International Educational Services Honored

The Los Fresnos City Commission presented a proclamation of recognition to International Education Services IES, Inc. for their many years of service to the community. IES, Inc. is a nonprofit and founded in 1984 by Ruben Gallegos, Ph.D. IES, Inc. operates a residential shelter and foster care programs in South Texas. The operation officially opened its doors in 1988 and is located in Cameron County.

“On July 1, twenty-five years ago the first shelter for children opened its’ doors in Los Fresnos. We have helped children from Russia, Africa, China, Bosnia and many more. We have hired 283 employees from this community and we run a shelter, human resource office and training office here,” said Gallegos.

The IES is currently working with approximately 600 children and has 600 employees in Brownsville, Los Fresnos, Harlingen and Driscoll. The non-profit organization operates on a $10.5 million budget.

“We just want to thank the community of Los Fresnos for our good relationship through the years,” concluded Gallegos.
The council concurred, noting that the organization brings many visitors into the community to eat and shop.

The main focus of the IES,Inc. care and services is the normal, safe, and family-structured environment provided through several components. The purpose and overall concept of the IES Programs is to provide a life as normal as possible for the children in care. The children participate in normal living activities such as education, student council, chores, recreation, religious, while learning to accept other responsibilities. Achievement of services provided is afforded through the following programs:

The Emergency Shelter is a large residential facility that houses the majority of children that IES serves. It is situated on 8 acres of land within a 34-acre tract in Los Fresnos, and is enhanced with several nearby cottages. The shelter facility offers 24-hour care and is staffed and equipped to accommodate 120-160 children on a daily basis.

In 1986, IES began as a consultant based agency to provide educational training to bilingual education teachers from Texas in Monterrey, Mexico. The group consisted of Ruben Gallegos, Professor at University of Texas at Brownsville, Brownsville, Texas, and other educational professionals consultants specializing in educational training. In 1988, IES, Inc. was awarded a Cooperative Agreement by the Department of Justice to provide shelter, basic care and services to unaccompanied alien children. An Emergency Shelter Program in Los Fresnos, Texas was established to provide temporary shelter care and other related services to children in ORR custody. Thereafter in 1989-1992 IES was awarded other Cooperative Agreements for UAC programs in Los Frensos, Raymondville and Mission, Texas. Services are provided for the period beginning when children are placed in the programs and ending when the child is released from custody by ORR. Services are provided in a least restrictive setting appropriate to the age and special needs.

In 1988, the IES Emergency Shelter officially opened its doors as a short-term, residential Emergency Shelter for unaccompanied alien children (UAC). In 1989 IES opened it door to a Child Placing Agency (foster care program) for unaccompanied alien children. Both programs are licensed as a private child care facility by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Since the first child came to the IES Programs in 1988, IES has cared for over 3,000 children between new borns and 17 years of age, pregnant and parenting teens, primarily from Central and South America, and other countries. The IES UAC Programs are situated in Harlingen, Los Fresnos and Brownsville, Texas and primarily serve the South Texas Region, but may accommodate any child referred by ORR nationwide. One hundred percent of the children served are exclusively for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The majority of UAC remain in care for an average of 45 days or shorter, with few staying longer periods.
The IES Programs have been successfully providing services for over 24 years, and are a model program for other UAC programs providing similar services.

For more information on the organization go to http://www.iestex.org/.