Devereux Texas in the News

Since he began receiving services through Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services in 2018, Casey continues to learn, grow and excel. In 2023, with support from Devereux, Casey secured his first competitive employment position. This year, Casey achieved another significant milestone when he graduated from the Devereux School for Integrated Learning.

During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September, Devereux is joining other organizations in raising awareness about this national public health issue and spreading the word about actions we can all take to be part of the solution and support youth and adults at risk of suicide.

For many families, the transition from summer vacation to school can be challenging, especially if you are a parent of a child with emotional, behavioral or cognitive differences. Devereux National Director of Family Engagement Amy Kelly, MBA, MNM, offers tips to help families of children with disabilities get back into the swing of things and make the summer-to-school switch a success.

As we spend time with our family and friends this summer, the Devereux Center for Resilient Children offers resilience-building tips to keep our pitchers full – and to fill our children's cups with all they need to flourish.

More than 70 golfers demonstrated their support for Devereux Texas with every swing at the 20th annual “Divots for Devereux Golf Classic.” The event, held at Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston, generated $28,500 for Devereux Texas’ Autism Intensive Residential Program.

Pride Month, celebrated in June, is a time to honor and uplift the voices of those within the LGBTQ+ community, promote inclusion and allyship, and recognize the challenges that remain for many LGBTQ+ youth and adults as they strive to live life as their authentic selves.

During Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health is highlighting the importance of talking openly about mental health to combat stigma, foster a culture of empathy and understanding, and encourage those in need to seek support.

In recognition of Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month in April, Devereux is celebrating the differences of children, adolescents and adults with autism, and promoting inclusion for these individuals in all aspects of community life.

Devereux Texas recently enhanced its school library to better meet the needs of the youth it serves in the Autism Intensive Residential Program.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health is celebrating the many remarkable achievements of youth and adults with developmental disabilities, highlighting the importance of helping these individuals lead productive and fulfilling lives.

Devereux Texas provides a nurturing and tranquil environment for adolescents, ages 6 to 17, with autism, developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health disorders. Learn how we are helping those in our care learn new skills, build social connections, achieve greater independence – and thrive.

During Recreational Therapy Month in February, Devereux is highlighting the positive impact recreational activities, such as arts and crafts, games and sports, can have on those with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences.

During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Devereux is highlighting the importance of empowering survivors to break the cycle of abuse, regain their independence and take control of their lives.

During the holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in seemingly never-ending to-do lists. Before you dive head-first into the decorating, shopping, baking, wrapping and entertaining, Devereux Center for Resilient Children Director Susan Damico, M.A., suggests you take time to focus on your social and emotional health and well-being.

More than 150 guests embarked on an adventure “Under the Sea” at the South Shore Harbour Resort in League City, Texas, for Devereux Texas’ 20^th annual “Yawl Ketch the Spirit … of Devereux” event to raise critical funds for the center’s Autism Intensive Residential Program.

Katrina and Melvin Jones became therapeutic foster parents with Devereux New Jersey in 2008. Since that time, they have fostered 25 children, including three currently. In 2012, they adopted their first foster child, Dennis, and then, in 2019, they adopted three other children, all brothers, Lavion, Demetrius and Dayshawn.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and Devereux is celebrating the significant contributions of employees with disabilities, and highlighting the importance of creating a workplace culture that is positive, supportive and equitable for all.

At Devereux, our direct care team members continuously put others before themselves, delivering high-quality, compassionate care to children, adolescents and adults living with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences.

During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September, Devereux is joining other organizations in spreading the word about actions we can all take to provide help, healing and hope to those who are struggling.

If you are looking to create a summer routine for your child, Devereux National Director of Family Engagement Amy Kelly, MBA, MNM, offers enriching – and fun – activities for families of children with disabilities.

Golfers recently hit the greens to raise critical funds to support children, adolescents and adults living with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences served by Devereux.

Everyone deals with stressful situations at some point in their lives. Being able to adapt to those situations requires resilience. The Devereux Center for Resilient Children offers a five-week Resiliency Challenge to help adults learn how to “bounce back” from misfortune or change.

Devereux Arizona Accounts Receivable Specialist Team Lead Kagen Leva was 37 years old when he came out as transgender. Leva, who was working at Devereux Pennsylvania’s Children’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services center (now Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services) at the time, describes it as a “sudden realization.”

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Learn common warning signs of mental illness in youth and adults, as well as coping techniques to help you strengthen your well-being and resilience.

