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Monday 7:30am - 5pm Tuesday 7:30am - 5pm Wednesday 7:30am - 5pm Thursday 7:30am - 5pm Friday 7:30am - 5pm

Talitha Koum Institute

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United States
Waco, TX
Talitha Koum Institute

Birth to five therapeutic brain development program focused on self-regulation and whole-family health.

Talitha Koum Institute (TKI) is a mental health therapeutic Nurture Center focusing on the brain development of at risk children. Through an intensive care program involving the HighScope® cognitive curriculum layered daily with 3 1/2 hours of sensory modulation activities, TKI's program also extends to weekly parent education, a mentoring program for TKI school-age children, and community trainings regarding trauma-affected children and their care. TKI's goal is to send children to public school Kindergarten able to self-regulate and ready to learn from the calm-alert state. The Talitha Koum Institute opened its Therapeutic Nursery in 2003 with funding from Waco’s Cooper Foundation and later Waco Foundation. The founders of Talitha Koum Institute, CrossTies Ecumenical Church, purchased the former Gonzales Boys & Girls Club building which is located in the South Waco community, at the corner of 13th and Clay where a strong use of that facility continues to productively support children.

01/20/2026

🤎 Open-ended play with natural materials like leaves supports creativity, sensory integration, and social development in young children, all while fostering healthy child development. 🍂

01/13/2026

🔆 Through outdoor play, children move at their own pace, test their bodies safely, and reclaim a sense of control—allowing curiosity and mastery to replace fear. In these moments of movement and exploration, their nervous systems learn that the world can be responsive, predictable, and safe, making play a powerful pathway to healing, resilience, and healthy development. 💛

01/08/2026

Smiles, sunshine, and a brand new beginning at our Bishop location. ☀️

Grounded in play. Guided by development. ✨

“Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity. It is essential to our physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being.”
— Stuart Brown, MD

01/01/2026

Wrapping up the holidays with gratitude and stepping into the New Year with an amazing team 🎉✨
So thankful for the memories made at our staff Christmas party and for the people who make our workplace so special.
A huge thank you to our wonderful hosts, Becky Parker and Brad & Beth Toben, for opening their homes and hearts to us.
Cheers to a bright year ahead! 🥂

12/25/2025

Snow? ❄️ We don’t know her. It’s 75 degrees ☀️ and we’re still jolly. 🎄 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Talitha Koum Institute ✨

12/19/2025

Last day before Christmas break = pajama day perfection. ❤️💚 Festive prints, warm hugs, and a hallways’ worth of goofy grins from kids, families, and teachers. 🎄🧸

12/16/2025

If you feel guarded, it makes sense. We weren’t born this way—trauma made protection necessary. Your nervous system learned to prioritize survival when safety wasn’t available. Healing is a compassionate process of learning safety again, reconnecting with your body, and slowly allowing protection to soften when it’s no longer needed. ❤️‍🩹

12/05/2025

🎄 A Huge Thank You to Psi Chi! 🎄
Psi Chi — Baylor’s International Honor Society in Psychology — arrived today with an incredible delivery of Christmas gifts, all thoughtfully chosen from our Amazon wish list. ❤️🎁
A special thank-you to Alyssa Flores, who led this effort with so much heart. She shared that she and the other Psi Chi “elves” were excited to be with us and to hand-deliver these gifts — and we felt that joy the moment they walked in.
Your generosity helps make this season brighter for the children and families we serve. We are so grateful for your kindness, your energy, and your commitment to supporting our mission.
✨ Thank you, Psi Chi, for being part of the magic this Christmas! ✨

12/04/2025

🎅 Santa is here! 📸✨

Join us for Photos with Santa at the Waco Downtown Farmers Market:
Dec 6th • 9 AM – 12 PM
200 E Bridge Street

Santa is back in town and ready for your pics (and maybe a cookie or two)! Bring the kids, your friends, or your favorite pets, and snap a memorable shot with the jolly man himself. All proceeds benefit the Talitha Koum Institute.

- Minimum $5 donation appreciated
- Bring your own device for the photo
- Have fun and spread the holiday cheer!

12/02/2025

✨ We’ve been looking forward to sharing this video with you for your birthday! Although we missed that celebration, we believe you'll find joy in it. If you’ve watched it until the end, you know we’re also thrilled about a generous $100,000 match from a wonderful couple in Boerne, Texas!

We have until the end of the year to reach that goal, and there’s no better moment to start than Giving Tuesday. Let’s make every dollar count!

Your support will help us open our new classrooms at Talitha Koum's second campus. We need eight amazing teachers—the heartbeat of our program. And let’s not forget, it’s the children who inspire us and bring meaning to each day!

Make an impact today. Donate by clicking the link below: http://TalithaKoum.org/safe

11/18/2025

This isn’t about any one child — it’s about changing how we respond to all children. Every behavior has a story. Every story deserves compassion. 💛

When we understand how trauma changes the brain, we stop asking, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ and start asking, ‘What happened to you?’ Every story matters. Every brain can heal. 💛

Address

1311 Clay Avenue
Waco, TX
76706

Opening Hours

Monday	7:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	7:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	7:30am - 5pm
Thursday	7:30am - 5pm
Friday	7:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+12547531144

Website

http://www.TalithaKoum.org/

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How does a baby’s brain develop?

From conception to two years, that’s the best window of opportunity to shape a child’s brain for a lifetime of learning and healthy relating. That’s why our program begins at eight weeks of age. Talitha Koum Institute (TKI) is a mental health therapeutic nurture center, focusing on the brain development of extreme children from infancy to four years old.

Through an intensive care program involving the HighScope® cognitive curriculum layered daily with 3 1/2 hours of sensory modulation activities, TKI's program also extends to weekly parent education, a mentoring program for TKI school-age children, and community trainings regarding trauma-affected children and their care. Our goal is to send children to public school Kindergarten at five years old with the ablility to self-regulate and ready to learn in the calm-alert state.

Talitha Koum Institute opened its therapeutic nursery in 2003 with funding from Waco’s Cooper Foundation and later Waco Foundation. The founders of Talitha Koum Institute, CrossTies Ecumenical Church, purchased the former Gonzales Boys & Girls Club building which is located in the South Waco community at the corner of 13th and Clay where a strong use of that facility continues to actively support children.