Category: Featured Posts

Free Online Resource Library

Free Online Resource Library

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

Free Online Resource Library

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 annual report pdf
donate to christ's haven


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. 

Independent Living Home Ribbon Cutting

Christ's Haven's newly updated independent living home for young women ages 18-24 opens

“Launch Into Adulthood” is the goal of Christ’s Haven’s comprehensive program for young adults.

A big component of that launch is learning the life skills of living independently.

Christ’s Haven For Children recently opened a newly updated Independent Living Home for young women ages 18-24 enrolled in the College & Career Readiness program.

Community leaders, donors, and volunteers gathered for the Ribbon Cutting on July 28 to celebrate the opening.

Thank you to the following generous supporters:

Muse Family
Payless Power
Platinum Painting
Cindy Tubb
Legacy Donor:  James L. Standridge Family & Friends

Ribbon Cutting pictured (L-R):

Former Christ’s Haven Executive Director, Dwight Robarts; Christ’s Haven Board member, Dr. Amy Coffey; Miss Keller, Alannah Bruce; Christ’s Haven Volunteer Manager, Summer Woods; Christ’s Haven College & Career Readiness Manager, Dr. Vivian Dorsett; Christ’s Haven CEO, Cassie McQuitty; Christ’s Haven Board Chair, Darrin Lewis

A Story of Reunification

June is National Reunification Month. At Christ’s Haven, we strive toward reunification whenever it is possible. When reunification does happen, we celebrate the partnership and trust between birth families, caregivers, and caseworkers. We are grateful to Jennifer for sharing her story. And we are grateful to be a part of her family’s reunification.

“I’ve always been the caretaker for everyone. I never had a lot of time to find self-care, so I did hit a lot of bumps in the road.”

Living in the Keller area for many years, Jennifer had driven by Christ’s Haven often but never really knew much about the organization. When a situation came up with Child Protective Services, she was referred to Christ’s Haven. Without family nearby, Jennifer said she needed help and decided to place her son in our family model of care.

“From the very beginning Christ’s Haven was a great fit for my son and my family,” Jennifer said.

Jennifer worked very closely with the houseparents taking care of her son along with Christ’s Haven Case Manager, Jaimee Kraft. They formed a wonderful partnership filled with mutual respect and support for the period of time he lived at Christ’s Haven.

“I’m so proud of Jennifer. I told her that we have her son taken care of, this is time she can work on herself. She was so strong in doing what she needed to do so they could stay together,” Jaimee said.

For some families the outcome may be reconciliation while the child continues to live at Christ’s Haven. For some families like Jennifer’s, the family is able to establish reunification. Whether a child lives at Christ’s Haven a few months or years, we love them as our own providing Normalcy, Dignity, and Hope in their lives.

2021 Annual Report Available

Christ’s Haven’s 2021 Annual Report is ready!

We hope you will take a moment to read through the 2021 Annual Report so you can see the impact made in the lives of so many. A few highlights include:

* CEO Update from Cassie McQuitty
* Welcome from Board Chair, Darrin Lewis
* 2021 Outcomes: Residential – College & Career Readiness Programs
* Family Resource Center Update
* 2021 Volunteer Awards
* 2022 Special Events
* Financials
* Spotlight Profiles

As you will read in the Annual Report, we saw tremendous growth in 2021 with 95% capacity in our Residential Program for youth ages 0-18 and the largest group we’ve ever had in our College & Career Readiness Program for young adults ages 18-24. We don’t anticipate the demand to lessen. As the Texas foster care system is at the height of a capacity crisis, we know and believe that Christ’s Haven is here to be an important part of the solution.

It will take focus and determination from all of our partners to continue providing Normalcy, Dignity, and Hope for displaced youth. We are ready and look forward to serving with you.

Child Abuse Prevention Art Installation

Thank you to everyone who braved the wind and attended our Child Abuse Prevention event and art installation. Our speakers shared difficult but important information about the need for more child abuse prevention in our community. 💙

Be sure to stop by the Keller Police Station on Rufe Snow to see the powerful visual of 543 blue pinwheels in honor of the 543 victims of child abuse every month in Tarrant County.
At Christ’s Haven, we are grateful to be able to care for youth who have experienced abuse or neglect, and we are also grateful to be part of the community effort to prevent abuse from happening with our Family Resource Center.

If you have any questions about Christ’s Haven’s Family Resource Center, please reach out to rhonda@christshaven.org.