Patricia Armellini, who receives services through Devereux Pennsylvania, wears many hats in her day-to-day life. She is a dog owner, artist and retail employee. Patricia says Devereux Pennsylvania’s Community Adult Autism Partnership Program has taught her essential job, life and social skills, and helped her secure and maintain meaningful employment.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health is raising awareness about the importance of inclusion for children, adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities, and celebrating the unique strengths and vital contributions of these individuals.

February is Recreational Therapy Month. Learn how Devereux is using recreational activities and programs to help those living with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences acquire new skills, boost their self-confidence and improve their quality of life.

Since 2007, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has reported nearly 74,000 cases of human trafficking in the U.S. Learn how Devereux is empowering survivors to regain control of their lives and supporting them on their path to recovery.

The holiday season is here. For many, this time of year may generate feelings of excitement, joy and happiness while, for others, it might elicit feelings of anxiety, anger, regret or disappointment. Learn how to recognize and label your feelings so you can better enjoy the holiday season.

Devereux recently released its 2021 annual report, which includes information about our commitment to quality and safety, and the Devereux Family Standard.

Devereux Colorado and Texas schools were recently named 2022 Cognia “Schools of Distinction.” Cleo Wallace Academy in Westminster, Colorado, and The Devereux School in League, City, Texas, earned the recognition based on the results of their Cognia accreditation reviews.

November is National Adoption Month. Learn how Devereux is helping youth in need find safe, stable and supportive homes where they can grow and thrive.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to recognize the vital role people with disabilities play in the workforce. Learn how Devereux is helping adults build self-confidence, utilize their skills, achieve their goals and thrive.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 46,000 Americans died by suicide in 2020, with an average of one person taking their own life every 11 minutes. Learn how you can help someone who is struggling.

Read this Victoria Advocate article featuring Devereux Texas Information Systems Manager Eliska Smiga as she shares her transgender journey and how she is living her truth.

Devereux Vice President of Operations and Marketing Gail Atkinson has retired after five decades of exceptional leadership and service to the organization.

Planning on taking to the skies or hitting the open road this summer? Devereux National Director of Family Engagement Amy Kelly, MBA, MNM, offers tips for families of children with disabilities to ensure a safe and successful trip.

Practicing empathy can help you build stronger relationships, manage your emotions and foster greater compassion. The Devereux Center for Resilient Children offers free video series on the power of empathy and how to avoid toxic positivity.

From an early age, Devereux Texas Information Systems Manager Eliska Smiga knew she was different, but it was not until September 2020, three months before her 40th birthday, that she officially came out as transgender.

In recognition of Pride Month in June, team members from Devereux centers across the country share what #DevereuxPride means to them.

There has never been a more important time to make your mental health a priority. Learn coping strategies for managing stress and building resiliency.

April is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. Learn how Devereux is helping children, adolescents and adults with autism lead fulfilling, productive and socially-connected lives.

Devereux Texas recently launched a new short-term residential treatment program at its League City campus for youth with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program is based on Devereux’s Short-Term Autism Intensive Residential Services model.

In recognition of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March, learn how Devereux is helping youth and adults with developmental disabilities increase their independent living skills, integrate into the community and achieve the highest possible quality of life.

Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, one of the largest and most advanced behavioral healthcare nonprofit organizations in the country, just published our most recent Safety and Quality Report.

Learn how Devereux is using recreational therapy to help those living with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences learn new skills, achieve greater independence and enhance their quality of life.

Human trafficking is a global issue that can happen to anyone, anywhere. Learn how Devereux is helping youth who have experienced emotional, physical, and sexual trauma and exploitation lead safe, healthy and happy lives.

Barbara Ryan, whose daughter Bekah has been enrolled in Devereux Texas’ Community-based Living Program at the organization’s Victoria campus for the past nine years, recently launched a fundraiser to show support for the program and express gratitude to team members for all they have done to help her daughter thrive.

Devereux Center for Resilient Children Director Susan Damico offers tips for having a happy - and less stressful - holiday season.

In celebration of National Adoption Month, learn how Devereux helped a young man heal from past trauma and find his forever family.

Devereux has announced that Carla Galusha, Ph.D., has been named clinical director at Devereux Texas, effective immediately. In her new role, Dr. Galusha - who previously served as clinical director at Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, Va. - will provide clinical oversight of Devereux Texas’ continuum of care.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Learn how Devereux is helping adults secure and maintain meaningful and competitive employment in the community.

