Nonprofit
BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
New Children’s Safe Harbor facility in Conroe grows capacity
A calm blue palette, big windows looking out to the trees and the steady sound of water in an outdoor healing garden—the details are deliberate the moment someone steps inside Children’s Safe Harbor’s new facility, Victoria Constance, execu- tive director and CEO of Children’s Safe Harbor, said. The impact A new, expanded Children’s Safe Harbor building in Conroe is now open—an upgrade the nonprofit said will increase how many children and families it can serve, strengthen coordination with investigators and expand prevention training across the community. Children’s Safe Harbor provides comprehen- sive, trauma-informed services for children and families from the moment a concern is identified through healing and recovery. Constance said those services include forensic interviewing, family advocacy, mental health counseling and sexual assault nurse medical exams—delivered in a child-focused, multidisciplinary model that prioritizes “justice, healing, and hope,” while guiding non-offending caregivers with resources and advocacy throughout the process. “The new Children’s Safe Harbor facility rep- resents a major investment in the safety, healing and well-being of children and families in our community,” Constance said. She said the expanded space “increases [their] capacity to serve child victims of abuse while strengthening a coordinated, trauma-informed response that supports children and families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.” The two-story, 45,000-square-foot facility was built to support both current demand and long-term growth, Constance said. “Overall, the facility was intentionally designed to address both current needs and long-term growth, ensuring sustainability and impact for years to come,” Constance said. One major operational change is that law enforcement and Children’s Safe Harbor are now housed together under one roof, strengthening collaboration and improving efficiency in investi- gations and service delivery, Constance said. A closer look Inside, the building includes dedicated space for community training and collaboration. The 2,145-square-foot Training and Community Engagement Center can accommodate up to 150 guests and is available for community use,
Children's Safe Harbor
Gym
PHOTOS BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Healing outdoor garden
Rainbow room filled with toys
Services at the center
Facility size: 45,000 square feet Training and Community Engagement Center : 2,145 square feet
Children’s Safe Harbor will continue providing “comprehensive, trauma-informed services,” including:
Capacity: up to 150 guests
Forensic interviewing
Mental health counseling
Expected annual reach: more than 2,500 children and family members
Family advocacy
Sexual assault nurse medical exams
Total cost: $15 million
SOURCE: CHILDREN’S SAFE HARBOR/COMMUNITY IMPACT
welcoming, child-friendly design,” plus soothing interior colors and large windows with views of the surrounding landscape, Constance said. With the added space and staffing, Children’s Safe Harbor anticipates serving more than 2,500 children and family members each year, Constance said. Constance said the new facility reflects a commitment not only to families, but also to the people doing the work, adding spaces that support staff wellness and connection “because caring for those who serve children is essential to long-term impact.”
Constance said. The organization plans to expand prevention-focused programming—such as “digital safety education,” training on recognizing and responding to abuse and neglect, trauma-informed education and guidance on how and when to report concerns. Constance said the goal is bigger than services after a report is made. “By investing in education and shared responsi- bility, we are helping shift the focus from reaction to prevention,” she said. The facility also includes elements designed to be calm and child-focused, with “architectural elements [that] emphasize natural light and a
27
CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook