Every year, you start to hear about more and more cases of the flu and the various strains of this virus. The flu and cold season lasts from October to February. Besides the typical symptoms of body aches, fever, and chills, being sick with the flu also affects our school and work attendance and adds...
At Casa Padre not all of the staff walk on two legs. Eight dogs make up the on-site Emotional Support Team. This program began with an idea from Jeissa Melendez. In addition to her work as a clinician at Southwest Key Programs, Jeissa also specializes in the human-animal bond and volunteers with her therapy dog,...
Knitting Without Borders, is a project dedicated to sharing love and care to children around the world with volunteers, pictured above, who knit bears for children. In October, Knitting Without Borders handcrafted 250 bears and delivered them to our shelters in South Texas....
Southwest Key Programs proudly supported the Annual “Fandango De Los Muertos” theater production as a sponsor for the 3rd year . This interactive event brings the community together to take part in the authentic traditions of the Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday. The event is produced by Proyecto Teatro, Austin’s only all-Spanish speaking...
I began my career at Southwest Key Programs over 13 years ago. In my first role, I worked in Youth Justice helping kids stay accountable for their whereabouts in an Outreach and Tracking program. I went on to work with students at East Austin College Prep, initially as the youth services coordinator and then transitioned...
Most of us first hear the phrase ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ at a young age. I can remember my family reminding me to look beyond appearances and always try to find the good in people. I’m grateful for their guidance because it’s been deeply embedded in how I try to view the...
Marissa began her educational career as a preschool teacher and explored working with elementary and junior high students. During her time as an educator, she learned the value of play at work, positive reinforcement, and how a safe nurturing environment shapes attitudes, socializing, relationships, and educational outcomes.
An act of domestic violence occurs every 15 seconds in the United States. It’s a destructive pattern that must be stopped as it affects victims in not only physical and emotional ways, but can also impact the education, career and economic future of survivors....
In our shelters, we celebrate many different cultures and honor the value they add to our lives. We are purposeful about celebrating different holidays in an effort to make the youth in our care feel comfortable and understood. Aside from this very important benefit, celebrations also serve as opportunities for learning about different cultures and...
Mateo was a 17-year-old boy from Honduras who was born deaf and whose mother was unable to afford medical care or provide schooling for him to learn sign language. When Mateo was seven, his mother moved to the United States to find work, leaving him in the care of his aunt and uncle. When he...