Archive for the ‘Press Releases’ Category

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Dell Foundation And United Way Support Austin Child Guidance Center’s Infant And Early Childhood Program

Thursday, May 18th, 2006

Austin, TX – May 18, 2006

The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Training and Outreach Program of the Austin Child Guidance Center was recently awarded funding from the Dell Foundation and United Way Capital Area. The Dell Foundation’s Healthy Community Initiative awarded a two-year $50,000 grant and United Way Capital Area is supporting the program with a $10,000 targeted funding grant.

The program, begun in 2004 with declining funds from the City of Austin through the Institute for Childcare Excellence, is a collaboration between Austin Child Guidance Center, The University of Texas at Austin, and local childcare centers and preschools. The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Training and Outreach Program works to improve the quality of care to infants/children with mental health concerns in preschool/childcare settings in the Austin area.

Six to eight graduate students studying social work, psychology, or nursing volunteer 3-4 hours weekly at local high-needs childcare centers and preschools. Concurrent with their volunteer placement, the graduate students are enrolled in a 26-week class at The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work to learn about infant and early childhood mental health. The graduate students, called outreach specialists, are supervised by a licensed Austin Child Guidance Center therapist with expertise in working with young children. Each outreach specialist spends time observing and interacting with children at the sites, consults with parents and staff about positive mental health, provides individual and family counseling services when needed, and conducts training for childcare staff. The services they provide have a lasting impact on the families by promoting prevention and early intervention.

Established in 1951, Austin Child Guidance Center has the longest history of any outpatient mental health agency in Austin. Its mission is to improve the mental health of children through early intervention, diagnosis, and treatment to help them develop the emotional skills for meeting life’s challenges.

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Event To Honor Outstanding Mental Health Supporters

Wednesday, January 25th, 2006

Austin, TX – January 25, 2006

Austin Child Guidance Center ’s (ACGC) Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner will take place on Friday, January 27, 2006 at The University of Texas Club in the Darrall K. Royal Memorial Stadium at 7:00 p.m. ACGC will present the following awards: Christine W. Anderson Children’s Service Award, Outstanding Corporate Support Award, 25 Years of Service Award, and awards to Navigator Society founding members. Each award recipient is honored for their outstanding commitment to children’s mental health and their support of ACGC.

Dr. King Davis will be presented with the Christine W. Anderson Children’s Service Award in recognition of his outstanding service to children and families locally and statewide. The Christine W. Anderson Children’s Service Award was established in memory of Dr. Anderson, who died on June 13, 1982, at the age of 29. At the time of her death, she was a valued member of ACGC’s Board of Directors and a professor at The University of Texas at Austin , Department of Educational Psychology. ACGC is pleased to honor Dr. Davis, executive director of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health and Robert Lee Sutherland Chair in School of Social Work , The University of Texas at Austin , with this award.

Silicon Laboratories will be presented with the Outstanding Corporate Support Award. In 2005, Silicon Laboratories was a major sponsor of ACGC’s Holiday Classic TV Special and was the sole underwriter of the First Annual Charting a Course of Hope Luncheon that raised over $132,000 in donations and pledges over the next five years. Their support of ACGC truly makes a difference in our community.

Staff member Alice Monroe will be honored with a 25 Years of Service Award.

In 2005, the Navigator Society was established at ACGC and the founding members will be recognized. Membership includes those who understand the importance of long-term support for the Center and pledged donations of at least $1,000/year for five years. Founding members of the Navigator Society include: Patrick & Margene Beckham, Bradley & Corliss Englert, John Flowers & Kay Wong, Randy & Julia Howry, Jeane McVicker, Leslie Moore & John Park , John Olsson, Dick & Sara Rathgeber, Phyllis Richards, Pete & Frances Schenkkan, Will Shapiro , Suzy Spencer, Gary & Marijean Tritle, Tom & Kathryn Williamson, and Donald & Jean Zappone.

Margene Beckham and Phyllis Nelson will be inducted as Emeritus Board Members. The Board of Directors will welcome new members James Maynard, M.D. and Brenda Barrett Healey. The Board Officers for 2006 will be David Zodikoff, President; Kathy Kramer, Ph.D., President Elect; Will Shapiro , Secretary; and Beth Marsh, Immediate Past President.

ACGC is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the mental health of children through early intervention, diagnosis and treatment. ACGC has been helping families in the Austin community build emotionally healthy lives for more than 50 years. A multidisciplinary team of psychologists, social workers, counselors, and psychiatrists provide mental health evaluation and treatment services, including individual, family and group counseling.

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Mental Health Luncheon Raises $122,295

Monday, October 10th, 2005

Austin, TX – October 10, 2005

With over 260 guests, Austin Child Guidance Center ’s First Annul Charting a Course of Hope Luncheon was a success with $122,295 raised in multi-year donations. Silicon Laboratories underwrote the costs of the luncheon held at the Austin Country Club on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

As Board Secretary David Zodikoff pointed out, “There are more than 42,000 children and adolescents with mental health challenges in Travis County . Austin Child Guidance Center can be doing so much more.” The purpose of the event was to raise multi-year funds to support the critical mental health services Austin Child Guidance Center provides in the community and to introduce the Navigator’s Society. This society is comprised of supporters who recognize the importance of long-term support for the Center by pledging yearly donations of $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000 for five years. These funds ensure the sustainability of the organization.

