Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Opportunities to Keep Our Garden Growing!

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Austin Child Guidance Center has entered into a contest with other non-profit agencies across the United States in order to win $25,000 for improvements to our Children’s Healing Garden! This will help ACGC to purchase a rain-harvesting system for irrigation, as well as create a meditation labyrinth. Every day in March, please go to the following website (http://www.refresheverything.com/childrenshealinggarden) and vote for the ACGC Children’s Healing Garden project! You simply click on the “Vote for this Project” button at the bottom of the page, log in with your email address and a password (you can opt out of receiving any emails from Pepsi), then return to the page and cast your vote! Please be aware that you vote AFTER you log in with your email address!

While you’re thinking about the garden… On Friday, April 23, join us for the United Way Spring Day of Caring. We will meet at 9am at United Way Capital Area to kick off the start of our first spring work day in ACGC’s Children’s Healing Garden. Around 10am, we’ll head over to ACGC to begin trimming, mulching, weeding, and spreading granite. We’ll work into the afternoon, but stay as long as you are able. ACGC will provide tools, but be sure to bring your own sunscreen and water! If you’re interested in helping out, please contact Laura Whitekettle (lwhitekettle@austinchildguidance.org) or Sarah Jones (sjones@austinchildguidance.org). You can also sign up on the United Way Hands on Central Texas Website (www.handsoncentraltexas.org).

Austin Child Guidance Center Offers Walk-In Therapy Services

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Austin Child Guidance Center is now offering walk-in therapy services for children, up to age 17, and their family members, on Tuesdays (11 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and Fridays (3 p.m. to 4 p.m.). Mental health professionals are available to talk with youth and families who are struggling. Walk-in services are open to current clients as well those children and families in the community who have been unable to access traditional, ongoing therapy due to waiting lists; parents who are concerned about their child’s behavior and are seeking advice are also welcome. For training purposes, sessions may be observed by ACGC therapists and staff. Walk-in services will be offered on a sliding fee scale (no insurance). For more information, please contact us at (512) 451-2242.

27th Annual Children’s Mental Health Seminar

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
Join ACGC on Friday, March 5, 2010 for our 27th Annual Children’s Mental Health Seminard at The University of Texas at Austin’s Thompson Conference Center! This year’s speakers are Dr. Kevin Stark, Clinical Director of Psychology, and Dr. Jane Gray, Director of Psychology Training, at the Texas Child Study Center. Dr. Stark is an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of youth depression and developed an intervention program for child survivors from 9/11 and Hurricanes Katrina. Dr. Gray is the director of the mental health component of the pediatric obesity initiative at Dell Children’s Medical Center. Her research interests focus on evidence-based interventions for children experiencing depression, anxiety, conduct problems, and obesity.
 
About the seminar: Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental health disorders among children and adolescents – the majority of youth present with co-morbid diagnoses, rather than one disorder or the other. Existing research shows that cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment approach for both anxiety and depression. The seminar will focus on such treatments for co-morbid anxiety and depression; developmentally-appropriate, practical strategies to use in clinical practice; and strategies for engaging parents.
 
Where: Joe C. Thompson Conference Center at The University of Texas at Austin
When: Friday, March 5, 2010, Registration at 8:30am with program beginning at 9am (9am-4pm)
Cost: $120 for Individual Registration; $110 for 3 or more from the same agency; $65 for Students with valid ID
 
 27th Annual Children's Mental Health Seminar Registration Form - {meta-date}
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2010 Registration Form for Children's Mental Health Seminar

Help the Pace Pals, Help Haiti

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Do you want to help children navigate life and help the relief effots in Haiti? Join Austin Child Guidance Center’s Pace Pals for Kids in the 2010 Austin Marathon! Due to the disastrous event in Haiti on January 12, 2010, ACGC has expanded its goals for this year’s race. Keeping in mind our mission and dedication to improving the lives of children and families, we are extending our mission overseas to those children and families suffering in Haiti by contributing 20% of our total donations from the Austin Marathon campaign to the American Red Cross International Relief Fund in the efforts to provide aide to Haiti.

YOU can help by: (1) donating online (www.active.com/donate/austinchildguidance or www.austinchildguidance.org) or (2) volunteering at the water stop on race day, February 14, 2010 (sign up at www.doitsports.com/volunteer/join-protected-group.tcl?event_id=159567 - use the password “26″ to log in and sign up).

By contributing to this event, whether financially or with your time, you can help children and families that are struggling through some of life’s most difficult times, in both Austin and Haiti. The goal of treatment at Austin Child Guidance Center is to relieve the mental health issues faced by children and youth, with the help and support of their parents, siblings, grandparents, teachers, and friends. Current relief efforts in Haiti are focused on basic needs, such as food, shelter, and medical attention; eventual support will be needed to address the issues of grief, loss, and trauma. Austin Child Guidance Center addresses similar issues as we continue to work with survivors experiencing Post- Traumatic Stress from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We have seen the overwhelming and devastating effects of disaster, but also know that change and healing are possible. By contributing 20% of our Austin Marathon donations to the Haiti relief efforts, we invite you to help us reach out to those families affected in Haiti’s tragic earthquake, while also helping the children and families in our community.

