The funding will include grants, special projects, and emergency aid – from building basketball courts and reading and learning centers, to meal delivery for homebound seniors, to healthcare for uninsured children, and continued support for those struggling during the pandemic.
“We are thrilled to announce our commitment of $1 million for the first time ever,” said Mavs Foundation President Katie Edwards. “The need is greater than ever across the North Texas community, and we are grateful for the opportunity to support local nonprofits doing such critical work.”
Throughout the season, the Mavericks will highlight selected organizations to share more about their mission and commitment to helping families across the region.
This week we will take a look at an organization called Jonathan’s Place, a local nonprofit that provides a safe place, loving homes and promising futures for abused and neglected children, teens and young adults.
Jonathan’s Place received a $25,000 grant from the Mavs Foundation this year to specifically provide assistance for the RESET program, which stands for Restoring and Educating Survivors to Empowerment and Transformation for sex trafficking victims.
“RESET is our grant initiative that helps survivors of sex trafficking,” said Shelia Kirksey, Clinical Director at Jonathan’s Place. “We have an emergency shelter that assists female survivors anywhere from the ages of five to 17. We try to get them stabilized, connected with services and hopefully move them along to our long term foster care options.”
Jonathan’s Place received their checks during a recent Dallas Mavericks game against the Chicago Bulls (Jan. 9, 2022) and the organization was highlighted during halftime.
It was a special moment for everyone at Jonathan’s Place, and they tell us it’s been a rewarding experience to see their hard work and commitment to young people come into the spotlight.
Officials estimate there are currently over 78,000 child sex trafficking victims living in Texas.
A study funded by the Dallas Women’s Foundation found that up to 400 minors are being marketed for sex in Dallas on any given night.
Through the RESET program, young people served by Jonathan’s Place are given all the support and love possible to find a safe place to call home and dream of a better future.
“To care for these children can be costly,” Kirksey explained, “but with love and attention and assistance from the Mavs, we’re glad to be able to provide a safe and loving home.”
The mission of Jonathan’s Place is to provide a safe place, loving homes, and promising futures for abused and neglected children, teens, and young adults.
Jonathan was the first baby fostered by founder, Lisa Matthews (pictured to the right) and serves as the inspiration to help North Texas’ abused, abandoned, and neglected children. (To read the full story and history behind Jonathan’s Place, click here).
The Emergency Shelter provides residential care and specialized services to newborns and children up to 18 years old. We are the only organization in Dallas County that provides residential services to children under the age of 5. While at Jonathan’s Place, each child receives medical and dental exams, developmental, psychological assessments, weekly individual and group therapy and is enrolled in school.
The Foster Care & Adoption program recruits, trains and supports foster and adoptive parents. Case managers work to place children into a Jonathan’s Place foster home that is qualified to meet the individual needs of that child. Should a child become eligible for adoption, we provide a continuum of care for the child and their adoptive family.
The Girls Residential Treatment Program provides a home for girls between the ages of 10 – 18, who are in need of therapeutic residential care and specialized professional services. These girls have experienced neglect, abandonment, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. The Girls Residential Treatment Program is the only licensed residential placement option of its kind in Dallas County.
The Safe Place program is a national outreach and runaway prevention program designed to educate middle and high school aged children about abuse and provides immediate help and safety to youth in crisis.
The Transitional Living Program (TLP) is for young women aging out of foster care between the ages of 17 – 23. It includes provisions for safe housing and service components that provide for mental & physical health, education and improved well being.
Jonathan’s Place can play a critical role in addressing the unmet, specialized needs of child sex trafficking victims. Jonathan’s Place cares for these youth through the RESET (Restoring and Educating Survivors to Empowerment and Transformation) Emergency Shelter and/or placement into a RESET Long-Term Therapeutic Foster home. Each program includes trauma informed therapeutic services as well as life skills, medical, legal and educational services.
It is estimated that there are currently over 78,000 child sex trafficking victims living in Texas. A study funded by the Dallas Women’s Foundation found that up to 400 minors are being marketed for sex in Dallas on any given night.
Youth who experience adverse childhood experiences such as sexual abuse, homelessness and/or entry into the foster care system have the highest rates of susceptibility of being recruited into trafficking. Without a continuum of care including comprehensive wraparound services to meet the unique needs of the commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC) in our community, these individuals will struggle with an array of serious and persistent mental illnesses, substance abuse/addiction and/or various physical health conditions.
Through the Jonathan’s Place new RESET program, these youth have an opportunity for a safe place, loving homes, and promising futures. The RESET programs include an Emergency Shelter as well as Long-Term Therapeutic Foster Home placement opportunities.
The following is an overview of the programs:
Emergency Shelter
Foster Care
For additional information about becoming a professional foster parent, contact Jennifer Maddox at jmaddox@kidnet.org or 927-303-5303 x214. To visit with staff about placement opportunities, please call 469-929-8252.
Consider making a financial donation or becoming a Professional Foster Parent.
— Mavs Off-Court (@MavsOffCourt) January 10, 2022
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