The Strategic Plan provides a blueprint for supporting the small but important population of children with the most complex mental health and substance use challenges. Texas is making progress on the Strategic Plan, but the Legislature must take additional steps.
There are a number of ways that a child’s mental health can be improved. The right mix of solutions will look different for each child and each situation. It might include steps like more exercise, limits on screen time, stable housing, behavioral health services, or other changes.
For decades, the Texas Legislature has recognized that for some children — particularly those with more complex challenges — mental health services are an essential ingredient for addressing their challenges and getting healthy.
To guide the Legislature’s work on these services, in December 2024, the Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council released the Children’s Behavioral Health Strategic Plan.
Our new report explains that in 2025, the Texas Legislature took the necessary steps to partially or fully implement 8 of the Strategic Plan’s 31 recommendations.
We also identify five high-priority steps the Legislature should pursue to further implement the Strategic Plan:
- Reinstate and Increase Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Waiver Funding
- Medicaid Coverage for Community-Based Services
- Scale Crisis Services to 24/7 Availability
- