The Hicks Family

Ken and Pat Hicks adopted three siblings in 1999. Over the years, the Hicks received post adoption services at DePelchin, included family counseling, therapeutic summer camp experiences for the children, parenting seminars and anger management classes. The following is a letter from Ken and Pat Hicks.

"DePelchin may be responsible for keeping my family together."

My family, including my three adopted children, have received many services and benefits from DePelchin. When no one else understood the uniqueness of these children or could anticipate their needs, we could always rely on our friends at DePelchin to help us find the right path.

Children who are abused and abandoned are different from other children who have always been with their birth families. These kids respond differently for different reasons and it requires understanding to modify their behavior. Outside of DePelchin and organizations like yours, the necessary understanding only exists to a limited degree. If not properly and adequately addressed, these children frequently grow up to be abusers, criminals, underachievers and have lifelong issues that affect all aspects of their life.

I suspect the contribution DePelchin makes to society in general is seldom recognized. DePelchin frequently modifies behavior and redirects families to become healthy and productive citizens who love and raise their children differently. By changing just one life, DePelchin justifies its existence, but I happen to think it does more—much more.

Because DePelchin has been generous with services applicable to our needs in the past, we need the organization to a much lesser extent today. It is time for the agency to redirect the services we once received to a more needy family. Thank you, DePelchin, for generations to come who will never know they owe you a debt of gratitude!

Ken M. and Pat C. Hicks