Devereux Texas was recently awarded a $10,000 grant to support the organization’s residential and educational programs at its League City campus. The grant, from the Ruth Jones MacDonald Charitable Trust, will be used to help Devereux Texas continue to provide individualized and effective, evidence-based programs and services for youth living with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34, and the fourth leading cause of death for people ages 35 to 54. Learn how you can support those in crisis - and possibly save a life.

Individuals who receive services at Devereux Texas’ League City campus recently showcased their talent and passion for art at the organization’s eighth annual art show.

Is your child excited - and nervous - about heading back to school this fall? Devereux National Director of Family Engagement Amy Kelly, MBA, MNM, offers tips to help children with special needs ensure a smooth transition.

The Devereux Center for Resilient Children offers tools and resources to help adults strengthen their social and emotional health and well-being.

Pride Month is a time to celebrate and raise awareness of the current issues facing the LGBTQ community. Learn how Devereux is creating safe spaces to help youth and adults strengthen their overall emotional health and well-being.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of many individuals. Learn how to cope with uncertainty and build your resiliency.

Devereux has announced it received a donation of more than $20,000 worth of life-saving Personal Protective Equipment, including face masks and hand sanitizer, from LifeToGo, a curated, lifestyle marketplace and health and wellness community.

In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, Devereux Senior Vice President of Organizational Development Rayni Brindley, M.Ed., BCBA, shares her perspective on raising a child with autism.

In recognition of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, learn how Devereux is helping youth and adults of all abilities achieve success in their homes, schools and communities.

At Devereux, providing fun, safe and effective recreational activities is a critical component of the successful treatment of youth and adults with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences.

Human trafficking is an issue that affects every country around the globe. Learn how Devereux is helping youth who have experienced emotional, physical and sexual trauma thrive and succeed in life.

The holidays may look a bit different this year, but that doesn’t mean the festivities have to stop. Devereux Center for Resilient Children Director Susan Damico offers creative ways to make the season special, while staying safe and healthy.

November is National Adoption Month, and Devereux is proud to work with foster and adoptive families to help children find a loving family and a permanent place to call home.

Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Texas’ Friends of Devereux volunteers enhance and enrich the lives of those served by the organization at its League City campus through donations and activities throughout the year, such as birthday celebrations, holiday stockings and monthly “Fun Nights” - when individuals can spend time tie-dying shirts, playing bingo or watching movies.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates the significant contributions of workers with disabilities. At Devereux, we believe all individuals should be given the opportunity to showcase their skills and talents and thrive in their communities.

Devereux National Director of Family Engagement Amy Kelly, MBA, MNM, shares activities to help your child or adult with special needs learn new skills - and have fun - while staying safe and healthy.

Devereux is launching an adult resilience initiative to help team members learn new skills to strengthen their social and emotional health and well-being.

Pride Month is an annual celebration in June of the LGBTQ community. Learn how Devereux is working to ensure every child, adolescent and adult in our care feels welcomed and safe to express themselves openly and without judgement.

There has never been a more important time to make mental health a priority. Learn how to manage stress and anxiety related to COVID-19.

Learn how to talk to children and adults with autism about COVID-19 to ensure they have the information and resources they need without causing unnecessary worry and anxiety.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, youth and adults with developmental disabilities often face barriers that can make it challenging to function on a daily basis. Learn how Devereux is helping to break down these barriers.

At Devereux, providing fun and healthy recreational activities is a critical part of the successful treatment of youth and adults with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences.

Human trafficking is an issue that affects every country and every state in the U.S. Learn how Devereux Florida is granting hope and healing to individuals in need.

Holiday music and good cheer filled Butler’s Courtyard in League City, Texas, in December for Devereux Texas’ Friends of Devereux Holiday Appreciation Luncheon.

Youth at Devereux Texas - well aware of Hurricane Harvey’s impact two years ago on Devereux Texas’ Victoria and League City campuses - launched a toy drive to benefit children in the Bahamas recovering from Hurricane Dorian in September.

The holidays are a time of celebration, filled with family gatherings, gift giving and good cheer, but for many people, they also are a time of stress and seemingly never-ending to-do lists. Devereux Center for Resilient Children’s Nefertiti B. Poyner offers tips for families to slow down this holiday season and focus on being present, not perfect.

Since 1995, National Adoption Month has been recognized in communities across the country. Devereux is proud to work with foster and adoptive families to help children in need find a permanent, loving family.

Houston decided to release the fall weather and let contestants enjoy a beautiful day of golf for the 17th Annual Divots for Devereux Golf Classic. This annual tournament raises much-needed funds for the Devereux School and scholarship program.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates the significant contributions of workers with disabilities. At Devereux, we believe all individuals should be given the opportunity to be included and achieve their fullest potential.

