|
More
About TNOYS
The
Texas Network of Youth Services is a nonprofit membership association of
youth serving agencies and advocates, dedicated to enhancing the
professionalism and effectiveness of community-based agencies serving
youth and families in Texas.
The network connects youth service staff and administrators, as
well as youth and other youth advocates, on behalf of youth and their
families who are in “at risk” situations.
We strive to foster a sense of shared ownership among our
members, in which there is continued mutual exchange of information and
resources.
Top 
TNOYS Services
(For detailed information about
TNOYS services, visit the TNOYS Services
Page.)
TNOYS
provides sound leadership, high quality training and technical
assistance, timely information, and critical support services that help
professionals and agencies keep abreast of developments in a rapidly
changing environment.
Advocacy:
TNOYS advocates for funding, legislation, policies and programs
that benefit youth and their families in at-risk situations, and the
non-profit community-based agencies that serve them.
Members drive advocacy priorities and are active partners in
advocacy efforts.
Youth
Development: TNOYS
promotes youth development and youth/adult partnerships at all levels.
Examples include a youth committee working in conjunction with
the TNOYS Board, peer leaders at PEAKS Adventure Camp, youth development
sections on the website, youth-adult trainings, and the “Youth In
Action” project which involves youth in advocacy.
Training
Services: TNOYS’
resources are devoted primarily to training and related services,
including the annual TNOYS conference, PEAKS Adventure Camp,
and a wide range of other training events that vary annually.
Trainings promote professional and leadership development at all
levels, ranging from direct line staff to agency administrators, as well
as youth leaders. Several
major ongoing training programs are provided by contract with state and
federal programs serving youth.
Peer
Consultation: TNOYS
provides Technical Assistance (TA) and trains members and other resource
people to serve as Peer Consultants - TA providers who assess program
capacities and challenges and facilitate program development.
Information
Services: TNOYS
publishes a variety of newsletters for members and other target groups;
offers a Resource Loan Library for members; maintains an informative
Website (www.TNOYS.org); provides a membership directory; researches and
publishes information of interests to members, e.g. the Salary Survey;
and assists members with individual information requests.
Top
TNOYS
History
In 1978, at a time when the nation was making significant policy
changes regarding runaway and homeless youth, delinquency prevention,
and juvenile justice reforms, a small but enthusiastic group of
youth serving agencies in Texas began meeting together to exchange
information and share resources, and discovered the benefits of
"networking" on behalf of young people. These agencies viewed
themselves as "community-based alternative youth services" - alternatives
to incarceration, to public agency intervention, and to more traditional
and entrenched approaches. Their decision to formalize that relationship
led in 1980 to the incorporation of the Texas Network of Youth
Services.
Out of that small core group of founding members, most of whom
remain active within the organization, TNOYS has grown to its
current membership of 60 agency and individual members. Member
agencies provide an extensive range of services including crisis
intervention, runaway services, services to youth in at-risk situations,
emergency shelter, counseling, family preservation and support,
independent living preparation, employment, vocational and recreational
services, youth development, alternative education, assessment,
information and referral, child placement, and aftercare.
Since its founding, the Texas Network of Youth Services has remained
true to its mission, working relentlessly to ensure that youth
in high-risk situations have the opportunities they need to become
productive adults; and to support and strengthen the organizations
that work for and with youth to ensure their success.
The Texas Network of Youth Services has continued to promote new
and innovative ideas that keep the field vital and growing; including
strength-based intervention models, youth empowerment, and professionalization
of youth workers. TNOYS joins with many partners, including young
people, to strengthen the capacity of the youth service field,
and to ensure that young people can be safe and grow up to lead
healthy and productive lives. We know that our united voices can
and do make a difference!
Top
This page was last edited 06/10/2005
|
