About Thrive Fest
Leading up to Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week, we joined Boys & Girls Club of the Austin Area (BGCAA) and AISD ACE Austin to host Thrive Fest on April 27, 2024 to support youth well-being!
The event was held at BGCAA’s Home Club on the Sheth Family Campus, which was also celebrating the 5th anniversary of its opening! Over 300 attendees consisting of youth and families enjoyed live performances with a talented student showcase and interactive activities that educated attendees on mental health resources in Texas.
Youth mental health was declared a national crisis in 2021, and families continue to struggle with accessing the resources they need for their children. Organizations such as Austin Child Guidance Center, Rock Springs, Austin Bat Cave, NAMI Central Texas, and CommUnityCare Health Centers brought tangible resources for families and students to Thrive Fest.
Thrive Fest organizers set up activities for youth to encourage creativity and foster well-being. Children were invited to write positive affirmations, learn about therapy dogs, design gratitude bracelets, watch live screen-printing, and much more.
Throughout the fest, there were performances from student groups such as Martin Cheer, Langford Leopards’ Dance Team, Las Comadres, and Chiquitos Salseros. In between performances, guests heard inspiring stories from distinguished speakers and mental health professionals from groups such as Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC), Hope Squad, and Real Queens Fix Each Other’s Crowns.
It was amazing to see such a positive response from the community. We look forward to continuing our efforts to address the mental health needs of youth.
The Henry McMahon Children's Advocacy Award
One of the mental health heroes we recognized this year is David Evans, who was rewarded the 2024 Henry McMahon Children’s Advocacy Award for his advocacy work for children with mental health needs. David served as CEO of Integral Care for over 30 years and has over 40 years of experience as a leader in behavioral health and developmental disabilities in Texas and beyond.
This award is named after Henry McMahon, who volunteered on behalf of the children, youth, and families of Travis County. His passion was to strengthen children’s mental health systems of care and promote collaboration across child-serving agencies.
Congratulations to David on earning this recognition!
Thrive Fest Exhibitors
We are fortunate that we could feature local health resources for families at Thrive Fest! Please click on each logo for more information.
Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. is a national nonprofit advocating for and delivering evidence-based services in homes and communities as a more effective and equitable alternative to youth incarceration and group child welfare, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities placements.
Texas System of Care – System of care is a framework and philosophy for the transformation of child-serving systems to better meet the needs of children, youth, and young adults with mental health challenges and their families.
Rock Springs is a behavioral health hospital located in Georgetown, TX, part of the greater Austin metropolitan area. They provide inpatient and outpatient programming for those facing mental health and addiction challenges.
Integral Care helps people build health and well-being so everyone has the foundation to reach their full potential. They support adults and children living with mental illness, substance use disorder and intellectual and developmental disabilities in Travis County.
NAMI Central Texas is a member of the largest grassroots mental health organization in the United States, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Through innovative education, support and advocacy programs, they are changing the way our community addresses mental health. NAMI Central Texas serves Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Burnet, and Caldwell counties.
Real Queens aims to address mental health disparities and the challenges faced by individuals. Real Queens envisions women and girls using their voices to challenge gender inequality and create positive change. The organization aims to break the racial disparity barriers of mental health.
The Children’s Partnership and Travis County Community Resource Collaboration Group is a community partnership that meets with families or independent youth to create individualized service recommendations to support the child and family or independent youth.
Heart N Hands’s mission is to empower, educate, and raise awareness of heart health, heart disease prevention, provide heart health education, and encourage healthy lifestyle choices for young girls aged 10-18 and their families.
They promote physical activity, heart healthy eating and heart healthy lifestyle choices.
Austin PBS is your community-supported, locally owned PBS station in Central Texas. With thousands of hours of on-air programming plus wide-ranging content available over multiple platforms in addition to hundreds of community events held each year, Austin PBS is one of the only nonprofits in Central Texas with the potential to touch nearly every household every day. Austin PBS uses the power of media to enrich lives and transform communities.
