Children’s Safe Harbor Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for $10 Million Expanded Facility

CONROE, TX -- Marking a milestone in growth, Children’s Safe Harbor held an official groundbreaking ceremony for its new building on August 22, 2024. Set to open next fall in Conroe at 3006 North Loop 336 E., the new $10 million building will provide much-needed expanded space for the non-profit’s co-located services to abused children.

Children’s Safe Harbor provides justice, healing, and hope to child victims ages 2-17 of severe physical abuse, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and trauma. As a nonprofit children’s advocacy center, Children’s Safe Harbor for the counties of Montgomery, Walker and San Jacinto. The center is designed to provide one place for a child that brings all the necessary professional agencies together in a safe and child-friendly environment to facilitate disclosure, investigation, medical treatment, law enforcement, and counseling for victims to be heard, helped, and healed.

They have served over 26,500 children since its inception 25 years ago.

Natural piney woods surround the 17-acre site to provide a sense of privacy and security. The two-story, 45,000-square-foot building’s first floor 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. The second floor is designed to feature an abundance of natural lighting to facilitate a soothing and comfortable environment for disclosing abuse and receiving counseling. It will also include a gym and dining area for staff.

Tramonte Design Studio is the architectural firm for the new building. Tellepsen is the general contractor and GAUGE Real Estate Partners is the project manager.

Lead donors who have helped to fund the $10 million building include Robert and Kim Marling of Woodforest Charitable Foundation with $2.5 million toward the naming rights, State Representative Will Metcalf who facilitated $5 million in funds from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Mike and Vanessa Manners of the Manners/Coole Foundation, Dan and Judge Lisa Michalk, and Ron Cooke and Joy-Dawn Colburn.

Dr. Victoria Constance, who has served as the Executive Director of Children’s Safe Harbor since its inception 25 years ago, said, “We are beyond excited and grateful to have come to this moment of holding an official groundbreaking ceremony for our new building, which we call our ‘gateway’ to justice, hope, and healing for young innocent victims. We continue to fundraise for the additional and operational costs for our new, permanent home, and we ask the community to walk with us on this journey and support us on our mission to end child abuse.”

For more information about Children’s Safe Harbor, visit www.ChildrensSafeHarbor.org.

Pictured from left are the lead donors at the groundbreaking of the new building for Children’s Safe Harbor: Mike Stoecker, Robert and Kim Marling, Judge Lisa and Dan Michalk, Vanessa and Mike Manners, State Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, and Ron Cooke and Joy-Dawn Colburn. (Photo by Liz Grimm Public Relations)