Nonpro t
BY DACIA GARCIA
The organization has helped families throughout Central Texas since its founding in 1985.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas hosted a groundbreaking for its house at Texas Children’s North Austin.
The nonpro t o ers sleeping arrangements for families with children in hospitals as well as grief services.
PHOTOS COURTESY RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF CENTRAL TEXAS
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas supports families of children in medical distress
Across the state of Texas, families brave overwhelming medical situations in which they often have no options but to stay in hospital rooms while supporting their children. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas has worked since 1985 to ease these experiences with comfortable sleeping spaces, food services and more. The history Since its launch, the nonpro t has expanded with family rooms available at Dell Children’s Medical Center, Dell Children’s Medical Center North Campus, Seton Medical Center Austin, St. David’s Medical Center and St. David’s North Austin Medical Center. Each family room contains a living room, a kitchen and dining area, sleeping rooms, shower and laundry facilities, and a quiet room. In addition to the family rooms, the nonpro t has one Ronald McDonald House, which o ers eight private guest suites, a kitchen and dining area, laundry facilities, a tness center, a play area, and daily home-cooked meals. Located in the Mueller area, the house currently serves 30 families. Chief Operating O cer Kristin Coulter said the team is launching a second house at Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin in early 2026. “Recently we have seen a rise in pediatric specialty care medical teams coming into the area,”
Coulter said. “That has resulted in a bigger demand for families needing the services that Ronald McDonald House provides.” How it works Families who are identi ed as needing the non- pro t’s services are connected with RMHC CTX through a social worker at the respective hospital where their child is admitted, Coulter said. Once a connection is made, families will receive a phone call from the nonpro t’s family experi- ence team, who will discuss stay details. After check-in, families are introduced to the family support services team, which is facilitated by former Austin Center for Grief & Loss sta , making it possible for the nonpro t to o er emotional care support in-house. “The gift in all of that is we were able to elevate having team members with that trauma-informed care and licensed professional counseling expe- rience, which really does support the families throughout their entire journey,” Coulter said. Get involved Coulter said the nonpro t is raising funds for two of its campaigns, Be The Light and A Place Like Home, which will fund the nonpro t’s phased plan to open over 40 rooms and eliminate its cur- rent waitlist, which typically holds 25-35 families.
The house in the Mueller neighborhood serves families with a playground and other facilities.
Ronald McDonald House locations
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Existing
A
MUELLER BLVD.
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N. LAKE CREEK PKWY.
Coming soon
B
183A TOLL
45 TOLL
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A 1315 Barbara Jordan Blvd., Ste. 1/2, Austin B 9835 N. Lake Creek Parkway, Austin www.rmhc-ctx.org
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