Nationwide there is a need for accessible, affordable behavioral and mental health care. Approximately 20% of American youth, ages 9 to 17, have diagnosable emotional or behavioral health needs.

Without health insurance, many parents are unable to afford counseling and therapeutic programs for their children. In comparison to other states, Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured children, 21.5 percent, as well as the most uninsured children of any state, 1.4 million. Phoenix Center specifically serves uninsured children and families who cannot currently access or afford mental health programs and services.

Our services meet the following identified LOCAL NEEDS in rural Central Texas:

• LOCAL NEED for increased after-school and weekend mental health programs for children

  >> Phoenix Center provides 5 therapeutic after school programs
  >> Camp Phoenix provides 6 year-round therapeutic camp sessions on weekends, Friday – Sunday; days when youth are most at risk
• LOCAL NEED for increased child and adolescent mental health support
  

  >> Phoenix Center provides an innovative and holistic model of integrative mental health care - free of cost - to children and families in need. Integrated mental health services include therapeutic after school programs, i.e., expressive art and music programs, individual and group psychotherapy, play therapy, art therapy, equine therapy, psychiatric consults, and preventive healthcare services such as stress management.
  
• LOCAL NEED for adequate foster care respite
  

  >> Phoenix Center provides weekday, weekend and summer respite to grandparents and foster parents through counseling, after school programs and therapeutic camp sessions.

• Increased drug use (Burnet County)
  

  >> Phoenix Center programs address the underlying causes of drug use by teaching youth positive, safe coping skills and ways to express and process their emotions.