“Justice. Healing. Hope”. As Children’s Safe Harbor’s new tagline, it is precisely what this nonprofit strives to achieve for every abused child who walks through their door while watching hope blossom, proving the child’s ability to live a full, happy life.
For over 26 years, Children’s Safe Harbor has been serving children and their families throughout Montgomery, Walker, and San Jacinto counties. In fact, since opening their doors, they have supported over 29,000 traumatized children and are considered one of the largest children’s advocacy centers.
Their mission, “to achieve justice and healing for every abused child and engage our community in that mission” holds so much depth and will soon be serving the community on 18 beautiful acres in their new, permanent facility. It will include “an area for forensic interviewing, law enforcement, a conference and training center, and a medical clinic, and will be highlighted by a beautiful central healing garden.” And that is only the first floor! The second floor will be devoted to counseling programs, CPS partners, and a centralized break room and gym for the wellbeing of staff and partners.
Upon learning about their plans for the new location, I had the wonderful honor of meeting with Children’s Safe Harbor’s executive director, Dr. Victoria Constance, whose passion for children’s safety and healing radiantly shines. “It’s not just a building, it’s a gateway,” says Victoria when discussing their new 45,000 square-foot site nestled in a stunning wooded area of Conroe.
Rewind to 2016 which is when the new expanded center was first spoken into existence. Realizing their need for a bigger facility, Children’s Safe Harbor decided to put those plans into action, but three years later, when they were to begin the first push, COVID-19 shut down the world, thus pushing their fundraising back as well as the timeline.
Later, in February of 2021, they attempted again to get started on the capital campaign fundraising but the weather, aka Houston’s “snowmageddon,” had other plans. While Children’s Safe Harbor’s new building continued to experience setbacks, they never stopped pursuing the ultimate goal of a safe place for children and their families.
Finally, in 2023, contracts were signed with Tellepsen Construction Company which set the wheels in motion for Children’s Safe Harbor’s new gateway! Ground was broken this year on August 22, 2024, and plans to finish the building are estimated for fall 2025.
"Our new facility will enable us to continue to deliver on our mission - to protect and enhance the life of every child who has the courage to battle sexual and physical abuse - well into the future,” says Victoria.
Donors such as Robert and Kim Marling of Woodforest Charitable Foundation and Mike and Vanessa Manners of Manners/Coole Foundation, have made breaking ground on the building possible along with several others!
Still, Children’s Safe Harbor is in need of roughly three million dollars to fully accomplish a thriving, resource for children and their families. There is always something you, as the community, can do to love the families around you, and donating to Safe Harbor, no matter the donation, can help tremendously!
Please consider visiting their website at childrenssafeharbor.org Capital Campaign for more information on how you can help support them and the community around you. Just one step can help accomplish Justice. Healing. and Hope for thousands of children.