In partnership with several child-serving mental health agencies, Texas System of Care and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) hosted Austin’s fifth annual Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day celebration.
The event kicked off at the State Capitol with guest speakers, including Rep. Donna Howard (District 48); Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez; representatives from Integral Care and AISD; family and youth testimonials; and a keynote by UT legend Vince Young.
Following the rally was music, food, carnival games, butterfly release, prizes, a community resource fair and more along the Capitol’s Great Walk.
About 200 people attended the Flight2Freedom- and Okay to Say-themed event, which set out to fight stigma and educate the community on local mental health resources available to them. Partnering agencies include The Children’s Partnership, Integral Care, Lifeworks, Better Beehive Project and NAMI Austin. Monetary donations were given by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, H-E-B, CapCity Kids, Austin Oaks Hospital, Integral Care, Better Beehive Project, LifeWorks, CommUnity Care, Rock Springs Hospital, NAMI Austin and Austin 3-1-1. In-kind donations were made by Austin Moonwalks, The Young Journey Foundation and Jim-Jim’s Snow Cones.
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