September 23, 2025 • 42 mins
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
You're listening to the Roy West Show here on News
Talk five sixty klv. I and I always have the
best guest, and certainly today is another great guest that
just got a promotion. Jay Shepherd, vice president of Operations
for the Better Business Bureau, Welcome back to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Jay, Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited
to be here.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
It's a pleasure for having you.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
And BBB has been a part of this community and
across the nation for decades now, making a huge impact.
And our local presence is very near and dear to
all of us here in business. But with your recent promotion,
(00:53):
y'all also move to a new building.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
We have had a lot of things happen here recently. Yes,
OURBBB here locally has been here since nineteen sixty three
and then BBB overall nationally since nineteen twelve. But we
have a big presence here in Southeast Texas, and I'm
so very proud of all of our accredited businesses and
(01:16):
all the things that we do in the community. And yes,
we were at Century Tower downtown Beaumont for over thirty years,
so this is a big change for us to be
in our own building now.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
We're very excited about.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
It, well as you should be. And let's begin by
talking a little bit about BBBB because certainly the world's
changed a lot in those decades and the BBB has
been very responsive. But for businesses, that for accredited members
(01:53):
and then for the public, what does that look like?
Speaker 4 (01:57):
So you're right, we have tried to really evolve with
the times. Uh, you know, it's such a digital world now.
We we've updated our websites and we so the thing
about BBB is is where we're all the same pretty much,
you know, across across all.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Of our BBB offices.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
However, locally, you know, we uh, locally we have more,
you know, we have different you know, we have different
events and things of that nature. But overall, as far
as you know, searches and things things like that, our
website is getting a huge amount of activity still continuously.
(02:42):
So when businesses are accredited with the BBB and someone
comes to our website, you know, and let's say they
want to look up a plumber or they want to
look up, you know, an electrician, they're typically checking that box.
They only want to see accredited businesses. So that's where
accreditation really sets you apart because consumers really trust the BBB.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Steal of trust.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
It does, and clearly when it comes to people spending money,
whether it's plumbers, whether it's contractors, whether it's ac whether
it's mortgages, whatever it is, especially with so much work
being done online and you know, and not being able
(03:31):
to get information sometimes or you may hear something on
social media because you can be approached in so many
different manners here and not realize that you're getting taken
advantage of.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
That's exactly right. And so many times we'll have a
business that comes into town, maybe after a big storm
or something of that nature, and they appear to be local,
maybe they have a local phone number, they're coming by
your house, they're telling you they're but they're not. And
so it's always wise to check with us, even if
(04:06):
it's just going inside your house and giving us a
call and saying, you know, this company is telling us
they're BBB accredited, you know, or looking them up on
your phone to see, uh.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
It's just it's just always wise to check with.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Us well, and with all the scams that are out there,
because sometimes people think they're going to get something for nothing,
so you know, it gets them excited and they think
they're gonna come out ahead.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
But from my.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Experience, you know, you get what you pay for, and
if you're not getting anything, you know, people can certainly
get taken advantage of. And that's why you want to
be able to make sure that you're reaching out to
the appropriate group, which certainly the BBB.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Is exactly and we do have scam Tracker. We want
people to visit scam Tracker and educate themselves about scams.
And you know, scam Tracker is actually kind of fun.
You can visit, you can take a little quiz. You
just feel a little bit more empowered when you visit
the BBB scam Tracker, so that you kind of know
(05:14):
what kind of things to expect, because scammers are getting
more and more clever all the time, and people that
you would never think could be scammed are getting scammed.
You know, professional people, young people, nobody is really immune.
We're all at some point vulnerable to a scam.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Well, I've had a number of friends in the last
few years and even a family member that was taken
advantage of through a scam. And you know, it's just
gotten a lot more sophisticated because you.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Can get an email and not check out the heading,
or the heading can be spoofed, or accounts can be hacked.
And if you get some information, it's always you know,
one of the good places to go is the BBB
and say, hey, have y'all heard about this?
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Is this a possibility? What should I do next? Because
you know, it's it's always worth investigating.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Oh, absolutely definitely worth it. And we talk to people.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
All the time that are calling to What we're really
happy about rowing is we really have tried very hard
to put a bunch of education out there so that
consumers can be proactive instead of reactive. So many times
they will call us. They're like, somebody's been texting me
(06:38):
or this is so before they give out their personal information,
they will call us, and we love that because boy,
talking to somebody that just lost all their money or
got their personal information compromised, that's rough. So we really
really like it when we get those calls where they're
checking with us first and they're just as they know
(07:00):
they can. And they sometimes we'll get a call about
somebody that said, hey, I went on scam tracker and
I just just you know, I was better prepared because
I knew I knew this was a scam that's happening
right now because you can get scam.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Alerts those kind of things. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Well, let's talk a little bit about accredited business is
and that process. So what can people expect.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
And you know, how does that help? You know, because
I am an accredited member, so I can certainly I
understand that.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
But for people that are out there helping them understand
that there's real advantages of being a member.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
There absolutely are.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
And I mean for me personally, I just understand that
so well, because I've been here a very long time.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
I'm about to have my nineteenth anniversary.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
But I talk to people every day, consumers every day
that wish they would have done business with an accredited business,
you know, because what has happened is, you know, they
did business with someone and they did work for them,
or for whatever reason, it's not working out and the
(08:19):
business is not responding to them. And of course they
can file a complaint with us, but a non accredited business,
we can't make them respond to a complaint. Now we
can have reflected in their rating if they do not respond.
But when you are doing business with a BBB accredited business,
you know that they will have to respond to your
complaint or they won't be able to continue or address
(08:41):
your complaint. They won't be able to continue being accredited
because they're When you're an accredited business, you are upholding
the BBB standards, not just when you are vetted in
the very beginning. When you apply for accreditation and you
go through our vet vetting process, you are vetted every
time you run. You have to stay in good standing
with the BBB. Not all businesses can continue to stay accredited.
(09:06):
There are some businesses that you know, maybe they have
a pattern of complaint, something of that nature. They're licensing
is not up to date. Businesses go through a bedding
process every year when they were new.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Well, and I think that's an important factor. And for
you know, if somebody does complain on a credited business,
which can happen because people do business and employees can
make mistakes or.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
There's any number of things.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
But also it gets as a business owner you want
to know if somebody is dissatisfied. And there are times
and there are times that perhaps the customers just asking
too much.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
You know, the expectation is.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Too large, and certainly the BBB doesn't hold business is
accountable for things that you know it isn't reasonable.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Yes, here at the BBB in Southeast Texas, we talked
to consumers a lot about their responsibilities and their accountability
as well, because we as consumers do have responsibilities, and
right you just don't follow a complain about something that's
not you.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Know, worthy of.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Following a BBB complaint doesn't mean you're just going to
automatically get your money.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Back, right well, And.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
That's all I'm pointing out is sometimes, you know, and
people may never experience that complaint, but the BBB still
on your website, on your business as well as being
on the website, I think certainly offers confidence to your
customers and gives them that possibility. But you know, because
(10:59):
this is so, I think that the general public uses
a lot.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Oh, yes it is.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
And one of the things that's happened for us here
in Southeast Texas is we've really gotten our accredited businesses
used to, you know, they if there's something out there,
some issue out there brewing.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
As a matter of fact, this morning.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Right when I got here, I had an accredited business
call me about an issue.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
They said, we're having this issue.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
This consumer is wanting something their warranty has been expired
two years and they're demanding, you know, and I said, well,
do you have the documentation of the warranty if you
provided that to them. So that's just one example, but
businesses will frequently call us if there's something out there
brewing that they're concerned about and they wanted to try
(11:51):
to get ahead of it and try to make it
right before a complain happens. That type of thing, because
I can't tell you how many times a business has
received at and they go, we didn't even know anything
was wrong, they didn't call us. So when they call
us first, when they call the BBB first, we will
say to them have you reached out to the business,
(12:12):
and if you haven't, do you want us to reach
out to the business on your behalf? And many times
we do that and so a lot of things get
resolved and there's not even a complaint because we're just
helping them communicate and we're very happy to do that.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Well, thank you so much, and if you would share
your number, we're about out of time here, and clearly.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
The website's easy to locate right.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Right, so we can be reached at four oh nine
eight three five five three four eight, and.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
The website's BBB. It'll it'll take you right to the
local BBB agency.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Right BBB dot org and then we'll get you right
to our website.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Jay, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Thanks so much. Roy enjoyed it.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Thank you. Good afternoon.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
We are back with the Roy Wetts Show here on
News Talk five sixty KLV.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
And remember, folks, if you're getting out of the car,
you can always.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Download the free iHeart Radio app stream the show live
wherever you are, or you can also check out this
podcast or any of our podcasts on iHeart as well
as well as Apple podcasts and Androi podcasts. And I
have Rainy with Samaritan Counseling Center online with me today
(13:33):
talking about the Samaritan Counseling Center because it is such
a fabulous organization serving Southeast Texas.
