At a Glance
- Helping Hand Home for Children has served kids for 132 years.
- More than 90 children are in foster homes or on campus.
- The center employs four licensed therapists for one-on-one counseling.
- Why it matters: The facility offers hope and healing for children who have endured abuse and neglect, helping thousands transition to families.
Helping Hand Home for Children, a long-standing Austin nonprofit, continues its mission of healing for children who have faced abandonment, abuse, and neglect. With a history spanning 132 years, the center now cares for over 90 kids and provides one-on-one counseling through four licensed therapists. The facility is now classified as a residential treatment center and serves children in state custody.
Director Chris Janawicz, who has worked there since the early 1990s, says the focus is on placing kids with families.
The Center’s Legacy
Helping Hand Home for Children, a long-standing Austin nonprofit, continues its mission of healing for children who have faced abandonment, abuse, and neglect. With a history spanning 132 years, the center now cares for over 90 kids and provides one-on-one counseling through four licensed therapists. The facility is now classified as a residential treatment center and serves children in state custody.
Director Chris Janawicz, who has worked there since the early 1990s, says the focus is on placing kids with families.
Stories of Change
Over the years, Janawicz has helped thousands of kids get fostered and adopted.
Chris Janawicz stated:
> “The outcomes of the kids going to families, that is what it’s all about,”
CEO Tania Leskovar-Owens notes many of the children have experienced severe abuse and neglect.
Tania Leskovar-Owens said:
> “Many of our kids have experienced severe abuse and neglect and have been through a lot,”
Leskovar-Owens also highlights the variety of programs that provide hope and healing for children in the foster care system.
Tania Leskovar-Owens said:
> “We provide hope and healing to children who have experienced time in the foster care system and we do that through a variety of our programs,”
The center has more than 90 kids either in foster homes or living on campus.
Inside the Facility
The center offers on-site counseling rooms and play areas for the kids.
Tania Leskovar-Owens said:
> “We have four licensed therapists on our team and this is where they do a lot of one-on-one work with the kids,”
The Care Team
Mitchell Kagl, part of the care team, works with the kids through the best of times and the worst.
Mitchell Kagl stated:
> “No one is here because things went right, which is the hard truth.”
Once the kids arrive at Helping Hand Home, the future looks a little brighter.
Mitchell Kagl said:
> “From start to finish it is almost unrecognizable, the kids that come in and the kids that leave.”
Key Takeaways
- Helping Hand Home has a 132-year legacy of caring for children who have faced abuse.
- The center supports over 90 kids and offers one-on-one counseling with four licensed therapists.
- Thousands of children have transitioned to families thanks to the center’s programs.
With its long history and dedicated staff, Helping Hand Home for Children remains a beacon of hope for the children it serves.
