ChildBuilders has been serving the Houston community for over 45 years. Founded in 1974 by a group of child advocates dedicated to improving mental health services for Houston’s area children, the core of ChildBuilders' work has evolved from expanding treatment options for children with mental illness to preventing the abuse and trauma that contributes to mental illness in today's youth.
Our Mission
...is to promote mental health and prevent abuse by empowering children, parents, and teachers with assertiveness skills, emotional control, empathy, resilience, and the ability to resolve conflict nonviolently.
Our Vision
We envision a community where all children are respected, nurtured, and protected.
Our Impact
Since our inception, we have reduced the risk of trauma and increased resilience in over 917,000 students by supporting over 30,050 educators, and parents in Greater Houston. In FY2024, our message reached over 43 thousand children and adults.
Our Strategy
ChildBuilders develops and implements primary prevention programs to achieve our mission and realize our vision. Our strategy is informed by extensive research in child abuse prevention, nurturing parenting, and positive school climate. Over many years we have brought our prevention efforts in close alignment with with recommendations from respected institutions in the United States.
At some point in their lives, most children will experience adversity, and often these experiences cause trauma (Szalavitz & Perry, 2010). One of the strongest risk factors for developing a mental illness is trauma. Trauma can negatively affect developing brain structure and function, stress responses, and attachment.
We cannot prevent all childhood adversity. Instead, we arm children with skills that can reduce their risk of trauma, increase their resilience to traumatic events, and increase their awareness of their own rights and responsibilities when it comes or keeping themselves and their communities safe.
For more information on our guiding principles, please visit the following resources.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019). Preventing adverse childhood experiences (ACES): Leveraging the best available evidence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Link
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2020). Protective factors approaches in child welfare. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau. Link
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). https://casel.org/
Our History
The seven women in this picture came together in 1972 over a hamburger lunch. Their shared concern: Houston was becoming a world-class city but lacked treatment facilities for children with serious mental health disorders. Their concern became a mission as they began to work with local agencies and organizations to mobilize resources to fill this gap. This led to the birth of CAN-DO-IT (Children: Action Now Developing Options in Treatment) in 1974. CAN-DO-IT became a catalyst for merging money, manpower, and facilities to meet the needs of seriously mentally ill children.
Pictured from left to right: Felice "Buzz" Cohen, Angelee Duke, Barbara Henley, Polly Marsters, Muriel Folloder Phillips, Dodie McBride, and Mary Wright.
1974
1978
1991
2000
2014
2015
Remembering Muriel Folloder Phillips,
Our Founding Mother and
Continuing Inspiration
As the mother of a child with serious mental health needs, Muriel was determined to establish a treatment facility in Houston so her son could helped locally. An idea that started over a hamburger lunch became CAN-DO-IT (now ChildBuilders), and Muriel was the driving force behind it. She remained deeply involved with the organization until her death in 2016 at the age of 94. Among her many contributions to the organization were leading fundraising efforts, recruiting board and staff members, championing programs, and advocating for children at the state legislature. Not a day went by that Muriel didn’t call ChildBuilders staff to make a suggestion or offer to help.
Beloved by the Houston community, she received many humanitarian awards for her achievements on behalf of children with mental health needs. Those who were fortunate to know her will always remember the sparkle in her eye, her strength in conviction, her compassion for those less fortunate, her passion, and her fearlessness in speaking out for children. Years ago, Muriel had hamburger necklaces made for her and the other founders. When she passed away, the hamburger necklace was buried with her. The world is a better place because she was here.
Our Team
Amanda stepped into the role of Executive Director of ChildBuilders in 2017 after 10 years of service to the organization. Her public health background provides an ideal perspective from which to improve community mental health.
Gretchen joined ChildBuilders as a social work intern in 2008 after nearly 10 years in public education. She is dedicated to developing innovative approaches to preventing violence and abuse.
Janet is a licensed professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, and play therapist. Her dedication to ChildBuilders’ mission and vision has spanned three decades.
Priscilla holds graduate and undergraduate degrees from Houston Christian University in Elementary Education and Curriculum and Instruction. She joined ChildBuilders in 2014.
Board of Directors
Lia Vallone
President
Spindletop Community Impact Partners
Missie Hills
Vice President
Williams
Melissa Schuck
Treasurer
Quantum Energy Partners
Katie Stewart Anchondo
Secretary
New Hope Housing, Inc.
Abdalla Ali
Board Member
Coefficient
Liz Daniel
Board Member
Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty
Jennifer Kilgore
Board Member
First Community Credit Union
John Ntagha
Board Member
MD Anderson
Liz Palmer
Board Member
The Texas Wine School
Juanita Parker
Board Member
Williams
Tamra Wilkerson
Board Member
The Junior Leage of Houston, OBR
Advisory Board
Sheila Aron
Darlene Aust
Meredith Carr
Nancy DeWalch
Myrna Engler, LCSW
Ellen Gaber
Chris Greeley, MD
Robert W. Guynn, MD
Joyce Haufrect
Fernando Isart, MD, FAAP
Keith Jaasma
James W. Lomax, MD
Debbie Martinez
Dorothy F. Matthews, Ph.D.
Evelyn Miro
Linda Murphy
Jeff Nash
Imogen Papadopoulos, JD
Chuck Pflueger
Janet Pozmantier, MS, LPC
Jan Redford, Ph.D.
Bryon A. Rice
Barbara Samuels, Ed.D.
Kelli Tonn
John L. Tribo
Alan Woodbury, CPA
Voices of our Partners
More Information
ChildBuilders Earns a Four-Star Rating From Charity Navigator
Houston – ChildBuilders is proud to announce that its strong financial health and ongoing accountability and transparency has earned a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator.
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Fiscal Responsibility
ChildBuilders is a fiscally responsible 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We take the role of handling our financials very seriously and are extremely diligent about where we allocate our funds to further our training, growth and awareness.
