Casa de Esperanza
   P. O. Box 66581
   Houston, TX  77266-6581
   (713) 529-0639

Casa Academy

Casa de Esperanza opened Casa Academy to meet the needs of  some of the school-age children in placement at Casa or in the post-adoptive support program. These children are in need of a small, structured environment with integrated school and after-school care to ensure consistency of care and relationships. Casa Academy provides a positive learning environment that is less stressful, more flexible and sensitive to the medical, emotional and developmental needs of these children. The adoptive parents or foster parents are in need of support to provide a positive educational setting for the children. Casa Academy is a reflection of Casa de Esperanza's desire to meet the developmental and educational needs of the children we serve.

Attempts were made to place and keep these children in traditional public and private classroom settings. However, these placements often failed because of the children's unique needs. The children were suffering emotionally, developmentally and educationally, because of:

• Serious medical and emotional problems, including: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Major Depression, Reactive Attachment Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

• Significant behavioral problems which caused disruptions in a traditional classroom setting, including: aggression toward self and others, destruction of property, rages, defiance, manipulation, and poor impulse control.

These children did not respond to traditional teaching or classroom management strategies and their behaviors have made placements in traditional school settings difficult.

The Director of Casa Academy has an M.A. degree in Special Education. A teacher's aide assists her. Casa de Esperanza's Developmental and Psychological Services professionals provide psychological assessment, evaluation and counseling and support to the children.

Casa Academy has many benefits for the emotionally fragile school-age children who attend including a structured environment, small class size, and coordination between teachers and therapists in coping with the children's emotional needs.

Casa Preschool

Realizing some of the problems the children at Casa de Esperanza have had adjusting to a classroom setting, the Casa Preschool was inaugurated in 2001 to prepare some of the preschool-aged children for enrollment in a regular classroom. These children often lack the basic skills needed to succeed in school such as following a routine, sitting still in a chair, participating in group activities, or transitioning from one activity to another. Through a comprehensive curriculum and supportive environment, most of the children successfully make the transition into regular school programs.

Three community volunteers, one of whom has a degree in child development, currently work with these children two days per week. With children of their own, and experience in a Casa home, these volunteers eagerly took on the challenge and were rewarded with the visible progress and heartfelt enthusiasm of the children.

One of the challenges for the teachers is working with children of similar age but very different abilities. The teachers are able to adjust the skill level for the individual child while keeping him or her involved in the group. Whether it is art, singing, learning numbers or having a pretend "beach party", these children have enjoyed learning and getting ready for "big school."

It is the policy of Casa de Esperanza that no family is
charged for services provided by the agency.

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