| Comanche Tribal Youth Shelter Opens |
Comanche Tribal Youth Shelter OpensThe Shelter will Lodge Youths Newborn to 18 Years of Age.Story by Jolene Schonchi, Comanche Nation News The opening of the Comanche Nation Children's Shelter was another milestone in the tribe's history. The Shelter, named the Comanche Residential Youth Shelter (CRYS), will provide a safe living enviornment for children and young adults. The grand opening took place Jan. 6 at the new facility, located near the Comanche Nation Complex. Comanche Nation Secretary/Treasurer Robert Tippiconnie and Comanche Business Committeeman No. 3 Darrell Kosechequetah were preste to support the grand opening. "It is important for the children to be nurtured by other Comanche people," said CBC Kosechquetah. "As part of a nation, we look to take care of our own and this is another outlet for that." "They are our future. Our investment is in them," added Tippiconnie. Tribal Administrator John Wauqua gave the Welcoming and Open Remanrks about the new shelter. He was instrumental on seeing it's completion, and he commanded the builders who did an excellent job. Tribal artists Tim and Calvert Nevaquaya donated artwork to the shelter to inspire the children and to bring out the inner artist in them. The Comanche Youth Shelter was first established in 2005 to provide care for Comanche children who have been abused (physically, mentally, or sexually), neglected or abandoned. The shelter closed in 2007, while the operation changed to a newly built shelter from the groud up, so that it may be certififed by the Department of Human Services. The shelter was designed to grow with the children, address their needs, and embrace the Comanche culture. The staff is trained to administer medication, CPR/First Aid, and Behavioral Management Certified. The staff is mandated by the State of Oklahoma to continue a variety of training to meet the guidelines of continual educaction for Youth Care Workers. The staff is selected from a panel taht works with children in the various departments within the tribe. "Our shelter is designed for Comanche children to reflect their heritage and embrace their culture," said Debra Wright, the CRYS Director. Wright explained the priority of the children received in the shelter. The five steps of the shelter are for Indian Child Welfare Children, therapeautic/foster children, intertribal children, out of state children, and DHS Children. She further said the youth shelter staff is trained in diversity and realizes that the Comanche culture is uch more than literature, that it is life, family and our future. The youth shelther program works closely with the Indian Child Welfare program and the child protection team to insure that the transition between departments is minimal in de-escalating grief from a child being removed from the home. The shelter is co-ed with a ratio of two-staff to six-youth. They are open 24-hours a day with both male and female staff. The staff consists of director, secretary, on-call nurse, a cook, and full time trained Youth Care Workers. The children are seen by local counselors for assessments upon arrival to the shelter with 24-hours. The shelter can comfortably accomdate 40 children with a maximum capacity of 80 children. The shelter is equipped with a storm room, library, and media room. The rooms are desgned for siblings, individuals, and children with behavioral issues. The shelter serves seven counties in Oklahoma; Comanche, Kiowa, Caddo, Grady, Cotton, Tillman, and Stephens. A second Grand Opening was held 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. January 23 to the Department of Human Services and other tribes. The Kiowa and Ft. Sill Apache tribes sent representatives to the opening. The shelter is currently seeking donations of books for their library. For more information, call Wright at (580) 492 - 4988. FACTS:
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