Healthy Community

Little Plates, Big Futures is a vital program at Asbury House that ensures every child in their care receives warm, nutritious meals and snacks each day. In a community where many children face food insecurity, this program helps build healthy habits, reduce stress on families, and give children the fuel they need to grow and learn.

By introducing fresh, high-quality foods and encouraging kids to try new things, Little Plates, Big Futures lays the groundwork for a healthier, brighter future for Longview’s youngest learners.

The ATRSS program is a comprehensive program that addresses substance use disorders through three components: 1) (OSAR) Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors to provide screenings, assessments, and referrals to access treatment for clients as well as brief interventions and motivational interviewing; 2) Peer Recovery Support Specialists (Recovery Coaches) provide short or long-term wrap-around peer-to-peer recovery support services that include individual coaching, case management. 3) Recovery-based support groups, community outreach, sober events, and/or education classes. 4) Transportation of participants to/from recovery activities, local resources, and employment opportunities. Collectively, these components provide individuals, families, and community support services that promote and support long-term recovery from substance use disorders.

The Healthy Inside & Out program assists individual and group counseling sessions by Licensed Professional Counselors/Licensed Clinical Social Workers/ Physicians to address mental health issues, disorders, and counseling for past traumas. It provides over-the-counter medical supplies and self-defense training for their personal safety, especially for those who have been through a sexual assault. This grant provides basic medical, dental, and vision assistance. When young people in poverty improve both their physical and mental health, they are in a much better position to be successful with their Transition Plan goals which ultimately allows them to begin moving out of poverty leaving pain, fear, and despair behind.

Emergency dental extractions are provided by volunteer dental professionals to Longview residents in need.  The dental clinic was recently moved into the LCM building and provides one extraction every two years for each individual adult in a household.

LCM provides supplemental food once monthly to families in need. Proof of Longview residency is required unless the East Texas Food Bank determines that emergency food distribution is necessary. Transient bags or T-bags, (foods not requiring cooking), are available twice monthly. T-bags are for individuals that are mobile and contents are smaller amounts than boxes. Outreach bags are available for distribution by community volunteers to supply one balanced meal to panhandlers and families on the streets. Perishable boxes are given to all families who receive a food box and are filled with fresh produce, dairy, deli, frozen food items, and meat products.  The program also provides monthly boxes of infant formula and baby foods and dog and cat food to families with pets.

Meals With Love delivers meals five days a week to persons home-bound or unable to prepare meals for themselves. Typical recipients are elderly and disabled persons living in their own homes. Eligibility is not based on income.

Safe, stable childhoods are the cornerstone of healthy communities. The Martin House CAC addresses child sexual and physical abuse—a serious, yet preventable, public health issue. Most victims know their abusers, which often leads to silence, confusion, and fear.

We serve children ages 2–17 in four counties, offering trauma-informed support to victims and their families. Through partnerships with law enforcement, CPS, prosecutors, and healthcare professionals, we provide a coordinated response that prioritizes healing and justice.

Core services include:

• Forensic interviews

• Counseling and medical exams

• Case coordination and advocacy

• Court accompaniment

• Crime Victims' Compensation assistance

• Abuse prevention training and education

All services are free. Together, we work to reduce trauma, support healing, and protect children from future harm.

Pathstones Counseling Center offers low-cost mental health counseling to anyone in the East Texas area. These services include individual adult counseling, marriage/couples counseling, premarital counseling, family counseling, child and adolescent counseling, grief counseling, addiction counseling, anger management counseling, certified group anger management counseling, and grief group counseling.

The Women's Center of East Texas is dedicated to providing a safe haven, crisis intervention, and comprehensive support services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and/or stalking in Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Panola, Rusk, and Upshur Counties.  WCET has a 24-hour emergency shelter and non-residential offices in Longview, Marshall, and Henderson.  The WCET Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Team consists of 18 advocates that dedicate 100% of their time providing comprehensive victim services, case management, and establishing and maintaining contacts within the community for service delivery.  WCET offers a Batters Intervention & Prevention Program in Longview, Marshall, Gilmer, and Kilgore.  WCET also has four thrift stores located in Longview, Marshall, and Kilgore.