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CAUSE FOR INSPIRATION
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Fall 2012
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Dear Friends of Phoenix Center,
We are grateful for your support of our Fall Fundraiser at River City Grille featuring Austin based dance band Duck Soup. The total funds raised through ticket sales and our silent auction was $4,100! Thank you!
Thanks also to all who supported our Painting with Friends Benefit on October 6, 2012. A special thank you to local artist Heather Lehmberg who volunteered her time and talent in support of our mission.
Your support helps us meet a growing need. Through Phoenix Center counseling services (including play therapy for young children & parenting classes), therapeutic after-school programs, and therapeutic camp sessions, children learn how to process the trauma of abuse and express their emotions.
Our programs are available to all youth and their families because we believe socioeconomic boundaries should not interfere with a child's health and well-being. Today, the vitality and growth of Phoenix Center programming is more important than ever. In our community, even working together, all the existing non-profit organizations are simply unable to meet the huge demand for mental health care for children in need. Currently 22 children are on our waiting list for counseling services, and these children and families are in crisis. In response to this need, with funds raised this year, the Phoenix Center will be able to hire a licensed part-time Children's Therapist who will join our team in January 2013.
With an increasing demand for mental health services and a shortage of local professionals available, the Phoenix Center is providing critically needed solutions.
Our services include:
- Phoenix Counseling Services: Individual and Group Counseling and Psychotherapy, Play Therapy for young children, Trauma-Informed Care, Child Parent Relationship Therapy & Parenting Classes;
- Phoenix After School: Therapeutic after-school programs, art therapy and yoga to teach kids relaxation and stress and anger management skills;
- Camp Phoenix: Therapeutic camp sessions at Candlelight Ranch.
On behalf of the deserving children and families we serve, thank you for your continued support. Your support makes all we do possible. Thank you.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
In this Issue:
- Meet the Director Q&A
- Save the Dates
- Who We've Served in 2012
- Gift of Hope
- Donate a Vehicle
- Wish List
- Children's Feedback
- Who We Are
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Meet the Director Q&A with Sarah Garrett
Q: What prompted you to start the Phoenix Center?
A: When Allan and I first moved to Marble Falls, I was a CASA volunteer. As a CASA volunteer, I noticed that there was a need for high quality, affordable mental health care and therapeutic programs specifically for children who have survived abuse and trauma, as well as for children with other mental health needs (such as grief or a teen who is suicidal). The families we serve are living at or below the poverty level and can not access high-quality mental health services elsewhere. It is truly my passion to do my small part to help ensure that no child in crisis is left without needed care.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
A: The most rewarding part of my job is when a child or teenager gets better. For example, a 15 year-old I worked with this year began therapy with suicidal thoughts, clinical depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and has now expressed her thoughts and feelings related to the abuse she experienced (over 1 year of free of cost weekly therapy sessions), has no more nightmares or clinical symptoms, smiles, and is successful in school. The changes seen in each child and parent motivate me to work harder to grow our organization so we can impact more children and families in need.
Q: Why is it important for the Marble Falls area to have this organization?
A: It is important because there is a critical need for high-quality mental health care for children in crisis, such as survivors of abuse and trauma. The need is so great, it is unable to be met by all of the combined non-profits in our community. In 2012 to date, we have provided services to over 227 children and their families. Currently, we have 22 children on our waiting list to receive counseling services, and these children and families are in crisis.
Q: What excites you about the Phoenix Center's future?
A: What excites me the most is that I see the Phoenix Center continuing to grow and impact a greater number of children in the future. We are at an exciting point in our development; we just hired a part-time licensed Children's Counselor. However, we were only able to fund a part-time position.
Q: What, if anything, would you change or add to Phoenix Center offerings if you had the resources?
A: If we had the funding, I would hire an additional full-time licensed counselor, so that we could serve a greater number of local children and families in crisis. I believe healthy families create safe and healthy children and that our Child Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) parenting interventions/classes help end the cycle of abuse. One child and family at a time, it is possible to make a difference.
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Save the Date
Nov. 28 - Phoenix Center Benefit Day at DHBC
Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012! The Phoenix Center will receive 10% of all sales that day at Double Horn Brewing Company in Marble Falls. Lunch, dinner, wine, beer and merchandise are included in this offer. Orders can also be placed for takeout. Thank you in advance for having lunch or dinner at Double Horn on the 28th to show your support!
April 6, 2013 -Rock through the Ages Gala
7 - 11p.m. at Quail Point Lodge in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. The theme of the 2013 Gala to benefit the Phoenix Center is Rock through the Ages. Have fun dressing in attire inspired by your favorite rock band or your favorite decade!
