Month: January 2026

A New Year and a New Day


Dear Friend,

As we begin a new year, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible work you’ve helped us achieve thus far and look ahead to all that we can accomplish together in 2026. I’ve included links below to stories that share the importance of all that we do while also highlighting the impact we have when we work with partners like you.

At DePelchin, we remain committed to providing foster and adoptive services, counseling and parenting programs, and many more tools that ensure children and the families who care for them have every opportunity to succeed — and your generosity helps make this possible.

Thanks to the support of friends like you, countless kids have access to the resources needed to grow and thrive as well as the safety of a loving home. If you’re considering opening your home and your heart, we host orientation opportunities throughout the year for you to learn more. If you’d like to start the process, click here to find an upcoming orientation event. We’d love to be part of your journey!

Over the years, we have supported countless families — just like Jolene and Hunter’s — through foster care licensing to becoming a forever family and every step in between. Your partnership helped connect baby Levi with safety, love and his forever family with Jolene and Hunter. You can read their full story here.

To help support more families, DePelchin is adding more family resources across Texas. Our newest Family Resource Center, located in San Antonio, will be opening soon. These facilities offer school-based counseling, parenting classes, donations through our Donation Station and more. To learn more about the impact of our Family Resource Centers, read Jessica’s story here.

As we enter this new year, we want to better portray the growing impact we hope to have in our communities. That’s why we decided it’s time for a refreshed look, which you may start to notice. We are updating our brand to help usher in this new era of DePelchin. While it is a new day for us, our mission remains the same — to strengthen the lives of children and families by enhancing their mental health and physical well-being.

As you read the stories below, I hope you are encouraged to see the meaningful and lasting difference that you are making. If you have any questions about the impact of your giving or about DePelchin programs, please reach out to us at development@depelchin.org.

We couldn’t do this vital work without you. Thank you for joining us! Together, we are creating a stronger tomorrow for the children and families who need it most.

With gratitude,

Jenifer Jarriel
President & CEO

Transitioning from Foster to Forever

Today, 18-month-old Levi is thriving, happy and exceeding milestones.

But that wasn’t always the case. When Levi was born, he was immediately placed in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) due to drug exposure in utero.

While in the hospital, Jolene and Hunter visited him for the first time and began the process to become his foster parents.

“[Levi] was going through some pretty serious withdrawals,” Hunter shares. “The nurses told us it was the worst drug exposure they’ve seen in a baby. [He went] through withdrawals for two full months.”

At two months old, he was released from the hospital and went home with Jolene and Hunter. His first few months in his new home were sometimes difficult, but Jolene and Hunter were ready to provide extra love and cuddles.

“Caring for him became very easy and second nature,” Jolene explains.

In time, Levi began to flourish thanks to the safety and attention his foster parents provided.

“He just needed that attachment and love, and it worked,” Jolene shares. “He went from extremely delayed in milestones to exceeding [them].”

And at 18 months old, Levi was officially adopted and gained a forever family with Jolene and Hunter. The couple looks forward to providing a home and loving care to more children through DePelchin.

“The resources that you have [given] us [have] been super impactful,” Hunter says to donors like you. 

Click here if you’d like to make a gift today. 

Hope for a Brighter Day

Jessica and Rene prioritize joy in their home. Often on Fridays, the couple shuts off the lights and throws a “glowstick party” for their 3 kids — Isabella, 6, Saumya, 5, and Ezio, 2.

All three of Jessica and Rene’s children have been diagnosed with autism and have diverse needs. Unfortunately, the family’s insurance doesn’t cover all the therapies the kids need. That’s where DePelchin has been able to step in and fill a gap.

Through a DePelchin Family Resource Center, the whole family now receives free mental health therapy — excluding Ezio who is currently too young to participate in our free mental health therapy at this time.

“It’s just been a blessing for my family,” says Jessica. “The program has put smiles on my kids’ faces and that is priceless.”

With help from her therapist, Isabella is learning how to vocalize her emotions and how to self-regulate, and her little sister, Saumya, is starting to express herself.

Jessica says she feels cared for as a person and a mom, especially when DePelchin has been able to go above and beyond for her family. A staff member once brought diapers and other items to their home.

“They…got me the help that I needed,” says Jessica. “It’s really touching that there are people out there that care…DePelchin has just been another extension of my family.”

“Thank you,” Jessica says to partners like you. “Every dollar is being put to use. It’s molding our future. Every little thing you can give, it gives our kids hope for a brighter day.”

Click here if you’d like to make a gift today. 

DePelchin Welcomes New Board Chair, Susan Barnes

We are excited to welcome Susan Barnes to her new role as Chair of DePelchin’s Board of Directors! For over 15 years, Susan has remained committed to serving our children and families – beginning as a member of the Friends of DePelchin young professionals group and continuing to her first board appointment in 2017. She has dedicated countless volunteer hours with enthusiasm, supported many initiatives such as the Holiday Project and the School Supply Drive, and played a vital role as a member on the Capital Campaign Committee to support the Junior League of Houston Volunteer Servies Building project.

Susan’s dedication to the Houston community extends beyond her service to DePelchin. She is a sustaining member of The Junior League of Houston, Inc. where she developed nonprofit management skills and was eventually honored with the Sara Houstoun Lindsey Award for her outstanding contributions to the League and the community. She is also an enthusiastic volunteer with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Auction Assistance Committee and co-leads the music ministry for small children at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, using her love of music to bring joy into young lives.

Beyond her invaluable service and leadership, Susan brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Holding a master’s degree from Texas A&M and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Penn State, Susan directs Education by the Numbers – a large-scale database that provides historical educational statistics and data visualization to researchers and policymakers. She also leads Pitch Pipe Projects, where she collaborates with nonprofit boards and staff to strengthen their governance practices and overcome challenges.

In response to her new role, Susan shares, “Our board is filled with smart, compassionate, and engaged members who believe that what Kezia Payne DePelchin started in 1892 is our charge to keep. I am humbled to serve alongside each member. I look forward to serving with them as we learn from the exceptional professionals who deliver evidence-based programs that give every child the chance to grow up in a strong, healthy family.”

As we look ahead in the new year, we are thrilled to have Susan’s vision and leadership, especially as we progress in our role as lead agency of Region 6 for Community Based Care.  Susan’s commitment to the community, combined with her experience, brings a valuable perspective to our Board of Directors, and we give her a warm welcome!