OST CARES
The Texas Partnership for Out of School Time (TXPOST) is proud to launch OST CARES. This initiative aims to enhance mental health support and awareness within Texas out of school time (OST), recognizing the unique potential of OST programs in implementing promotion and prevention strategies to better support the well-being of youth.
Direct service OST programs that are selected to take part in OST CARES will receive comprehensive staff training, ongoing support through a community of practice, and a participation stipend (approximately $20,000–$30,000) to implement mental health promotion and prevention practices and activities with youth in their program.
TXPOST is currently reviewing interest surveys for the second cohort and will notify all prospective participants by October 4, 2024. The interest survey for the third cohort is expected to open in January 2025. Please check back then or sign up for TXPOST’s newsletter to receive updates. If you have any questions or need additional guidance, please contact OST CARES Project Director Jenny McClure at OSTCARES@txpost.org.
In recent years, more young people are increasingly struggling with anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide, and other serious mental health issues. Experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have declared children’s mental health “a national emergency.” In Texas:
- More than 350,000 young people experienced a major depressive episode in the last year, and of those, 73%— the worst rate in the country—did not receive mental health services.
- 22% of high school students seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021.
- Over half a million children ages 3-17 experienced depression or anxiety in 2020, a 23% increase from 2016. Black and Latino children experienced the largest increases in depression and anxiety.
Leading authorities recognize the power of out of school time programs to support kids’ mental health. OST programs are well-positioned to contribute to this effort by providing valuable opportunities to support youth holistically, foster resilience, and create nurturing environments beyond the classroom setting.
OST CARES was created to meet the requirements authorized by General Appropriations Act (GAA), Article III, Rider 88, 88th Texas Legislature and administered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
The OST CARES initiative also complements TEA’s Stronger OST initiative, which was created as the result of a supplemental appropriation to the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program in The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). Together, OST CARES and Stronger OST aim to strengthen out of school time program quality across Texas, with a focus on supporting programs in implementing mental health supports. Opportunities for collaboration between Stronger OST grantees and OST CARES participants will be facilitated throughout the implementation of both initiatives.
The goals of OST CARES
Community Partnerships: Partner with local and statewide mental health providers to offer mental health services in OST settings;
Awareness and Education: Promote mental health awareness programs and education to identify youth in need and provide early intervention to serve the whole child and family;
Resources and Referrals: Establish a network of resources and referrals for equitable access for students and families in need of additional support;
Emotional Support: Foster an emotionally supportive environment to reduce the mental burden placed on under-resourced families as a result of the recent pandemic; and
Self-Care and Coping Strategies: Promote self-care practices and teach students effective coping strategies for managing stress and emotions.