[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 43 (Wednesday, April 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E549-E550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING DePELCHIN CHILDREN'S CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 17, 2002

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
DePelchin Children's Center, on the occasion of their 110th Anniversary 
and the grand opening dedication of their new facility. The DePelchin 
Children's Center is named for its founder Kezia Payne DePelchin,

[[Page E550]]

who in 1892 took three orphaned babies into her care and started a 
tradition of service.
  The three babies taken in by Kezia were the first of thousands to be 
cared for by the DePelchin Children's Center. The center currently 
provides counseling services, parental education, adoption and foster 
care services, and residential treatment for children with emotional 
disorders. What is a most remarkable feat is that these services are 
currently offered to more than 27,000 children and families each year.
  Throughout its 110 year continuum of care, DePelchin Children's 
Center has been a cornerstone of care in Harris, Montgomery, Ft. Bend, 
and Waller Counties. The services offered at DePelchin are designed to 
meet the specific needs of individuals and families. At DePelchin, 
services are offered to individuals regardless of their ability to pay. 
The Center receives its funding from the United Way, several government 
agencies, and the generosity of individuals within the community.
  From 1892 to 2002, the DePelchin Children's Center has continued to 
grow. Through its support from the Child Welfare League of America 
(CWLA) in 1937, DePelchin opened the Negro Child Center and targeted 
services to Houston's minority population. During the days of 
segregation DePelchin was a catalyst within the community.
  There are many success stories that spawned from the DePelchin 
Children's Center. The ``Bayou Place,'' a division of DePelchin in 
Spring, Texas, serves as a group home and hosts classes for foster and 
biological families. It provides education for children at the shelter, 
care for children of battered wives, and adoption services for mentally 
retarded children.
  Mr. Speaker, I join the DePelchin Children's Center as it celebrates 
its 110th Anniversary and the grand opening dedication of the new 
facility. I commend the staff and volunteers of DePelchin for their 
unyielding commitment to the ideals of Kezia Payne DePelchin. Their 
passionate work on behalf of countless young Texans has set an example 
for generations. I applaud their leadership and service, and wish them 
continued success in the years to come.

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