As a local health philanthropy, Georgetown Health Foundation’s mission is to generate and accelerate positive change in our Community’s health. This mission is manifested in the work carried out daily by the amazing grant partners we work with who are pursuing the same goal. In 2022, another manifestation of GHF’s mission took root with the purchase of Carver Elementary School in Southeast Georgetown. The vision for this former school, rich in culture and history, was to transform it into a community asset – a hub for family and individual resources for its neighborhood and the greater Georgetown area. In January 2023, STARRY, a nonprofit that provides free counseling and support services for families with children ages 0-17, moved into the newly acquired building as the anchor for the family resource center. In partnership with GHF, the STARRY team embarked on a listening tour, reaching out to community members and service providers to understand 1 - what resources had the potential to be offered at the center, and 2 – which of these resources were valued and needed by caregivers and community to be brought to the center. In May 2023, the family resource center held its first event, where community members, neighbors, and caregivers prioritized the offerings they wanted to see in the space. Participants also voted on the name: Carver Center for Families. In Summer 2023, three additional direct service organizations moved into the Carver Center for Families, further expanding the CCF’s ability to serve its community. Plans are in process for additional nonprofit organizations to become members of the CCF team, and the journey continues.
• a welcoming hub of support, services, and opportunities for families
• multi-generational, strengths-based, and family-centered
• reflective of, responsive to community needs and interests
• no- or low-cost support for participants
• builds communities of peer support for families
Nita Riggins, LBSW, LCPAA, CPMS serves as the Director of the Carver Center for Families. She is a Licensed Social Worker and a Trust Based Relational Intervention Practitioner who is committed to improving outcomes for families through supportive healing relationships. Additionally, Nita is also a N.E.A.R. Science Master Tainer and a Certified Parent Café Facilitator. Nita became a STARRY Foster Care Case Manager in 2012 and was promoted to the Director of Foster Care and Adoption in 2017. In 2022, STARRY elected to fully embrace their efforts in supporting biological families and shift their services upstream. Nita has helped lead this initiative to reduce childhood trauma through connecting with families in crisis. In her spare time she enjoys baking, hanging out with her family and friends, and long walks with her dog, Cookie.
At STARRY Amber currently supports families involved with the Williamson County Recovery Court, STARRY Counseling, and the Georgetown Family Resource Center. Amber has supported children and families for over 15 years through her work at ECI, Collin County CAC and STARRY. Amber provides individual counseling to participants of the Williamson County Family Recovery Court utilizing EMDR and Seeking Safety along with other modalities such as Trust Based Relational Intervention. Within STARRY Counseling, Amber supports children and families though individual and family counseling building up their protective factors to help build resilience and stronger families. Amber is also a NEAR Science Trainer and Parent Café Facilitator. Amber enjoys reading, exploring new places and hiking outside with her family.
At STARRY Olivia helps navigate new and pregnant moms to resources within their community by doing home visits or meeting at The Carver Center for Families. Olivia is a recent graduate from The University of Texas at Arlington with a bachelor's degree in public health. Before Olivia graduated, Olivia completed her internship with Williamson County EMS shadowing community health paramedics. Olivia also had intern experience with the Williamson County and Cities Health District learning about Wilco Care. Olivia is currently on the path to becoming a certified community health worker with the state of Texas. Olivia is all about promoting self-care and supporting your mental health!
Graduate of Agnes Scott College. Earned a B.A. in Psychology. At STARRY, JJ currently supports families seeking resource navigation at the Carver Center for Families. JJ is responsible for helping families locate local resources within the Georgetown community that can assist with meeting their basic needs. JJ has over 20 years of experience supporting children and families that have been affected by trauma. Prior to joining STARRY in 2018 as a Foster Care Case Manager, she has worked for the Amistad Family Violence and Rape Crisis Center, SafePlace (now Safe Alliance), Child Protective Services, and Bluebonnet Trails Community Services. In her current role as Program Coordinator, JJ strives for better outcomes and quality of care for the families she serves. JJ enjoys taking trips to Big Bend, hiking, and spending time with horses.
Veronica's friends and family call her "Vero". she has three children with her loving husband. She has been serving children and families for over 20 years. She is passionate about cultrurally diverse and inclusive environments. Veronica is obsessed with Ghilbi films, H-Mar, and the 85 Degree Cafe.
At STARRY Allison supervises our Community Health Worker Team and supports the Carver Center for Families Outreach Team in daily operations and event planning. Allison has been a family and child advocate for nearly two decades as a developmental interventionist with Early Childhood Intervention and a Family and Home Developer with STARRY Foster Care. Allison is a Trust Based Relational Intervention Practitioner, Parent Cafe Facilitator, and Child Passenger Safety Technician and is working on her Masters in Social Work at Texas State University. Allison enjoys being creative, drinking good coffee and going on adventures with her family.
The Carver Center for Families (CCF) in Georgetown, Texas is a family resource center (FRC) that nurtures the health and well-being of children, youth, and families, and builds on the strengths of our community’s parents, caregivers, and residents, as well as the organizations that support them.