overview

The H. E. Butt Foundation is deepening its focus on youth development, beginning in its hometown of Kerrville, Texas. To better support under-resourced youth, the Foundation set out to learn directly from local low-income families and co-design a new program grounded in community insight. To guide this effort, our team led a human-centered design process that engaged parents, educators, youth, and local leaders. Our work surfaced a key insight: while young people benefit from strong, emotionally attuned mentors, many caregivers and mentors are struggling with their own mental and emotional challenges. In response, we co-created Access Kerrville—a program concept designed to connect families with local resources that support emotional and mental wellness.