Luis’s Story of Career Success
December 20, 2019
Initially, Luis came into Workforce Solutions Cameron to further his job search after experiencing many barriers and challenges . There, he received more assistance than he ever expected....
Stories
Fernando’s First Time in a Classroom
December 19, 2019
Fernando, 16, arrived at Casa Amanecer a bit unsure of what was to come, and hoping he and his 13 year-old-brother had ended up somewhere safe. Both boys had worked as fishermen in their home country of Honduras and had come to the United States in search of their father....
Luis Rosas – Employee Spotlight
December 16, 2019
Luis is the Assistant Lead Clinician for Southwest Key Programs at Casa El Presidente. On an average day, Luis works to make sure the physical and mental health needs of the youth in our care are met. This often includes designing and planning group counseling sessions, assisting with psychological follow-ups and making sure his team...
FluApalooza
November 26, 2019
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...
Meet the Casa Padre Emotional Support Dog Team
November 25, 2019
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 Brings Joy to South Texas
November 22, 2019
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....
Cultural Arts: Fandango De Los Muertos in Austin
November 19, 2019
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...
Kristan Silva – Employee Spotlight
November 15, 2019
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...
Embracing Diversity
November 13, 2019
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 Petty – Employee Spotlight
October 30, 2019
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....