White Fields Blog
White Fields Car Raffle Winner! – January 16, 2012
Kristina Sullivan - pictured below with White Fields' Executive Director Frank Alberson - was this year's winner of the White Fields car raffle. Kristina is from Edmond and works as an independent contractor for O-Tex Drilling. Congratulations Kristina!
A Special Holiday Thank You – December 20, 2011
The Christmas season is always a busy one at White Fields. This time of year, we see firsthand the generosity of so many wonderful people. Churches, business and individuals alike exemplify the goodness that exists throughout our community.
As the holiday season is upon us, we take the time to reflect on the kindness of the people that support White Fields and the boys who call our place “home.” There are a lot of great things happening at White Fields. We have a record number of children attending public schools, the boys are receiving art therapy regularly and they attend church. They play sports, attend art lessons and play musical instruments. They continue to receive individual and group therapy. Most exciting of all, in 2011, we added a new level of care to our campus. What does that mean? In a nutshell, once a boy arrives, he truly has a place to call home. He can receive all the necessary care and treatment at one place. White Fields is his home.
Happy Holidays to each of you! The gifts you give us mean more than you can ever know. You are making the difference in the life of a child and for that, we are so very grateful.
And the Winner of the Mercedes is...
Kristina Sullivan of Edmond, Oklahoma! Congratulations Kristina! Thank you to all who participated in this year's car raffle. We successfully raised over $50,000 for the boys at White Fields. Thank you for helping make White Fields a place our boys can call home.
Tis the Season – November 28, 2011
The Christmas season is upon us. Please take a moment to look at our End of Year Wish List (click to download). Your tax deductible donation will truly put a smile on a young boy's face this holiday season. Thank you for making a difference in his life! And, as always, thank you for making White Fields a place our boys can call home!
Thank You For Your Support – November 21, 2011
It has been a busy fall at White Fields! Thank you to SandRidge Energy and all those who participated in the White Fields Invitational, White Fields Clay Classic and Mercedes car raffle. The events raised over $450,000 for the boys at White Fields! We are truly grateful for the support of our donors and volunteers and look forward to next year's events. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Foster Homes and White Fields – November 18, 2011
Wow! What an amazing meeting I had the opportunity to attend. Before I share, let me provide you with some background information.
Tyson is a young man who came to White Fields in the summer of 2007. Through the years, Tyson moved from our D+ cottage to our C cottage, which is a lower level of care. While at the C cottage, Tyson continued to make significant progress in his treatment. He was once again ready to step down to a lower level of care. There was one problem with this. White Fields didn’t have a lower level of care for him to move to.
Tyson's worker succeeded in finding him a lower level of care in MUSKOGEE at a Therapeutic Foster Home. She announced he would be moving in a few days.Since 2007, Tyson had been growing his roots here. He began integration back into the community and built relationships through Deer Creek Public Schools, church, mentors, football, and even has his biological brothers were nearby. White Fields was not prepared for Tyson to be uprooted from everything he has known since 2007. Tyson was not prepared either.
Can you guess what White Fields had on campus months later? FOSTER PARENTS!!! White Fields had its very own set of Foster Parents just for our boys. Tyson is still with that family today and continues to grow and do well flourish. I sometimes like to think of it as White Fields growing with Tyson. He was our first kid to enter high school, our first kid to go to the foster home, our first kid to start driving, and the list could go on.
Unfortunately, our foster home can only house 4 of our residents. This leads me back to the amazing meeting I had the opportunity to attend yesterday. Our Director Frank Alberson hosted a meeting for foster care agencies from around the state. White Fields is beginning to work with these agencies to recruit more foster homes in the Deer Creek, and Piedmont area. Provided one of White Fields kids is ready for a lower level of care such as a foster home, they would not have to be uprooted from everything they know such as school, friends, church, and most importantly their connections at White Fields.
