In the Rio Grande Valley, children who are suddenly removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect now have a local safe place — thanks to the determination of two women who turned heartbreak into hope.
Valley Haven, the Valley’s first emergency children’s shelter, opened its doors on February 28, 2018. Behind it are co-founders Gracie Bradwell and Kristen Millon, who saw a critical gap in the foster care system and refused to look away.
“When we were going through our training to become CASA volunteers, we learned there were no emergency shelters in our area,” Bradwell said. “Children in the Valley had to be transported all the way to Corpus, Laredo, or San Antonio, and sometimes even farther north, just to find a safe place to stay. It was a heartbreaking thought that pulled on our heartstrings.”
That realization launched a three-year journey of fundraising, licensing, and building — not just a facility, but a lifeline for children in crisis.
“Those first conversations were emotional,” Millon said. “We couldn’t believe there wasn’t a single emergency shelter in the entire Valley. We knew something had to change, and we knew it had to start with us.”
Together, the co-founders envisioned a shelter that would offer more than temporary beds — it would offer stability, dignity, and healing. A central part of that mission is keeping siblings together, something that’s often impossible when children are sent far from home.
“Keeping sibling groups together is incredibly important because it minimizes the trauma children experience when they’re removed from their homes,” Bradwell said. “Often, older siblings act as caregivers for the younger ones. Staying together provides a sense of continuity and comfort.”
Millon added, “So many of these kids have only each other. When we keep them together, we’re helping them hold on to something familiar and safe when everything else has changed.”
Beyond physical safety, Valley Haven prioritizes emotional healing through trauma-informed care, particularly the Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) model. This approach shifts the focus from control to connection and empowerment.
“Trauma-informed methods like TBRI recognize that behavior is communication,” Bradwell said. “Instead of punishment, we focus on understanding a child’s needs and helping them feel safe and seen.”
“It’s about giving kids back their voice,” Millon said. “We teach them that they matter and that their feelings are valid. That kind of connection is the beginning of healing.”
Since opening, Valley Haven has dramatically changed the foster care experience in the Rio Grande Valley. Before its existence, there was no local option for emergency placements, forcing CPS workers to drive children hours away and often split up families.
“By providing a local shelter, we’ve reduced that trauma and created a real solution for our community,” Bradwell said. “Children can stay in familiar surroundings, and CPS workers finally have somewhere safe to turn to — right here in the Valley.”
However, running an emergency shelter comes with constant challenges, especially around funding and resources.
“A significant challenge we face is the ongoing need for support,” Bradwell said. “That includes everything from basic hygiene items and clothing to funding for daily operations and specialized services.”
Millon echoed the urgency and emphasized that community involvement isn’t just helpful — it’s essential.
“There are so many ways people can support us,” she said. “Of course, financial donations are critical — they help us cover operational costs and invest in trauma-informed care, but we also rely heavily on in-kind donations and volunteers.
Ways to help:
- Monetary Donations: Make a one-time gift or become a monthly donor. Contributions help fund meals, clothing, therapy services, staff training, and more.
- In-Kind Donations: Items like new clothing (especially pajamas and undergarments), shoes, hygiene products, school supplies, books, and toys are always needed. A wish list is available on their website and social media.
- Volunteer Your Time: Volunteers can work directly with children after passing a background check. Others assist by sorting donations, organizing events, assembling care packages, or helping with administrative tasks.
- Host a Donation Drive: Schools, churches, businesses, or civic groups can collect high-need items or raise funds.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Local businesses can partner with Valley Haven through sponsorships, grants, or employee volunteer programs.
“No act of kindness is too small,” Bradwell said. “Each donation, each hour of service, helps us show these children that they are valued, protected, and not alone.”
From a single conversation between two CASA volunteers to a fully licensed shelter serving dozens of children each year, Valley Haven stands as a testament to what’s possible when compassion is turned into action and a community comes together to protect its most vulnerable.
To support Valley Haven or learn more, visit valleyhaveninc.org or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @valleyhaveninc.