Questions? Check out the 26 Miles for 26 Charities website for more information about the charity arm of the Austin Marathon (http://www.youraustinmarathon.com/26for26), or contact Zack Flores at (512) 451-2242 or zflores@austinchildguidance.org. We look forward to your support!

ADHD Parenting Class Now Accepting Referrals

Friday, January 15th, 2010

Are you or do you know a parent of a child with ADHD? Austin Child Guidance Center is accepting referrals for parents of children age 4-11 years who have been diagnosed with disruptive behavior disorders, such as ADHD and ODD, and who are interested in an education and support group. Beginning Monday, February 1st, the group will meet every Monday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Child care is available at Austin Child Guidance Center during the meeting time. Please call (512) 451-2242 for more information.

Community Open House for Children’s Healing Garden

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

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!

ACGC Therapist Shawn Kent, MA, LPC, featured in October Yoga Journal

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

The October issue of Yoga Journal features an article on the impact of yoga and mindful awareness practices among adolescents involved in juvenile justice systems throughout the United States. Program developers and practitioners across the nation were interviewed for the story. Shawn Kent, MA, LPC, a therapist who incorporates yoga and mindfulness in his work with youth at Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center, is one of the professionals who contributed comments to this article on a practice that is growing acceptance and favorable results among youth, therapeutic professionals, and the juvenile justice system. October Yoga Journal article - 935.07 KB | {meta-type} | {meta-date}

View the 2008 Annual Report

Saturday, June 13th, 2009

Thank you to all who supported Austin Child Guidance Center in 2008! We hope you continue to work with us, especially in this time of great need, as we meet the mental health needs of children and families in our community.

Click here to view the 2008 Annual Report.

Read our client success stories

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Emily, a seven-year-old girl who was referred to Austin Child Guidance Center by her private therapist, came to the Center to join a social skills group. Emily’s family had recently returned from living abroad, where Emily attended a small school with small class sizes. At age three and a half, Emily was diagnosed with Selective Mutism. Upon returning to Texas, Emily was immersed in a larger class and her symptoms of Selective Mutism were exacerbated. Emily also began displaying signs of poor impulse control and having difficulty interacting appropriately with peers.

Emily joined a group of six-to-nine year-olds in group therapy at Austin Child Guidance Center. Initially, her anxiety was significant. At the first group meeting, Emily attempted to bite her mother on the way into the group setting. Throughout that first meeting, Emily resorted to nonverbal communication, withdrawal from the group, and placing herself under her chair. The group leaders remained physically and and emotionally accessible to Emily. As the group progressed, Emily found her own ways to connect with her peers. She enjoyed bringing and sharing toys to group therapy and as the group engaged in interactive activities, Emily and her peers did an excellent job of including everyone in their conversations and games.

The therapists noted that it was a pleasure to see Emily engage in age-appropriate silliness with her peers as well as her emerging ability to share with a growing ease. Eventually, Emily was able to share difficult topics with the group, including milestones and challenges in her own life. The small group experience at Austin Child Guidance Center provided Emily with the opportunity to join in a setting of peers that helped her work on feelings of being overwhelmed by larger crowds. Emily gained skills and confidence in her own creative ways. These are assets that Emily will refine and use throughout her life.

Read more of our success stories!

2009 Music Benefit Concert Sponsorship

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

A BIG “THANK YOU” to the following sponsors of Austin Child Guidance Center’s 2nd Annual Super Hero Show:

Performers:

Alejandro Escovedo
James McMurtry
Ian McLagan & the Bump Band
Right Or Happy (formerly The Reivers)

Diamond Drummer Sponsors:

KGSR Silicon Laboratories Staats Falkenberg — Advertising/Public Affairs
KGSR Silicon Laboratories Staats Falkenberg — Advertising/Public Affairs

Platinum Performer

Walker & Arnett Families

Gold Guitar Level

Linc Service

Texas Child Study Center

The Austin Chronicle

Silver Songwriter Level

Paula & Lee Aaronson

Austin American-Statesman

Emily & Jack Cardwell and Jim & Betty Boon

Nici & Kevin Huff

Independence Title Company ~ McMahan Group

Phyllis & Jef Nelson

Networking Austin

Doug & Nancy Phelan and Steve & Mary Knight

WGE, Inc.

“B3″ Level

Christy & Dale Biermann

Michael & Brenda Barrett Healey
Henslee Schwartz LLP

MusicMakers Pro-Backline

LickonaVison, Inc.

Bob Lum

David Mintz & Sherri Barras

SANDERSWINGO

Southwest Strategies, Inc.

Cristina Valdes

Walter P Moore

Wachovia Bank

West Coast Construction

Honorary Chairs

Alejandro Escovedo, Don Harvey & Jo Rae Di Menno

Event Chairs

Lynn Walker Arnett and Leigh Mires
Emcee: Kevin Connor, ME Television/KUT
Celebrity Auctioneers: Mark Murray, KVUE; Andy Langer, KGSR