Category: Featured Posts

Back-to-School Tips for Parents & Caregivers of Youth Who Have Experienced Trauma

It’s back to school time for many families in the DFW area.

Did you know that 1 in 7 children in the United States have experienced child abuse or neglect just in the past year?

Christ’s Haven’s Director of Therapy, Jason Brown, has some helpful tips for caregivers of youth who have experienced trauma as they prepare for the new school year.

For most educators in our area, the school year has started and it’s time to establish classroom routines.

Christ’s Haven’s Director of Therapy, Jason Brown, has practical tips for educators and caregivers on ways they can support students who have experienced trauma.

Christ’s Haven Youth Enjoy Pine Cove Summer Camps

Summer Camp.

Is there anything else like it? Several youth living at Christ’s Haven had the opportunity to attend Pine Cove camp this summer. It was an incredible week of fun activities, spiritual renewal, new friendships, and lifelong memories.

There are so many important ways youth can grow emotionally and spiritually by going away to camp for the week. Providing this experience is another example of what we mean when we talk about our core value of instilling normalcy in the lives of displaced youth.

We are grateful to Pine Cove Camps and all of the volunteers at Restoration Church who helped make this happen. From decorated trunks full of everything you could need at camp to helping with transportation to raising funds for registration, your support gave youth so many lifelong memories.

2023 Teen Summer Trip

If you think back to childhood summers, memories probably include a vacation. We believe formative memories on vacation are an important way we can provide normalcy in the lives of displaced youth at Christ’s Haven.

Our teenagers recently returned from New Mexico after a summer trip full of activities like whitewater rafting, rock climbing, fishing, horseback riding, and more. It was a fun week of adventures full of new experiences and opportunities to be stretched outside of comfort zones.

Thank you to Sportsmen’s Club of Fort Worth for underwriting a portion of the trip, to the staff who planned all of the details, and to volunteer mentors, JD & Casey, for spending their week with us.

A week of vacation and a lifetime of memories!

Summer trip from the teen POV:

Christ’s Haven Alumni Reflects on Impact and Gives Back

Throughout Karina Nascimiento’s childhood, she lived in a lot of places with a lot of different people. From her native Brazil to Texas, many years included abuse and neglect. It was when she came to Christ’s Haven in 1989 that she finally felt safe.

She was in survival mode, many of her early years filled with fear and anxiety. So when she came to Christ’s Haven, the immediate sense of family and acceptance was life changing.

Karina lived at Christ’s Haven for three years until she was 17 years old. As she navigated the teen years, her houseparents, Judy & Ron Parish, helped create opportunities for her by encouraging her to try out for cheerleader, run on the track team, and find a part-time job she enjoyed. That would later prove to be a turning point in her life.

“They gave me stability, security, and love,” Karina said.

At her part-time job at the local YMCA, her supervisor said she could use the exercise room to work out if she wanted. Exercising became a refuge for Karina. She knows now that exercise played a significant role in helping her body deal with trauma, depression, and anxiety.

“Judy would take me to the gym and wait in the parking lot for me to do my workout. The gym became a big part of my life. It gave me a sense of security and power that I never had before,” Karina said.

That initial introduction to exercise would take her down a path of lifelong fitness and wellness. And even more unique and impressive, a path of competitive bodybuilding where she would go on to win numerous prestigious awards and titles from the International Fitness and Body Federation.

In 2022 she was married, retired, living in Florida, mom to three teenagers of her own, and approaching her 50th birthday. She wanted to celebrate how far she had come in her life and do something big. She brought her friends and family together to celebrate and raise funds for Christ’s Haven. 47 friends collectively raised $10,390.

“I know Christ’s Haven gave me something special. What I took with me all of those years ago when I left Christ’s Haven was that I was loved. I was worthy. I’m so glad I can give back in some way to the children living there now.”

Christ’s Haven’s 6th annual Fashion Show

We have some news to share…

Free Online Resource Library

free online resource library with webinars for parents & caregivers now available

You’ve heard it said there is no rule book for parenting. Thankfully there are tools to help. Christ’s Haven’s Family Resource Center has a free online resource library to help parents and/or caregivers as they navigate the different needs of children and teens.

The following pre-recorded webinars are available and free for parents, caregivers, teachers, counselors, or anyone supporting youth:

Trauma-Informed Sleep
How to Navigate & Advocate in SPED
Attachment Needs
Connecting with Your Teen
How to Use a Therapeutic Apology
Parenting in a Digital World
Sensory Processing Needs
Child Abuse Prevention
Self-Care for Parents & Caregivers
Understanding Your Child’s Love Language
Voices of Child Welfare Panel
Teen Substance Abuse & Mental Health
Supporting Your Anxious Child
Parenting with Mental Health
Responsible Internet Safety for Kids

We hope these trainings are helpful. If your family has additional needs, please let us know how we can help by reaching out to our Family Resource Center Coordinator & Case Manager, Rhonda Thomas-Peters, rhonda@christshaven.org.