Alps Creative Co. advances the fight for equitable, inclusive environments, and human rights through providing a variety of resources to increase accessibility to information and research.
They envision a world in which all humans have access to safe, equitable, and inclusive environments. By championing voices from those in historically marginalized communities, they aim to empower individuals to advocate for social justice and human rights.
Texas Health and Human Services — which includes the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Department of State Health Services — has hundreds of programs and services that help more than 7.5 million Texans a month live better lives, and it’s our strong foundation of dedicated people who make it happen every single day.
HHSC Community Resource Coordination Groups are county-based groups of local partners and community members that work with parents, caregivers, youth and adults to identify and coordinate services and supports, including behavioral health, basic needs and caregiver support. They help people whose needs can’t be met by one single agency and who would benefit from interagency coordination.
Department of Family and Protective Services Policy and Prevention Strategies – The DFPS Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) division focuses on stopping bad outcomes before they happen. They manage programs that prevent child abuse and other bad outcomes, help communities meet their needs, and share tips to keep kids safe.
CommUnityCare is one of more than 1,400 community health centers, across the country serving 30 million people who are uninsured or underinsured.
CommUnityCare currently has 28 locations throughout Austin and the Travis County area including one in Bastrop County. Most locations provide primary care services with the exception of a select few that also include specialty and others that are specific to women’s health, complex care management, and dental.
The City of Austin Transportation and Public Works Department (TPW) is a department of the City of Austin responsible for a variety of transportation, mobility and safety functions throughout the community. TPW works with all modes of transportation and many Austin-area partners and agencies to deploy an all-ages and abilities network, as well as ensure the transportation network is reliable, safe and well-maintained for all users.
The Health and Human Services Community Partner Program builds bridges between Texas Health and Human Services and communities statewide to provide Texans access to food, cash and health care.
Austin Child Guidance Center is a group of social workers, psychologists, therapists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, case managers, fundraising professionals, administrators, educators, parents, and board members who are passionate about improving the lives of children and families in Central Texas. They meet family’s mental health needs through their approach of Care & Treatment, Empowerment and Community Education.
BioBehavioral Research of Austin conducts effective clinical research in different therapeutic areas that expands the options currently available for medical care, while ensuring the rights, dignity, and health of their patients.
Department of Family and Protective Services Faith-Based Program
The faith community has a long history of helping those in need. DFPS wants to partner with all faith communities in Texas to help vulnerable children, adults, and families.
LifeWorks is a fearless advocate for youth and young adults pursuing a life they love and a stable future for themselves and their families. They provide services for youth and their families seeking housing, counseling, education and workforce programs.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area serves the youth in our community.
With 25 locations across Greater Austin, BGCAA offers high-quality, consistent, and fun programming during out-of-school time for youth ages 6 to 18.
Cenikor is one of the largest private providers of drug and alcohol treatment services in Texas. Named a Center of Excellence for SUD by Evernorth Behavioral Health, Cenikor combines quality, evidence-based care with affordable services for life-changing outcomes.
Their clinicians and front-line staff combine years of experience and evidence-based approaches to offer caring and compassionate drug and alcohol treatment for everyone.
Health and Human Services – Children’s Mental Health Unit
Community mental health services are usually provided at an office or in the home. Services support families to make positive changes that help children recover from mental illness and foster resilience. Mental health services start with a thorough assessment and developing a plan to address goals identified by the child and family.
Health and Human Services – Family Health Services
Family Support Services are services that help families take care of Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program clients at home. These services can also help a client be more independent and able to take part in family life and community activities. Some services include Respite, Caregiver training, vehicle modifications.
The University of Texas at Austin Office of Admissions
UT Austin is the place that can empower you with the resources, experience and support to shape your future. Be a Longhorn. Apply Today.
Lock Arms for Life is a gun safety organization that educate people on gun safety. Their goal is for every every firearm owner to keep all guns locked at all times when not in use.
Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) provides telemedicine or telehealth programs to school districts to help identify and assess the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents and provide access to mental health services.
