Posts By: Sondra Lehmann

TNOYS is coordinating the Harris County Transition-Age Youth and Families initiative focused on youth and caregiver engagement to improve mental health services and supports for a young person’s successful transition to adulthood. We recently partnered with NAMI Greater Houston on a parents and caregivers-only workshop series and are excited to spotlight the experiences of one… Read more »

A BIG thank you to all of the youth groups that joined us for our 2015 Youth in Action Capitol Day!  We had over 250 youth visit the Capitol to speak out on issues that are important to them. After a great keynote presentation by youth presenter, Gavin DeGrate, youth presented on their issues of… Read more »

Senate Bills 200, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 210, 211, 212, and 219 have been filed to complete the proposed consolidation of the five health and human services agencies and various councils. For a complete listing of senate and house sunset legislation, go to this link: https://www.sunset.texas.gov/84th-legislative-session Update—As of March 18, 2015 – Senator Nelson… Read more »

The Sunset legislation is the result of five separate reports, each for one of the five health and human service agencies, published by the Sunset Advisory Commission (SAC) from August to December 2014. The purpose of the SAC’s staff review was to determine if the five health and human services agencies’ mission are still needed… Read more »

In legislation news, a collection of bills resulting from recommendation from the Sunset Advisory Commission that would change and further consolidate health and human service agencies were filed earlier this month. Senator Jane Nelson, R- Flower Mound, who also is the Senate Finance chairwoman, filed Senate Bill (SB) 200 that transforms the Health and Human… Read more »

There is nothing partisan or controversial about supporting outreach, crisis services and housing for America’s homeless youth.  In fact, providing these supports and services saves lives, prevents further trauma, and reconnects families.  This is what we need you to say to Senator Cornyn when you call him.  Tell him to support S. 262, the Runaway… Read more »

Please help us in welcoming April Ferrino to the TNOYS team. We are thrilled she has joined us as our new Senior Policy and Evaluation Specialist. In her new role, April will help lead our advocacy efforts, evaluate our initiatives, and work with our members across the state to strengthen their programs through evaluation and… Read more »

It has been a very busy month as the 84th Texas Legislative Session is in full swing. Since session began, TNOYS board members, staff and member agency representatives have attended hearings, testified before committees and visited legislative offices in support of youth services and programs. TNOYS is monitoring bill filing and tracking bills that could… Read more »

By Laquinton Wagner, TNOYS Youth Consultant and Co-Chair of the Transition Age Youth and Families Initiative’s Youth Council From January 27th-29th, TNOYS hosted the first series of TIP Model Trainings in Houston for the Transition Age Youth and Families (TAYF) Initiative. Our guest speaker was TNOYS’ friend Marc Fagan with the Transition to Independence Process… Read more »

It’s a busy time at TNOYS as we plan two upcoming events, our Youth in Action Capitol Day and 32nd Annual TNOYS Conference.  Here’s more information on how to get involved: Youth in Action Capitol Day Save the Date: March 27, 2015 Youth in Action is a TNOYS program that provides teens with opportunities to… Read more »