Posts By: Sondra Lehmann

By Brenda Woolley Brenda Woolley is a member of TNOYS’ Young Adult Leadership Council (YALC). The YALC is a 9-month training program that empowers youth who have experienced homelessness or systems involvement to be advocates and storytellers in their community. During the 87th Texas Legislative Session, Brenda testified before the Human Services Committee on behalf… Read more »

Last week’s historic winter storm was devastating for Texas communities who are still facing major challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through it all, youth-serving organizations have truly stepped up to connect youth and young adults with critical needs such as shelter, food, and drinkable water.  We’ve heard countless stories of how youth-serving… Read more »

This year brought new challenges for many of us. Young people faced great obstacles, and organizations had to do more with less to meet growing needs. 2020 also shined a light on the profound inequities and gaps within systems, especially the racial inequities that are felt daily by young people of color. At TNOYS, we… Read more »

TNOYS always looks to empower young people in decision-making about their own lives and communities. One of our young adult partners, Franklin Fisher, testified during the 86th legislative session in 2019 and was excited to be involved in TNOYS’ policy work once again this year. Thanks in part to Franklin’s testimony in 2019, TNOYS and… Read more »

As TNOYS begins our new fiscal year, we’re seeking organizations and individuals to grow with us in 2021! If you are not yet a TNOYS member, we encourage you to explore all the benefits that membership has to offer. Learn more and join on TNOYS’ membership page. Want to discuss how TNOYS membership can benefit… Read more »

Update 10/08: The U.S. Supreme Court is ruling on the 2020 Census deadline, and a ruling is expected 10/10. There’s still time be counted in the 2020 Census! TNOYS is encouraging all youth services providers to get the word out so that we can ensure an accurate count for Texas. The 2020 Census has experienced… Read more »

During the 3rd week of September, TNOYS partnered with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to host the Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Program Summit, convening more than 1,200 youth-serving professionals from across Texas. Over two days, attendees gained valuable training on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and opportunities to learn alongside youth… Read more »

Organizations throughout the country, including Texas youth and family service providers, have been actively outreaching to hard-to-count communities since mid-March to ensure that everyone is counted in the 2020 Census. Now with only six weeks left due to a shortened timeline (see below), Texas needs everyone to help with a final push to get our… Read more »

In preparation for back to school, many youth and family services providers are making plans to ensure that remote learning runs smoothly, that youth stay healthy, and that they are connected to resources for academic success.  TNOYS is compiling relevant information for stakeholders, including TNOYS members and other first responders, as they work to assist… Read more »

Back-to-school can be a challenging time for Texas’ most vulnerable students. This year, the coronavirus pandemic means that many youth are facing new or intensified challenges as they resume classes, including housing and food insecurity, mental health challenges, and difficulty with remote learning. Recently, TNOYS sat down with two organizations supporting youth in both high… Read more »