Chester Street Foundation

Chester Street Foundation Chester Street Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit charity focusing on children's mental health. Trauma remains wired in the body and brain.

Chester Street Foundation was established in 2017 to shine a light on the invisible wounds of childhood trauma so that children receive the treatment they deserve. Our strategy to fulfill our mission is to educate our community on the science behind the emotional reactions to trauma and the ways to help traumatized children heal and recover. It’s not just about hurt feelings and troubling emotions

; it’s much deeper and is rooted physiologically. Whenever it triggers its victims, it causes them to relive the panic and terror of their original trauma over and over. These wounds are not visible to the human eye, but they are very real and left untreated can cause chronic health issues which last a lifetime. We believe education is a critical component to helping traumatized children on their road to recovery and have designed our TraumaTALKS programs for the community at large and professionals who are on the frontlines of this issue, including, mental health professionals, educators, and organizations working with children. TraumaTALKS are high-quality trauma-informed-training and professional development presentations, featuring Chester Street Foundation’s Founder and CEO, Shawn Alex Nemeth (a trauma survivor ), along with other licensed mental health professionals. TraumaTALKS are offered as live presentations and through On Demand videos.

Chester Street Foundation recently partnered with Region 4 Education Service Center to deliver two in-person trainings, ...
06/23/2026

Chester Street Foundation recently partnered with Region 4 Education Service Center to deliver two in-person trainings, reaching 85 training participants working in rural schools across the Greater Houston Area.

The trainings that were presented in-person were also made available as on-demand courses, generating an additional 90 training participants.

We are so grateful for this partnership and can’t wait to see the impact our training participants make in their school districts this fall!

If you work for a school district that could benefit from our trainings, we hope you’ll reach out!

Learn more: https://chesterstreetfoundation.org/in-person-trainings/

Freedom is more than a moment. It's a journey — and for so many Black children, that journey includes navigating trauma ...
06/19/2026

Freedom is more than a moment. It's a journey — and for so many Black children, that journey includes navigating trauma that goes unseen and untreated.
On Juneteenth, we celebrate liberation and we recommit to the work of healing. Black youth are disproportionately exposed to adverse childhood experiences yet are among the least likely to receive trauma-informed support.

Chester Street Foundation is committed to changing that. Education, equity, and awareness are at the heart of everything we do.

Freedom includes the freedom to heal.

Behind every life we touch is someone who chose to show up. This month, we're honored to spotlight board member Arlene W...
06/17/2026

Behind every life we touch is someone who chose to show up. This month, we're honored to spotlight board member Arlene Wells. She is a dedicated leader whose time, generosity, and heart have helped shape Chester Street Foundation into what it is today. Keep reading to hear directly from Arlene about what drives her commitment to healing childhood trauma.

“I chose to be involved with Chester Street Foundation because its mission recognizes that the impact of healing childhood trauma extends beyond helping individual children—it strengthens families, schools, and entire communities. Being part of that kind of lasting, meaningful change is what drives my involvement.” -Arlene Wells, MBA

Boys are often taught to stay silent about pain. To "tough it out." To never ask for help.But silence doesn't protect ch...
06/14/2026

Boys are often taught to stay silent about pain. To "tough it out." To never ask for help.

But silence doesn't protect children… it traps them.

This Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, we're thinking about the boys who carried heavy wounds into adulthood, and the men still living with the invisible effects of childhood trauma.

At Chester Street Foundation, we know first-hand that healing is possible at any age. Through education, awareness, and trauma-informed care, we're working to break cycles before they begin.

The road to recovery starts with shining a light.

The World Cup is officially in Houston — and with it, a critical conversation we can't afford to skip.Human trafficking ...
06/11/2026

The World Cup is officially in Houston — and with it, a critical conversation we can't afford to skip.

Human trafficking thrives in the shadows of major events. And it almost always begins long before a trafficker ever appears.

📊 84% of s*x trafficking survivors experienced childhood s*xual abuse.
📊 60% of child s*x trafficking victims in the U.S. have a history in the child welfare system, with some regional studies placing that number as high as 90%.

Traffickers don't usually kidnap. They groom. They seek out children already wounded by trauma, neglect, and broken trust — and they offer exactly what those children are desperately searching for: belonging, safety, and love.

Childhood trauma doesn't disappear. Without support, it becomes a vulnerability that predators exploit.

Awareness is protection. Education saves lives.
If you or someone you know needs support:
📞 National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 | 💬 Text "HELP" or "INFO" to 233733

More than two-thirds of children experience at least one traumatic event before age 16, and for many, that pain gets car...
06/08/2026

More than two-thirds of children experience at least one traumatic event before age 16, and for many, that pain gets carried silently into adulthood.

June is PTSD Awareness Month. At Chester Street Foundation, we believe you can't heal what you can't name. That's why education is at the heart of everything we do, from childhood trauma awareness to trainings like “Managing PTSD and Anxiety Following a Cancer Diagnosis: Effective Strategies to Navigate.”

Early awareness and trauma-informed care can change the trajectory of a life. Let's start the conversation. 💚 https://chesterstreetfoundation.org/on-demand-courses/

We are thrilled to highlight our generous donor, Barbara Buckner. Hear why she supports our mission:"Survivors of abuse ...
06/07/2026

We are thrilled to highlight our generous donor, Barbara Buckner. Hear why she supports our mission:

"Survivors of abuse often live in a frightening darkness. The tools provided by Chester Street Foundation help them find an inner sense of
safety, lighting the way to a brighter tomorrow."
- Barbara Buckner

LGBTQ+ youth are at significantly higher risk of experiencing childhood trauma, including rejection, abuse, and neglect,...
06/03/2026

LGBTQ+ youth are at significantly higher risk of experiencing childhood trauma, including rejection, abuse, and neglect, simply because of who they are.

No child should face trauma for being themselves.

This Pride Month, Chester Street Foundation stands with LGBTQ+ children, youth, and survivors everywhere. We believe every child deserves safety, belonging, and the tools to heal.

Through education and collaboration, we're shining a light on the invisible wounds that too many carry in silence and building a world where every child can thrive.

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to say one thing clearly: the work doesn’t end on May 31st. ✨...
05/31/2026

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to say one thing clearly: the work doesn’t end on May 31st. ✨

Every training delivered, every educator equipped, every parent supported, every child seen — that’s a year-round commitment. And it’s only possible because of people like you.

If our mission to shine a light on childhood trauma resonates with you, please consider supporting our work. A gift of any size helps us reach more children, more caregivers, and more communities with trauma-informed care.

Thank you for walking this road with us.

https://chesterstreetfoundation.org/ways-to-give/

Last month, we had the privilege of leading a self-care training with the Children’s Defense Fund — and the feedback lef...
05/28/2026

Last month, we had the privilege of leading a self-care training with the Children’s Defense Fund — and the feedback left us so encouraged. ✨

100% of participants said the session gave them strategies they could apply to help themselves become regulated.

100% would recommend the training to others.

One participant shared:
“Thank you for your informative session. I definitely felt a sense of calm when we finished and will be implementing the practices covered today.”

This is exactly the ripple effect we hope for: caregivers and professionals walking away with tools that don’t just live in their notes, but in their lives. Thank you to the CDF team for opening the door.

Address

2925 Richmond Avenue, Suite 1200
Houston, TX
77098

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18329824514

Website

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