Speaker 5 (13:41):
Welcome to the show, Rainie, Thank you, Ory, thanks for
having us.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
It's a pleasure if you would. For those that may
be unfamiliar with what Samaritan Counseling Center is, can you
give people a high view of it?
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (13:58):
So.
Speaker 6 (13:58):
Samaritan Counseling Center is a not for profit counseling and
life education center serving individuals, couples, families, organization, congregations, and
businesses to promote healthy living in Southeast Texas.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Well.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
And oftentimes there's certainly a growing need and with because
with mental health and mental illness that is more prevalent,
if you will, I think because of social media, perhaps COVID,
lots of other things, and sometimes people just don't realize
(14:37):
where to start, how to go about getting help. And
y'all offer help again all over Southeast Texas in so
many accessible ways, whether it's how you get there, where
it's located, but also you know, with your economic status,
sometimes people can't afford it.
Speaker 6 (14:58):
Yeah, yeah, So thanks to generous donations that we're able
to provide counseling to underinsured or uninsured Southeast Texans for
reduced fees, and we strive, you know, to serve everyone
regardless of their ability to pay. We also have four
different office locations. We're located in Port Arthur, Orange, Beaumont,
(15:22):
and Silsby. And then we also provide telehealth, so video
therapy as well.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Well.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
That telehealth is really cool too, because some people may
not be able to may not have a car, may
not be able to get there on time because of
the job, but it still allows people to connect and
have access to services that might otherwise be unavailable exactly.
Speaker 6 (15:53):
Yeah, so that's that's definitely a good thing that you know,
they started that, I just started here in May, but
they started to teletherapy right before COVID, so that actually
worked out perfect that they had that already in place.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Well, you know, I think it's really important to recognize
that Samaritan Counseling Center is also a five O, one
C three, So it is a charitable organization that a
lot of people reach out to.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
For services.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
And because of that, since y'all have a sliding scale
for you know, people.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
That may not be able to afford traditional services or
uninsured or underinsured, that's you know, you need the public
involved to be able to help serve everybody by donations.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Yes, so we do.
Speaker 6 (16:50):
We have fundraisers throughout the year. We have one actually
going on right now that's a virtual five K.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
It's going on to the end of September.
Speaker 6 (16:58):
Because September is to side prevention awareness much so we
just wanted to do something to bring awareness to that,
but then also try to help raise funds for people
that might be going through a hard time. And need
extra help right now, they could call our office and
you know, those funds would be dedicated to helping somebody
that may not be able to pay for an appointment
(17:19):
or may not be able to pay the whole fee.
And then we also have a bigger fundraiser than not
some newly web game coming up in February, which we'll
have more information of that going out next month in
October and all that, but it or you know, if
anybody just wants to donate, we have our website. You
can go to our website and donate. It's s c C,
(17:40):
s C T dot or O r G. There's a
there's links in there to donate, and you know, we
always are very grateful and appreciative of.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Those absolutely and help people too for those that are
out there, you know, because sometimes that may be a
hard inquiry to make about reaching out for the counseling services.
So can you give people an idea of what they
might be what they might expect, Uh, you know in
(18:10):
terms of qualifying if you will, or setting an appointment.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Uh what is that process?
Speaker 6 (18:20):
Yeah, So if they call our office, one of the
ladies in the admin department will answer. They get their
information kind of figure out if they have insurance or not,
and then we kind of look at that part. I
don't get my hands into that too much. I don't
that side of things, but they definitely are very understanding
of all people's backgrounds and everything like that. So again,
(18:42):
nobody's going to get turned away where we try to
help that anyone can.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
But yeah, they'll just call the office.
Speaker 6 (18:50):
Our number is four zero nine seven two seven six
four zero zero. Like I said, they'll call, they'll get
the information that they need up there, and sudden appointment
with you know, try to match you with the counselor
that is available with your time frame and you know,
hopefully would match up with you because sometimes you know,
we might need a couple of people to meet what
(19:13):
we want.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
But yeah, right, well that's that's certainly understandable. And uh,
you know, in terms of the locations in the telemed
you know, I don't know if you always have options
for you know, doing it by video chat, but y'all
have locations throughout Southeast Texas as well.
Speaker 6 (19:36):
Yes, so our main office is in Port Arthur on
Anchor Drive. Then we have a location at the First
United Methodist Church in Orange and then the Saint Andrew's
Presbyterian Church in Beaumont and Saint John's Episcopal Church in Silsby,
so we have several locations all throughout the area. Or
(19:57):
like I said, we have the video therapy if you're
unable to make it to any of those offices.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
Well, and besides, besides your website, you also have an
active Facebook account so people can go get information and
I don't I don't know if y'all respond to messages
through that, but uh, it.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Certainly has on that website. It also has your contact
number as well as the website, so it makes it
super easy. Well, we've seen it there we go. Where
are back?
Speaker 6 (20:36):
Sorry, Yeah, we're almost cell phones so I had somebody
was calling. We do have We do enter our Facebook messages.
We'll post any updates on there. We also do if
you go to our website, you can sign up to
receive our newsletter. Each month the newsletter goes out, it
has a monthly blog of a different like mental health
(20:59):
topic that one of our counselors will send in just
kind of helpful tips or blogs or something like that
on our newsletter. So that's again on our website, which
is SCC set dot Org.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Well, you know, I just appreciate the work y'all do,
and folks, it's certainly important to be able to go
by h get online and give you know, if you've
got the financial resources, this is something that has a
huge impact in people's lives and provide services that otherwise
(21:34):
they might not have access to. So Rainie, I just
want to thank you so much for coming on the
show today, and we'll stay in touch because y'all always
have a lot of information and we'll have you back
when y'all are promoting the Not So Newlywed Game, which
is a big fundraiser in February. As you pointed out,
(21:54):
that's lots of fun, so people need to show up
for that.
