A7: Often these youth are homeless and/or have experienced significant trauma. Based on TBRI principles, before trauma can be addressed, basic needs such as food and housing should be supplied first. No longer in crisis, youth are now free to learn, heal, & grow. #AgingOut

A8: YYA need strong support systems and healthy long-term relationships to achieve their goals, so less regulation of foster parent homes with a more reasonable parent standard approach. Lowering the cost of adoptions. More funding and awareness for group homes. #txlege

Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) A9: At #YITexas, we offer a Young Advocates Program as well as the Youth Advisory Board. Both provide young adults *paid* opportunities to engage in the political process, uplift their voices, and weigh in directly on how a youth-led organization is run. #TNOYSTownHall

A9 (2/2): We compensate YYA for their time at Listening Sessions as we value and practice paying youth for sharing their story and expertise. During session, we bring YYA to the capitol to share their stories with legislators to advocate for change. #TNOYSTownHall

A9 (2/2): TNOYS has its own AmeriCorps program focused on connecting young adults who have lived expertise w/professional development & employment opportunities at TNOYS member organizations across Texas. tnoys.org/americorps-pro… #TNOYSTownHall #opportunityyouth

A9 (1/2): TNOYS' Young Adult Leadership Council! YALC is our flagship young adult professional development & leadership training program. We work with YYA 16-25 that want to share their lived experience to better systems for other youth.

Feeling stressed and need help finding your way out? Connection is a click away. #TurnTo TurnToSupportsTX.org for more community resources.

Sending a quick DM to say, “how’s it going?” is all it takes to be a person that someone can #TurnTo. Learn more at TurnToSupportsTX.org

A1: Youth experiencing homelessness are often focused on survival — where their next meal will come from and where they’re going to sleep. This puts youth in a vulnerable position, and they may make unsafe choices to get their needs met. #TNOYSTownHall

A2: Transient populations and short-term placement options limit servicers’ availability to conduct long-term work with CSEY populations, which leads to a lack of ID of these experiences. Lack of ID leads to limited ability to address & prevent future experiences. #TNOYSTownHall

A3: Couch surfing, staying at different friends’ homes over time, and hanging out in areas that are more likely to involve unsafe adults are all possibilities. Traffickers can spot youth and young adults without stable homes and offer them an enticing solution. #TNOYSTownHall

A5: Accessibility to services like housing, mental health, health care, and first-time offender programs. Creating programs that communicate with multiple providers to create wraparound services and transfer information from previous providers to limit redundancy. #TNOYSTownHall

A6: Creating, but not forcing the use of, accessible spaces like counseling and spaces that exist to offer space to discuss and process CSEY experiences. #TNOYSTownHall

A7: TNOYS, TACFS, and the Karen Purvis Institute all have excellent resources to help organizations and providers combat CSEY. #TNOYSTownHall

A8: Organizations can implement Positive Youth Development plans in their programs, start a youth council, or partner with agencies that have a council and connect YYA to them. #TNOYSTownHall

A1. Many YYA impacted by systems haven't learned how to live healthy lifestyles – they lack a healthy diet and physical exercise, and almost all of them would benefit from actively engaging in counseling. #TNOYSTownHall

A2. YYA need easy access to these items at no cost, and they need education when they don’t get it at home. Many schools need to provide better quality foods and to get rid of lunch tabs, which wind up punishing children for something beyond their control. #TNOYSTownHall

A3. Vote. We need people in charge that care about children regardless of their identity. #TNOYSTownHall

A4. BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people need safe clinics with providers who are educated in their needs, who will listen to them, and who are members of those communities whenever possible. #TNOYSTownHall

A7. Advocate for long-term telehealth providers so YYA can have access to services no matter their placement. #TNOYSTownHall