Join These Fundraising Efforts and Support White Fields – November 14, 2011
Tuesday, November 15 and Thursday, November 17
The Meat House in Edmond is designating Tuesday, November 15 as a fundraising day for White Fields. One of their signature products is their marinated steak tips. For every pound of steak tips sold, $1 will go to White Fields. Stop by the new Edmond Meat Market located on the corner of Danforth and Santa Fe and make a difference in the lives of the boys at White Fields!
Also, Wilshire Village, at 7630 Western Ave. in OKC, will be hosting their Holiday Open House on Thursday, November 17th from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. 10% of each purchase made will be donated to White Fields.
Click here for more information.
Fall at White Fields – October 17, 2011
It has been a busy fall at White Fields! The White Fields Invitational and Tee Off Dinner, sponsored by SandRidge Energy, proved to be the most successful event yet with over 130 teams registered to play in the tournament and over 700 attendees at the dinner. Words cannot adequately express our gratitude for the very generous donations we received on behalf of the boys at White Fields.
We are currently promoting a chance to win a 2012 Mercedes C250 Coupe. With only 1,000 tickets available, this is a chance to drive away in a beautiful NEW luxury vehicle. Click here for more information. You won’t want to miss this very special opportunity!
The White Fields Clay Classic, sponsored by SandRidge Energy, is just around the corner and will be held on November 11th. There are only a few spots left, so please get your registration in as quickly as possible. Download the application here.
As you can see, there is a lot going on at White Fields. It is an exciting time! We could not be more appreciative of the ever growing number of people who make White Fields a place our boys can call home. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
Two Weeks and Counting... – September 19, 2011
Until the golf event of the season! You will not want to miss the White Fields Invitational this year. Featured on two golf courses on two separate days, October 3rd and 4th, the tournament is a lot of fun and benefits a very special cause. If you are not a golfer, but would like to attend our spectacular Tee-Off Dinner, we would love to have you. We'll be posting several auction items over the next few weeks... a few highlights of what will be featured at the event. Click here to download the 2011 White Fields Brochure, or simply call Carrie Leonard at 405-302-5123.
School's Back in Session – September 12, 2011
Written by Randy McConnell, Education Coordinator
With school back in full swing, I thought this as appropriate time to write a little bit about my experiences teaching our boys here at White Fields. First of all, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Randy McConnell and I am the teacher, or, if you’re into titles, the education coordinator, here.
I began this little adventure here at White Fields in March when I got a phone call from the administration office of Deer Creek schools (where I had been substitute teaching for the last 3 years) asking me if I would be interested in a 2-week substitute job. Thinking it was going to be for a teacher at one of the schools, and that it might be a great opportunity to get my foot in the door for a full time position, I quickly said yes. Then the lady on the other end of the phone began to tell me a little bit about the job and that’s when it happened. She uttered the words that for me were a deal breaker…SPECIAL EDUCATION. You see, my background is history and government. I was going to be a history teacher either in middle or high school. That was it. There was no other option as far as I was concerned. Special education was something I simply did not believe I had the ability or the patience for. I was about to say thanks but no thanks when all of the sudden I heard myself instead saying yes. Was it God saying he had something amazing in store for me?
Whatever it was, I had already said yes, so there was no turning back. So I show up on that first day having absolutely no clue what to expect and you know what happened? I had fun. It was nothing like what I had made it out to be in my head. These were some really incredible kids who’ve just had a much rougher life than most of us. I left that day wondering what I had been so afraid of. And more importantly, looking forward to coming back the next day. I also learned that it probably was God telling me to listen to Him. So far it’s worked out pretty well. Anyway, to make a long story short, what was supposed to be just a 2-week sub job has since turned into an amazingly rewarding permanent gig. Has it been challenging? Absolutely. But then, most rewarding things in life usually are.
White Fields Tee-Off Dinner – August 29, 2011
The annual White Fields Invitational is just around the corner. One of the highlights of the tournament is the Tee Off dinner. If you are not a golfer and would like to attend the dinner, this is an evening that people talk about year round. It is fun. It is classy. It is a great way to learn more about White Fields while mingling with friends.
