Feb. 13, 2019 — Junior League of San Antonio recently announced its 5-year Centennial Campaign and Project at a press event on Monday, January 28.  President Joy McGaugh introduced the Centennial Campaign’s focus on children’s mental wellness. In partnership with Clarity Child Guidance Center, physicians at Clarity, and experts, the League’s all-women volunteers will work to create curriculum teaching children in grades 1 to 3 and families in San Antonio about the importance of caring and maintaining their mental health while supporting their mental wellness.

“It is our hope that the League can make inroads towards children’s mental wellness so that future generations can benefit from the trails we blaze with the JLSA Centennial Campaign and Project, and we are thrilled to be working with alongside Clarity Child Guidance Center as we help pave new paths to children’s mental wellness.” Joy McGaugh, President of the Junior League of San Antonio.

1 in 5 children will be affected by a mental illness, which eventually grows to 1 in 4 adults. Here in Bexar County that translates to nearly 100,000 children, of which more than 60% will not receive the care they need. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of mental health physicians in the county, and the average wait time to see a child psychologist is more than 3 months.

To deepen the impact of this project, JLSA will provide a grant to fund the renovation of a building on Clarity’s campus. Named the Junior League of San Antonio Education Center, the building will provide a space to help Clarity Child Guidance Center train the next generation of caregivers and to help those currently in the profession stay current on the latest research and topics on mental health. The building will include state of the art audio-visual equipment and video streaming services to help Clarity share training sessions and continuing education events.

Twenty esteemed community leaders and League members have volunteered to champion fundraising for the JLSA Centennial Campaign. Each Trailblazer has committed to raising $5,000 on behalf of the Junior League of San Antonio. The fundraiser officially began January 28, 2019, and will run through April 1, 2019.

For more information about our 5-year Centennial Campaign Project please visit http://pavingnewpaths.swell.gives

ABOUT JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN ANTONIO

The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

Vision Statement: We are a community of women realizing our gifts, passion, and purpose. We will advance San Antonio through bold female leadership in positions of responsibility and influence.

ABOUT CLARITY CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER

Clarity Child Guidance Center exists to transform the lives of children and families. We are the only nonprofit treatment center in San Antonio and South Texas that specializes in children ages 3-17 who suffer from serious mental health problems. Our inpatient and outpatient programs include a range of services, from crisis stabilization to psychiatric evaluations, to ongoing therapy.

We have the region’s largest staff of children’s mental health professionals at our two, family friendly campuses and several satellite locations. As a United Way agency, we provide greatly needed mental health care for children who could not otherwise afford to receive treatment.