Children’s Safe Harbor
The most vulnerable of Texans, children who suffer from physical and sexual abuse, have a strong, hardworking nonprofit organization on their side. Children’s Safe Harbor has one primary goal: “To protect and enhance every child who have the courage to battle sexual and physical abuse."
Children's Safe Harbor has been offering a helping hand to sexually and severely abused children since 1998. More than 2,300 children and their non-offending caregivers have been served through the fact-finding service of a forensic interview. Over the years, 41% to 71% of those same families have received individual, family and/or group counseling.
Children’s Safe Harbor has a wide range of counseling services, including individual and family, group, play therapy, art therapy, sand tray therapy, bilbliotherapy, and adult support and education. The Children’s Safe Harbor uses the multi-disciplinary team model when identifying victims. This approach enhances communications between the public and private agencies that respond to allegations of child abuse. A coordinated community response is essential in protecting victims of child abuse and limiting the trauma arising from this abuse.
In addition to counseling, Children’s Safe Harbor offers forensic interviewing, which lets the child disclose the abuse in a non-threatening environment. Children’s Safe Harbor also offers medical services from specially trained nurses who are experienced in working with abused children. These interviews and medical services are crucial in indentifying the type of abuse and eventually prosecuting the offenders.
Children’s Safe Harbor is currently led by Victoria Constance, CEO of the Board. Her board is composed of various officials from law enforcement, attorney’s offices, and child and welfare services. A staff of eleven specially-trained professionals are always on hand to help the child through this difficult time. Children’s Safe Harbor is also accepting volunteers in a wide variety of jobs, including research, grant proposals, and coordinating special events.