Building on the success of the Texas Healthy Adolescent
Initiative from 2010 to 2018, the Texas Youth Action Network (TYAN) promotes
Positive Youth Development (PYD) and Youth-Adult Partnerships (YAPs).
Why Positive Youth Development?
Positive Youth Development:
- Guides
communities in how to organize services, opportunities, and supports.
- Assists
young people to reach their full potential through youth engagement.
- Emphasizes
a shift in working with youth by viewing youth as assets and not problems
to fix.
PYD helps youth become contributing adults. Youth learn
economic self-sufficiency, healthy family and social relationships, and
community involvement. PYD focuses on building positive attitudes, skills, and
behaviors. This reduces risky behaviors (Outley, 2018).
Why Youth-Adult Partnerships?
Trained caring adults support young people to impact
communities in powerful, dynamic ways. Some of the ways are:
- Adults can understand
problems better. They can think about solutions from the viewpoint of the
young people affected.
- Young people benefit as
well. Youth learn to be confident leaders. They develop the skills to
tackle tough issues in their own lives and in the community.
Texas Youth Action Network
The Texas Youth Action Network (TYAN) offers supports to
help organizations build or expand Youth-Adult Partnerships (YAPs). YAP goals
are to:
- Empower youth
- Build programs and policies that are responsive
to the needs of young people
Each year, select organizations
will become Community Partners and receive extra supports! The table below
outlines the benefits of TYAN for any organization and for community partners.
|
|
For All
|
For Community Partners
|
|
Learn about the benefits of PYD and YAPs
|
X
|
X
|
|
Organizational assessment of capacity for YAP
|
X
|
X
|
|
Resources and activities
|
X
|
X
|
|
Continuing education credits in youth development
|
X
|
X
|
|
See what YAPs across the nation are accomplishing
|
X
|
X
|
|
Grant support
|
|
X
|
|
Technical assistance
|
|
X
|
|
Expense-paid youth-adult workshops for planning and
networking
|
|
X
|
|
Program evaluation
|
|
X
|
Assess Your Organization Now!
Through TYAN, you can identify your organization’s strengths
and areas for growth in supporting a YAP. Take an assessment created by PYD
experts. Go to http://tinyurl.com/ORAYAP
There are many ways to become involved with TYAN. Find
the one that works best for you.
- Join
the email newsletter.
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
- Use
the tools and resources you find on the site.
- The organizational readiness
assessment, YAP 101,
and Start a YAP page provide
comprehensive, structured support to creating and implementing YAPs in your
community.
- Or browse through the resources
to focus on topics most relevant to you.
To find out more information, email tyan@ppri.tamu.edu and visit https://tyan.tamu.edu.
For more
information about Maternal and Child Health, or information regarding
adolescent health in Texas, 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.