The Texas Statewide Youth Services Network (TEXSYN) Project
The TEXSYN project is implemented by the Texas Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs in more than 200 program sites statewide. Over 3,000 at-risk juvenile’s ages 10 through 17 years of age are served annually. All youth served exhibit one or more characteristics that place them at risk of being referred to the juvenile justice system in their local communities, including but not limited to the absence or inadequacy of positive adult role models and/or inadequate adult supervision during non-school hours; the presence of anti-social behaviors at home, in school settings and/or in the community; experimentation with tobacco, alcohol or other illegal drugs; sexual experimentation inappropriate for age; and a demonstrated lack of respect for authority figures and/or violation of communities’ standards for youth behavior. Participating youth receive daily programming in five core areas and guidance by trained youth development professionals and Start SMART, Stay SMART and SMART Leaders – prevention program for at-risk youth and Project Learn, an evidence-based holistic strategy that supports student learning, intended to complement, and reinforce what youth learn during the school day, while creating experiences that invite them to fall in love with learning.
The Texas Academic Innovation and Mentoring (AIM) Project
Texas AIM is a timely effort to confront the student achievement gap for at risk students in Texas, one student at a time with a comprehensive and holistic strategy. With cumulative minority dropout rates throughout Texas averaging more than 50%, such innovative collaboration with proven results is critical. Texas AIM utilizes the historic strengths of the organizations Boys & Girls Clubs and Sylvan Learning Centers, along with cooperation of local education agencies (schools districts), students make pronounced gains in the academic areas targeted. For more than 100 years Boys & Girls Clubs have provided youth development services to the youth most in need of them through mentoring and intensive case management when needed. For more than 35 years, Sylvan Learning Centers uses research based tutoring strategies building on individual students learning styles to target skills gaps in language arts, mathematics and/or college preparation. The Partnership literally provides mentors that tutor (BGC staff) and tutors that mentor (Sylvan teachers). Fifty-six Boys & Girls Club sites throughout Texas are actively participating in the statewide program. The results from these personal wrap around services yield outstanding results in skills mastery, credit recovery and academic promotion.
Office of the Governor - #futurestrong
#futurestrong provides human trafficking prevention and awareness for Texas youth ages 8-18 in order to prevent their involvement in the juvenile justice system and raise awareness for the risks of trafficking. State-wide, Boys & Girls Clubs will serve youth who have been identified as at-risk for involvement in trafficking due to demographic, socio-economic and family-related factors. #futurestrong is comprised of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s proven-effective program models Passport to Manhood, SMART Girls; NetSmartz; and The Boys & Girls Club Experience. Together, these programs provide multiple protective factors that defend youth from vulnerability to involvement in trafficking: they improve self-esteem and resilience; teach them about safe use of the Internet and social media; and offer daily after-school guidance and support.
COVID Remediation & Recovery Grant
Youth and families in poverty are most likely to experience the most negative consequences arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Of Club youth members, 37% of Club members live in single parent households, 73% qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, and 81% represent minority populations. These are the youth most likely to experience opportunity gaps including insufficient technology and internet access at home, inadequate academic supports, lost academic ground, food insecurity and lack of social supports.
To help remedy the opportunity gap that COVID-19 presents for our youth, members participate in a variety of age-appropriate activities and programs designed not only to be engaging for youth, but to complement their academic learning. Specifically, members will have access to:
Academic remediation
Targeted crime prevention
Teen pregnancy prevention
Social emotional learning and trauma informed care
Career goal setting and career exploration
Physical fitness and recreation
Healthy meals and snacks.
Clubs help create the best possible outcomes for members and support local education agencies by providing wrap-around services to their students. Clubs can ensure that when school is out children have support completing homework assignments, access to the internet and adequate technology to complete online/distance learning requirements. Social emotional learning and trauma informed care is available to all Club members, and Club staff continue to connect families to needed community resources. Children continue to have healthy meals and snacks and regular physical activity.
Youth for Unity : Boys & Girls Clubs in Texas and American Electric Power Foundation Social & Racial Justice grant partnership
We live in a diverse world. It is important to help young people act with respect and in ways
that promote equity and inclusion for all people. Young people may need help learning to act in
these ways toward people whose race, ethnicity, country of origin, religion, age, physical ability,
mental ability, gender, class, appearance or culture differ from their own. Youth benefit from
broadening their worldview by building meaningful relationships with adults and peers, engaging in
service-learning opportunities, high-yield activities and conversations that help them recognize
the experiences and traditions of others. Boys & Girls Clubs are committed to creating
safe spaces that are grounded in diversity, equity and inclusion practices in all Clubs and Youth
Centers. Youth for Unity was created to promote three primary youth outcomes:
1. Cultivate individuality: Youth learn to value their individuality, which is the unique
combination of qualities that makes them who they are.
2. Build cultural identity: Club members respect the beliefs, traditions and values of the
culture they belong to.
3. Appreciate diversity: Young people learn about diverse cultures and groups and begin
to appreciate the richness and depth that diversity brings to our society.