Posts By: Sondra Lehmann

TNOYS is excited to partner with Texas Education Agency (TEA) for this year’s virtual Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program Summit, coming up Tuesday, September 15 and Thursday, September 17.  We invite you to join us for two days of sessions, speakers, and activities that will explore the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, and strategies to… Read more »

TNOYS has been hard at work over the past several months helping member organizations to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in March, TNOYS worked with the Office of the Texas Governor, Hogg Foundation, and the Children’s Justice Act Task Force to purchase supplies and distribute mini-grants to help organizations meet the needs of youth in… Read more »

One of TNOYS’ priority areas is improving equity in systems, and the 2020 Census is an important tool to ensure that young people have equitable access to services— both in Texas and across the country. An undercount could mean that Texas loses out on millions of dollars in funding for education, healthcare, public transportation, and… Read more »

The TNOYS Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Fedora Galasso as the organization’s new Executive Director. “Fedora was selected after an extensive search,” said TNOYS Board Chair Joel Levine, “her impressive background, proven leadership skills, and deeply-held commitment to Texas’ young people make her the perfect candidate to lead TNOYS into the future.” Fedora joins TNOYS with… Read more »

Last month, TNOYS’ 37th Annual Conference on Services to Youth and Families convened more than 500 youth and family service stakeholders from across Texas for our first fully virtual conference. Over three days, professionals and youth explored how they can tap into their unique strengths and talents and ultimately “Make Their Mark” on the future… Read more »

TNOYS’ Annual Conference is right around the corner, and our team is looking forward to all the fun and learning that’s in store! The focus of the conference aligns with TNOYS’ strategic plan, and two important topics— equity and youth voice— are central to this year’s agenda. We’re looking forward to sessions such as Mia… Read more »

For 30 years, TNOYS member Pegasus Schools has been working to heal and support abused, neglected, and adjudicated boys. Pegasus plays a unique if sometimes misunderstood role in youth services. The Residential Treatment Center exclusively works with youth ages 10-17 who have committed sex offenses, many of whom have suffered abuse and trauma themselves.  CEO… Read more »

The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed how organizations across Texas serve youth and families. Fortunately, there are so many great resource centers out there to support organizations that serve youth and families in responding to COVID-19. For your convenience, TNOYS has compiled a list of some of the best COVID-19 response resource centers relevant to… Read more »

  To our Texas youth services community: It would be easy and, quite frankly, expected for us to acknowledge the grief which weighs heavily on us and on all of you right now. However, as an organization with a mostly White staff, that would make this conversation about us and our emotions rather than about… Read more »

At TNOYS, we believe that effective youth-adult partnerships are key to helping Texas’ youth achieve healthy development. This ethos is also at the heart of TNOYS member Houston: reVision, an organization that connects kids on the edge with mentors, positive peers, and life-changing resources.  reVision builds “communities of kinship” for youth who fall anywhere along… Read more »