Speaker 7 (21:58):
So thank you so much, thank you so much for
having us.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yes, ma'am, we are back with the Roy West Show
here on News Talk five sixty KLV. And remember, folks,
if you're driving down the road and you're getting out
of the car, you can always download the free iHeart
Radio app stream the show live wherever you are, or
you can catch this show or any in my shows
(22:23):
on the free iHeart Radio app as well as Apple
podcast and Android podcasts. And I have recy Goodman with
me and she is with Communities in Schools Southeast Texas.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 7 (22:39):
Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
It's my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
And I would expect some people have heard about communities
and schools, but I don't know, so, but let's tell
people because they may have heard of it but don't
know everything, y'all do, okay.
Speaker 8 (22:55):
Communities and Schools we are our own individual nonprofit five
one three here in Southeast Texas. We partner with our
local school districts to help students filling gaps that may
and overcome barriers that may be preventing them from being
successful in the classroom. We've been doing this in Southeast
(23:17):
Texas since about nineteen ninety one. We are a part
of a national network. Currently we are providing services in
ten school districts and on forty two campuses here in
Southeast Texas.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
That's impressive. Well, and I'm looking at y'all's website as
we talk here online, and uh, y'all have a lot
of different program components and you know, you identify the objectives.
So there's a lot of services you offer to kids
(23:54):
and families, if you.
Speaker 8 (23:55):
Will, yes, in the schools that we serve here in
Southeast Techs. We provide campus based support and mental health
services to students and their families. We are the largest
provider of campus based behavioral health services and for students
in Texas. Basically, overall, we provide what's called integrated student supports.
(24:18):
We meet students where they are, students and their families.
If there are any identify barriers to keep a student
from being successful in the classroom, we work with that
student regardless if it's supportive guidance and counseling, academic support, enrichment,
health and human services, parent and family engagement, college and
(24:39):
career readiness. We provide basic needs to students and families
as well. That could be uniforms, school supplies, whatever that
student needs to come to school and be in attendance
on a daily basis. Communities and schools we make that
effort to make sure that that student has what he
or she needs. It could be as simple as need
(25:00):
a pencil and being ready to work in the classroom,
or it can be as complex as having a crisis
or a mental health breakdown. We also have licensed professional
counselors on staff as well to help our students in
the school.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Systems well, and it is uh so, it's a whole
lot of services that you offer, and you offer to
a number of locations here in Beaumont, and it looks
like two four six eight. Is it about nine schools
in Beaumont School District?
Speaker 8 (25:36):
It was nine schools. Clearly, we have not updated our
website going into the new year's starting no worries first.
So last year we served nine campuses in Beaumont Independent
School District and all so Bob Hope School in Beaumont.
This year we're serving three campuses in Beaumont Independent School
(25:57):
District and we continue to serve the Bob Hope Charter
School campus as well well.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
And with that, you know, y'all are a nonprofit and
y'all offer a number of services, and I'm sure in
that process y'all are always in need of funds. And
I don't know if y'all use volunteers any we do.
Speaker 8 (26:19):
We it's a little bit more complex with volunteers inside
of the school system.
Speaker 7 (26:24):
There is a process that we have to go through.
Speaker 8 (26:26):
But in order to help us better serve students and
serve more students, funding is always an issue or a
concern as a nonprofit so anytime that we work with
individuals or corporations or funders that can help support the
needs of our students.
Speaker 7 (26:43):
We greatly welcome that as well.
Speaker 8 (26:45):
We do on our website we do have a button
that you can select that says give now, and donations
and contributions and funding is always welcome.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Well.
Speaker 9 (26:57):
And if people, well, you know, have students, are you
know in the schools that y'all serve, I assume they
get information, But what's that process look like?
Speaker 1 (27:09):
Because certainly in today's world, in post COVID, but probably
even before that, but it sounds like y'all been doing
this a long time. There's just a lot of mental
health needs in society as a whole, and I'm sure
they've increased in the schools as well.
Speaker 8 (27:28):
Absolutely, we implemented our mental health program probably about eight
years ago.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
Now.
Speaker 7 (27:35):
We saw the need.
Speaker 8 (27:37):
It was overwhelming, and so we knew we had to
do something and devise a plan to support our students
in school. We want our students to come to school
and be ready to learn, but sometimes they're bringing so
much trauma and different things with them that it's almost
difficult or unfortunate that they can't learn because of all
the trauma and the issues that they bring with them
(27:58):
from home and outside of the school system.
Speaker 7 (28:00):
So what that looks like.
Speaker 8 (28:02):
In bisD and in Beaumont we serve currently we are
serving Fletcher peachmac Author and Beaumont United High School. We
also serve Beaumont Bob Hope School. So what that looks
like is we have a full time site coordinator on
each campus that we serve. That person is embedded into
the school system, works there every day all day. When
(28:25):
students are identified as having the need, they are recommended
or referred to the site coordinator on campus, the Communities
and school site coordinator. That process looks like an assessment.
We assess the student and the family to see what
is happening. We take the information from the teachers or
whoever recommended or referred to student, and we look at
(28:46):
their academics, their attendance, their discipline, and their social service needs.
Is a comprehensive plan that we create to make sure
we support the student. If during that process the student
is as identified as needing an additional layer of support
and that service is provided by licensed mental health professional,
(29:08):
then our licensed mental health professional is called in that
individual visits that campus wants a week to work with
students that may need those services, and then we go
from there to.
Speaker 7 (29:18):
Help the student. We support the student with.
Speaker 8 (29:20):
Our site coordinator on campus on a daily basis, and
then at least once a week, our licensed mental health
professional also supports the student according to the need of
the student.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Well, and.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Y'all are meeting a lot of needs, and it's certainly
very well, very much needed. And I know the school
districts do their best, but typically they don't have enough
funds to meet those needs. I know bisD certainly appreciates
volunteers just to help mentor and read with kids, but
(29:56):
y'all have some professionals that are coming in that also
are able or target I guess the kids that are
having the most difficulty.
Speaker 8 (30:06):
Absolutely these students that are coming to school with trauma,
well with crisis situations, students that are dealing with anxiety
and depression. Those individuals we provide services on campus. What
is really unique about our program, even though we are
a nonprofit, we are a during the day program, so
(30:29):
we provide these services during the day at school to
no costs to the students.
Speaker 7 (30:35):
Or the families.
Speaker 8 (30:36):
So the easiest way to have access to students is
at school during the day, so our program was created
to provide during the day services to students and families.
And so when we have those students that are struggling
with anxiety, depression, cutting trauma, we provide that support to
(30:57):
the students so we can help them and assist them
so they can get back to the classroom and learn
and be successful academically and in life as well well.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
Certainly learning those soft skills that you will and just
getting socialized and also understanding can offer them a lot
of success beyond the school. But y'all have a super
easy website and it's just c I ss E T
(31:29):
dot org, which is Community in Schools Southeast Texas. So
if you can remember that, all you got to do
is do the first letter of each one, absolutely and
you can go there to get a lot more information
as well as donate. And we are about out of time,
but I wanted to thank you for coming on and
(31:49):
sharing this information with Southeast Texas because there is so much,
so many resources that people are unaware of.
Speaker 8 (31:58):
Well, thank you for having us and giving us an
opportunity to share with the community the work that we do.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
All right, you have a wonderful day.
Speaker 7 (32:07):
Thank you you as well.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
We are back with the Roy Wett Show here on
News Talk five sixty KLV, and folks, we always have
informative information as well as things that are relevant to
the entire community.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Organizations that give back. It's whether it's fundraisers or services offered.
