Our Mission  
Casa de Esperanza de los Niños—the House of Hope for Children—is a safe place for children in crisis due to abuse, neglect or the effects of HIV. Casa de Esperanza provides residential, medical and psychological care according to the needs of each child. Counseling is also available to the parents in appropriate situations.

Our Goal  
Casa de Esperanza strives to break the destructive cycle of child abuse by offering safe homes to children of families in crisis. The goal of Casa de Esperanza is to return physically and emotionally healthy children to stabilized homes where caregivers can safely provide daily care.

Children receive comprehensive assessment and intervention services while in placement. Parents receive case management and referral services while their children are safely cared for. When family reunification is not possible, Casa de Esperanza is licensed to supervise long-term foster care and adoptive placements.
 

History  
With an original gift of $500 and the help of many friends, Kathy Foster and Bill Jones opened Casa de Esperanza's first home for children in crisis in October 1982. Related programs have been developed as needed, including medical, psychological and educational services. In 1986, Casa became the second agency nationwide and the first agency in the greater Houston area to recognize and respond to the need for specialized residential care of children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Casa de Esperanza serves the greater Houston metropolitan area, including Harris, Fort Bend and surrounding counties. All services are provided without charge. Casa de Esperanza has a Governing Board and is licensed as a child placement agency by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Our Children  
When Casa de Esperanza first opened, the intention was to provide a safe place for families in crisis to leave their children until the crisis was resolved, at which time the family, or mother, would take their children home to a safer, more stable environment. Since then Casa has cared for over 3,000 children and their families.  Casa de Esperanza provides safety, hope, and a home to children whose families are affected by domestic violence, substance abuse, poverty, homelessness and mental illness. Children ages birth to six years are admitted. Referrals come from family shelters, word of mouth, hospitals and Children's Protective Services.

The Effects of HIV  
Since admitting our first HIV exposed child in 1986, we have remained committed to including children affected by HIV/AIDS in our mission of providing hope and a home to children in crisis. At Casa de Esperanza these children are cared for like all others.

Our Community Volunteers  
Soon after Casa de Esperanza's inception, people in the community became aware of Casa's efforts and wanted to become involved. A bookkeeper and doctor, mechanics, plumbers, electricians, and painters, all donated their service. Others contributed numerous hours of child care service in the houses, organized special events and generally helped Casa to grow step by step into its present organization.

Many more volunteers have followed, offering their services wherever needed. Companies and community organizations have also chosen Casa de Esperanza for volunteer projects.

It is the generosity of these volunteers that has allowed Casa de Esperanza to grow and to serve many abused, neglected and HIV positive children and their families since 1982.