Austin State Hospital Mission: Partnering to find solutions toward wellness.

ASH provides care through three large services – Adult Psychiatric Services, Specialty Adult Services, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services. The adult services program consists of eight acute adult admission units. Specialty adult programs include the Medicare-certified older adult unit, the longer-term cognitive and multiple disabilities unit, and the deaf services and longer-term cognitive and multiple disabilities unit, and the deaf services and longer-term behaviorally stabilized unit. Child and adolescent programs offer services to children to the age of 12, an adolescent girls unit, and an adolescent boys unit.

Clinical specialties provide assessment, evaluation, and treatment, including psychiatry, nursing, social work, psychology, education/rehabilitation services, nutrition, and spiritual care. Additional clinical support is provided through the medical and dental clinics, x-ray and laboratory services, and other consultative services. The average length of stay at the hospital is about 16 days. Services are paid for through general revenue funds from the State of Texas, private payment, private third-party insurance, as well as through Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Austin State Hospital continues a long tradition of providing quality mental health services to the citizens of the State of Texas. From a single hospital on the outskirts of the Capital City to a large urban facility on the cutting edge of change, ASH continues to be a recognized leader in the provision of psychiatric care to the community and the state.

We are the Volunteer Services Council (VSC) and our mission is to improve the lives of patients at Austin State Hospital and the staff who serve them. The funds we raise go toward providing the Hospital’s patients necessities that make life more comfortable – from coats in the wintertime, to holiday gifts, and long distance calls to friends and family. Our compassionate volunteers and the money we raise directly enhance the health of patients. We like to think that we provide the other half of the healing process.

Do you have a friend or family member who is touched by mental illness? If so, or even if you just have a compassionate heart, we encourage you to explore our website. Here you can learn more about the Hospital, our upcoming events, and ways you can help make life better for the children and adults we serve.

Map to Community Relations for the Austin State Hospital Volunteer Services Council.