And I've got with me Mike Barfield, who is the
current president of Crime Stoppers at Southeast Texas. Mike, welcome
back to the show.
Speaker 10 (32:42):
Hey Dafining, Roy, thank you for having me. It's pleasure
to be here. Well, it's my pleasure.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
And you know we're sitting here talking about Crime Stoppers
at Southeast Texas.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
It has grown and changed a lot over the years.
And I know y'all are having y'all have raisers because
it is a five oh one C three.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
It's a charitable organization. Tell people first a five thousand
foot view of what crime Stoppers does and really how
much they've been doing here locally.
Speaker 10 (33:16):
So crime Stoppers, as you mentioned, is a five oh
one C three. We are a nonprofit organization. We are
independent of law enforcement, so we are governed by a
board of members and volunteers, business leaders from the community.
We also have a staff. Our job basically is to
empower and encourage the public to submit tips with information
(33:38):
they have anonymously. I might add with information they may
have about a crime that can help lead to an arrest.
We also partner with law enforcement to provide those tips
anonymously to law enforcement so they can take action on
those tips. We also partner with the schools and our
media to help promote that message and ultimately from the
(33:58):
you know, the five found and foot view is just
to simply assist law enforcement and getting criminals off the
streets and help bring justice to victims of crime.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Well.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
And and as you say, crime stoppers, the organization here
is local and it serves these local counties around here,
but it is a national organization, international organization that many
people are familiar with. But when they give money to
crime Stoppers in Southeast Texas, it stays right here. And
(34:32):
it allows people to to give information.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
And that's adults as well as kids as well as
for the what happens in your city or around your area.
Are at kids schools and you can get you do
it anonymously and you can get a reward.
Speaker 10 (34:51):
That's correct, and you really unpacked a lot there. We
are staffed by volunteers. Our board has a fiduciary duty
to the state and to the donors, so our money
does stay here locally. It helps to provide not only
our operations, but our promotions and our staff. We of
course do serve Jefferson, Harden, Orange and Jasper Counties. As
(35:14):
you mentioned, crime Stoppers itself is a global organization. The
founder lives overseas. It is nationwide. What's unique and I
feel like really special about crime Stoppers in Texas at least?
And I don't know the law For all fifty states
crime Stoppers isn't anonymous wait to report, but with our
(35:35):
program in under Texas state law, your anonymity is guaranteed
by Texas State statutes. So we don't do any tracking
of our Internet tips. Whether you call in, go on
the P three app, or just on our website eight
three three tips dot com, we have no way of
knowing who you are. We don't know your IP address,
(35:57):
and yes, that allows us to confidently and capably served
the members of this community, both the adults and the kids,
and of course our students where our student Our campus
Crime Stopper program serves over twenty school districts in this
area and affords them that same ability anonymously report crimes
or things they know that's happening, dating, violence, vabes, bullying, weapons,
(36:22):
the list goes on.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
Well, it has certainly been making a difference in the
entire world, but here particularly, and that's been since the
early eighties, right right here.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
That's correct.
Speaker 10 (36:37):
Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas started out in Beaumont in
nineteen eighty one. Then it grew a little bit and
incorporated the southern part of Jefferson County. I think they
had a separate mid county Crime Stoppers organization then to
become Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas, which has now grown
to include the fourth county, which is Jasper County, and
(36:58):
we are really having an impact up there. They have
been great, willing partners, and who knows, in the future,
we may expand even further as time and ability and
resources allow.
Speaker 3 (37:10):
Well.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
And we because we do have some rural counties around
here that don't have as much in terms of resources,
but these tips are are sent directly to the law
enforcement agency that is that we'd be working on the
crime and you know, again, been making a difference for
a long time right here in Southeast Texas, So I love.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
Pointing that out. So but people can go online and
right now there is actually a fundraiser happening for crime stoppers,
that's correct.
Speaker 10 (37:44):
So we are tasked with raising funds because if we're
going to We do receive a very small amount of
funds from the state via some prohibition fees and things
like that, but not nearly enough to manage our operations
in pe outter rewards. And of course the more we advertise,
the more tips we get. The more tips we get,
of course, the more money we have to pay out,
(38:06):
and we are always willing and able to do so,
but in order to fund those operations, we do have
to raise funds. Of course, we have our crime stopper,
our Back to the Blue Brunch every year, which is
coming up beginning May. But as of right now, we're
doing our biggest annual fundraiser, thirty Guns in thirty days.
We give away a different gun every day Monday through
(38:27):
Saturday until all thirty guns are given away. It's one
hundred dollars a ticket, and every ticket is eligible to
win every day. The past two years we've had a
winner who won twice each year. So your one hundred
dollars donation not only affords you the opportunity to win
a really great prize, but it also goes to help
(38:47):
support a great local organization. Make it a difference right
here in Southeast Texas.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
Well, Mike, And how do people go about if they
want to buy some of those tickets?
Speaker 3 (38:58):
How do they go about doing that?
Speaker 10 (39:00):
Well, the best way is to go to eight three
three tips dot com eight three three t I p
s dot com our website, and on there you have
the opportunity to purchase online or you can call in.
We can take credit card payments. If you see one
of your local board members out about, we can also
some of us have tickets we can sell, but the
primary ways go to our website eight three three tips
(39:20):
dot com.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
Well, again, I just want to thank you for all
that Crime Stoppers has done and continues to do. And
I know your role as chairman of the board, you
get to volunteer a lot of time, and uh it's
so important, uh that I know that you've gotten involved
in recent years and you and you willingly volunteer all
(39:44):
that time. We're about out of time, but share the
information again for contact one more time.
Speaker 10 (39:51):
You can reach us at eight three three t I
p S dot com.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
All right, it's super easy. Mike Barfield, the president of
Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas. Y'all keep up the good work.
Speaker 10 (40:06):
Hey, thank you Roth, Thank you for having us on
the show and everything you do for the community.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
We are back in closing out another Roy West show
here on News Talk five sixty k LV. I like
to remind people that if you're listening to the show
and you want to catch this show or any of
the other show in their entirety, you can go to iHeartRadio,
download the app, check out my podcast, or go to
(40:35):
Apple podcast or Android podcast.
Speaker 3 (40:37):
We make it super easy for you.
Speaker 5 (40:39):
And I like to remind people too that the Roy
West team of Guild Mortgage can help you with all
your home loan needs. Whether it's an FAHA loan, whether
it's a conventional loan, whether it's a USDA loan or
Veterans Administration loan. We can help.
Speaker 1 (40:55):
Whether you're buying primary resident, second home, investment property, moving up,
moving down, we can help.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
You all over the state of Texas. I had great
guests this week, started out with Jay Shepherd of the
Bit of Business Bureau. Then I had Rainy Huckabee with
the Samaritan Counseling Center, and the Samaritan Counseling Center does
a great job of offering counseling services across Southeast Texas.
(41:27):
They have multiple locations as well as they also have
telemedicine available, so if you can't go in, they can
talk to you online and you can get out all
the information on their Facebook page or you can google
Samaritan Counseling Center here in Southeast Texas. Then we had
Recy Goodman with Communities and Schools talking about the different
(41:50):
schools that they provide services too.
Speaker 1 (41:53):
It is a separate five oh one, C three, and
we finished the show with Mike Barfield or Crime Stoppers
of Southeast Texas.
Speaker 3 (42:01):
You can always get more information by going to eight
three three tips dot com. You can leave information about
a crime and anonymously and receive a reward and until
we talk again, God bless you all.
