Mental Health and Wellbeing

The emotional toll of the July 4 floods continues to shape daily life for people across Kerr County, Texas and beyond. National research shows that trauma, depression and grief often rise in the months following a disaster.

The Community Foundation has pledged $10 million to ensure every person affected by the floods, including children, families, first responders, caregivers, clinicians and visitors, can access mental health services that are trauma-informed, evidence-based and easy to reach.

The Foundation’s Mental Health & Well-Being Advisory Council, composed of psychologists, therapists, social workers and faith leaders appointed by the Board of Trustees, guides every program. The Council also brought in the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute to assess needs and recommend programs, interventions and services that address both current and emerging mental health needs.

Our Approach

• Care for All Ages: Services span all ages, supporting children, teens, adults and families.
• Trauma-Informed Support: Trauma-informed care includes counseling, grief support, crisis response and community healing programs.
• Stronger Local Workforce: Local counselors, teachers, clergy, first responders and helping professionals receive training to strengthen the regional mental health workforce.
• Community Healing: Community healing efforts feature group support, art-based therapies, faith-community programs and resilience-building initiatives.
• Statewide Support: Statewide resources extend to communities beyond Kerr County, recognizing the broader need for mental health support.
• Clear Accountability: Transparent processes ensure responsible stewardship of every charitable dollar.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Programs

Family Mental Health Care Fund

Established by the Community Foundation and administered by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, the Family Mental Health Care Fund supports family members of the more than 130 people who died in the floods. The Fund offers access to trauma-informed counseling and grief support.

The Fund covers out-of-pocket behavioral health costs such as copays, deductibles and coinsurance for services covered by insurance, beginning July 4, 2025. Read more about how the Fund works here.

Additional support includes care navigation through the Meadows Institute and the Lucine Center, helping families connect with clinicians who specialize in trauma and grief in their local community.

Eligible individuals include immediate and extended family, along with those who shared a family-like relationship with the deceased, known as fictive kin. Families can apply by completing a simple online attestation form explaining their relationship.

Community-Based Trauma & Grief Services

To address widespread emotional needs, the Foundation issued multi-year grants to nonprofits across Texas and throughout Kerr County. These grants expand:

• Individual and family counseling
• Peer-support groups
• Grief and loss programs
• Trauma-informed care for children and adolescents
• Crisis intervention services
• Community healing programs, including art, movement, storytelling, and group workshops

Statewide grantees are:

• Austin Child Guidance Center - Austin
• The Christi Center – Austin
• The Center for Integrative Counseling and Psychology – Dallas
• The WARM Place – Fort Worth
• Bo’s Place – Houston
• Nick Finnegan Counseling Center – Houston
• Centers for Children and Families – Midland / Odessa

Local grantees include the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas and New Hope Counseling Center.

Grief and Trauma Training & Development

Building local mental health capacity plays a critical role in long-term recovery. Future investments will include:

• Training clinicians and residents in evidence-based trauma and grief interventions.
• Providing crisis-response and trauma-informed training for school staff and youth-serving organizations.
• Offering workshops for clergy, parents, caregivers and case managers
• Launching resilience and burnout-prevention programs for frontline helpers
• Supporting First Responders' mental health needs.

These initiatives will strengthen local resources for years to come.

Community Healing & Resilience

Emotional recovery doesn’t follow a straight path. The Foundation will support programs that help the community find meaning, build resilience and care for one another. These efforts include:

• Healing circles and peer gatherings
• Faith-based mental health support
• Community art and creative expression projects
• Grief education and remembrance events
• Public awareness efforts to reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking

How to Get Help

Flood survivors can complete the Rebuild Kerr Needs Assessment at RebuildKerr.org. A case manager will help identify available programs, provide referrals, and support next steps.

For questions about bereaved family services, contact the Meadows Institute at 469-436-2371.

Community partners with questions about programs or partnership opportunities may contact John Reed, senior program officer.