This special evening will begin with cocktails and silent auction featuring exciting nights on the town, sports memorabilia for the avid collector, and fashionable finds for everyone! Dinner and an outstanding live auction will wrap up the evening’s festivities. Suggested attire for the evening is dressy casual for the ladies and golf ready for the men.
If you would like to attend the dinner, please contact Carrie Leonard for an invitation or click here to download the 2011 White Fields Brochure. Corporate tables and individual tickets are available. Call 405-302-5123.
Every Day in Oklahoma... – August 22, 2011
150 babies are born
7 of the babies are born to children
62 of the babies are born without adequate prenatal care
12 of the babies are born too small
84 children are investigated after officials receive allegations of serious child abuse and/or neglect against them
24 children are confirmed to be victims of child abuse and/or neglect
14 children quit high school without graduating
60 children are arrested for a crime
2 of those are arrested for a violent crime
At least 2 young people will die
1 of those will be a baby
*Oklahoma Kids COUNT Factbook 2010
White Fields is helping to fight this vicious cycle of abuse....one child at a time. We believe that each child should have a chance for a meaningful life. For every child we help, a generation is affected. Our children are our future. With White Fields, it is looking a little brighter.
White Fields Invitational – August 15, 2011
As the summer is quickly coming to an end and the White Fields children head back to school, we are excited to remind everyone of the White Fields Invitational sponsored by SandRidge Energy. The golf tournament, which will be held October 3rd and 4th at Oak Tree National and Oak Tree Country Club has become one of the most successful in the state. Why? The proceeds support a wonderful cause AND it is a lot of fun. Experience a tournament like no other by signing up today!
Download the 2011 White Fields Brochure...
White Fields - A Place to Call Home
August 1, 2011
Written by Jerry Fry, Executive Director
Do you ever think about slogans? Some of them are philosophical, some of them are funny, and some of them are meant to sell a product or distinguish an entity from others. Some of them are very familiar to us and some of them seem to have no connection to the product or service to which they are attached. The White Fields slogan is “A place to call home”. It’s catchy. It connects to the purpose and it creates an image of what White Fields is about, but it is much more than that. Let me give you two examples of what “A place to call home” really means.
Not all children that come to White Fields stay until they become adults. Some children are adopted, some are reunified with their parents, and on rare occasions some children require a more intensive intervention than White Fields is designed to provide.
Tommy was a White Fields resident. He made tremendous progress while at White Fields and as a result the Department of Human Services reunified him with his family. He continued to stay in touch with White Fields staff by phone and visited the campus on several occasions. Tommy began to have problems soon after being discharged from White Fields. He moved from one relative to another and eventually ended up in secure detention after an incident of domestic violence. White Fields received a call from the Assistant District Attorney handling Tommy’s case. The ADA wanted to know if White Fields would be willing to accept Tommy back. The ADA relayed that Tommy had requested to return to White Fields stating, “I know they love me and will take care of me.” White Fields, of course, welcomed Tommy back. It is more than a slogan to Tommy. White Fields is truly a place for him to call home.
Ethan is a child who left White Fields due to his proclivity for physical aggression. He regularly responded to stressful situations with violence. As a result he was discharged to another program. Soon after Ethan entered the other program he wrote a letter to the White Fields Treatment Team apologizing for his behavior and asking to return to White Fields. Later, near the completion of the other program Ethan made a phone call to White Fields staff requesting to return. He will be back on the White Fields campus soon. Again, it is more than a slogan to Ethan. White Fields is truly a place for him to call home.
Despite our best efforts children sometimes leave White Fields, but they know that they can return and they want to. What better example of the effectivess of the White Fields model could be given? While at White Fields children form bonds with the staff, other children in residence and volunteers. They get a sense of what healthy and functional relationships are like. They grow, they learn and they heal. They also find a place to call home.