You're listening to the Roy West Show here on News
Talk five sixty klv. I and I always have the
best guest, and certainly today is another great guest that
just got a promotion. Jay Shepherd, vice president of Operations
for the Better Business Bureau, Welcome back to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Jay, Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited
to be here.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
It's a pleasure for having you.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
And BBB has been a part of this community and
across the nation for decades now, making a huge impact.
And our local presence is very near and dear to
all of us here in business. But with your recent promotion,
(00:53):
y'all also move to a new building.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
We have had a lot of things happen here recently. Yes,
OURBBB here locally has been here since nineteen sixty three
and then BBB overall nationally since nineteen twelve. But we
have a big presence here in Southeast Texas, and I'm
so very proud of all of our accredited businesses and
(01:16):
all the things that we do in the community. And yes,
we were at Century Tower downtown Beaumont for over thirty years,
so this is a big change for us to be
in our own building now.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
We're very excited about.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
It, well as you should be. And let's begin by
talking a little bit about BBBB because certainly the world's
changed a lot in those decades and the BBB has
been very responsive. But for businesses, that for accredited members
(01:53):
and then for the public, what does that look like?
Speaker 4 (01:57):
So you're right, we have tried to really evolve with
the times. Uh, you know, it's such a digital world now.
We we've updated our websites and we so the thing
about BBB is is where we're all the same pretty much,
you know, across across all.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Of our BBB offices.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
However, locally, you know, we uh, locally we have more,
you know, we have different you know, we have different
events and things of that nature. But overall, as far
as you know, searches and things things like that, our
website is getting a huge amount of activity still continuously.
(02:42):
So when businesses are accredited with the BBB and someone
comes to our website, you know, and let's say they
want to look up a plumber or they want to
look up, you know, an electrician, they're typically checking that box.
They only want to see accredited businesses. So that's where
accreditation really sets you apart because consumers really trust the BBB.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Steal of trust.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
It does, and clearly when it comes to people spending money,
whether it's plumbers, whether it's contractors, whether it's ac whether
it's mortgages, whatever it is, especially with so much work
being done online and you know, and not being able
(03:31):
to get information sometimes or you may hear something on
social media because you can be approached in so many
different manners here and not realize that you're getting taken
advantage of.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
That's exactly right. And so many times we'll have a
business that comes into town, maybe after a big storm
or something of that nature, and they appear to be local,
maybe they have a local phone number, they're coming by
your house, they're telling you they're but they're not. And
so it's always wise to check with us, even if
(04:06):
it's just going inside your house and giving us a
call and saying, you know, this company is telling us
they're BBB accredited, you know, or looking them up on
your phone to see, uh.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
It's just it's just always wise to check with.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Us well, and with all the scams that are out there,
because sometimes people think they're going to get something for nothing,
so you know, it gets them excited and they think
they're gonna come out ahead.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
But from my.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Experience, you know, you get what you pay for, and
if you're not getting anything, you know, people can certainly
get taken advantage of. And that's why you want to
be able to make sure that you're reaching out to
the appropriate group, which certainly the BBB.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Is exactly and we do have scam Tracker. We want
people to visit scam Tracker and educate themselves about scams.
And you know, scam Tracker is actually kind of fun.
You can visit, you can take a little quiz. You
just feel a little bit more empowered when you visit
the BBB scam Tracker, so that you kind of know
(05:14):
what kind of things to expect, because scammers are getting
more and more clever all the time, and people that
you would never think could be scammed are getting scammed.
You know, professional people, young people, nobody is really immune.
We're all at some point vulnerable to a scam.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Well, I've had a number of friends in the last
few years and even a family member that was taken
advantage of through a scam. And you know, it's just
gotten a lot more sophisticated because you.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Can get an email and not check out the heading,
or the heading can be spoofed, or accounts can be hacked.
And if you get some information, it's always you know,
one of the good places to go is the BBB
and say, hey, have y'all heard about this?
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Is this a possibility? What should I do next? Because
you know, it's it's always worth investigating.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Oh, absolutely definitely worth it. And we talk to people.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
All the time that are calling to What we're really
happy about rowing is we really have tried very hard
to put a bunch of education out there so that
consumers can be proactive instead of reactive. So many times
they will call us. They're like, somebody's been texting me
(06:38):
or this is so before they give out their personal information,
they will call us, and we love that because boy,
talking to somebody that just lost all their money or
got their personal information compromised, that's rough. So we really
really like it when we get those calls where they're
checking with us first and they're just as they know
(07:00):
they can. And they sometimes we'll get a call about
somebody that said, hey, I went on scam tracker and
I just just you know, I was better prepared because
I knew I knew this was a scam that's happening
right now because you can get scam.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Alerts those kind of things. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Well, let's talk a little bit about accredited business is
and that process. So what can people expect.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
And you know, how does that help? You know, because
I am an accredited member, so I can certainly I
understand that.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
But for people that are out there helping them understand
that there's real advantages of being a member.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
There absolutely are.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
And I mean for me personally, I just understand that
so well, because I've been here a very long time.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
I'm about to have my nineteenth anniversary.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
But I talk to people every day, consumers every day
that wish they would have done business with an accredited business,
you know, because what has happened is, you know, they
did business with someone and they did work for them,
or for whatever reason, it's not working out and the
(08:19):
business is not responding to them. And of course they
can file a complaint with us, but a non accredited business,
we can't make them respond to a complaint. Now we
can have reflected in their rating if they do not respond.
But when you are doing business with a BBB accredited business,
you know that they will have to respond to your
complaint or they won't be able to continue or address
(08:41):
your complaint. They won't be able to continue being accredited
because they're When you're an accredited business, you are upholding
the BBB standards, not just when you are vetted in
the very beginning. When you apply for accreditation and you
go through our vet vetting process, you are vetted every
time you run. You have to stay in good standing
with the BBB. Not all businesses can continue to stay accredited.
(09:06):
There are some businesses that you know, maybe they have
a pattern of complaint, something of that nature. They're licensing
is not up to date. Businesses go through a bedding
process every year when they were new.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Well, and I think that's an important factor. And for
you know, if somebody does complain on a credited business,
which can happen because people do business and employees can
make mistakes or.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
There's any number of things.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
But also it gets as a business owner you want
to know if somebody is dissatisfied. And there are times
and there are times that perhaps the customers just asking
too much.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
You know, the expectation is.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Too large, and certainly the BBB doesn't hold business is
accountable for things that you know it isn't reasonable.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Yes, here at the BBB in Southeast Texas, we talked
to consumers a lot about their responsibilities and their accountability
as well, because we as consumers do have responsibilities, and
right you just don't follow a complain about something that's
not you.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Know, worthy of.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Following a BBB complaint doesn't mean you're just going to
automatically get your money.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Back, right well, And.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
That's all I'm pointing out is sometimes, you know, and
people may never experience that complaint, but the BBB still
on your website, on your business as well as being
on the website, I think certainly offers confidence to your
customers and gives them that possibility. But you know, because
(10:59):
this is so, I think that the general public uses
a lot.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Oh, yes it is.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
And one of the things that's happened for us here
in Southeast Texas is we've really gotten our accredited businesses
used to, you know, they if there's something out there,
some issue out there brewing.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
As a matter of fact, this morning.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Right when I got here, I had an accredited business
call me about an issue.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
They said, we're having this issue.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
This consumer is wanting something their warranty has been expired
two years and they're demanding, you know, and I said, well,
do you have the documentation of the warranty if you
provided that to them. So that's just one example, but
businesses will frequently call us if there's something out there
brewing that they're concerned about and they wanted to try
(11:51):
to get ahead of it and try to make it
right before a complain happens. That type of thing, because
I can't tell you how many times a business has
received at and they go, we didn't even know anything
was wrong, they didn't call us. So when they call
us first, when they call the BBB first, we will
say to them have you reached out to the business,
(12:12):
and if you haven't, do you want us to reach
out to the business on your behalf? And many times
we do that and so a lot of things get
resolved and there's not even a complaint because we're just
helping them communicate and we're very happy to do that.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Well, thank you so much, and if you would share
your number, we're about out of time here, and clearly.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
The website's easy to locate right.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Right, so we can be reached at four oh nine
eight three five five three four eight, and.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
The website's BBB. It'll it'll take you right to the
local BBB agency.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Right BBB dot org and then we'll get you right
to our website.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Jay, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Thanks so much. Roy enjoyed it.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Thank you. Good afternoon.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
We are back with the Roy Wetts Show here on
News Talk five sixty KLV.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
And remember, folks, if you're getting out of the car,
you can always.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Download the free iHeart Radio app stream the show live
wherever you are, or you can also check out this
podcast or any of our podcasts on iHeart as well
as well as Apple podcasts and Androi podcasts. And I
have Rainy with Samaritan Counseling Center online with me today
(13:33):
talking about the Samaritan Counseling Center because it is such
a fabulous organization serving Southeast Texas.
