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joining forces for youth impact

Highlights from the Dallas Healthy Teen Conference

Our Dallas Healthy Teen Conference, held at Dallas College's Mountain View Campus, brought together local youth, parents, guardians, and youth-serving professionals for a day of education and community connection. Our age-appropriate sessions covered essential topics for today’s teens, including internet safety, digital communication, puberty, birth control, mental health, and STIs.

Expert presenters and organizations aligned with our mission enriched the conference with invaluable resources and expertise. Exhibitors included A Sister's Legacy, Teen Writer's Project, Trust Her, Dallas Children's Advocacy Center, Abide Women’s Health Services, the Dallas Police Dept., and Parkland Health’s Victim Intervention Program.

[The Women’s Wellness Mobile Clinic]([link removed]), a groundbreaking initiative by Parkland Health in collaboration with Trust Her, offered free on-site health services.

At [Healthy Futures of Texas]([link removed]), we believe in the power of collaboration to amplify our impact. By partnering closely with organizations that share our vision, we ensure that both youth and their parents have access to the resources they need to thrive, reinforcing our role as a key provider of information and community engagement.

advancing youth care: tyfi summit

We recently hosted the Texas Youth-Friendly Initiative (TYFI) Summit in Houston, uniting clinics from El Paso, Dallas, and Houston to advance care for young people aged 10 to 24.

TYFI’s 18-month program, grounded in the [Adolescent Champion Model (ACM),]([link removed]) empowers clinics to create welcoming, youth-friendly policies, practices, and environments.

Highlights of the event:

- Cohort 5 clinics, including Abide Women’s Health Services (Dallas), two Baylor College of Medicine Teen Health Clinics (Houston), two HOPE Clinics (Houston), and Project Vida (El Paso), collaborated with HFTX staff, [HFTX Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) members]([link removed]), and Adolescent Health Initiative (AHI) representatives to refine adolescent care practices.
- University of Houston students from the Coogs Rise Up for Sexual Health (CRUSH) project provided key insights on improving clinic experiences, while Askable Adults and Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) trainings were conducted to better equip clinic staff in supporting youth.

This summit underscored our commitment to collaboration and continuous improvement in adolescent care, reinforcing our mission to create inclusive, supportive environments for all young Texans.

youth advocates 2024-25 kickoff

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The [Youth Advocates]([link removed]) 2024-2025 program is underway! This year, 39 high school students from Brownsville, Dallas, and San Antonio are meeting bi-weekly to champion adolescent health through civic engagement. Guided by our four near-peer Team Leads, they will focus on improving access to sex education and teen-friendly healthcare. The program begins with a Sex Education Boot Camp, where Youth Advocates learn about reproductive health, contraception, healthy relationships, consent, STIs, and more.

new partnership for youth health

We’re thrilled to join forces with the Theory & Innovation Support Hub (TISH) to elevate one of our pregnancy prevention programs, aimed at reducing risky behaviors and promoting better health outcomes for youth. This partnership also enables us to strengthen our [Key Conversations]([link removed]) parent program, equipping parents with the tools to help their teens make informed decisions about their sexual health and relationships.

advocacy update: parent consent

The Texas “opt in” law requiring written parent consent for sex education has expired as of August 1, meaning that school districts may choose to go back to an “opt out” format. However, Texas law still requires parent consent for any public school instruction on the prevention of child abuse, family violence, dating violence, or sex trafficking. Since healthy relationships and abuse prevention typically are part of sex education, many Texas schools are planning to continue to use an opt-in format this school year. Research indicates that many parents who fail to return permission slips are not actually opposed to their child receiving instruction, but simply overlook or forget to fill out the paperwork.

upcoming events

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The 7th Annual South Texas Summit is your ticket to two days filled with inspiration, knowledge, and connection. Whether you are looking to expand your skills, network with peers, or gain new insights, this event is your gateway to growth. Don't miss out!

Continuing education credits in multiple disciplines will be available.

[get event details]([link removed])

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Let’s ensure young Texans have access to sexual health education and resources. Support Healthy Futures of Texas during North Texas Giving Day and The Big Give on September 19.

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Visit [NorthTexasGivingDay.org]([link removed]) or [hftx.org]([link removed])

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Early giving begins September 1.

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The first $20,000 in gifts will be matched!

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- Visit [TheBigGiveSA.org]([link removed]) or [hftx.org]([link removed])
- Early giving begins September 11.

sponsored insights

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The [UTHealth Houston Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research]([link removed]) (CHPPR) is a leader in developing programs that promote healthy relationships among vulnerable populations. Their evidence-based initiatives, like the "It’s Your Game" suite and the "Me & You" family of tools, target adolescents to improve sexual health and prevent dating violence. CHPPR also addresses reproductive health inequities through community-driven projects like the CARE Center. With a broad focus, including projects for adult populations, CHPPR continues to innovate and impact diverse communities.

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Healthy Futures of Texas

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San Antonio, TX 78207


[email protected] / 210.223.4589

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