Transforming disenfranchised neighborhoods by equipping the professionals who serve them
Professionals who serve our disenfranchised communities deserve our support — especially since they face numerous challenges. On top of helping those in underserved communities, they also have to continuously navigate the complex landscape of grants, compliance, career development, and more.
The Parris Foundation is proud to offer the training, help, and guidance needed for professionals in the community service field. This training includes providing unparalleled insights and mentorship tailored to each person’s needs, helping them to achieve their goals in their respective professions and in life — all while meeting the 50% requirement in Texas.
Our Executive Director, Dr. Katherine Bacon, ensures every training is inclusive, collaborative, and mindful of diverse backgrounds. As a previous Texas Counseling Association (TCA) licensure board liaison and current TCA Immediate Past-President, she’s ready to use her 30+ years of experience to personally help each professional in their nonprofit, higher education, and mental health professions.
Whether you’re a counselor, in a professional organization, or just someone who wants to help, let us show you what it takes to uplift the next generation and provide a lasting legacy.
No matter how you serve others in your profession, The Parris Foundation is ready to help you experience greater success and satisfaction by providing the training you’re looking for.
Click the training and consultation areas below to learn more:
Expert Consultation, Training and Development
for Nonprofit, Higher Education, and Mental Health Professionals
Nonprofit Management Training
Enhance your nonprofit's performance and grow as an executive through our expert strategies and practical applications.
This training includes:
Programmatic and Fiscal Management
From setting up structures to managing compliance throughout the project lifecycle, you’ll gain key insights in all aspects of nonprofit management.
Audit Preparation and Oversight
Navigating audits doesn’t have to be overwhelming when you understand how to approach them. I’ll use my extensive experience to help you prepare for and manage various audit scenarios, ensuring clean financials and compliance documentation.
Governance and Compliance
Gain the knowledge and strategies you need to successfully manage governance and compliance, including budgeting, fiscal management, and shared governance.
Higher Education Leadership Training
By accessing our Higher Education and Leadership Training, you’ll receive tools & institutional insights to help you drive growth, innovation, and student success on campus.
This training includes:
Grants and Compliance
With nearly 30 years of experience, I can guide you through every step, from identifying funding sources to developing successful proposals and managing post-award compliance.
Career Development and Mentorship
Overcome the challenges of transitioning from graduate school to staff and faculty positions with this detailed, skill-based mentorship. I’ll help you navigate the higher education system, understand its various components, and develop strategies for success.
Institutional Insight
Having worked in multiple states and held various leadership roles, I bring a comprehensive understanding of how higher education institutions function and how they intersect with larger structures like shared governance.
Texas LPC Supervisor Training
Understand what it takes to become an LPC supervisor in Texas, from the former long-serving legislative liaison to the Texas State Board of Professional Counselors.
This training provides help with:
Supervision Training
As a licensed supervisor with 20 years of experience and a legislative liaison, I offer unique insights into licensure regulations and supervision practices. We offer the 40 hour supervisor training course required in Texas as well as individual supervision training courses for those experienced supervisors who require continuing education for licensure renewal.
Ethics and Legal Framework
Receive valuable training and consultation grounded in real-world applications thanks to my experience teaching graduate-level advanced ethics and law in nationally accredited programs.
Training for Grant Writing
Our Training for Grant Writing includes guidance with development, fiscal management, and compliance from an expert who has secured over $35 million in funding.
You’ll receive help with:
Proposal Development
Crafting a winning grant proposal requires skill and experience. Having secured over $35 million in funding, I can help you develop proposals that get funded.
Grant Management
Effective grant management is crucial for compliance and success. I offer guidance on programmatic and fiscal management, ensuring your projects run smoothly and meet all requirements.
External Evaluation
If you need an external evaluator for your project, I bring years of experience to provide unbiased and thorough evaluations to ensure your project meets its goals.
Professional Counselor Consultation
Get expert guidance from a seasoned counselor to navigate career shifts and achieve your professional goals.
You’ll receive help with:
Career Development and Transitions
Whether you're seeking new opportunities or navigating career transitions, I offer tailored guidance and support to help you succeed.
Having worked as a professional counselor for nearly 30 years in public schools, charter schools, community mental health agencies, faith-based agencies, nonprofit victim services, hospitals, college counseling, and career development, I can provide the guidance and insights that counselors need to navigate shifts in their careers.
Integrated Care Training
Elevate your career and the quality of care you provide by gaining expertise in holistic patient care. This training helps you offer superior care by meeting both the behavioral health and primary care needs of your patients.
This includes:
Expertise in Integrated Care Models
With extensive experience in integrated care models, I can assist healthcare and mental health professionals in developing and implementing comprehensive, collaborative care strategies that enhance patient outcomes. My expertise covers the integration of behavioral health and primary care, fostering a holistic approach to patient well-being.
With every training, you and your team will receive…
Knowledge to increase skills and broaden scope of practice
A deeper understanding of how to better serve underserved communities
Best practices to directly apply in your workplace
A continuing education unit (CEU) or continuing education credit (CEC)
Hello, I’m Dr. Katherine Bacon: PhD counselor and devoted champion of underserved communities.
Let's work together to unlock your potential and achieve your goals.
Meet the Instructor Behind our Professional Training and Development
- PhD in counselor education and supervision
- Licensed professional counselor
- Council-approved supervisor
- Nationally certified counselor
- Tenured university professor
- Executive director and founder of the Parris Foundation
However, these achievements only tell part of my story.
That’s because my education and achievements haven't been about me; rather, my primary purpose has been to help improve the lives of individuals living in underserved communities.
As a leading advocate for human rights and disadvantaged populations, I have secured over $35 million in grants to support underserved communities.
I have also had the privilege of serving as the Immediate Past-President of the Texas Counseling Association and as the legislative liaison to the Texas State Board of Professional Counselors.
My expertise in interdisciplinary team training comes from a proven track record in developing and leading training programs that integrate diverse professional perspectives, fostering collaboration among teams comprising mental health professionals, educators, and advocacy specialists.
Most notable, however, is my personal connection to the foster care system and leadership in various advocacy and support initiatives, such as the Parris Foundation. These have equipped me with unique insights into the challenges faced by vulnerable populations.
As a result, the Parris Foundation has expanded our reach through grants for crime victim advocacy and TRIO programs, enabling comprehensive training and support services under my leadership.
That’s my story. Now let me help you tell yours.
Internship Requirements:
- A minimum of 10 hours per week on-site
- A minimum of 2 school semesters
- Attend monthly practice-wide trainings
- Maintain progress notes in a timely manner
- Maintain required documentation in a timely manner
- Perform intake assessments
- Create treatment plans
- Update weekly service report
- Meet weekly for supervision
- Submit 3 individual development plans per semester to chart growth and areas of improvement
- Travel to other sites in the city*
- Attend a minimum of 1 outreach event per month
- Possible stipend available
Graduate counseling students have the opportunity to complete an internship or field placement requirement through our Counseling & Wellness Division. It’s a great way to gain first-hand experience in the mental health industry and make a difference.
Application Due Dates:
Internship Opportunities for Graduate Students
Let’s serve the underserved, hand in hand
Go to our Events Page to see when and where we’ll host upcoming trainings. We’re grateful for your heart to serve!
