2023-11-14T14:31:36-08:00 2022-12-31 455094093 XQ CPA PLLC 11511 KATY FWY STE 630 HOUSTON TX 77079 990 2022-01-01 760393617 CHERISH OUR CHILDREN INC CHER 7138369147 448 W 19TH ST BOX 647 HOUSTON TX 77008 SHARON MILLS Director 2023-11-14 true SHARON MILLS 999009999 true AVERY HSU P02132422 8322953353 2 AAL1 IAL1 FAL1 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z 448 W 19TH ST BOX 647 HOUSTON TX 77008 463474 false X https://www.cherishourchildren.org/ X 1993 TX Dating back to its launch in 2021, The Gaining Empowerment in Middle School Program (GEMS) continues to gain momentum, as more schools are requesting our services at their campuses. During FY 2022, we purchased a new social, emotional learning software that is more user friendly. This new software offers our instructors additional resources for better classroom engagement, data assessment and reporting. The GEMS program has successfully and effectively provided social and emotional learning opportunities across 6 campuses, for 72 at-risk students and their families in the Houston Independent School District, Channelview Independent School District and Aldine School District. In addition to providing services to our youth, ancillary information and referral services are also provided to support the families of the participating students. 15 15 5 10 0 444868 462852 0 393 435 59494 -8673 504755 454614 41250 0 0 122692 82182 0 72287 246397 315725 410339 397907 94416 56707 382804 439511 150775 150775 232029 288736 X Cherish Our Children Inc. (COCI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to create sustainable solutions for vulnerable children. Historically, COCI has supported projects for vulnerable children around the world, but its most recent and notable program has focused on children of incarcerated parents. These services are provided through the Gaining Empowerment in Middle School (GEMS) program, the only program in Houston focused exclusively on middle school-aged children of incarcerated parents. The schools currently offering GEMS are in low-performing areas with student populations that are between 86-97% Black or Hispanic and are in communities where Census Bureau research predicts that 1-in-5 male students will be incarcerated as adults. All the students at the schools qualify for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program, 21% demonstrate limited English proficiency, and 60-73% of students are at-risk of dropping out. GEMS provides in-school classes focusing on a false true 280324 COCI has strategically refined and enhanced the Gaining Empowerment in Middle School (GEMS) program. It is the only program in Houston focused exclusively on middle school-aged children of incarcerated parents. GEMS provides curriculum-based, in-school classes focusing on a peer-to-peer, discussion-based model that emphasizes self-discovery and strengthens nine proven cognitive, social, and emotional skills sets, to empower youth leadership. During FY 2022, we purchased a new social and emotional learning software that is more user friendly. This software provides our instructors with additional resources to increase student engagement, as well as enhanced data assessment and reporting features. As a result, this software will further help the GEMS program become more operationally sound.Lastly, during 2022, the GEMS program successfully and effectively provided social and emotional learning opportunities across 6 campuses, for 72 at-risk students and their families in the Houston Independent School District, Channelview Independent School District and Aldine Independent School District. In addition to providing services to our youth, ancillary information and referral support services to other community-based organizations was also provided to support the families of the participating students. By partnering with organizations and providing financial support, as well as providing direct delivery of services to create sustainable solutions for some of our most vulnerable children, Cherish Our Children has a 29-year history of support for innovative, caring solutions that have a lasting impact on children. COCI provides funding for the Little Blue Schools/Las Escuelitas Azules, program located in Reynosa, Mexico. The program provides access to education, food, healthcare, potable water and shelter in a poverty-stricken community just a few miles from the U.S. border. The community was established by migrant workers several years ago and had no educational services. The program builds small, affordable school buildings, provides tutors, food and school supplies, partnering with government agencies, which provide teachers, and the local community, which helps determine the school needs. 280324 true true false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 3 0 true 5 true false false false false false false false 0 false false false false false false false X 15 15 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false X X SHARON MILLS 7133986580 110 E 26TH ST UNIT C HOUSTON TX 77008 DWAYNE BENNET Executive Dir. 40.00 0.00 X X 19792 0 0 ROBERT WISNER Chairman 15.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 CHAILLE HUTCHESON Director 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 SHARON MILLS Director 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 DARRELL ROSENTHAL Director 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 CHRIS CARMOUCHE Secretary 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 JACKIE GRANT Director 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 JENNIFER MCSORLEY Director 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 JAYNE JOHNSTON Director 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 NICK FLORESCU Director 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 SYDNEY SCOTT Director 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 LETITIA QUINONES Director 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 JAMIE BALLARD Treasurer 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 BENJAMIN BERG Director 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 CONOR JOHNSTON Director 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 JACQUELYN REX Director 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 19792 0 false false false 0 462852 462852 0 435 435 0 0 0 0 187 8860 -8673 0 0 0 454614 435 X 0 0 0 0 19792 11876 3958 3958 0 56550 56550 0 0 5840 5840 0 2268 2268 6973 6973 0 0 0 216890 151960 20380 44550 4185 502 3683 11317 6339 3351 1627 0 0 19655 19655 540 540 0 0 0 0 0 5173 4302 871 Supplies 16805 6796 3747 6262 Database Services 10734 10734 Payroll Processing Fees 9794 9794 Telephone 4986 4986 6405 2226 2706 1473 397907 280324 45296 72287 382804 439511 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 382804 439511 149900 149900 875 875 150775 150775 X 232029 288736 232029 288736 382804 439511 56707 X false false false X 379946 267584 351853 404041 463039 1866463 0 0 379946 267584 351853 404041 463039 1866463 0 1866463 213 393 435 1041 0 0 1867504 0.99940 0.99960 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED Check Payables 875 875 Form 990, Part III, Line 3 COCI has stopped supporting its international programs to focus on its main program, GEMS. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b The Treasurer (or other designated officer) reviews the return prior to filing. In addition, a draft Form 990 is provided to all board members and reviewed in person at a scheduled board meeting. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c Each Director completes, signs, and returns an Annual Conflict of Interest disclosure; our policy requires disclosure to the Chair and Board of any potential conflicts as they may arise. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15a The Internal Affairs Committee under the leadership of the Treasurer of the Board conducts an annual compensation review based on the annual performance review of the CEO and other top management. Compensation increases are based on merit, market conditions and the budget performance of COCI. The Internal Affairs Committee makes its recommendations to the Board of Directors. The board reviews and has final approval of CEO and top management compensation Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15b Key employee compensation is considered by the Board as part of the budgeting process. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 Documents will be made available upon request.