Austin Child Guidance Center

Fostering a Healthier Community

By Katrina McDowell on Feb 11, 2025 in Giving

Mental health issues have taken a toll on today’s youth, especially in Travis County, Texas. According to a CDC report, 57% of teen girls, 27% of teen boys, and 70% of LGBTQ+ youth have reported increased sadness and hopelessness, with over 30% of them attempting suicide.

Austin Child Guidance Center (ACGC) is a Yardi-supported nonprofit established in 1951 in Austin, TX. It is dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality mental health services to children and their families in the ten-county central Texas area.

“We envision a world where every family’s mental health needs are seen and met. We focus on families living at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, living in regions heavily impacted by adverse social determinants of health, and underserved by current mental health systems,” said Leah Piassick, senior director of grants and contract compliance for ACGC.

ACGC accepts private and public insurance, offers a sliding fee scale and provides no-cost therapy for qualifying families. Their team includes licensed therapists and administrative staff, many of whom are bilingual. ACGC tailors mental health care to meet each child’s unique needs using evidence-based practices like cognitive behavioral therapy and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, ensuring effective treatment.

• Mental health care and treatment are customized for each child and family, including individual/family therapy, walk-in clinic services, group therapy, psychological assessment, the tandem teen prenatal & parenting program, and workshops.
• Mental Health Consultation (Infant & Early Childhood Services), designed for early childhood care centers and parents/guardians/caregivers, offers specialized teacher consultation and social-emotional learning training and parent/guardian/caregiver workshops and skill-building training on child development and social-emotional learning, and ensures children (ages 0-6) are “school-ready.”   

“We offer services in person or via a HIPAA-compliant teletherapy platform, except for Psychological Assessments, which must be conducted in person. This flexibility ensures our services remain accessible,” explained Piassick.

ACGC’s impact extends beyond individual families, fostering a healthier community. Its services have led to positive outcomes such as academic success, better job prospects, strong relationships, improved health, fewer hospital visits, reduced substance use, and enhanced quality of life. Without ACGC’s support, children and families may struggle to prosper. Your involvement can help them make a significant difference in the community.

ACGC is working to expand its reach in populations through enhanced outreach, innovative programming and increased funding to address the current trends they face. Funding from Yardi helps in these areas and ensures every child has access to trauma-informed mental health care and treatment. This vital support allows it to expand its services and operate more effectively. ACGC is excited to ramp up its capacity with fully funded staffing and services to meet the growing needs head-on. Their goal is to increase its impact and become an even more invaluable resource, increasing the size of their team and the number of children and families they can support.

“We are incredibly grateful for Yardi’s continued support of ACGC and our mission,” expressed Piassick. She continued, “With your help, we can enhance our critical services and empower ACGC to reach even more children and families. Thank you for being such an integral part of our journey!”

Family Turbulence

Danny, an eight-year-old from a loving home, faced a transformative challenge when he witnessed his uncle, a struggling addict, attack family members. This harrowing experience led him to regress to behaviors typical of a four-year-old, igniting intense fears for his mother’s safety and resulting in anxiety and sleep issues.

Determined to find a way to help her son, his mother sought therapy for Danny through ACGC’s crime survivors program. Although Danny initially found it difficult to express himself about his uncle, through a combination of play and talk therapy, he began to process the trauma and acquire relaxation techniques to manage his fears. In this journey, his mother also discovered valuable tools from the therapist, empowering her and Danny as they navigated the healing path together.

Volunteer Opportunities

Austin Child Guidance Center values the contributions of everyone who wants to help make a difference. Hundreds of volunteers engage with ACGC each year, from play leaders integral to the therapeutic process for families to the healing garden and professional services volunteers. Their dedication and support are crucial to its mission and make them an essential part of the ACGC family.

• Committee Membership – Committee Member participation involves monthly meetings with ACGC staff to guide organizational efforts and events. Opportunities include event planning, community advocacy, and assistance with technology needs.
• The Healing Garden – A therapeutic space for relaxation and reflection. It is an alternative to traditional therapy sessions, offers a private area for post-session reflection, and functions as an outdoor waiting room. ACGC welcomes individuals, families and groups to help maintain and expand this beautiful garden and donations of plants, tools and gardening materials.
• Play Leaders – Volunteers interact with children in the waiting area while they wait for their appointment or their parents consult with staff. Activities may include reading, playing quiet games and art projects.
• Professional Services—Volunteering professional services is a meaningful way to make an impact at ACGC. By sharing expertise in information technology, marketing, communications, graphic design, interior design, human resources, or other professional services, volunteers help enhance ACGC’s ability to impact children and families positively.

Contact [email protected] for more details. 

ACGC will celebrate its 75^th anniversary in Fall 2026, showcasing its long-standing commitment to mental health. ACGC invites you to stay involved and be part of this milestone celebration. Your continued support is crucial as they work towards creating brighter futures for the children and families they serve!

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