Celebrating 5 Years of the St. David’s and Westminster Partnership

by Maureen Walsh, Chief Advancement and Strategy Officer, St. David’s Center for Child and Family Development

When Westminster expanded its historic building through the Open Doors Open Futures campaign, 25% of the building was reserved for an on-site community partner. Through a thorough discernment process, St. David’s Center was selected for its vision to create the region’s first multidisciplinary, culturally responsive early intervention center for children with global delays in development. Named in memory of respected clinical leader at St. David’s Center and statewide infant and early childhood consultant Scott Harman, The Harman Center for Child & Family Wellbeing opened in March 2018.

The Harman Center provides children’s mental health assessment and parent-child therapy, early childhood day treatment for children who have experienced trauma and early adversity, day treatment for young East African children diagnosed with autism, speech and occupational therapy, and a parenting support group for East African families. So much has been accomplished in the Center’s first five years. More than 700 children have gained the skills and confidence they need to thrive in kindergarten, and their families are better equipped to care for them. St. David’s Center has built a talented and diverse team, hosts graduate interns learning how to treat trauma and autism in young children, and is seen as an integral community collaborator working in partnership with Minneapolis Public Schools, Hennepin County, and a host of nonprofit partners surrounding their families.

On Tuesday, July 11, from 5-7pm, we will gather for a special anniversary event in Westminster Hall, with guided tours through the Center. Mark your calendars and let’s celebrate what we have accomplished together!

(Originally published in the June 2023 Westminster News.)