Suicide can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. Devereux joins other individuals and organizations to promote awareness and combat the stigma associated with this tragic loss of life.

Devereux’s Amy Kelly shares back-to-school tips for parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Devereux Center for Resilient Children (DCRC) is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) Program, a strength-based assessment and planning system designed to promote resilience in children, ages 4 weeks to 6 years old.

Pride Month is an annual celebration of the LGBTQ community, and a time when LGBTQ individuals - and their supporters - seek to raise awareness of the ongoing challenges youth and adults face in their daily lives.

The Devereux Center for Resilient Children (DCRC) was awarded a contract with the Texas Center for Child and Family Studies (The Center) to provide resilient leadership training following Hurricane Harvey.

Houston’s Hotel Zaza rivaled Churchill Downs as guests in wide-brimmed hats and other derby finery came together for Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Texas’ 9th annual Savor the Hope Gala.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health is proud to serve as a nationally recognized leader in the evolving field of behavioral healthcare, providing innovative specialty mental health programs/services for youth and adults with emotional and behavioral disorders.

In honor of Autism Awareness Month in April, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health a leading provider of autism services for children, adolescents and adults - wants to highlight the need for greater understanding, compassion and support to help individuals diagnosed with autism lead more independent, fulfilling and socially connected lives.

As a young boy, Hank Booth struggled emotionally and socially. When Booth started experimenting with drugs, his parents turned to Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Texas. Decades later, Booth now serves as chairman of the Devereux Georgia Advisory Board.

March has been recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month since 1987 when President Ronald Reagan issued a public proclamation urging Americans to provide individuals with developmental disabilities “the encouragement and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.”

Recreational therapy uses activities such as music and dance classes and arts and crafts to help stimulate and improve the overall health and well-being of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions.

Human trafficking is an issue that affects every country around the globe. In the United States, one of the biggest challenges to combating this form of modern-day slavery is a lack of awareness and understanding.

When Hurricane Harvey made landfall last year with unrelenting rain, causing devastating and widespread flooding, Devereux Texas was put to the test. Following the storm, the nonprofit was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Texas Center for Child and Family Studies, in partnership with the Rebuild Texas Fund. The grant is now providing advanced-level trauma training for staff.

Devereux Center for Resilient Children (DCRC) Early Childhood Specialist and National Trainer Nefertiti B. Poyner, Ed.D., offers tips for families to focus on togetherness during the holiday season.

Each year, November is recognized as National Adoption Month and Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health wants to shine a light on the urgent need to connect the thousands of children and youth in the U.S. foster care system with permanent, loving families.

In August 2017, Devereux’s campuses in League City and Victoria, Texas, were put to the test when Hurricane Harvey made landfall. The Category 4 storm brought more than 50 inches of rain to the Houston area, causing devastating flooding and significant damage to both Devereux Texas centers. Today, nearly all repairs are completed and Devereux Texas is stronger than ever.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, we believe all individuals should be given the opportunity to be included and make a positive impact in their communities.

The American Association of Suicidology reports that, in the U.S., nearly 45,000 individuals died by suicide in 2016. In addition, the organization said suicide is the 10th leading cause of death, with an average of one person taking his or her own life every 11.7 minutes.

This month, the Devereux Center of Resilient Children invites everyone to embrace our shared role in promoting healthy early childhood development by taking its online pledge to promote the resilience of all children, and to learn more about the negative impacts of childhood trauma, as well as the need for trauma-informed practices.

Improved resources will soon be available for those suffering and recovering from trauma, thanks to a financial contribution to Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Texas. In late April, the Texas Center for Child and Family Studies (“the Center”), in partnership with the Rebuild Texas Fund, named the nonprofit a $50,000 recipient of its Rebuild Texas Fund Grant.

Throughout its programs, Devereux teaches the idea of “resilience” - the ability to recover from, or adjust easily to, misfortune or change. That concept was taken to unprecedented levels for Devereux Texas during, and after, Hurricane Harvey.

Six months after Hurricane Harvey’s devastating blow to Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Texas, a donation has the nonprofit on firmer footing for its path to recovery. Recently, the Valero Energy Foundation presented Devereux Texas with a check for $250,000 to benefit the organization’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.

It took a village … but our Devereux Texas campuses are kicking off the New Year in their facilities which, last August, were fully evacuated and significantly damaged by Hurricane Harvey.

Hurricane Harvey has been devastating to the residents of Texas both in Houston / League City and Victoria, where Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health has programs.