Guardian Angels Club
An Overview
Guardian Angels play a critical role in ensuring the successful future of Angelheart Kids. There are many opportunities to help with planning events, fundraising, supporting technology, collecting and sorting donations, and writing grants. While we do have specific tasks which need your support, we are also open to new ideas and avenues for your contributions. Your help is needed and greatly appreciated. What you do today will make a difference in the life of an Angelheart child tomorrow!
For more information on how to become a life-changing Guardian Angel, please email Mary Ann Gay.
History
In 2003, Diane Hamilton began volunteering one night a week to make a difference for the children at the Angelheart shelter. What started out as a part-time commitment soon became her life’s mission. One rainy evening, in the midst of an art project with the children at Angelheart, Diane heard the sounds of the shelter’s leaking roof. After much prayer and a few phone calls, the roof was on its way to being replaced through the generosity of the Central Texas Roofing Association. It became clear that if the Lord was able to use Diane to bring light to this important cause, imagine what could be done if more people joined together and put to use their gifts for the cause. Diane brought this vision to life by becoming a full-time volunteer and founding the Guardian Angels in June of 2004.
Angelheart Project
H.E.A.R.T. – Healing, Educating and Adjusting through Recreational Therapy
Angelheart proposes to develop a new therapeutic intervention, the Healing, Educating and Adjusting through Recreational Therapy (HEART) program. Due to the experience of child abuse and neglect, many Angelheart foster children have problems socializing and communicating with others, resolving conflict with adults and peers, and managing behavior appropriately. These problems interfere with a successful transition to the post-placement, typically family foster care and group and independent living situations.
Therapeutic recreation is a process that uses treatment, education and recreation for people with limitations, including emotional and social difficulties, to build and maintain age-appropriate skills, knowledge and behaviors to improve the quality of life. Therapeutic recreation can include a wide range of activities, including but not limited to arts, dance and music, games, and social and experiential activities.
Through individualized HEART interventions:
1Children will develop skills, knowledge and behaviors that will support successful post-placement. Examples of these skills, knowledge and behavior include improved cooperative play, increased self-awareness, and an enhanced sense of accomplishment through mastering new activities.
2Older youths will develop skills, knowledge and behavior that will support the transition to adulthood and independent living. Examples of these skills, knowledge and behavior include decreased social isolation, an increased understanding of the use of community resources, and use of leisure activities to reduce stress.
At the group level:
1HEART activities will improve the group living environment by promoting positive interaction and building cooperative living skills among residents.