Music by Rotel & the Hot Tomatoes! |
Who We've Served in 2012
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718.5
Number of hours of free of cost counseling services
Phoenix Center therapists have given so far in 2012
227
Number of children served in all programs:
counseling, after-school programs and therapeutic camps
so far this year
77
Number of children who came to Camp Phoenix
therapeutic camp sessions
during Summer 2012 at no cost
22
Number of children currently on our
waiting list for counseling
18
Number of parents who attended one of our 2
free parenting classes - Child Parent Relationship Therapy
offered during the summer and fall of 2012 at the Phoenix Center
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"When I come to the Phoenix Center, I feel happy because it's a place to feel free!" ~S, age 10
"The Phoenix Center is LOVE! ~ L, age 5
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Give a holiday gift in honor of a loved one and we will mail them a children's art note card featuring a child's painting of Christmas tree with an acknowledgement of your holiday gift in their honor (the amount will not be disclosed unless you request that we do so). To send a holiday gift of hope, click here and write "holiday gift" and the address of the honoree in the special instructions. Or, simply call or email Sarah at (830)613-7230 or creative.interventions@gmail.comand we'll take care of everything.
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"When I come to the Phoenix Center I feel happy."
~4 year-old boy
"The Phoenix Center is a joyful classroom."
~6 year-old boy
"When I come to the Phoenix Center I feel very happy because I LOVE THE PHOENIX CENTER!
~8 year-old boy
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Phoenix Center Accepts Vehicle Donations
As 2012 comes to a close, consider donating your used car, truck, van, motorcycle, boat, RV, trailer, airplane or ATV to the Phoenix Center. It's a tax-deductible donation, and we'll take care of everything, including pick up. 
Visit www.donatingiseasy.org for complete details. Call this toll free number 877-537-5277 or fill out an online car donation form to get started. Car-donation specialists are available 7 days a week to assist you with any questions you have about donating your vehicle to charity. Pick up of your donated vehicle is always free and most vehicle donations can be picked up within 24-72 hours. We will provide you with a receipt upon pickup that may be used for a tax deduction. Free yourself from the hassles of selling your vehicle and give something back to your community at the same time. Donate today! It's easy! |
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Wish List
- Sketchbooks or journals for children in counseling to use at home
- Healthy snacks for our therapeutic after-school programs (apples, bananas)
- Large puppet theater for our play therapy room: click here
- Fund a need online: please click here
Ways You Can Help
$25 pays for 1 week of healthy snacks for all children in our after-school programs
$50 pays for 5 new yoga mats
$100 pays for one therapy session for 1 child
$200 pays for a day-long therapeutic camp session for 1 child
$450 pays for a weekend therapeutic camp session for 1 child
$1,000 provides 10 individual counseling sessions-psychotherapy and play therapy
for young children
To help fund a need above, please click here. Your tax deductible donation in any amount is needed and greatly appreciated. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure that our services remain available to children and families in need. If you have donated recently, we appreciate your continued and generous support.
Thank you.
For more information about our wish list items, please call Sarah at 830.613.7230.
To believe in a child is to believe in the future.
Supply the children with the tools
and knowledge to overcome their obstacles.
Impact in each child the desire to fulfill his or her dream.
~Henry James
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Who We Are
Our Services
Phoenix Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to meeting the need for high quality mental health care in rural Central Texas.
We provide free of cost:
- Phoenix Counseling Services: Individual and Group Therapy for children, parents & families, Play Therapy for young children, Trauma-Informed Care, Child Parent Relationship Therapy & Parenting Classes;
- Phoenix After School: therapeutic after-school programs, art therapy and yoga to teach kids relaxation and stress and anger management skills;
- Camp Phoenix: therapeutic camp sessions at Candlelight Ranch, including equine therapy, adventure/wilderness therapy, art therapy and yoga/wellness programs - our own innovative therapeutic camp curricumum
Who is a Phoenix Center Child?
Children and teens ages 4 - 18 with an identified mental health need, including survivors of abuse and trauma. Children we serve are often uninsured, underinsured or are otherwise unable to access high quality mental health services.
Our Collaborating Agencies include: CASA for the Highland Lakes Area, Hill Country Children's Advocacy Center, Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Highland Lakes. In addition, youth are referred to our programs by public school counselors and families.
Our Staff include licensed mental health professionals, graduate student counseling and social work Interns from the UT Austin School of Social Work and Texas State University, and registered yoga teachers.
Our Board members are J. Allan Garrett, Patti McCormick, Lindsay Plante, Molly Biglari, Elizabeth Turner, Terri Lee A. Gulden, Courtney Bowen & Harry Born. |
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Sarah Rosen Garrett, LMSW Executive Director Post Office Box 732
Marble Falls, Texas 78654 830.613.7230 Our mission is to promote the physical and emotional well-being of youth in Central Texas.  |
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