Our History

Shawn

Our network has a rich history, and we have been working to improve, support, and protect youth services in Texas for more than forty years.

In 1979, at a time when the nation was making significant policy changes regarding young people in crisis, a small but enthusiastic group of youth serving agencies in Texas began meeting together to exchange information and share resources.  These agencies viewed themselves as “community-based alternative youth services” – alternatives to incarceration, to other public agency intervention, and to more traditional and entrenched approaches. They discovered the benefits of networking on behalf of young people and in 1980 they formalized their relationship by incorporating the Texas Network of Youth Services. Since its founding, TNOYS has remained true to its mission, working relentlessly to support and strengthen the organizations that work for and with youth to ensure their success.