For the past five plus years, the Van Zandt County Community Partners have worked almost exclusively on behalf of what was then known as the Rainbow Room, now named the ABC Room. Through this room we have served countless numbers of abused, neglected and at risk children. We have provided emergency resources for children taken into state care, established a program to assist with the expense of summer camp for Van Zandt County foster children, assisted in graduation expenses, prom and more. Foster children aging out of the system have few resources and thus, through various partners we have held, or facilitated Emancipation Showers, helping foster children to begin their new lives in either college, or independent living. We have provided Christmas for children as late as December 24 – to ensure that every child in care knows that someone cares!

One year ago we realized that our organization has the potential to do so much more for our County. Teen parents are at an all time high, our County is in need of parenting classes for both teens and court mandated participants. In addition, many of our teens are involved in potentially dangerous relationships. Learning to break free of abusive partners now will go a long way in preventing a future wrought with pain and suffering. Therefore; we have launched a campaign to build a new, state of the art facility, the Van Zandt County Partnership for Children. This new building will house our ABC Room, and the Children’s Advocacy Center. Offices will be made available to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the Child Protective Services Board. Additionally, an office will be made available to specific visiting child related organizations. It is our goal to have Van Zandt County represented as the premier example of care and compassion for abused children.