ABOUT:
Austin Children’s Shelter (ACS) provides a safe home and supportive services for children, youth and young adults from birth to 22 who have experienced significant loss, trauma, abuse and/or neglect in their lives.  Most children at the Austin Children’s Shelter have been removed from their homes by Child Protective Services because of severe abuse or neglect.

In a stable, safe and home-like environment, we provide medical care and therapy, and teach positive coping skills and responsible decision making.  Through customized service plans and nurturing support and guidance for each resident, ACS helps the young people in our care to heal and to prepare for transition to the next phase of their life. Emergency shelter is provided for children ages birth to 18 years old, including teen mothers in foster care with their infants and toddlers.  Young men and women aged 17-22, who are “aging out” of the foster care system or have chosen to return to care, are served through a Transitional Living Program.  This program provides them with skills necessary to make the transition to independent living.  They also provide temporary respite care for youth with mental health issues, providing parents a short reprieve in order to keep families together. Learn more about their programs here.