Local Katy businessman Rod Batson has realized another dream – and in doing so, he’s making dreams come true for children in foster care.

Batson is the force behind the Katy franchise of Howdy Homemade Ice Cream, which employs individuals with special needs, and also the staffing agency Helping Heroes Staffing, launched in July 2025, which specializes in working with small businesses, national brands, and organizations to employ those with special needs.

Now, Batson has turned his attention to a new venture – opening a shelter called Exceptional Abilities, which is a TBRI-informed shelter and treatment program for children removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect, providing a safe, nurturing environment for healing and rehabilitation. TBRI stands for Trauma-Based Relationship Intervention, an attachment-based, trauma-informed approach designed for vulnerable children.

Batson opened the home in Katy’s Pin Oak neighborhood in early 2025. The facility is licensed by Texas Health and Human Services to provide emergency services and long term for maximum of 23 youths ages 5-17 years old.

“I always wanted to have an emergency shelter as I was led to give back to children in need of normalcy in a safe structured environment,” Batson told the Katy Times in an email interview. “I previously did work as investigator for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services which made me aware of the high need for a quality environment where youth could thrive. I partnered with Nikki Relford, a licensed administrator and multi operation owner, who assisted with the startup and compliance, and Tiona Mobley who owns another location for youth.”

The shelter, which is self-funded, took almost a year to open, due to licensing regulations and inspections, Batson said. And it wasn’t an easy path. The many obstacles included delays in processing applications, then delays in obtaining a contract switch from DFPS to a SSCC contract, meaning an individual child placing agency now oversees placing youth, Batson said.

Among the services provided:

· Emergency admissions

· Treatment service

· Indoor and outdoor recreation

· On-site counseling

· Educational support

· Adult youth preparation

The shelter offers therapy to all youth, and preparation for adult living to teens prior to aging out of care. This includes job search, driver’s license, and enrolling in dual enrollment programs or technical school.

Exceptional Abilities currently serves six youths who are in DFPS conservatorship but Batson plans to continuously grow intakes. The shelter can provide for 23 youths.

“We take in sibling groups and kids with special needs and on the spectrum, and a lot of times, their insurance ‘superior health Medicaid’ doesn’t cover the things that the kids need, so we are out of pocket a lot,” Batson said. “Things such as braces maintenance, with one of my kids who has braces. We are also looking for camps to send them to, over the summer; so they can experience life outside of the shelter; considering they won’t be attending school or summer school.”

Donations to help with these expenses can be made via PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/RDTH9VJ4GWZ8C. To learn more about Exceptional Abilities and their services, visit https://www.exceptional-abilities.com. To find out how you can help, email exceptionalgro@gmail.com or call 713-370-4709.