FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Munji Nfor, Ext. Affairs and PR Manager
Email: Munji.Nfor@integralcare.org
Apr. 17, 2026 (AUSTIN, TX) – This week, the Travis County Mental Health and IDD Authority, Integral Care, hosted hundreds of families, faith leaders, health professionals, and community advocates at Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church for the 26th Annual Central Texas African American Family Support Conference.
The two‑day conference focused on mental health, trauma‑informed care, and culturally responsive healing in African American communities—featuring high-profile keynote speakers Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant and Kathy Taylor, panel discussions and workshops, live performances from the Huston-Tillotson University Choir, and more.
Established in 2000, the conference was created in response to historical and systemic harms affecting the mental health and wellbeing of the Black community:
- Only about one‑third of Black adults who need mental health care, have limited access due to stigma, mistrust, and lack of culturally responsive providers [namitexas.org]
- In Austin/Travis County, Black residents are significantly overrepresented among people experiencing homelessness, a population with high mental health needs [austinecho.org]
- Texas continues to face mental health workforce shortages, with more than 80% of providers identifying as white, limiting culturally matched care options [austinblackbusiness.com]
From “Therapy Scares Me!!!” to “Raising Whole Kids in a Broken System” the discussions covered a wide range of common struggles of the African American community and provided actionable tools for improving the quality of life of Black Central Texans.
By bringing together highly influential health professionals, community embedded leaders, and families navigating the barriers to maintaining positive overall wellbeing, Integral Care empowers attendees to create long-lasting positive change with its almost 60-year commitment to the Austinites’ mental health.
About Integral Care:
Integral Care improves the lives of adults and children living with mental illness, substance use disorder and intellectual and developmental disabilities in Travis County. Our services include a 24-hour helpline for anyone who needs immediate support, ongoing counseling to improve mental health, drug and alcohol treatment to help with recovery, and housing to regain health and independence. As the Local Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority, Integral Care has pioneered high-quality, community-based care since 1967, collaborating with partners to build a supportive network and combat mental health stigma in Austin.
To learn more about Integral Care, visit our website at: www.integralcare.org
To learn more about the conference, visit www.ctaafsc.com/2026-conference/