For over 100 years, the Ella Austin Community Center has been empowering individuals and families in San Antonio's Eastside neighborhoods and beyond by providing multiple, integrated services.
We pride ourselves on working with each person who enters the center to assist them with both their individual and family needs. On a daily basis, we strive to help our community grow and reach its full potential.
We are a multi-purpose service agency offering affordable daycare, parenting classes, youth and family services including after-school and summer youth programs, assistance to individuals and families in crisis of food, clothing, and utility assistance, senior nutrition, senior activities, and volunteer income tax assistance programs.
Make a difference today and give what you can to help those most in need.
Ella Austin Community Center is currently involved in multiple city-wide fundraising campaigns. Please participate with us as we continue to provide much-needed services to our community.
Click here to make a donation.
Our Senior Services Program offers senior citizens, 60 years and over an opportunity to eat healthy meals, socialize, stay active, and lead healthier lives.
Activities include:
- exercise
- health and wellness education and screening
- table games
- sewing class
- arts & crafts
- cultural enrichment activities
- holiday and birthday celebrations
- special events
- field trips
- and more
We also partner with the San Antonio Foo Bank to provide monthly food distribution every 2nd and 4th Wednesday.
Transportation is provided in the immediate community, but the Center is also conveniently located on a bus line.
Handicap accessible.
Population served: low-income senior citizens, 60 years and over. Activities include: Exercise, Health & Wellness presentation and screening, table games, sewing class, arts & crafts, cultural enrichment activities, holiday and birthday celebrations, special events and field trips and many more fun activities. We have many partnerships/sponsors for these activities.
Free.
Our agency philosophy is that the earliest years of a child’s life are crucial in predicting ultimate success in school and life.
LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITY HIGHLIGHTS
- Quality Child Care Service
- Convenient Operation Hours (Monday-Friday, 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM)
- Accept (CCS)Child Care Services & other assistance programs
- Affordable Fees – sliding fee scale
- Certified Teachers (CDA, CPR 1st Aid, Annual Training)
- Age Appropriate Activities
- Hot Nutritious Meals & Snacks
- After-school Care
- Assist With Toilet Training
- Open Year Round (Except Major Holidays)
- Free Parenting Classes
The Early Childhood Development Center is now enrolling children ages 6 weeks to 11 years of age.
The Youth Development Department of Ella Austin Community Center is a year-round project, composed of two programs: the After School Program and the Summer Enrichment Program.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
The After School Program offers homework assistance to students, aged 6 – 14 years of age (Elementary – Middle School grades). It provides educational and recreational activities, fine arts (art, music, drama, and creative writing), library usage, and a computer lab.
Students are provided with after-school hot meals catered by the San Antonio Food Bank.
Positive self-esteem is promoted through motivational speakers, field trips to college campuses, and the celebration of cultures.
The program tracks the academic development of each student by observing their grade cards and progress reports from their schools. Academic development is a very crucial component of the After School Program and degreed/certified staff offer tutoring to youth in areas where they may be academically deficient. Additionally, recreation, socialization skills, positive self -esteem and character building are promoted in the program.
Tuition-free scholarships for our Youth Development Programs are available for youth ages 6-15.
SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
The Summer Enrichment Program occurs during the summer months. Youth have a daily schedule that provides time for sports and recreation, board games, problem-solving/brain teaser activities, physical fitness, fine arts (which usually includes a drama or musical production by summer’s end), computer lab and library usage, a book club, motivational speakers, field trips and career exploration.
Youth are provided with lunch and an afternoon snack each day.
Participants' academic skills are enhanced by practices and drills in subjects of the grade level that they have just completed using the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum.
STEM PROGRAM
Ella Austin Community Center incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math into all of its youth programs.
We also offer a year-round Science and Math Academy for qualified eleven- to fifteen-year-olds in partnership with St. Philip’s College, The Center of Excellence for Mathematics and for Sciences. The academy focuses on fun topics with high-demand careers such as engineering, biotechnology, game design, alternative energy, chemistry, environmental science, and more.
At-risk youth aged 6–14 years of age (elementary –and middle school grades).