Rountree's Happy Home
“We believe in helping others, especially those who can’t help themselves like children and young adults who are in bad situations. In helping them, they would see early on that loving others even beyond our own families is what brings us to the highest level of our humanity.”
Shawnee Rountree, CEO
PLANTING SEEDS AND WATCHING THEM GROW
WHY DO FOSTER CARE?
Many children do not grow up in happy households. Unfortunately, far too many grow up under the care of child protective services or find themselves homeless. As of February 2022, The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) recorded 12,923 children in the foster care system statewide, with 979 children in Dallas County.1
Further, as of the January 2020 Point in Time count, Dallas County only provided 51 child-only emergency shelter beds for 244 unaccompanied homeless youth.2
As of 2019, the most recent data available, 37.6 children per 1,000 in Texas were subject to an investigated report of alleged child maltreatment. Of those reports, 8.7 children per 1,000 were verified victims, and another 3.1 children per 1,000 resulted in fatalities.3
Children’s mental health suffers when adults come and go, or foster situations frequently change.4
Additional research shows that institutional care can affect children’s brain development.5
Without caring and happy households, children are at greater risk of experiencing long-term mental health issues
1 Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. (2022, February 7). Monthly Data. Texas DFPS. https://www.dfps. state.tx.us/About_DFPS/Monthly_Data/default.asp
2 HUD Exchange. (2021, July 19). Dallas City & County, Irving CoC. https://files.hudexchange.info/reports/published/CoC_ Dash_CoC_TX-600-2020_TX_2020.pdf
3 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Texas. HHS. https://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/cwodatasite/pdf/ texas.html
4 Magee, C. (2019, July 1). Mental well-being among children in foster care: The role of supportive adults. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190740919300428
5 Debnath, R. (2019, May 30). The long-term effects of institutional rearing, foster care intervention and disruptions in care on brain electrical activity in adolescence. Wiley. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/desc.12872
WHY FOSTER CARE?
Many children do not grow up in happy households. Unfortunately, far too many grow up under the care of child protective services or find themselves homeless. As of February 2022, The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) recorded 12,923 children in the foster care system statewide, with 979 children in Dallas County.1Further, as of the January 2020 Point in Time count, Dallas County only provided 51 child-only emergency shelter beds for 244 unaccompanied homeless youth.2As of 2019, the most recent data available, 37.6 children per 1,000 in Texas were subject to an investigated report of alleged child maltreatment. Of those reports, 8.7 children per 1,000 were verified victims, and another 3.1 children per 1,000 resulted in fatalities.3Children’s mental health suffers when adults come and go, or foster situations frequently change.4Additional research shows that institutional care can affect children’s brain development.5Without caring and happy households, children are at greater risk of experiencing long-term mental health issues
Empowering Futures: Our Story and Vision
Cultivating Potential Through Practical Skills
Shawnee Rountree
CEO of Rountree's Happy Homes
Rountree’s Happy Homes is a nonprofit organization founded by CEO, Shawnee Rountree with a mission to provide children, youth, and families a safe, caring atmosphere where hurts are healed, hope is nurtured, and self-love is developed.
As a new and developing nonprofit organization, Rountree’s Happy Homes aims to open multiple foster care homes for children in Dallas County, Texas aged 13 to 17 in Dallas County, Texas.
Dallas County, Texas, is home to 2,613,539 people, 25.8% (647,293) under 18 years old. The area’s population is 23.6% Black or African American, 6.7% Asian, 40.8% Hispanic or Latino, and 28.3% White. The median household income is $59,607, lower than the $62,843 national average. 13.7% of Dallas County, Texas residents live below the poverty line, higher than the 11.4% national average.7
Ideally, each house that Rountree’s Happy Homes opens will have at least four bedrooms and provide housing for at least seven children between 13 and 17 years old. These are the minimum requirements to qualify for a 24-hour General Residential Operation in Texas.6
6 Texas Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Types of Child Care Operations | Texas Health and Human Services. HHS. https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/safety/child-care/frequently-asked-questions-about-texas-childcare/types-child-care-operations
7 U.S. Census Bureau. (2022). U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: United States. Census Bureau QuickFacts. https://www. census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045219
ABOUT US
OUR SERVICES
As a unique entry in the child and family services industry, Rountree’s Happy Homes provides a needed service that ensures mission fulfillment for more clients. Additionally, Shawne Rountree, founder of Rountree’s Happy Homes, brings a career of experience and dedication to the organization.
Practical Life Skills
Discover how Rountree's Happy Home is helping kids by providing independent living preparation
Social Communication Skills
Discover how Rountree's Happy Home is helping kids by providing a caring atmosphere where hurts are healed, hope is nurtured, and self-love is developed
Employability Skills
Discover how Rountree's Happy Home is helping kids by providing vocational training and resume-building guidance
Digital Skills
Discover how Rountree's Happy Home is helping kids by providing skills that will aid kids in adapting to the rapid change in technology
Education Skills
Discover how Rountree's Happy Home is helping kids by providing life skills education.
Our Values
Empowerment
Innovation
Inclusivity
Practicality
Integrity
