Events

Children’s Safe Harbor celebrates 20th Anniversary, Luncheon set for Sept. 21

By Liz Grimm | July 16, 2018

Montgomery County, TX – Children’s Safe Harbor will host a fundraising luncheon on Friday, September 21, 2018 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.

The goal of Children’s Safe is to reduce the trauma of child victims and their non-offending caregivers by facilitating a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary team approach to intervention, investigation, prosecution and treatment of child sexual and severe physical abuse.

“This luncheon will present an excellent opportunity to commemorate our 20th anniversary and promote our ‘Know Us Before You Need Us’ campaign,” said Victoria J. Constance, MSPH, PhD, Executive Director of Children’s Safe Harbor. “This campaign is promoting education and community engagement to be more aware of this problem and recognize the warning signs of abuse. Many people don’t realize that abuse affects all economic, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and that 98 percent of children are harmed by someone they know and trust.
“Children’s Safe Harbor is thrilled to announce that The Honorable Judge Lisa Michalk and Dan Michalk are serving as the honorary co-chairs for our first luncheon event.”

Founded in 1998, the a nationally-accredited nonprofit children’s advocacy center is part of a nationwide effort to heal the trauma and facilitate justice for children ages 2 through 17 and their families in Montgomery, Walker, San Jacinto counties. Given the increased number of cases seen in the recent months, Children’s Safe Harbor is in the process of a capital campaign to fund the construction of a larger co-located facility to serve children and their families all in one building – which reduces trauma by minimizing the need for children to retell their experience to multiple agencies while facilitating investigation, prosecution, justice and healing.

Dr. Constance added, “Just a few years ago, we were seeing an average of 100 cases of child sexual and physical abuse per month. Yet, last September we saw our cases rise to 179 and in October an astounding 229 new cases of traumatized and abused children walk through our doors – more than twice the previous average! These increases have been sustained into 2018 which has drained our current resources. The critical need for our new facility has become a priority for our community as we are all stewards of our children’s safety, health and well-being. Strategic fundraising is vital to create this new facility, which is the first point of service for our courageous children who are willing to come forward and tell us that someone they know – and often love – are the reason for their pain and suffering.”

Children’s Safe Harbor’s luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities are now available. For more information, contact Ann Wolford at annwolford04@gmail.com or visit www.ChildrensSafeHarbor.org. Children’s Safe Harbor is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation.

Photo Caption:The Honorable Judge Lisa Michalk and Dan Michalk will serve as the honorary co-chairs for Children’s Safe Harbor’s fundraising luncheon on September 21 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott. The event will commemorate the child advocacy center’s 20th anniversary and kick off its “Know Us Before You Need Us” campaign to promote awareness about child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse. www.ChildrensSafeHarbor.org.