About Us
Our mission is to transition youth and families from crisis to safety and success.

Our community has grown 65% during the last ten years, resulting in increased cost and stress to daily life. The overall cost of living has increased by 30%. There are now 200,000 "working poor" families. More than 20% of our youth experience mental health challenges. Sixty-one percent of all victims served by the Austin Police Department in 2001 were for domestic violence or child abuse.

LifeWorks provides the most comprehensive network of services for youth and families in Austin. We offer a safety net of support to more than 10,000 youth and families every year. LifeWorks’ services to runaway and homeless youth are a national model, providing a pathway from street life to self-sufficiency.

We are the largest local provider of free and affordable counseling to youth and families. Our youth development training opportunities prepare youth to become healthy, successful adults. LifeWorks is the only area agency to achieve national accreditation from the Council on Accreditation for Services to Children and Families and win an award from the Greater Austin Quality Council.

LifeWorks’ ability to mobilize resources to support youth and families is evidence of the organization’s creativity, energy and commitment. We invite you to learn more about LifeWorks and to become part of the strong network of caring individuals that creates opportunities for success.

Our History

LifeWorks was created in 1998 from the merger of Child and Family Service, Pathways Community Counseling, Teenage Parent Council and Youth Options. In early 1996, the leadership of these four organizations came together to explore opportunities for increased effectiveness in collaboration of social service delivery. The consensus was that true value for our community was to be reached through a permanent partnership that maximizes administrative efficiencies, reduces barriers for clients, and responds to a changing economy.

Historically, these four agencies served similar populations, and were frequently referring clients with critical needs to each other. For example, a pregnant teen in case management at Teenage Parent Council might have been referred to an independent living course at Pathways, to family counseling at Child and Family Service, and to the shelter at Youth Options. Prior to the merger, this client would have very likely encountered substantial barriers accessing all the needed services, including multiple phone calls for different appointments, transportation (the agencies were located in different parts of the city), waiting lists, different hours of operation, varied eligibility requirements, and multiple intake processes. The LifeWorks merger eliminates barriers and inefficiencies by creating “no wrong door” service centers located throughout the community and a customer service approach that substantially reduces duplicative paperwork.