Guests were able to hear firsthand from clients the impact Austin Child Guidance Center has had on their lives. Beth Marsh, Board President and former consumer of ACGC, and Amy Donaldson, a parent who attended ACGC’s parenting classes, shared their personal stories of success. In addition, a 9-minute video featured more testimonials from four families. The stories shared included a young boy who witnessed his father attempt to murder his mother, a woman claiming Austin Child Guidance Center saved her life when she was a teen, a mother concerned about her son’s difficulty to make friends, plus a testimonial from an Austin favorite musician Alejandro Escovedo.

The program included a moment of silence led by The Honorable Phil Sanders, a presentation about Austin Child Guidance Center’s services and future vision by Executive Director Donald J. Zappone, and Board Secretary David Zodikoff outlining the current needs to provide for the mental health services to Austin children and families.

Austin Child Guidance Center is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the mental health of children through early intervention, diagnosis, and treatment. Since 1951, Austin Child Guidance Center has been helping families in the Austin community build emotionally healthy lives. A multidisciplinary team of psychologists, social workers, counselors, and psychiatrists provide mental health evaluation and treatment services, including individual, family and group counseling. In 2004, of those reporting income, 84% of the clients served were low-income families.

Since its inception, Austin Child Guidance Center has provided mental health services to more than 100,000 children up to age 17 and their family members in Travis County and surrounding areas. Austin Child Guidance Center has trained more than 500 mental health professionals pursuing master and doctorate degrees in the mental health field.

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Children Share Their Stories At Mental Health Event

Thursday, September 22nd, 2005

Austin, TX – September 22, 2005

Children and families helped by Austin Child Guidance Center will share their stories of hope, courage, and healing on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Austin Country Club, 4408 Long Champ Drive, during the First Annual Charting a Course of Hope Luncheon. During the luncheon two individuals will give live testimonials. In addition, a 9-minute video, never before shown to a public audience, will feature more testimonials from four families. Each one will highlight the impact Austin Child Guidance Center made on their life.

The stories shared will include a young boy who witnessed his father attempt to murder his mother, a woman claiming Austin Child Guidance Center saved her life when she was a teen, plus a testimonial from an Austin favorite musician Alejandro Escovedo.

Approximately 300 guests are expected to attend this fundraising luncheon underwritten by Silicon Laboratories. All donations will be used to support Austin Child Guidance Center ’s mission.

Austin Child Guidance Center is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the mental health of children through early intervention, diagnosis, and treatment. Since 1951, Austin Child Guidance Center has been helping families in the Austin community build emotionally healthy lives. A multidisciplinary team of psychologists, social workers, counselors, and psychiatrists provide mental health evaluation and treatment services, including individual, family and group counseling. In 2004, of those reporting income, 84% of the clients served were low-income families.

Since its inception, Austin Child Guidance Center has provided mental health services to more than 100,000 children up to age 17 and their family members in Travis County and surrounding areas. Austin Child Guidance Center has trained more than 500 mental health professionals pursuing master and doctorate degrees in the mental health field.

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Local Agency Celebrates May Is Mental Health Month

Thursday, May 5th, 2005

Austin, TX – May 5, 2005

Austin Child Guidance Center is celebrating May is Mental Health Month by unveiling its newly redesigned website at www.austinchildguidance.org and by allowing the community to tour the Center at two specially scheduled open houses on Wednesdays, May 11 and 25 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at 810 W. 45th Street.

Open houses are free and open to anyone in the community who is interested in learning more about children’s mental health and how Austin Child Guidance Center makes a difference.

Austin Child Guidance Center ’s new website at www.austinchildguidance.org features helpful information for families to better understand mental health and how to promote positive mental health in children and adolescents. The user-friendly website also explains the various services it provides to families, continuing education opportunities for mental health professionals, and ways to support Austin Child Guidance Center.

Mental health is how we think, feel, and act in order to face life’s situation. Like physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life and applies to everyone. Families can seek help at Austin Child Guidance Center when they are worried about their child.

In 2005, it is estimated that 42,450 children and adolescents in Travis County are with or at-risk of a mental health disorder (e.g. depression, anxiety); this is 20% of the under 18 population (Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation).

Established in 1951, Austin Child Guidance Center has the longest history of any mental health agency in Austin and is the only nonprofit organization in the Austin area whose sole focus is children’s mental health. Since its inception, Austin Child Guidance Center has provided mental health services to more than 100,000 children up to age 17 and their family members in Travis County and surrounding areas. Austin Child Guidance Center has trained more than 500 mental health professionals pursuing master and doctorate degrees in the mental health field.

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