Posts By: Sondra Lehmann

Celebrating Latine/Latinx Heritage Month

From September 15 to October 15, people across the country and beyond are celebrating Latine Heritage Month. Here at TNOYS, we think it is important to recognize this occasion as our state of Texas boasts one of the largest Latine populations in the nation. (Please note: this article uses the term ‘Latine’ as a gender-neutral… Read more »

The Road to Today’s TNOYS Young Adult Leadership Council

In 2018, TNOYS launched the Young Adult Leadership Council (YALC) to engage youth and young adult leaders with lived experiences from across Texas. The first iteration of the YALC served as an advisory council for TNOYS as the organization took intentional steps to solidify its youth and young adult network.  With the arrival of TNOYS’… Read more »

What is CSE-IT? And Why Should My Organization Get Certified to Use It?

For the past three years, TNOYS has worked closely with the Office of the Texas Governor’s Child Sex Trafficking Team to build Texas’ capacity to provide high-quality services for Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Youth (CSEY) survivors. In our work across the state, the TNOYS team has provided training and technical assistance to youth-serving providers and… Read more »

Grow Your Impact with TNOYS

With the start of our new fiscal year, TNOYS looks forward to new collaborations alongside our network of over 100 organizations and individual advocates. We are proud to represent and collaborate with a range of organizations working in every Texas region across TNOYS’ seven system areas: child welfare, housing and homelessness services, victim and survivor… Read more »

How The TNOYS AmeriCorps Program Plans to Support Texan Youth and Young Adults with Lived Experiences to Achieve Job Readiness and Improve Outcomes in Adulthood

TNOYS has launched its first-ever AmeriCorps program aimed at scaling youth-adult partnerships with young people with lived experiences within the seven social service systems that TNOYS works in which include homelessness, foster care, juvenile justice, mental health, education, workforce, and victim services. The program will provide young adults with lived expertise with professional development and… Read more »

Exploring the Road to Impact During TEHCY 2021

During the first week of August, TNOYS once again partnered with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to host the Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Program Summit, which convened more than 1,000 youth-serving professionals from across Texas. Guided by the theme The Road to Impact, the summit’s 42 workshops and three dynamic keynote… Read more »

Celebrating Pride Month with TNOYS Member Organizations

In celebration of Pride Month this June, TNOYS is proud to spotlight just a few of our members whose work is making a positive impact in LGBTQIA+ communities. Youth who identify as LGBTQIA+ are often overrepresented among the populations our members serve. In fact, data show that LGBTQIA+ youth are 120% more likely to experience… Read more »

How We Can All Build More Inclusive Services for APIA Young People

TNOYS prides itself on its commitment to equity and inclusion. As Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) Heritage Month celebrations continue, we’re calling on youth-serving providers and advocates to elevate and understand the varied experiences of youth and young people in this community.  Supports and services are never one size fits all, especially when it… Read more »

Youth Take the Lead on Projects to Improve Transition-Age Services

TNOYS’ work is guided by youth-adult partnership, which is a shift in thinking that challenges us to look at youth differently and include their voices and input into plans, strategies, and services to support them. In celebration of Foster Care Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re reflecting on our partnerships with young people… Read more »

Explore Activities and Workshops for Youth at TNOYS’ Annual Conference

One of the things that makes TNOYS’ annual conference unique is that both youth and professionals are welcome to attend, putting the power of youth-adult partnership into action.  From workshops led by members of our Youth Adult Leadership Council (YALC) to virtual hangout rooms during the lunch breaks, this year’s event features many opportunities for… Read more »