By: Katisha Chaney, LMSW, LCDC-I
Project Manager
In Harris County, something powerful is happening. A community of partners has come together with one shared mission: to build safe, nurturing, and resilient futures for children and families impacted by domestic and intimate partner violence. At the heart of this movement is the Harris County Early Childhood Resiliency Fund—a $5.3 million initiative that’s not only funding services but changing lives.
This incredible work is being led by the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC), in partnership with the Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity’s Early Childhood Initiatives (ECI) division. Since launching with support from the American Rescue Plan Act in 2022, ECI has focused on five foundational priorities: increasing access to affordable childcare, developing the early childhood workforce, ensuring equity for vulnerable families, supporting parent education, and using data to guide smart, impactful decisions. These priorities help make sure every child in Harris County has the support they need to grow, learn, and thrive.
Healing in Action
Over the past several months, 14 dedicated community agencies have used the Resiliency Fund to deliver trauma-informed, healing-centered care for children and their families. The services being offered are thoughtful, diverse, and tailored to each family’s unique needs. Children have participated in evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, and Art and Play Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy—each one designed to help them understand their experiences, express emotions safely, and build the resilience they need to move forward.
What makes this initiative so special is that healing happens on every level. In addition to individual therapy, children have joined trauma-informed group sessions that help them connect with peers who understand what they’re going through. Families have participated in therapy together, rebuilding communication, trust, and emotional connection in a safe, supported environment. These sessions remind us that when healing happens in the family unit, everyone grows stronger.
There’s also been room for joy. Through recreational sports and group play activities, children have had the chance to just be kids again—to run, play, and laugh. These simple moments of fun are incredibly meaningful for children who have lived through trauma. They offer more than distraction, they offer a sense of normalcy, belonging, and self-confidence.
Empowering Parents as Partners in Healing
Equally important is the support offered to parents and caregivers. Healing extends beyond the child, and parents have stepped up with courage and commitment. Through parenting workshops and training sessions, caregivers have learned trauma-informed approaches to discipline, communication, and emotional regulation. They’ve gained tools to support their children’s well-being while also navigating their own healing. Families leave these sessions feeling more confident, more informed, and more connected to one another.
A Model of Community Collaboration
The heart of this initiative is its collaboration. The 14 agencies leading this work have done more than deliver services—they’ve built bridges. They’ve expanded access to culturally competent care, met families where they are, and created spaces of dignity and trust. Their efforts have been grounded in deep compassion and practical excellence.
To these agencies: thank you. Your work is not only vital—it’s inspiring. You’ve shown what’s possible when organizations unite around a common goal and put people at the center of the work. You are truly shaping what healing looks like in Harris County.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on what’s been achieved thus far, it’s clear this is just the beginning. The families involved in this initiative have already shown incredible growth and resilience—but the need for support continues. This work deserves to be sustained and scaled beyond the current funding period, because the impact is lasting, and the potential is enormous.
What’s happening through the Early Childhood Resiliency Fund is more than a program—it’s a movement. It’s a living example of what happens when government, nonprofits, and community members come together with a shared belief: that every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and seen.
A Note of Thanks
Children exposed to domestic violence are some of the most vulnerable in our communities. But with the right care, they are also some of the most resilient. Thanks to the leadership of Harris County and the strength of our partner agencies, families are healing—and futures are being rewritten.
To every family who has participated, to every staff person involved in service delivery, and to every agency that continues to lead with heart: thank you. Your dedication is not just transforming lives. It’s building a better, brighter Harris County for us all.
