WHO WE ARE

Mindy Harrison - Director

As a lifelong resident of Texas, I’ve been working in the field of child and family services for over 10 years.  Currently I am the Owner/Director of Giggles and Grins Learning Center; a State of Texas Licensed Child Care Center.  I believe that the first five years of a child’s life are the most important years in their development.  To promote this development and instill a nurturing environment staff is trained in Love and Logic®. 

As a Love and Logic® Trainer for over five years, I am a firm believer that children who are given the opportunity to grow through their mistakes and live with the consequences of their choices will be more self-confident, motivated and able to solve their own problems when they meet life’s challenges. 

In addition to running the daycare center, I work as a Family Therapist for a local children's hospital.  As a Therapist in the Psychiatry Department, I provide family assessments, family therapy and crisis intervention.  I have worked as a Social Worker in various settings including Baylor Medical Center, Parkland Hospital, All Church Home for Children and Child Protective Services. 

I currently hold a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington and am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).  I earned my undergraduate degree in Social Work from Texas Christian University. 

I’ve been married to my wonderful husband Lonnie for 10 years and we have 5 beautiful children.  In the past my husband and I were foster parents and fostered a total of 10 children.  Advocating for children is my passion and that is why I have been a volunteer Child Advocate (CASA volunteer) for over 10 years.

Kim England - Director

Curriculum Vitae

With more than 10 years of experience in social work and family services, I am currently working as a Family Therapist for a local children's hospital.  As a Family Therapist in the Psychiatry Department I complete mental health assessments on children in crisis and make recommendations on interventions to assist in their stabilization. I have also worked as a Clinical Therapist at a local children's hospital for the Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care teams.  My role as a Clinical Therapist was to help children adhere to their medical treatment by promoting healthy behaviors and decreasing health related risk-taking behaviors in order to improve the overall adjustment of the child and family to the illness.

Prior to working at a local children's hospital, I worked as a Social Worker at Baylor Medical Center, assisting patients and their families to obtain optimal follow up care and access to needed community resources.  Similar to the children's hospital, I counseled a full spectrum of patients ranging from acute medical conditions to potentially life limiting conditions.

I also spent time as a Crisis Caseworker for Adams County Department of Social Services in Colorado helping hundreds of children and their families towards safe and stable home environments.  I was quickly promoted to an institutional investigator where I investigated commercial and home daycares, foster homes and correctional facilities for allegations of abuse and/or neglect.

I have also been fortunate to work as a Program Therapist for the Texas State Youth Commission and as a Crisis Advocate and Play Therapist for the Bastrop Family Crisis Center.  Each of these positions gave me the opportunity to counsel children from multiple backgrounds and family environments. 

I currently hold a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LCSW).  I have been married to my husband Casey for almost 10 years and we have two beautiful sons together. 

Jeff Mastick, BA (Parent Educator)

Working with kids and their families has been a passion of mine for many years. My experience began working as a youth minister in a church setting. I was able to help parents and kids as they struggled with challenges of adolescence and help to ease the stress of those years of adjustment. This experience also provided me with a greater understanding of thinking of kids and their parents.

My other experiences include working with families who are adjusting to the placement of a relative child in their home and connecting them with the help they need to meet this challenge. I have also had the opportunity to facilitate groups where parents, children, and relatives have a part in the care of a child and decisions must be made for the best interests of the child.

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education from Lubbock Christian University. I have been married to my wonderful wife for 13 years and have two precious children. I am excited to be a Love and Logic trainer because I believe in the value of learning new skills so that parents and kids can have a positive and strong relationship.