History of ChildBuilders™
ChildBuilders™ was founded in 1974 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Then called Can-Do-It, we adopted the name Houston Advocates For Mental Health In Children, or HAMIC, in 1996. Our present name was adopted in October of 2000.
Our initial projects identified and helped fill gaps in mental health services for children in the Houston area. We were instrumental in the establishment of Cambio House, Houston’s first residential facility for emotionally disturbed children.
We also helped establish a psychiatric residential treatment program at Cullen Bayou Place, and implemented the first crisis beds at Hermann Hospital. ChildBuilders™ also collaborated with Houston-Galveston Psychoanalytic Institute in the creation of the Child Development Center, an innovative therapeutic preschool.
After 16 years of service to the Houston community as a catalyst for mental health treatment services for children, we were ready for something different. In 1991, a new idea emerged which excited and energized the ChildBuilders™ Board of Directors- prevention.
The question was, "How can mental health problems in children be avoided? Is it possible to stop problems from beginning in the first place?" Historically, there are no required courses taught in school that work to prevent abuse/neglect before it occurs. That is why ChildBuilders™ decided to create a program that did just that, and in 1991, Parents Under Construction™ was developed.
Today, ChildBuilders™ provides programs and trainings to ensure that children are respected, nurtured, and protected. Our programs teach children:
- personal safety education (We Help Ourselves®)
- skills for building healthy dating relationships (Love U2®)
- how to be nurturing parents in the future (Parents Under Construction™)
Browse our site to learn more about our programs!