A Story of RESILIENCE – July 25, 2011
Last week, we talked about how our boys are resilient. Here is just an example of one boy’s resilience…
The only stories Michael tells about his past are the ones he has made up. They sound good—the right amount of drama, intrigue and just enough exaggeration to make others think his life matters. That he has value. That he is worth something. Michael would prefer to live in a fantasy. It’s not as painful as the truth. The emotions that come from the truth would be more than he could tolerate. His behavior can’t hide the truth though. Michael is failing in school. He is dirty and refuses to shower. He hides food in his room. He destroys property on a daily basis. He yells and screams for no particular reason. He trusts no one. Everyone has given up on Michael. He has been in the hospital four times for behavior problems and he has more than 20 foster placements.
Michael came to White Fields on his 11th birthday. His first words were “do you want me?” We know Michael has learning disabilities, a neurological disorder and he has been severely abused, including sexual abuse. Is it too late for him? Is there still room for resilience to take hold, to ground him and give him the footing he needs to keep from slipping into a life consumed by fear?
It took more than a year for Michael to believe that we wanted him at White Fields. In time, however, he began to face the real truth about his life, the painful past. As he came to trust his White Fields family, he was able to talk about the trauma he had experienced. His behavior improved and so did his focus on what really mattered—his future! With assistance he caught up as much as three years on his school work. He became interested in his appearance, found a love for the outdoors and bowling became his sport of choice. For the first time in his life Michael believes that life can be a positive experience. Michael’s resilient spirit in a loving, caring, environment made the difference for him!
A White Fields child is RESILIENT...
July 18, 2011
The definition of resilience is:
Ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like.
The White Fields child is RESILIENT. He is the most severely abused and neglected. He has suffered. He feels tremendous pain. He has little to no self confidence. He has been told he is no good, will never be loved, will never be successful. Everything changes the minute he walks through our doors.
At White Fields our staff includes professionals who provide individual, group and art therapy, psychiatric and psychological services, individual mentors, an on campus school, recreational therapy, and enrichment projects for each child. We believe that every child has unique talents. The boys participate in everything from baseball and basketball leagues to taking lessons in bowling, gymnastics, art, and guitar. Without White Fields these boys may have never known the joy of these activities and the power encouragement can have on their lives.
As the boys progress and mature they are integrated into the public school system. As imagined, the boys do not arrive at White Fields prepared academically for the vigor of public school. The instability in their foster care life is matched with instability in their education. Also, many times, a child arrives from a hospital-like setting where school is limited in hours and substance. Education is a key component in preparing our boys for a bright future. We have a teacher on staff that works to help “catch the boys up” and prepare them to be integrated into the public school system. We believe that education is a top priority and have seen several of our boys make the transition successfully into the public school system.
The boys are truly resilient. As they start believing in themselves, they begin to understand that what they have been through wasn’t their fault. Their confidence builds and they realize they do have value and worth as individuals. We see the evidence of this as they start tapping into their imaginations and dreaming of how they’ll contribute to the world someday.
White Fields Strategic Plan – July 11, 2011
At our Board Meeting in May, the Board of Directors voted to approve the White Fields Strategic Plan. We are proud of the accomplishments made in our first few years and are excited about the future. Please feel free to look it over by clicking here. You will see we are creating a place our boys can call home now and for years to come.
A Story of STABILITY – July 4, 2011
Last week, we talked about how White Fields gives STABILITY to our boys. Here is just an example of how stability was given to one boy….
Matthew sat in silence wondering if maybe tonight would be different. He could only hope that maybe this time his Mom wouldn’t want to “use” again. He worked extra hard at taking care of her and his little brother, but it seemed to make little difference. She still wasn’t there for him.
Matthew didn’t know his Dad, and what he knew of his Mom left him empty. After Mom went to prison for drug use and neglect, he and his little brother went to live with their maternal Grandma. The same scenario replayed, only this time he became the Caretaker, because Grandma had terminal cancer. He slowly watched what he thought was his only chance for stability slip away.
Matthew went through a series of 10 foster placements. They all failed. He doesn’t understand what it is like to be a kid and resents anyone caring for him much less telling him what to do. He is separated from his brother because their relationship was deemed “unhealthy.”
