This is a three part series.

Click here to watch Part 1: "The Texas 23rd"

Click here to watch Part 2: "A Dose of Texas Medicine"

Mental health care has been hard to find in an area where it’s greatly in need.

In a part of San Antonio, Texas off the typical tourist map, a quarter of students live below the poverty line. And yet until recently, there was one social worker for 9,000 local students. Those in need had to go to other neighborhoods.

“There are a number of issues that have been happening with these kids that they have to face and come to school the very next morning -- and they do, “ said Susan Arciniega, the social worker, noting domestic violence and drive-by shootings.

Seeing the need in “South San,” a group of high school kids banded together to open the Care Zone, getting support from local elected officials. There is more than mental health care -- there’s also a food pantry and a place for clothes.

But local funding isn’t reliable; backers instead were seeking help from the federal government. A Care Zone official sought a meeting with the local congressman, Will Hurd. But with Hurd retiring, would he be able to deliver?

 

Correspondent

Josh Robin

Produced and Directed by
Nicki Carrico
Robe Imbriano

Executive Producers
Keith Summa
Gabrielle Tenenbaum
Tom Yellin

Associate Producer
Julia Schwalb

Editor
Kristen Huntley

Assistant Editor
Matthia Baptiste

Executive In Charge of Production
Mike Saffran

Production Manager
Kelsie Collins

Production Coordinator
Ashlei Hardenburg

Post Production Manager
Dana Germano

Original Music by
Justin Melland

Graphics
Thomas G. Curtis

Camera
Antonio Rossi
Eddie Marritz
EJ Enriquez
John Kingsboro

Additional Camera
Ryan Bronz
Alonso Lujan
Dillon Orr

Drone Operator
MJ Johnston
Sawyer Richburg

Assistant Camera
Matthew McCloskey
Jesse Dezamora
Croft Fite

Sound
CJ Roberts
Kyle Graham
Steven McRoberts
David Hocs
Renee Stairs

Production Assistant
Erin London

Additional Assistant Editing
Danny Schwartz
Mimi Shwarts

Post Production Supervisor
Jamila Qazi

Archival Footage Courtesy Of
Gray Media Group, Inc.
Pond5

Special Thanks
The Blackwell School Alliance
Maurine Molak
Hinee Gourmet Coffee
Buffalo Wings & Rings, Del Rio, Texas
Joe Portillo

For The Documentary Group

VP of Production
Jonna McLaughlin

VP of Content Development
Jo Budzilowicz

Executive Assistant
Olivia Di Poi