Resources

In Texas  

Texas Youth Action Network: The Texas Youth Action Network (TYAN) offers supports to help organizations build or expand Youth-Adult Partnerships. TYAN aims to empower youth and build programs and policies that are responsive to the needs of young people.

• TYAN sends regular updates on tips, strategies, and other interesting material on Youth-Adult Partnerships and Positive Youth Development. To receive these ideas in your inbox, send a message to TYAN.
• Connect with TYAN on social media. Get ideas and join the discussion on engaging youth by following TYAN’s social media:
  • Twitter: TYANetwork
  • Instagram: TYANetwork
  • Facebook: Texas Youth Action Network    

Texas Department of State Health Services:

• Adult & Adolescent Immunization Program – learn about college vaccine requirements and more.
• Public Health Regional services – find a DSHS office in your area.
• HIV-STD Program – learn the basics as well as find a provider or reporting.
• School-Based Health Centers – health clinics located within or near select schools.

Texas Health Steps: Get free CEs on-the-go with Texas Health Steps Online Provider Education! Courses are available 24/7 on a computer or mobile device and offers practical guidance that can put into practice right away. All of the free modules can be found on the Texas Health Steps' website. The courses listed below are t modules that focus on issues specific to adolescents:

• Promoting Adolescent Health
• High-risk Behaviors in Young People
• Teen Consent and Confidentiality  
• Preconception Health: Screening and Intervention

Texas Workforce Commission’s Jobs Y’all: a website to help students explore careers and jobs in Texas.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission:

• The Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) Assessment - a behavioral health evaluation that helps with service planning, facilitate quality improvement, and allow for outcomes monitoring.
• Child and Youth Assessment Services – for youth seeking mental health treatment services. Eligibility is determined once an assessment is completed.
• Youth Substance Use Program - covers both prevention and care for young people who have a substance use disorder.
• STAR Kids – a Medicaid healthcare plan for youth 20 years old or younger with special health care needs.
• Title V Maternal & Child Health Fee-for-Service - Preventive and primary health services for youth 21 and younger.
• Texas Youth Tobacco Awareness Program – Tobacco awareness classes for youth.  

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services:

• Transitional Living Services - helps foster care youth and young adults make the transition to adulthood. The program also helps identify long-term education, career, and life goals. 
• Prevention & Early Intervention Programs:
  • Community Youth Development – a prevention program in ZIP codes with high juvenile crime rates for youth ages six to 17 (with a focus on youth ages 10 through 17). Communities use mentoring, youth-employment programs, career preparation, and alternative recreational activities to prevent delinquency.
  • Services to At-Risk Youth – provides crisis intervention, short-term emergency shelter, individual and family counseling, youth and parent skills groups, and universal child abuse and neglect prevention activities in all counties in Texas.
  • Statewide Youth Services Network - provides community and evidence-based juvenile delinquency prevention programs available to youth ages six to 17 in each DFPS region.  

Out of State

• Office of Population Affairs – offers research, services, health promotion activities, training, education, partnership engagement, national planning, and information.
• Family & Youth Services Bureau – offers programs to end youth homelessness, adolescent pregnancy, and domestic violence.
• Act For Youth - connects research to practice in the areas of positive youth development and adolescent/young adult health.
• Youth.gov – provides interactive tools and other resources to help youth-serving organizations and communities support effective programs for youth.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – the Division of Adolescent and School Health promotes environments where youth can gain fundamental health knowledge and skills, establish healthy behaviors for a lifetime, connect to health services.
• National Adolescent and Young Adult Health Information Center (NAHIC) – provides a range of training and technical assistance on improving the delivery of preventive services related to behavioral health, including depression screening and follow-up, and strengthening the focus on the distinct needs of young adults.
• The National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) – provides data on multiple, intersecting aspects of children’s lives—including physical and mental health, access to quality health care, and the child’s family, neighborhood, school, and social context.
• HealthCare.gov – learn about health insurance and whether you qualify for any programs.

For more information, please contact us at:

Texas Department of State Health Services
Maternal & Child Health
PO Box 149347, Mail Code 1922
Austin, TX 78714-9347
(512) 776-7373: Phone
(512) 458-7658: Fax
TitleV@dshs.texas.gov

External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These external links may not be accessible to persons with disabilities. For more information about Maternal and Child Health or information regarding adolescent health in Texas, please email TitleV@dshs.texas.gov or call (512) 776-7373.