Post by Okwes on Jan 12, 2007 12:38:38 GMT -5
Indian Children's Home threatened to be close in three months due to lack
of
donations
Director is asking Indian Country for help
MUSKOGEE OK
Liz Gray 12/6/2006
[Editor's Note: Because the children at the Indian home are in state
custody
and many come from an abused background, identities of the children are not
revealed in this story. Although names have been changed in the story, the
children and the situation at the home are still very real.]
As the time grew near for school to be out, activities increased at The
Murrow Indian Children's Home and Ms. Joan Brown, Director of the program
steps
into action. "I'll pick up Amanda and take her to her piano lesson," Brown
said to her
assistant. "You need to pick up Darren, he got kicked off the bus again."
Soon, the children start flooding in -eleven boys and 10 girls - they all
seemed like normal children home from school. Flooding into the small, main
lobby of the complex, they drop off their book bags and sit down in front
of the
television like usual. But their calm demeanor and Joan's caring direction
do not reveal the trouble and pain these children have already experienced
in
their short lifespan. Backgrounds of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or
neglect
by alcohol or drug addicted parents weave stories of chaos and pain which
led them to the care of Ms. Brown and the staff at the Murrow Home.
Based in Muscogee, Oklahoma, the Children's Murrow Home has been providing
a
residential home program to needy children from tribes across Oklahoma for
over 100 years. Soon After the Civil War, Rev. J.S. Murrow, enterprising
missionary in Indian Territory, began taking orphan and homeless Indian
children
into his home.
Today, the Murrow Home is still a National Ministries mission partner and
is
supported, in part, by the American Baptist Association. Ms. Brown has been
the director for over 25 years.
Seventy-five percent of their funds come from Church donations, the
remainder from private donations and a small percentage from tribes. But
donations
directed to the Murrow Home have decreased because of the recent, national
catastrophies, including the tsunami and recent hurricanes. "This year we
ran
about $30 thousand short," said Joan. "We need at least $35 thousand a
month
but a lot of the times donations don't cover it."
Joan has done everything possible to cut corners and save money but she
told
the Native Times that they are on a three-month basis. "If we don't
increase our funding, we are going to have to close in three months," she
said.
They've saved some money by going to local churches for donations of food,
napkins and paper products. "Some groups try to help us by raising money
for
little things like toothpaste," she said. They've even gotten rid of the
large van due to high insurance costs. Now they use two small vans that don't
hold everyone when they go on trips. They have to make two trips back and
forth
to pick up the group and their items every time they venture out. As a last
resort, Joan has let some of her staff members go. "We are down to a
skeleton
crew," she said. "It's getting scary."
Many of the Murrow Home kids come from homes where they have been severely
abused. Joan describes some of the worst cases where the children who first
arrive have trouble sleeping, especially during the hours that bars close.
These children are used to alcoholic relatives coming home at that hour.
Some
children sleep in their clothes.
"These abandoned, abused, or neglected children are deeply troubled and, in
some cases, the state agencies have given up on them," Brown explains. "But
each one is a child of God and we don't give up on them." Murrow's four
cottages can serve about 18 children at a time, ranging in age from 8 to 18
years
of age. And because of the adult per child ratio of 1 to 6, it is a much
better option to provide healing than a boarding school which has a ratio
of 1
to 40.
"Children come here with issues of anger but we help them work through it,"
said Joan. "Anger becomes less and less as we provide stability and
routines.
" Murrow children attend Muskogee public schools or day treatment programs
and receive counseling on a regular basis. Their day is like any child's.
They
too come home after school to play, study or help get supper ready. "Daily
tasks teach our youngsters to be responsible members of a family," said
Joan.
Joan explains that she and the staff try to help the children find out what
their dreams are. "It helps them make sense of the world."
One such success story is Desmond Dausby who turned 18 this fall. He is a
natural at music and the foster care he was provided wouldn't work with him
and
allow him to follow his dream - the piano. But the Murrow Home took him in
and Ms. Brown made sure he attended his music lessons over the years.
Recently, she helped him get enrolled in college and an independent living
program.
Amazingly enough, he got the 2nd led in a musical his freshman year and
after
he attends two years of college he will be accepted into Juliard, one of
the
most prominent schools of the arts in the country.
Many of the children who grow up come back and bring their kids. "They are
trying to break the cycle and raise their kids well," said Joan. "Every day
counts. You may not feel it but we have former kids call all the time just
touching base."
Parents with addiction problems who couldn't raise their children properly
also call and show their appreciation. "I couldn't be a mom at that time. I
appreciate you being there for them," said one parent.
Although the Murrow Home holds 100% Native American children and has housed
children from all tribes of Oklahoma, only two tribes donate to the Home.
The
Muscogee Creek Nation donates $17,500.00 per year and the Cherokee Nation
donates $5,000.00.
Recently the Creek Nation asked Joan to take a family of nine but she just
didn't have the room. "We so appreciate these donations but could sure use
more help," said Joan. Currently the home houses 16 Creek and six
Cheyenne/Arapaho children.
The Murrow Indian Children's Home provides a service to our Indian
community
that we all should cherish and appreciate- providing a home for our
children. Not only taking in those who are neglected and abused but giving
them a
chance to have a life; teaching them how to function -to break the cycle of
abuse/addiction that is currently spreading across our Nation. Too often we
focus
on what we don't have, how the government shortchanges us on past treaty
agreements or the land and the people we've lost over the years. It's so
important to the young lives of the Murrow Home to let go of this focus on
ourselves and our tribes well-being, just for a moment, and help our
children -
because when a child is homeless, he belongs to all of us. They are all our
responsibility.
