Texas is home to an estimated 500,000 “Opportunity Youth and Young Adults” (OYYA), defined as young people aged 16–26 who are neither enrolled in school nor employed. While many OYYA have experienced systems involvement, unstable living conditions, and trauma, their experiences with disconnection are far from uniform. Each OYYA has a unique story that speaks... Read more » The post TELB Members Uncover The Unique Stories of “Opportunity Youth” appeared first on TNOYS - Texas Network of Youth Services ..read more

The 89th Texas Legislative Session kicks off in January, and TNOYS has been hard at work building a policy agenda that reflects the real needs and challenges that Texas youth, young adults (YYA), and the providers who serve them face every day. Throughout 2024, our team powered multiple initiatives to listen to and learn from... Read more » The post TNOYS Listens to and Learns from 300+ Youth, Young Adults, and Providers to Guide 2025 Texas Legislative Session Advocacy appeared first on TNOYS - Texas Network of Youth Services ..read more

Anaya, who lives in Houston, Texas, first became involved with TNOYS after attending a TNOYS-led youth and young adult (YYA) listening session at our member Covenant House. After seeing first hand how TNOYS centers YYA voices, Anaya felt that the Young Adult Leadership Council (YALC) offered a unique opportunity to make a difference for young... Read more » The post YYA Spotlight: Anaya Carter Reflects on Her Growth with TNOYS appeared first on TNOYS - Texas Network of Youth Services ..read more

Through TNOYS’ youth engagement roadmap, young people who have lived the issues have a range of opportunities to have their voices heard in our work, from individual listening sessions to paid work-based learning programs where we invest in them as leaders.  Our flagship program is the 12-month Young Adult Leadership Council. Each October, the YALC... Read more » The post How The YALC Program Invests in Youth and Young Adults’ Futures appeared first on TNOYS - Texas Network of Youth Services ..read more

Last month, TNOYS was thrilled to welcome youth, young adults, and professionals from across systems to our 41st Annual Conference for Services to Youth and Families! Over 550 attendees joined us in Houston for a week packed with inspiring keynotes, workshops, and sessions that enthusiastically embraced this year’s theme of “Bright Stars, Bold Futures.” We were inspired to see attendees of all ages and backgrounds work together to collaborate in building a brighter youth services field in which all young people can thrive. Our conference kicked off on Tuesday, June 4th with three day-long ..read more

In recognition of National Foster Care Month, TNOYS is spotlighting ACH Child and Family Services – a Fort Worth-based nonprofit agency that brings needed resources and skills to children and families struggling with life’s challenges. Through a Continuum of Care comprised of 15 programs and services, ACH is dedicated to the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse, neglect, and family separation. Courtney Dowling, Director of Residential Services, and Chuck Burton, Director of Marketing, were gracious enough to answer some questions about their work! ACH Child and Family Serv ..read more

Kirsten is from Abilene, TX. She currently serves as a member of the YALC and is pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. Her lived experience includes involvement with CPS. She has worked closely with outreach organizations such as BCFS that help youth with their transition out of the foster care system.  Kirsten has a strong passion for helping others, especially regarding systems change and youth in foster care. She is very excited about her position as a YALC member as she hopes it will increase her ability to advocate for what she believes in.  Kirsten recently worked wi ..read more

In recognition of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, TNOYS is proud to spotlight Project Protect Our Children and their amazing work in Texas. Denise Mears, Founder and Executive Director, answered a few questions about the work their organization is doing below. Project Protect Our Children is a 501c3 dedicated to preventing child sex trafficking, exploitation, and abuse through proactive community engagement, preventative educational programs, awareness, and empowerment opportunities. They offer a range of human trafficking awareness and training presentations to educate various ..read more

In recognition of National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, TNOYS is proud to spotlight Central Texas Youth Services and uplift the fantastic work of this organization. Shellie Hassell, Executive Director, answered a few questions about the work their organization is doing below. Central Texas Youth Services works with the runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth in central Texas, ages 11-25. Through their many programs, they offer case management services that help Central Texas youth find employment, housing, identifying documents, and more. They also work to ensure that all youth who access th ..read more

This summer, TNOYS was excited to team up with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) on PEAKS (Physical and Environmental Activities for Knowledge and Skills) Adventure Camp and our Building Alliances with Youth to Reduce and Prevent Children without Placement (CWOP) training, two initiatives that aim to build stronger partnerships between Texas foster care caseworkers and the young people they serve. Youth and young adults (YYA) often share how interactions with youth workers—whether they are positive or negative— can have a big impact on the overall foster care exper ..read more