Enhancing Mental Health Support in Out of School Time

When the clock strikes 3 p.m. in Vernon, Texas, the doors of the Boys & Girls Club open, and the fun, learning, and support begin. As one of the few out of school time programs in this rural area, the Boys & Girls Club of Vernon provides more than just a space for afterschool and summer activities; it offers safety, care, and connection that many local youth rely on every day.

The Club staff have seen increasing mental health needs for youth in their program as well as their community more broadly. They recognized, like many Texans in rural regions, that mental well-being is often overlooked due to healthcare provider shortages, transportation barriers, and other local disparities. To give their community kids a better chance at future success, they took action by participating in OST CARES.  

Staff members attended trainings and meetings that have empowered them to recognize, respond to, and support the emotional well-being of the 1,500 young people they serve across three sites. The result? Spaces where youth have become more open about their emotions, more respectful in peer interactions, and better able to self-regulate.

From creating Calm Corners to facilitating intentional check-ins, their small adjustments have made a big difference. The Boys & Girls Club of Vernon staff have also found the key to earning the trust of their youth members—vulnerable adults. 

Through OST CARES, the Club’s staff have leveled up their commitment to helping young people reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. The Club’s holistic approach—providing academic guidance, healthy activities, leadership opportunities, and now mental health support—makes the Boys & Girls Club of Vernon a true second home to many kids in their community.

Mental health support transcends language barriers at El Buen Samaritano. EL Buen is known as the “one stop shop” for addressing the needs of the Spanish-speaking community in and around Travis County by improving access to healthcare, education, nutrition, and more. They are one of the few OST programs in Central Texas that is fully bilingual, culturally grounded, and intentionally intergenerational. 

Recognizing how adverse obstacles, such as being English language learners and having limited access to healthcare, created feelings of worry, anxiety, and fear for youth in their community, El Buen sought out ways to make mental health a priority in their afterschool and summer programs. Participating in OST CARES helped El Buen normalize mental health, reduce stigma, and provide bilingual tools for awareness and self-advocacy.

El Buen’s education team rapidly embraced the trauma-informed practices and strategies they learned to create safe, culturally responsive spaces for and with the youth they serve. They have strengthened their bilingual social and emotional learning curriculum with daily routines and check-ins that promote emotional awareness, reflection, and identifying safe adults.

As a deeply community-based organization, El Buen knows improving mental well-being does not start and stop with their staff. They are also building youth capacity to model emotional awareness and teach their peers how to use wellness tools. They have also implemented bilingual workshops and resources during their Family Nights, promoting open conversations and improving referral processes. 

Family engagement has increased, youth are seeking support sooner, and staff have grown into their roles as facilitators of sensitive discussions with new confidence. By embracing a shared language for emotional wellness, the El Buen Samaritano community has created an environment where trust creates pathways for mental health support.

Safe Place is more than an organization name; it’s a promise to the youth of Northeast Houston. Safe Place Outreach is committed to fostering a culture of lifelong learning and empowerment among youth, women, and families, providing a haven to build a brighter future for themselves and their community. For young people, this includes afterschool, summer, outdoor, and mentorship programs where they feel supported and inspired.

Realizing that strong, consistent support for youth requires more than a focus on educational opportunities, Safe Place sought to prioritize their mental health. Many of the young people they serve experience chronic stress, anxiety, and trauma due to factors such as lack of family engagement, poverty, and crime. 

Learning the importance of empathy through OST CARES was central to Safe Place building trust between staff, youth, and families to engage in mental health conversations and activities. Safe Place staff have been able to integrate a variety of promotion and prevention practices from that strong foundation. These include daily emotional check-ins and structured activities with youth that incorporate mindfulness, positive affirmations, and small group interactions. 

Implementing these changes has made a significant impact in helping youth and families feel they are truly in a safe place. Families are applying learned strategies at home and seeking solutions for their children’s emotional needs, while staff are observing a decrease in behavioral incidents and an increase in peer cooperation among youth. Participating in OST CARES has helped Safe Place Outreach recognize the importance of creating an environment that fosters both enjoyment and meaningful transformation, ensuring youth feel safe, supported, and valued.