 15 years experience specializing in trauma and abuse issues with teens.  Ms. Langley energetically brings 4 years of working in a variety of contexts including outpatient counseling and residential group care.  Ms. Parsons and Ms. Langley will be working as therapist/case managers for the foster family group homes on campus, with occasional outpatient therapy services to community foster homes.

     I look forward to the future, knowing that new opportunities for God’s children to experience love and compassion will be offered through the many individual gifts of his servants in the Buckner ministry.

Jeff  Ross

Clinical Director

The great staff at Memorial Herman Baptist ER and the Julie and Ben Rogers Cancer Institute joined together to give so that children served by Buckner Children and Family Services can have a great summer. Their staff took the time to collect summer items such as beach towels, sandals, buckets, sunglasses, sunscreen, and all kinds of great summer toys for the kids. These are people that take care of many in our community everyday, and yet they are giving back even more. It’s not surprising to me that we continue to see the generosity of the wonderful people in Southeast Texas. I get to see it so often, and it always makes me so proud of our local churches, businesses, and everyday people in our community.

     We at Buckner are committed to making life better for the children and families we serve by enriching their lives. Summer is a time for our children to enjoy some of the simple joys of life and take a break from the worry and stress that overshadows them due to their histories of abuse and neglect. What a joy it is to see them have an opportunity to decorate the sidewalk with beautiful creations or just cool off by playing with water toys on a hot summer day! Days like this can be priceless to children who have lost so much of their childhood.

     This gift of summer fun is so greatly appreciated and it represents just one of many ways people can give to our children. There are many ways to help make life better for our children. We are always looking for activity opportunities such as movie passes, bowling, skating or maybe just a fast food gift card so kids could go for a special meal or ice cream. We have items that are needed year round like towels, new stuffed animals, and hygiene products. For community members who wish to give seasonally, we have needs for back to school items, Easter basket items, Valentine’s candy or cards, and Christmas gifts.

     As the Administrator of Buckner Children and Family Services in Southeast Texas, I am proud to say that I live in a community that steps up and gives in so many wonderful ways. So, to all those out there who have always given to us, we say thank you for enriching the lives of all the children and families we work with. Your decision to give back makes a difference.

Laura May

Administrator