Texas Children’s Austin and Ronald McDonald House Central Texas announced on March 30 the opening of the first in-hospital Ronald McDonald House in the Central Texas region. The new facility is designed to support families with children receiving treatment at Texas Children’s Austin, providing them a place to stay close to their child during hospital care.
The opening of this house marks a significant step for both organizations as they aim to provide family-centered pediatric care. The initiative allows families, such as Yadira and Nathan from El Paso, who are staying through the birth and treatment of their daughter Amelia, to remain near their loved ones while accessing medical services.
“Staying at Ronald McDonald House inside Texas Children’s Hospital will truly help our family. It provides us with a comfortable and peaceful place to stay, and we will be just steps away from our child,” said Yadira.
Dr. Jeffrey Shilt, president of Austin and Central Texas at Texas Children’s, said: “This new in-hospital Ronald McDonald House represents a meaningful commitment to families across Central Texas and beyond. By bringing this resource directly onto our Austin campus, we are helping ensure families can stay close to their child, remain connected to their care team and focus on what matters most during some of life’s most challenging moments. We are proud to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas in expanding family-centered support for this growing region.”
The facility features nine private family suites—including one oversized suite for severe medical cases—a kitchen staffed by volunteers preparing meals, dining area, lounge spaces, complimentary laundry facilities, and a multipurpose room for art activities or personal support sessions. These amenities are intended to foster rest while keeping parents near healthcare providers.
Kristin Coulter, Chief Executive Officer of Ronald McDonald House Central Texas said: “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome families to the new Ronald McDonald House at Texas Children’s Hospital Austin. Keeping families close is the heart of our mission. While the need across Austin continues to grow, this new House represents a meaningful step forward in closing gaps in care and ensuring more families have the support they need when it matters most.”
The launch marks phase one of “A Place Like Home,” RMHC CTX’s capital campaign aimed at expanding capacity so that more families can access comfort during difficult medical journeys.