Speaker 5 (13:41):
Welcome to the show, Rainie, Thank you, Ory, thanks for
having us.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
It's a pleasure if you would. For those that may
be unfamiliar with what Samaritan Counseling Center is, can you
give people a high view of it?
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (13:58):
So.
Speaker 6 (13:58):
Samaritan Counseling Center is a not for profit counseling and
life education center serving individuals, couples, families, organization, congregations, and
businesses to promote healthy living in Southeast Texas.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Well.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
And oftentimes there's certainly a growing need and with because
with mental health and mental illness that is more prevalent,
if you will, I think because of social media, perhaps COVID,
lots of other things, and sometimes people just don't realize
(14:37):
where to start, how to go about getting help. And
y'all offer help again all over Southeast Texas in so
many accessible ways, whether it's how you get there, where
it's located, but also you know, with your economic status,
sometimes people can't afford it.
Speaker 6 (14:58):
Yeah, yeah, So thanks to generous donations that we're able
to provide counseling to underinsured or uninsured Southeast Texans for
reduced fees, and we strive, you know, to serve everyone
regardless of their ability to pay. We also have four
different office locations. We're located in Port Arthur, Orange, Beaumont,
(15:22):
and Silsby. And then we also provide telehealth, so video
therapy as well.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Well.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
That telehealth is really cool too, because some people may
not be able to may not have a car, may
not be able to get there on time because of
the job, but it still allows people to connect and
have access to services that might otherwise be unavailable exactly.
Speaker 6 (15:53):
Yeah, so that's that's definitely a good thing that you know,
they started that, I just started here in May, but
they started to teletherapy right before COVID, so that actually
worked out perfect that they had that already in place.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Well, you know, I think it's really important to recognize
that Samaritan Counseling Center is also a five O, one
C three, So it is a charitable organization that a
lot of people reach out to.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
For services.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
And because of that, since y'all have a sliding scale
for you know, people.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
That may not be able to afford traditional services or
uninsured or underinsured, that's you know, you need the public
involved to be able to help serve everybody by donations.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Yes, so we do.
Speaker 6 (16:50):
We have fundraisers throughout the year. We have one actually
going on right now that's a virtual five K.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
It's going on to the end of September.
Speaker 6 (16:58):
Because September is to side prevention awareness much so we
just wanted to do something to bring awareness to that,
but then also try to help raise funds for people
that might be going through a hard time. And need
extra help right now, they could call our office and
you know, those funds would be dedicated to helping somebody
that may not be able to pay for an appointment
(17:19):
or may not be able to pay the whole fee.
And then we also have a bigger fundraiser than not
some newly web game coming up in February, which we'll
have more information of that going out next month in
October and all that, but it or you know, if
anybody just wants to donate, we have our website. You
can go to our website and donate. It's s c C,
(17:40):
s C T dot or O r G. There's a
there's links in there to donate, and you know, we
always are very grateful and appreciative of.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Those absolutely and help people too for those that are
out there, you know, because sometimes that may be a
hard inquiry to make about reaching out for the counseling services.
So can you give people an idea of what they
might be what they might expect, Uh, you know in
(18:10):
terms of qualifying if you will, or setting an appointment.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Uh what is that process?
Speaker 6 (18:20):
Yeah, So if they call our office, one of the
ladies in the admin department will answer. They get their
information kind of figure out if they have insurance or not,
and then we kind of look at that part. I
don't get my hands into that too much. I don't
that side of things, but they definitely are very understanding
of all people's backgrounds and everything like that. So again,
(18:42):
nobody's going to get turned away where we try to
help that anyone can.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
But yeah, they'll just call the office.
Speaker 6 (18:50):
Our number is four zero nine seven two seven six
four zero zero. Like I said, they'll call, they'll get
the information that they need up there, and sudden appointment
with you know, try to match you with the counselor
that is available with your time frame and you know,
hopefully would match up with you because sometimes you know,
we might need a couple of people to meet what
(19:13):
we want.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
But yeah, right, well that's that's certainly understandable. And uh,
you know, in terms of the locations in the telemed
you know, I don't know if you always have options
for you know, doing it by video chat, but y'all
have locations throughout Southeast Texas as well.
Speaker 6 (19:36):
Yes, so our main office is in Port Arthur on
Anchor Drive. Then we have a location at the First
United Methodist Church in Orange and then the Saint Andrew's
Presbyterian Church in Beaumont and Saint John's Episcopal Church in Silsby,
so we have several locations all throughout the area. Or
(19:57):
like I said, we have the video therapy if you're
unable to make it to any of those offices.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
Well, and besides, besides your website, you also have an
active Facebook account so people can go get information and
I don't I don't know if y'all respond to messages
through that, but uh, it.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Certainly has on that website. It also has your contact
number as well as the website, so it makes it
super easy. Well, we've seen it there we go. Where
are back?
Speaker 6 (20:36):
Sorry, Yeah, we're almost cell phones so I had somebody
was calling. We do have We do enter our Facebook messages.
We'll post any updates on there. We also do if
you go to our website, you can sign up to
receive our newsletter. Each month the newsletter goes out, it
has a monthly blog of a different like mental health
(20:59):
topic that one of our counselors will send in just
kind of helpful tips or blogs or something like that
on our newsletter. So that's again on our website, which
is SCC set dot Org.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Well, you know, I just appreciate the work y'all do,
and folks, it's certainly important to be able to go
by h get online and give you know, if you've
got the financial resources, this is something that has a
huge impact in people's lives and provide services that otherwise
(21:34):
they might not have access to. So Rainie, I just
want to thank you so much for coming on the
show today, and we'll stay in touch because y'all always
have a lot of information and we'll have you back
when y'all are promoting the Not So Newlywed Game, which
is a big fundraiser in February. As you pointed out,
(21:54):
that's lots of fun, so people need to show up
for that.
