Hogg Foundation for Mental Health

Texas Network of Youth Services receives policy project grant

April 4, 2011

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) of Austin is one of four Texas recipients of $446,615 in grants awarded by the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health fto improve mental health services for children and adults across Texas. This is the third year of the foundation’s grant initiative to improve local, state and federal policies that affect Texas consumers of mental health services.

In Texas, 41 percent of youth on probation and 32 percent of those incarcerated have a confirmed mental illness, but the juvenile justice system was not designed or funded to provide children’s mental health care. As a result, youth with mental illness often don’t get the services and treatment they need while in the system.

TNOYS will use the $80,478 grant to create a policy council of youth with mental health conditions who have been in the system.
Council members will be trained in leadership and advocacy, will establish a policy agenda, and will identify and address specific policy issues in the system, especially those with which they have personal experience.

“We are really excited about this project. We have seen again and again how effective and compelling youth can be in making the case for change; they are empowered, and we all benefit,” said Theresa Tod, executive director of TNOYS.