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A Note from Our Founder
Keirston Gaines, BSW, M.Ed, / Founder
At CHAMPION Kids, we are advocates for all kids and strongly believe in Romans 8:37, “Yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]”. The CHAMPION Kids logo features the name CHAMPION alongside a “Muscular and Strong” letter K in kids, which is emphasized by the forming of an arm muscle and boxing gloves, indicating that we always WIN. Therefore, we are CHAMPIONS, attaining Victory in every area of our lives.
As a former social worker, educator, and now school administrator, I have always had a passion to work with teenage girls, specifically those that society label “at-risk”. Ironically, based on society's definition of at- risk, my mother, as well as my siblings and I, would have been classified “at-risk” due to society's standards. Nevertheless, God does not believe in statistics and ensured that a Champion (an advocate or a ram in the bush) was placed along our journey to encourage us and give us strength to persevere, to break barriers, and to become resilient. At-risk is described as any child/student who face circumstances that could jeopardize their ability to complete school, which can include, but not limited to the following:
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Disciplinary problems
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Homelessness or teenage pregnancy
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Physical disabilities and learning disabilities
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Prolonged or persistent health issues
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Habitual truancy, incarceration history, or adjudicated delinquency
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Family welfare or marital status
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Parental educational attainment, income levels, employment status, or immigration status
However, CHAMPION Kids strive to erase the stigma that society has attached to one’s upbringings or life situations; thus, helping to break generational cycles. Our mission is to Educate, Equip, and Empower teenage girls. Realistically, at some point in life, every child will need a Champion. The ultimate goal is to give birth to a generation of youth who will achieve their full potential and develop into adults knowledgeable of God’s purpose and plan for their lives.
Sincerely,
Keirston J. Gaines BSW, M.Ed,
A Champion for Kids