Providing Matthew with the chance for stability wasn’t working in the traditional foster care system. He was failing miserably and with each placement things got worse. Could stability really make a difference for Matthew? Is it possible that there could be one home, one family to care for him, love him and help him grow into a young man?
The rest of the story...
When Matthew arrived at White Fields, he entered into the kind of stable environment needed for boys who have never experienced permanence. He instantly became part of a family, although at first he did not realize it. In fact, he resisted it, just as he had done a dozen times before. Over time, however, Matthew began to thrive. He began excelling in his school work, his social skills with peers his age improved and he became interested in outdoor activities and playing the guitar. His tender heart for others soon began to emerge. It wasn’t long before Matthew began to relax and let the adults take care of him. Stability made the difference for Matthew.
Something White Fields gives our boys is STABILITY...
June 27, 2011
The definition of stability is:
Continuance without change; permanence.
Often, when a child arrives at our doors, he has been placed in fifteen to twenty foster homes without success. He is between the age of 8 and 12. He does not know the concept of family. In fact, he is skeptical of any relationship whatsoever. He has never had the opportunity to build a lasting one. Instead of embracing the people around him, he does everything he can to prevent any bond at all. For he believes, as soon as he allows himself to feel loved, he will be transferred to another home. The fear of rejection is too difficult to face. He acts out aggressively, an emotion from which he is all too familiar. His aggressive behavior is too much for the foster family to handle, so, once again, he is moved. The child is the least likely candidate for adoption. He has nowhere to go. White Fields is the answer for this child.
White Fields creates the much needed stable environment. Once a child arrives, he instantly is part of a family. He may not know it at first. In fact, he will resist it just as he has done a dozen times before. He will become aggressive. He will be distrusting. He will do everything in his power to be told he does not belong. Over time, he begins to see that White Fields is permanent. White Fields is his home. The boys are his brothers. The people that work every day with him are his family. He has the stability he needs to heal.
A Story of HOPE – June 20, 2011
Last week, we talked about how White Fields gives HOPE to our boys. Here is just an example of how hope was given to one boy….
Jason was born into a low income family. His grandmother, although young, used drugs. His Mom tried to lead a different life, but wasn’t able to stay away from the pull of the influences around her. Jason’s Mom gave birth to him when she was 17. His grandmother died shortly thereafter from drug abuse. A young Mom, with little education, was now left to make her way in a neighborhood encapsulated with poverty, gangs, and drugs. Following in the footsteps of her Mother, she soon succumbed to the only lifestyle she knew. Meanwhile, her young child, Jason, struggled to understand his environment and to have someone to rely on and to place his trust in.
At the age of 8, Jason was finally removed from his home by the OKDHS due to abuse and neglect. By now, the lifestyle he was so familiar with was entrenched in his personality. The instability he had experienced from the moment of his birth left him angry and confused. His thoughts continually brought him to only one place…it must be him. He was the reason his parents didn’t want him. If only he would have been a better child.
What are the chances Jason will not become yet another generation in his family to fall to a lifestyle of abuse, neglect and drugs? Will hope reach Jason?
After coming to White Fields, Jason commented about how his bed was the “softest” one he had ever slept in. We soon discovered that Jason often slept on a hard floor. He also began to learn that he didn’t have to eat his food quickly—there was another meal just a few hours away. Our educational program identified and addressed his learning delays. Jason developed a passion for basketball and the outdoors. In time, Jason learned that the people at White Fields who cared about him were safe people, people he could trust and rely on. Jason found hope.
Something White Fields gives our boys is HOPE...
June 13, 2011
The definition of hope is:
To look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence
To place trust; rely
At White Fields, a child receives love, often for the first time in his life.
The White Fields child is the most severely neglected and abused, physically, verbally and sexually.
White Fields seeks to break the cycle of abuse one child at a time. It is no secret that abuse is cyclical. Children mimic behavior of the adult influences in their lives. If they are abused, it is highly likely they will repeat the same destructive behavior. White Fields gives them HOPE. At White Fields, they learn the value of compassion for others, hard work and love. They learn to address the issues of their past in hopes of a great future. They have a fighting chance to be something great and do something good with their lives.