To send donations to the Children's Home, call or write to:
Murrow Indian Children's Home
2540 Murrow Circle
Muskogee, Ok 74403
918-682-2586
_http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=8414_
(http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=8414)
of
donations
Director is asking Indian Country for help
MUSKOGEE OK
Liz Gray 12/6/2006
[Editor's Note: Because the children at the Indian home are in state
custody
and many come from an abused background, identities of the children are not
revealed in this story. Although names have been changed in the story, the
children and the situation at the home are still very real.]
As the time grew near for school to be out, activities increased at The
Murrow Indian Children's Home and Ms. Joan Brown, Director of the program
steps
into action. "I'll pick up Amanda and take her to her piano lesson," Brown
said to her
assistant. "You need to pick up Darren, he got kicked off the bus again."
Soon, the children start flooding in -eleven boys and 10 girls - they all
seemed like normal children home from school. Flooding into the small, main
lobby of the complex, they drop off their book bags and sit down in front
of the
television like usual. But their calm demeanor and Joan's caring direction
do not reveal the trouble and pain these children have already experienced
in
their short lifespan. Backgrounds of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or
neglect
by alcohol or drug addicted parents weave stories of chaos and pain which
led them to the care of Ms. Brown and the staff at the Murrow Home.
Based in Muscogee, Oklahoma, the Children's Murrow Home has been providing
a
residential home program to needy children from tribes across Oklahoma for
over 100 years. Soon After the Civil War, Rev. J.S. Murrow, enterprising
missionary in Indian Territory, began taking orphan and homeless Indian
children
into his home.
Today, the Murrow Home is still a National Ministries mission partner and
is
supported, in part, by the American Baptist Association. Ms. Brown has been
the director for over 25 years.
Seventy-five percent of their funds come from Church donations, the
remainder from private donations and a small percentage from tribes. But
donations
directed to the Murrow Home have decreased because of the recent, national
catastrophies, including the tsunami and recent hurricanes. "This year we
ran
about $30 thousand short," said Joan. "We need at least $35 thousand a
month
but a lot of the times donations don't cover it."
Joan has done everything possible to cut corners and save money but she
told
the Native Times that they are on a three-month basis. "If we don't
increase our funding, we are going to have to close in three months," she
said.
They've saved some money by going to local churches for donations of food,
napkins and paper products. "Some groups try to help us by raising money
for
little things like toothpaste," she said. They've even gotten rid of the
large van due to high insurance costs. Now they use two small vans that don't
hold everyone when they go on trips. They have to make two trips back and
forth
to pick up the group and their items every time they venture out. As a last
resort, Joan has let some of her staff members go. "We are down to a
skeleton
crew," she said. "It's getting scary."
Many of the Murrow Home kids come from homes where they have been severely
abused. Joan describes some of the worst cases where the children who first
arrive have trouble sleeping, especially during the hours that bars close.
These children are used to alcoholic relatives coming home at that hour.
Some
children sleep in their clothes.
"These abandoned, abused, or neglected children are deeply troubled and, in
some cases, the state agencies have given up on them," Brown explains. "But
each one is a child of God and we don't give up on them." Murrow's four
cottages can serve about 18 children at a time, ranging in age from 8 to 18
years
of age. And because of the adult per child ratio of 1 to 6, it is a much
better option to provide healing than a boarding school which has a ratio
of 1
to 40.
"Children come here with issues of anger but we help them work through it,"
said Joan. "Anger becomes less and less as we provide stability and
routines.
" Murrow children attend Muskogee public schools or day treatment programs
and receive counseling on a regular basis. Their day is like any child's.
They
too come home after school to play, study or help get supper ready. "Daily
tasks teach our youngsters to be responsible members of a family," said
Joan.
Joan explains that she and the staff try to help the children find out what
their dreams are. "It helps them make sense of the world."
One such success story is Desmond Dausby who turned 18 this fall. He is a
natural at music and the foster care he was provided wouldn't work with him
and
allow him to follow his dream - the piano. But the Murrow Home took him in
and Ms. Brown made sure he attended his music lessons over the years.
Recently, she helped him get enrolled in college and an independent living
program.
Amazingly enough, he got the 2nd led in a musical his freshman year and
after
he attends two years of college he will be accepted into Juliard, one of
the
most prominent schools of the arts in the country.
Many of the children who grow up come back and bring their kids. "They are
trying to break the cycle and raise their kids well," said Joan. "Every day
counts. You may not feel it but we have former kids call all the time just
touching base."
Parents with addiction problems who couldn't raise their children properly
also call and show their appreciation. "I couldn't be a mom at that time. I
appreciate you being there for them," said one parent.
Although the Murrow Home holds 100% Native American children and has housed
children from all tribes of Oklahoma, only two tribes donate to the Home.
The
Muscogee Creek Nation donates $17,500.00 per year and the Cherokee Nation
donates $5,000.00.
Recently the Creek Nation asked Joan to take a family of nine but she just
didn't have the room. "We so appreciate these donations but could sure use
more help," said Joan. Currently the home houses 16 Creek and six
Cheyenne/Arapaho children.
The Murrow Indian Children's Home provides a service to our Indian
community
that we all should cherish and appreciate- providing a home for our
children. Not only taking in those who are neglected and abused but giving
them a
chance to have a life; teaching them how to function -to break the cycle of
abuse/addiction that is currently spreading across our Nation. Too often we
focus
on what we don't have, how the government shortchanges us on past treaty
agreements or the land and the people we've lost over the years. It's so
important to the young lives of the Murrow Home to let go of this focus on
ourselves and our tribes well-being, just for a moment, and help our
children -
because when a child is homeless, he belongs to all of us. They are all our
responsibility.
To send donations to the Children's Home, call or write to:
Murrow Indian Children's Home
2540 Murrow Circle
Muskogee, Ok 74403
918-682-2586
_http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=8414_
(http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=8414)