Christ’s Haven 2022 Annual Report

It is the time of year when we bring you a recap of the programs, events, and financials at Christ’s Haven For Children. Our staff come together to go over the previous year’s data points and outcomes to share the impact our donors and volunteers make in the lives of displaced youth.

I hope you notice a sobering theme throughout the 2022 Annual Report, which is growth. Our intake inquiries hit record high numbers. The number of youth living in our neighborhood of homes increased by 30% over the last five years. While the young adults who are part of our College & Career Readiness Program increased by 140% over the last five years.

It is sobering to see this growth and demand, as we know that means even more children, teens, and young adults are displaced from their families. While we continue our trauma-informed, family model of care for youth living at Christ’s Haven, we are also grateful to be able to implement our Family Resource Center (FRC). This is our newest program that aims to prevent child abuse and neglect and also support families before they need to place a child outside of their home. You will see in the Annual Report that the FRC is also showing this same growth as a much-needed resource in the community.

We will always work toward and hope for a day when all children are safe and able to stay with their families. Until then, we will need your support to help children, teens, young adults, and their families. Will you support Christ’s Haven in 2023 and help contribute to providing Normalcy, Dignity, and Hope in the lives of displaced youth?

With regards,

Cassie McQuitty
Christ’s Haven For Children
CEO

2022 program outcomes

Child Abuse Prevention Month Art Installation

Christ's Haven displays 459 pinwheels at art installion for child abuse prevention month

Thank you to everyone who attended Christ’s Haven’s Child Abuse Prevention Art Installation.

459 blue pinwheels on display in honor of the 459 victims of child abuse every month in Tarrant County is a sobering visual to see. But important not to ignore. 💙

We appreciate the words of the speakers encouraging our community and child welfare professionals to not grow weary in protecting children and helping families.

Thank you to our program speakers and advocates in our community:

Cassie McQuitty, Christ’s Haven For Children

Detective Javier Tejeda, Fort Worth Police Department Crimes Against Children Unit

Jessica Cole, Cook Children’s CARE Team

Brock Paulk, Heritage Church of Christ

2nd annual Professional Meet & Greet

Christ's Haven hosts networking opportunity for teens & young adults

We recently hosted the 2nd annual Professional Meet & Greet event for teens and young adults living at Christ’s Haven as well as local foster youth.

It has become a highlight of the year as our youth get the opportunity to network with professionals from a variety of industries and career paths.

We don’t believe at age 18 anyone should be expected to figure out how to launch into adulthood on their own. This event is just one of the many components of Christ’s Haven’s comprehensive College & Career Readiness Program, which prepares youth for life after Christ’s Haven.

Youth were able to have discussions with professionals in industries from automotive to finance to media to healthcare with just about everything in between.

Thank you to the professionals who spent time sharing about their career paths and what different opportunities can look like. Thank you for helping provide hope for a bright future.

2023 Meet & Greet Professionals:

Dani Ashton – Grand Hyatt DFW
Michael Bradley – Keller ISD Construction
Nicholas Comey – Keller ISD Automotive
Tracy Deitzel – Keller ISD Cosmetology
Ingrid Fioroni – The Athletic Cafe
Arlin Gold – Community Impact
Kaija Hagwood – US Navy
Bryan Irwin – Irwin Steel

Hannah Johnson – Community Impact
Kayla Johnston – Sodexo
Starrett Keeler – Fort Worth Fire Department
Jami Kindle – Sabre
Angela Lippens – Unfaulted
Narketta Myles – Tarrant County College
Mark Paine – McAdams
Daryl Roach – R&R Home Services

Chip & Laury Roop – Roop Foundation
Debra Schneemann – Keller ISD Healthcare
Mark Smith – Texas First Insurance
John Swann – Lockheed Martin
Renee Ulrich – Keller ISD Culinary
David Urquhart – Ram Products
Patrick Wiltrout – Wabtec

Summer Fun – Teen Summer Trip Recap

Memories made across texas with our teens

A highlight every summer at Christ’s Haven is the Annual Summer Trip with our teenagers. Each year we carve out time to travel and create fun memories.

This year we took a tour of Texas with stops in Waco, San Antonio, and finally the beach. Many of our teens visited these areas for the first time. From giant water slides to roller coasters to boogie boarding, every moment of the trip was full of fun.

Thank you to the houseparents, staff, and volunteers who make this happen…with not a lot of sleep in the process. And a big thank you to our generous donors who continue to support Christ’s Haven and make memories like this possible.