The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Prevention & Early Intervention division has awarded more than $1.5 million through its Statewide Youth Services Network (SYSN) grants.
The SYSN program creates a statewide network of youth programs aimed at positive youth development for youth ages 6 to 17. Through the SYSN program, grantees serve youth through community and school-based mentoring, youth leadership development, and youth skills development. Grantees deliver evidence-based programs that proactively increase protective factors in youth.
SYSN grantees identify areas that may benefit from additional resources and target specific support to local communities to maintain the statewide network. Services under this grant require a dollar-for-dollar match. Grantees develop and maintain a variety of partnerships to provide programming and services to help achieve positive outcomes for youth and families.
Awardees for the current funding cycle include:
Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star – $762,500
Funds will be used for community and school-based mentoring using the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring model in numerous Texas counties, including Tarrant, Parker, Dallas, Palo Pinto and others. More than 1,300 youth will be served.
Texas Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs – $825,000
Funds will be used to provide youth leadership and youth skills development through delivery of The Boys and Girls Club Experience with programs Project Learn, SMART Moves and SMART Leaders. Programs will be offered in multiple North Texas counties, serving more than 1,300 youth.
The performance period for the grants runs through August 2027.
