Fund IRL Texas
As a member of the national Fund IRL movement, Fund IRL Texas is a TXPOST-led coalition advocating to fund high-quality out of school time (OST) programs that promote youth mental health and well-being with any settlement payouts from current technology lawsuits. “In real life” (IRL) opportunities—ones where young people build skills, make friends, and grow—are a powerful antidote to the harms of digital media.
The Need
Increasingly, we see anxiety, depression, and disengagement in the lives of young people we serve every day, and growing evidence shows that digital media use among youth only increases these challenges and behavioral risks. Clinical care alone cannot address our ongoing youth mental health crisis; Texas communities need coordinated prevention and support systems.
The Solution
Youth Entrepreneurship
High-quality afterschool and summer programs offer engaging opportunities that are proven to promote positive relationships and protective factors that support well-being. In these environments, youth learn about themselves and others, how to communicate, and how to solve low-level conflicts—optimal experiences and universally beneficial activities that help keep youth from feeling isolated and disengaged. High-quality out of school time is a universal prevention strategy to support long-term mental health.
The Opportunity
Texas is actively investigating and, in some cases, suing technology companies over their child privacy and safety practices. These lawsuits could yield once-in-a-generation funding for out of school time programs that research shows improve youth well-being and prevent harm.
Join Us
We’re working toward a future where every young person in Texas has access to high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs—a future where money intended to address digital media harms is invested directly in opportunities that help kids feel supported, confident, and connected. Together, we can turn digital media accountability into meaningful investments in youth. Help us ensure more young people can access the real-life experiences they need to thrive.