Speaker 7 (21:58):
So thank you so much, thank you so much for
having us.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yes, ma'am, we are back with the Roy West Show
here on News Talk five sixty KLV. And remember, folks,
if you're driving down the road and you're getting out
of the car, you can always download the free iHeart
Radio app stream the show live wherever you are, or
you can catch this show or any in my shows
(22:23):
on the free iHeart Radio app as well as Apple
podcast and Android podcasts. And I have recy Goodman with
me and she is with Communities in Schools Southeast Texas.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 7 (22:39):
Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
It's my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
And I would expect some people have heard about communities
and schools, but I don't know, so, but let's tell
people because they may have heard of it but don't
know everything, y'all do, okay.
Speaker 8 (22:55):
Communities and Schools we are our own individual nonprofit five
one three here in Southeast Texas. We partner with our
local school districts to help students filling gaps that may
and overcome barriers that may be preventing them from being
successful in the classroom. We've been doing this in Southeast
(23:17):
Texas since about nineteen ninety one. We are a part
of a national network. Currently we are providing services in
ten school districts and on forty two campuses here in
Southeast Texas.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
That's impressive. Well, and I'm looking at y'all's website as
we talk here online, and uh, y'all have a lot
of different program components and you know, you identify the objectives.
So there's a lot of services you offer to kids
(23:54):
and families, if you.
Speaker 8 (23:55):
Will, yes, in the schools that we serve here in
Southeast Techs. We provide campus based support and mental health
services to students and their families. We are the largest
provider of campus based behavioral health services and for students
in Texas. Basically, overall, we provide what's called integrated student supports.
(24:18):
We meet students where they are, students and their families.
If there are any identify barriers to keep a student
from being successful in the classroom, we work with that
student regardless if it's supportive guidance and counseling, academic support, enrichment,
health and human services, parent and family engagement, college and
(24:39):
career readiness. We provide basic needs to students and families
as well. That could be uniforms, school supplies, whatever that
student needs to come to school and be in attendance
on a daily basis. Communities and schools we make that
effort to make sure that that student has what he
or she needs. It could be as simple as need
(25:00):
a pencil and being ready to work in the classroom,
or it can be as complex as having a crisis
or a mental health breakdown. We also have licensed professional
counselors on staff as well to help our students in
the school.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Systems well, and it is uh so, it's a whole
lot of services that you offer, and you offer to
a number of locations here in Beaumont, and it looks
like two four six eight. Is it about nine schools
in Beaumont School District?
Speaker 8 (25:36):
It was nine schools. Clearly, we have not updated our
website going into the new year's starting no worries first.
So last year we served nine campuses in Beaumont Independent
School District and all so Bob Hope School in Beaumont.
This year we're serving three campuses in Beaumont Independent School
(25:57):
District and we continue to serve the Bob Hope Charter
School campus as well well.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
And with that, you know, y'all are a nonprofit and
y'all offer a number of services, and I'm sure in
that process y'all are always in need of funds. And
I don't know if y'all use volunteers any we do.
Speaker 8 (26:19):
We it's a little bit more complex with volunteers inside
of the school system.
Speaker 7 (26:24):
There is a process that we have to go through.
Speaker 8 (26:26):
But in order to help us better serve students and
serve more students, funding is always an issue or a
concern as a nonprofit so anytime that we work with
individuals or corporations or funders that can help support the
needs of our students.
Speaker 7 (26:43):
We greatly welcome that as well.
Speaker 8 (26:45):
We do on our website we do have a button
that you can select that says give now, and donations
and contributions and funding is always welcome.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Well.
Speaker 9 (26:57):
And if people, well, you know, have students, are you
know in the schools that y'all serve, I assume they
get information, But what's that process look like?
Speaker 1 (27:09):
Because certainly in today's world, in post COVID, but probably
even before that, but it sounds like y'all been doing
this a long time. There's just a lot of mental
health needs in society as a whole, and I'm sure
they've increased in the schools as well.
Speaker 8 (27:28):
Absolutely, we implemented our mental health program probably about eight
years ago.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
Now.
Speaker 7 (27:35):
We saw the need.
Speaker 8 (27:37):
It was overwhelming, and so we knew we had to
do something and devise a plan to support our students
in school. We want our students to come to school
and be ready to learn, but sometimes they're bringing so
much trauma and different things with them that it's almost
difficult or unfortunate that they can't learn because of all
the trauma and the issues that they bring with them
(27:58):
from home and outside of the school system.
Speaker 7 (28:00):
So what that looks like.
Speaker 8 (28:02):
In bisD and in Beaumont we serve currently we are
serving Fletcher peachmac Author and Beaumont United High School. We
also serve Beaumont Bob Hope School. So what that looks
like is we have a full time site coordinator on
each campus that we serve. That person is embedded into
the school system, works there every day all day. When
(28:25):
students are identified as having the need, they are recommended
or referred to the site coordinator on campus, the Communities
and school site coordinator. That process looks like an assessment.
We assess the student and the family to see what
is happening. We take the information from the teachers or
whoever recommended or referred to student, and we look at
(28:46):
their academics, their attendance, their discipline, and their social service needs.
Is a comprehensive plan that we create to make sure
we support the student. If during that process the student
is as identified as needing an additional layer of support
and that service is provided by licensed mental health professional,
(29:08):
then our licensed mental health professional is called in that
individual visits that campus wants a week to work with
students that may need those services, and then we go
from there to.
Speaker 7 (29:18):
Help the student. We support the student with.
Speaker 8 (29:20):
Our site coordinator on campus on a daily basis, and
then at least once a week, our licensed mental health
professional also supports the student according to the need of
the student.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Well, and.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Y'all are meeting a lot of needs, and it's certainly
very well, very much needed. And I know the school
districts do their best, but typically they don't have enough
funds to meet those needs. I know bisD certainly appreciates
volunteers just to help mentor and read with kids, but
(29:56):
y'all have some professionals that are coming in that also
are able or target I guess the kids that are
having the most difficulty.
Speaker 8 (30:06):
Absolutely these students that are coming to school with trauma,
well with crisis situations, students that are dealing with anxiety
and depression. Those individuals we provide services on campus. What
is really unique about our program, even though we are
a nonprofit, we are a during the day program, so
(30:29):
we provide these services during the day at school to
no costs to the students.
Speaker 7 (30:35):
Or the families.
Speaker 8 (30:36):
So the easiest way to have access to students is
at school during the day, so our program was created
to provide during the day services to students and families.
And so when we have those students that are struggling
with anxiety, depression, cutting trauma, we provide that support to
(30:57):
the students so we can help them and assist them
so they can get back to the classroom and learn
and be successful academically and in life as well well.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
Certainly learning those soft skills that you will and just
getting socialized and also understanding can offer them a lot
of success beyond the school. But y'all have a super
easy website and it's just c I ss E T
(31:29):
dot org, which is Community in Schools Southeast Texas. So
if you can remember that, all you got to do
is do the first letter of each one, absolutely and
you can go there to get a lot more information
as well as donate. And we are about out of time,
but I wanted to thank you for coming on and
(31:49):
sharing this information with Southeast Texas because there is so much,
so many resources that people are unaware of.
Speaker 8 (31:58):
Well, thank you for having us and giving us an
opportunity to share with the community the work that we do.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
All right, you have a wonderful day.
Speaker 7 (32:07):
Thank you you as well.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
We are back with the Roy Wett Show here on
News Talk five sixty KLV, and folks, we always have
informative information as well as things that are relevant to
the entire community.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Organizations that give back. It's whether it's fundraisers or services offered.
