On Saturday, October 24, 2009, Austin Child Guidance Center held a Community Open House to celebrate the dedication of the Children’s Healing Garden. View a slideshow of the day’s events here! A video is available here. Special thanks are due to Edward Pierce Photography for the beautiful pictures and video.
With Representative Lloyd Doggett on hand to read a city proclamation marking October 24 as Children’s Healing Garden Day, therapist Sarah Jones, LMSW, and ACGC Executive Director Don Zappone cut the ribbon to Austin’s first Children’s Healing Garden. Designed as a sustainable garden and utilizing native plants and natural materials that decrease maintenance, ACGC’s Garden serves as an area where families can relax as they wait for appointments or gather to talk about what they have learned during their sessions at the Center. Supported by a grant from Keep Austin Beautiful, the Garden not only provides a special space for children and their families to learn about the wonders of nature, it assists in the therapeutic process for the youth and their families who seek mental health services from ACGC.
It is through play that children make sense of their world, learn about themselves, and establish and create relationships. The Children’s Healing Garden will be used to:
–beautify the neighborhood;
–hold outdoor therapeutic groups as well as individual and family therapy sessions;
–provide private space for families to reflect on their therapy sessions;
–educate families about native plants and organic gardening;
–provide rest and relaxation for therapists and staff; and,
–provide an outdoor alternative to the traditional indoor waiting room.
Thanks to the many generous supporters and donors who helped to make this dream a reality. Saturday’s success is due in large part to those volunteers, donors, and staff who contributed hours of their time. A big THANK YOU is due to the following:
- Keep Austin Beautiful
- Congressman Lloyd Doggett
- Therapist Sarah Jones
- Therapist Tracy Tanner
- Landscape Designer Kate Higdon
- Grayson Hoffman
- Teo’s
- Fish City Grill
- Cornucopia Popcorn Creations
- Austin Beverage Company
- Natural Ear Music School
- The Kent Cummins Magic Camp
- Cheesecake Factory
- Stylist Miranda McGuire
- Xemumba Latin Festival
- Harvey and Sandy Sussman
- Bob and Mary Atnip
- Olshan Landscaping
- William Thompson and Native Texas Nursery
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Victor Vinson Trucking
- Andy Wardlaw
- Anderson High School art students
- Texas State University students Lucy Hernandez, Veronica Boston, Claire Dixon, Julie Thom, and Haileyesus Solomon
- Café Monet
- Breed & Co.
- Mike’s Print Shop
- Edward Pierce Photography
- The Family of Sarah Jones
- The Family of Tracy Tanner
- and many, many volunteers!