One of our children is a gifted artist. Another child is an expert bowler and actually bowls competitively. We have boys that are gifted in skateboarding and bicycling. Talents are emerging and as they do, the boys feel a sense of pride which gives them hope.
Each boy who comes to live at White Fields gets everything he needs to feel safe and loved, including his own bedroom and bathroom, clothes and toys, healthy meals, an on-campus school and time to explore and play. The White Fields child has not known the life of a “typical” “normal” child. White Fields allows him to feel like a regular kid with limitless hopes and dreams.
White Fields - A Place to Call Home – June 6, 2011
White Fields serves boys ages 8 to 18, helping them regain their ability to trust, heal emotionally, broaden relationships and develop into adulthood. Our unique continuum of care model will allow boys to live at White Fields until they graduate high school and are able to support themselves.
We are a family. We believe that every child deserves a chance to have a GREAT life. Click here to see the short video and learn more about why White Fields is their place to call home...
Let's Talk About WHAT Makes White Fields Unique...
May 23, 2011
The continuum of care model at White Fields is what truly makes our organization unique. In a nutshell, it is a model where a child may receive all of his required care and treatment at one single campus, White Fields. There is no other program in place like ours in Oklahoma. Too often a child will “age out” or improve and then be transferred to a different facility where they are better equipped to handle that particular child. This is not the case at White Fields. We are fully prepared and equipped to help a child from the time he arrives at White Fields until adulthood. Why is this so important? We believe that stability and consistency paired with the right kind of treatment and care enables a child to feel safe again, allowing him the chance to lead a normal life. We believe that a child that knows that he has a permanent place to call home and people he can call family will be able to trust, face the dark issues of his past and begin to heal.
The 3 levels of care offered at White Fields are the D+, C and Foster care programs. The D+ level of care requires 24 hour awake care staff. It is a high level of care where the boys are supervised around the clock. All boys initially are placed in this care and receive all of the love, treatment and support imaginable. The C level of care allows a boy to live in a home like setting with house parents. While they are still supervised heavily, it is not 24 hour awake care and feels more like a home environment. They still continue to receive the same therapy and treatment as in the D+ level of care. The Foster Care program is our lowest level of care. The boy, indeed, becomes part of a family and receives all the privileges that a normal boy his age receives.
White Fields Invitational Registration – May 16, 2011
Last week, we announced the dates of our annual White Fields Invitational and Tee Off Dinner. This week, you have the opportunity to be one of the first to sign up. Space is limited and this tournament is one you will not want to miss. For more information, please contact Carrie Leonard at 405-302-5123.
Download the 2011 White Fields Brochure...
2011 White Fields Invitational Update – May 9, 2011
We are pleased to announce the dates of the 2011 Annual White Fields Invitational. The event, which has rapidly become one of the premier charity fundraising events in the country, will host its first ever three day golf experience you won't want to miss! The tournament opens with the annual Tee-Off Dinner and Auction on Sunday, October 1st, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The dinner is followed by an exclusive golf tournament on October 3rd at Oak Tree Golf and Country Club and October 4th at Oak Tree National. All proceeds benefit White Fields.
Here is a photo of our group making the final changes to the brochure. We at White Fields are grateful for their creativity, their energy and their time! The tournament will be one you will not want to miss! We will post the brochure in the next few weeks! For more information, please contact Carrie Leonard at 405-302-5123.
There is nothing more rewarding to our White Fields family then to see the impact we have on a child’s life. Please read below to see how White Fields is changing the lives of our special boys. “I have been at White Fields, Inc. for 2 years and 10 months. Before I came here, I’ve never had my own room. I had to share a room with another kid. I didn’t even have my own shower. I have changed a lot since have been here at White Fields. I used to get into a lot of trouble, but now I don’t. I really appreciate what they have done for me.” – Damion, age 14, May 2011
Damion – May 2, 2011
