TNOYS, our members, and youth and young adult partners have been hard at work this legislative session advocating for our 16 policy and budget priorities. We’re proud to champion an agenda that was shaped by over 350 youth, young adults, and providers. Below are some highlights from our work towards systems-change:
Leaders in TNOYS’ Network Join Together at Capitol Day for Members
To kick off the legislative session, TNOYS members from across Texas joined together at the Texas Capitol for educational meetings with legislative offices— amplifying support for youth, young adults (YYA), and the providers that serve them. By making their presence known early in the legislative session, our members set the stage for a powerful impact as lawmakers began considering bill and budget priorities. We are incredibly grateful for their leadership!
Youth, Young Adults, and TNOYS Members Testify at the Texas Capitol
TNOYS is grateful to the young people and providers who have made their voices heard in committee hearing:
Centering Student Voices in Mental Health
Young Adult Leadership Council (YALC) member Mikyra joined Director of Public Policy Lauren Rose to advocate for increased funding for mental health supports in schools. Mikyra spoke powerfully about her own experience as a student struggling with mental health, and the difference that available counseling would have made.
Standing with Youth and Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness
TNOYS members LifeWorks, Covenant House, and Texas Emerging Leaders Board (TELB) member Kyren testified on the urgent need for funding to support youth-focused housing and homelessness services. Director of Public Policy Lauren Rose highlighted the alarming rise in Refusal to Accept Parent Responsibility (RAPR) cases in which parents abandon custody of teens, and emphasized the unique shelter needs of youth experiencing homelessness. LifeWorks Program Director Andrew Fike spoke on Austin’s growing youth homelessness crisis and how flexible funding could expand services like food access, health screenings, and trafficking prevention.
TELB member Kyren shared his personal story of homelessness, including how at one point temporary housing costs consumed his entire paycheck. “I rarely had any money for food and maintaining a job was hard…I was young and I had never been taught how to live on my own,” he said.
Next, Covenant House Chief Development Officer Felicia Broussard spoke on the long waiting list for Covenant House services and limited housing opportunities for 18 to 24 year olds. Felicia explained, “As we provide comprehensive care to young people, we are looking at a number of things; it is mental health services, physical health services provided through our medical clinic, and also career and education services…”. Watch Felicia’s testimony here.
Uncovering the Importance of Child Care Support for Young Parents
Testifying on the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) budget and asking for increased state investment in child care scholarships, YYA alum Grace shared how, after becoming a parent at 15, subsidized child care from Texas Workforce Solutions was a lifeline that enabled them to stay in school and work. They stressed that many young parents don’t have support navigating these systems, making this funding vital for reaching more young people.
Next, Chief Executive Officer Fedora Galasso called for increased investment in child care scholarships, noting that nearly 500,000 Texas YYA are out of school and unemployed—well above the national average. “By merging their work experiences and lived experiences with their training,” Fedora said, “we can build a high-skilled workforce for in-demand jobs.” View the testimonies here starting at 6:37:03.
Supporting Housing for Young People in the Transition out of Foster Care and Into Adulthood
This session, TNOYS Director of Public Policy Lauren Rose has been hard at work advocating for and testifying in support of funding for Preparation for Adult Living and Transitional Living Services, as well as increased rates for SIL and TLP placements.
We’re grateful for the TNOYS members and partners that have joined in this effort. Joel Levine, from TNOYS member Harris County Resources for Children and Adults, urged the Senate Finance Committee to restore funding for Preparation for Adult Living (PAL), a lifeline for youth transitioning out of foster care.
Before the House Committee on Appropriations, Director of Programs Chris Lopez advocated for a rate increase for Supervised Independent Living (SIL) programs to support young people in extended foster care. As Chris explained, “These are resilient, determined young adults who want to succeed…but without the right support, their path to independence becomes an uphill battle.” View his testimony here starting at 0:30. TNOYS YALC member Adrian also testified, sharing how programs like PAL and Supervised Independent Living (SIL) helped him—and why increased funding is essential for others like him. Watch Joel’s testimony starting at 1:10, and Adrian’s testimony below.
Advocating to “Raise the Age” of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction
Texas is one of only a few states in which 17-year-olds can be tried as adults. In two powerful testimonies, YALC members Adrian and Adrian uncovered the impact of being incarcerated at just 17 years old, and why 17 year olds should not be considered adults in the justice system.
Courtney Seals, Chief Program Officer of LifeWorks, spoke to the lifelong barriers that teens can face when they are treated as adults in the justice system, noting that nearly 50% of runaway youth have been arrested at least once since becoming homeless. View her testimony here starting at 44:39.
Bringing Youth Services Issues to Light Through Two Legislative Briefings
This session, TNOYS hosted two legislative briefings at the Texas Capitol, giving legislative staff, providers, and advocates the chance to hear directly from youth and young adults with lived experience. On February 6, as part of Capitol Day for Members, YALC members Adrian, Adrian, and Jasmine joined TNOYS members Ashley Elgin from Lena Pope Home and Courtney Seals from LifeWorks to discuss youth homelessness, child welfare, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Youth (CSEY), and other systems involvement—along with urgent calls for legislative change. Then on April 9, TNOYS teamed up with our partner Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions and our Texas Emerging Leaders Board for a dynamic panel on the challenges facing Opportunity Youth and Young Adults (OYYA).
Standing Against Harmful Legislation
In addition to advocating for TNOYS policy priorities and supporting the advocacy of TNOYS YYA and members, TNOYS staff has also been hard at work to fix or stop legislation that would be harmful to YYA and the providers who serve them. This includes:
- Legislation that would make it easier for YYA to be evicted from their housing and be followed by an eviction on their record;
- Legislation that would make it easier to give students experiencing homelessness an out-of-school suspension for minor behavioral infractions. This legislation would effectively undo a TNOYS priority passed six years ago.
- Legislation that would remove supports for students who are experiencing homelessness who are truant, instead sending them to truancy court;
- And more.
Raising Our Voices Alongside Over 200 Youth, Young Adults, and Providers at the Texas Capitol
In addition to advocating for TNOYS policy priorities and supporting the advocacy of TNOYS YYA and members, TNOYS staff has also been hard at work to fix or stop legislation that would be harmful to YYA and the providers who serve them. This includes:
On April 8, TNOYS hosted our flagship event of the session: TNOYS Day of Action for Youth (DAY), bringing together about 200 youth, young adults, and providers for an unforgettable day at the Texas Capitol.
The day kicked off with an energizing rally featuring Representative Josie Garcia of San Antonio, and powerful calls for change from TNOYS YYA partners Angel, Kai-Tee, and Marvin. As TELB member Marvin told the crowd: “Just how my voice was heard with a few trusted adults, I want to encourage all the youth today at Day of Action to not only use your voice but to own it and embrace it.”
Inside the Capitol, YYA alumni Hailee, Grace, and Liz inspired their peers with stories of their success from the last session, followed by a panel of YALC members who spoke on key issues this session and tips for successful legislative office visits. Their remarks set the stage for an afternoon of impactful legislative office visits with Texas legislative offices representing every Texas region.
TNOYS is incredibly grateful to the many youth, young adults (YYA), and providers who have showed up and showed out to build change this legislative session. If you wish to be involved in our work or learn more, please email policy@tnoys.org.