She first came to the nonprofit as a client, then as a board member and board president, and now as outreach and development director.
Halder joined Wonders & Worries in 2009 when her oldest daughter needed help processing Halder’s heart and thyroid conditions. She decided to stay as a board member because she had time to dedicate to the organization’s mission.
Wonders & Worries has seven locations, serving the greater Austin, Houston and San Antonio communities. The organization began in Austin, and its original location is on Burnet Road near US 183.
Wonders & Worries helps children through one-on-one or group sessions and learning about their parents’ injury or illness through real and fake medical toys. There also are services for parents and professionals to help talk about illnesses and injuries, continuing education and getting certifications. The skills that families learn through Wonders & Worries also translate to helping them in their personal and professional lives, Halder said.
Halder said the skills her daughter learned through her six weeks at Wonders & Worries are used as a high school student, such as recognizing when she is anxious and knowing healthy coping mechanisms. Halder said the child life specialists at Wonders & Worries empowered her daughter by giving her the skills she needed to work through her emotions. Halder and her husband also received parenting classes that allowed their entire family to gain the communication skills they needed even after their time as clients.
In the future, Wonders & Worries aims to be available in some capacity to everyone in the nation to be able to give families the resources they need when they need it.
Wonders & Worries
9101 Burnet Road, Ste. 205, Austin
512-329-5757
Helpline: 1-844-WE-WONDER
www.wondersandworries.org
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
