Cassie McQuitty

By Meredith Knight

A loving, supportive home and community awaits displaced children, teens, and young adults at Christ’s Haven for Children in Keller. As CEO of the organization for the past two years, Cassie McQuitty had the privilege of seeing exciting milestones reached by children and young adults that call Christ’s Haven home. Throughout her 10 years of volunteer service at Christ’s Haven, Cassie discovered her passion for helping youth heal from trauma in a safe, loving, and supportive environment.

Centered around their core values of normalcy, dignity, and hope, Christ’s Haven’s residential program provides an option outside the traditional foster care system for children, teens, and young adults, from newborn to 24 years of age. When family members are no longer able to provide appropriate care due to financial strain, abuse, or neglect, they can place their children with Christ’s Haven. A nonprofit organization, Christ’s Haven’s goal is to provide consistency in hopes that families can become healthy and whole again.

“Our trauma-informed, family-based model of care encourages children to heal from traumatic experiences and envision and embrace a bright, healthy future,” Cassie explains. “Their history and past is protected with us. Despite where they came from, children can thrive when love and acceptance is part of their lives.”

Cassie is the first female CEO at Christ’s Haven. “Leading in this capacity is an honor and privilege,” she says. She’s also proficient at balancing the demands of motherhood and marriage with her duties at work. “Being the mother of two daughters sparked a fire in me to lead with love, honesty, and integrity.”

Christ’s Haven has 13 homes situated on their 58-acre campus. A married couple lives in each home as house parents with up to eight children and teens. Operating as a family unit, house parents guide and provide aspects of family life including schooling, meals, extracurricular activities, healthcare, entertainment, spiritual direction, and more. College and career readiness, life skills, and future planning are essential elements of their comprehensive program, providing a platform for a successful launch into adulthood.

GAP Services is Christ’s Haven’s newest program, created to stand in the gap for local families needing support. Families experiencing economic strain or needing counseling services can access this support, as well as foster families and young adults aging out of foster care in Keller and surrounding areas.

As a professional fundraiser, Cassie has exceeded goals of more than $30 million. Her past work experience includes The United Way, MGale & Associates, and the East Texas Crisis Center. Her volunteer work and activities include serving as PTA president and membership in the Keller Women’s Club. A University of Texas at Tyler graduate, she’s the recipient of the prestigious Fort Worth 40-Under-40 award.

“Through grants and donations, two of our young adults graduated from college this year,” Cassie shares. The dedication of all 28 staff members as well as generous donations and support from the community has allowed Christ’s Haven to thrive and improve the lives and relationships of children and their families.