And I've got with me Mike Barfield, who is the
current president of Crime Stoppers at Southeast Texas. Mike, welcome
back to the show.
Speaker 10 (32:42):
Hey Dafining, Roy, thank you for having me. It's pleasure
to be here. Well, it's my pleasure.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
And you know we're sitting here talking about Crime Stoppers
at Southeast Texas.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
It has grown and changed a lot over the years.
And I know y'all are having y'all have raisers because
it is a five oh one C three.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
It's a charitable organization. Tell people first a five thousand
foot view of what crime Stoppers does and really how
much they've been doing here locally.
Speaker 10 (33:16):
So crime Stoppers, as you mentioned, is a five oh
one C three. We are a nonprofit organization. We are
independent of law enforcement, so we are governed by a
board of members and volunteers, business leaders from the community.
We also have a staff. Our job basically is to
empower and encourage the public to submit tips with information
(33:38):
they have anonymously. I might add with information they may
have about a crime that can help lead to an arrest.
We also partner with law enforcement to provide those tips
anonymously to law enforcement so they can take action on
those tips. We also partner with the schools and our
media to help promote that message and ultimately from the
(33:58):
you know, the five found and foot view is just
to simply assist law enforcement and getting criminals off the
streets and help bring justice to victims of crime.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Well.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
And and as you say, crime stoppers, the organization here
is local and it serves these local counties around here,
but it is a national organization, international organization that many
people are familiar with. But when they give money to
crime Stoppers in Southeast Texas, it stays right here. And
(34:32):
it allows people to to give information.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
And that's adults as well as kids as well as
for the what happens in your city or around your area.
Are at kids schools and you can get you do
it anonymously and you can get a reward.
Speaker 10 (34:51):
That's correct, and you really unpacked a lot there. We
are staffed by volunteers. Our board has a fiduciary duty
to the state and to the donors, so our money
does stay here locally. It helps to provide not only
our operations, but our promotions and our staff. We of
course do serve Jefferson, Harden, Orange and Jasper Counties. As
(35:14):
you mentioned, crime Stoppers itself is a global organization. The
founder lives overseas. It is nationwide. What's unique and I
feel like really special about crime Stoppers in Texas at least?
And I don't know the law For all fifty states
crime Stoppers isn't anonymous wait to report, but with our
(35:35):
program in under Texas state law, your anonymity is guaranteed
by Texas State statutes. So we don't do any tracking
of our Internet tips. Whether you call in, go on
the P three app, or just on our website eight
three three tips dot com, we have no way of
knowing who you are. We don't know your IP address,
(35:57):
and yes, that allows us to confidently and capably served
the members of this community, both the adults and the kids,
and of course our students where our student Our campus
Crime Stopper program serves over twenty school districts in this
area and affords them that same ability anonymously report crimes
or things they know that's happening, dating, violence, vabes, bullying, weapons,
(36:22):
the list goes on.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
Well, it has certainly been making a difference in the
entire world, but here particularly, and that's been since the
early eighties, right right here.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
That's correct.
Speaker 10 (36:37):
Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas started out in Beaumont in
nineteen eighty one. Then it grew a little bit and
incorporated the southern part of Jefferson County. I think they
had a separate mid county Crime Stoppers organization then to
become Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas, which has now grown
to include the fourth county, which is Jasper County, and
(36:58):
we are really having an impact up there. They have
been great, willing partners, and who knows, in the future,
we may expand even further as time and ability and
resources allow.
Speaker 3 (37:10):
Well.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
And we because we do have some rural counties around
here that don't have as much in terms of resources,
but these tips are are sent directly to the law
enforcement agency that is that we'd be working on the
crime and you know, again, been making a difference for
a long time right here in Southeast Texas, So I love.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
Pointing that out. So but people can go online and
right now there is actually a fundraiser happening for crime stoppers,
that's correct.
Speaker 10 (37:44):
So we are tasked with raising funds because if we're
going to We do receive a very small amount of
funds from the state via some prohibition fees and things
like that, but not nearly enough to manage our operations
in pe outter rewards. And of course the more we advertise,
the more tips we get. The more tips we get,
of course, the more money we have to pay out,
(38:06):
and we are always willing and able to do so,
but in order to fund those operations, we do have
to raise funds. Of course, we have our crime stopper,
our Back to the Blue Brunch every year, which is
coming up beginning May. But as of right now, we're
doing our biggest annual fundraiser, thirty Guns in thirty days.
We give away a different gun every day Monday through
(38:27):
Saturday until all thirty guns are given away. It's one
hundred dollars a ticket, and every ticket is eligible to
win every day. The past two years we've had a
winner who won twice each year. So your one hundred
dollars donation not only affords you the opportunity to win
a really great prize, but it also goes to help
(38:47):
support a great local organization. Make it a difference right
here in Southeast Texas.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
Well, Mike, And how do people go about if they
want to buy some of those tickets?
Speaker 3 (38:58):
How do they go about doing that?
Speaker 10 (39:00):
Well, the best way is to go to eight three
three tips dot com eight three three t I p
s dot com our website, and on there you have
the opportunity to purchase online or you can call in.
We can take credit card payments. If you see one
of your local board members out about, we can also
some of us have tickets we can sell, but the
primary ways go to our website eight three three tips
(39:20):
dot com.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
Well, again, I just want to thank you for all
that Crime Stoppers has done and continues to do. And
I know your role as chairman of the board, you
get to volunteer a lot of time, and uh it's
so important, uh that I know that you've gotten involved
in recent years and you and you willingly volunteer all
(39:44):
that time. We're about out of time, but share the
information again for contact one more time.
Speaker 10 (39:51):
You can reach us at eight three three t I
p S dot com.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
All right, it's super easy. Mike Barfield, the president of
Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas. Y'all keep up the good work.
Speaker 10 (40:06):
Hey, thank you Roth, Thank you for having us on
the show and everything you do for the community.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
We are back in closing out another Roy West show
here on News Talk five sixty k LV. I like
to remind people that if you're listening to the show
and you want to catch this show or any of
the other show in their entirety, you can go to iHeartRadio,
download the app, check out my podcast, or go to
(40:35):
Apple podcast or Android podcast.
Speaker 3 (40:37):
We make it super easy for you.
Speaker 5 (40:39):
And I like to remind people too that the Roy
West team of Guild Mortgage can help you with all
your home loan needs. Whether it's an FAHA loan, whether
it's a conventional loan, whether it's a USDA loan or
Veterans Administration loan. We can help.
Speaker 1 (40:55):
Whether you're buying primary resident, second home, investment property, moving up,
moving down, we can help.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
You all over the state of Texas. I had great
guests this week, started out with Jay Shepherd of the
Bit of Business Bureau. Then I had Rainy Huckabee with
the Samaritan Counseling Center, and the Samaritan Counseling Center does
a great job of offering counseling services across Southeast Texas.
(41:27):
They have multiple locations as well as they also have
telemedicine available, so if you can't go in, they can
talk to you online and you can get out all
the information on their Facebook page or you can google
Samaritan Counseling Center here in Southeast Texas. Then we had
Recy Goodman with Communities and Schools talking about the different
(41:50):
schools that they provide services too.
Speaker 1 (41:53):
It is a separate five oh one, C three, and
we finished the show with Mike Barfield or Crime Stoppers
of Southeast Texas.
Speaker 3 (42:01):
You can always get more information by going to eight
three three tips dot com. You can leave information about
a crime and anonymously and receive a reward and until
we talk again, God bless you all.
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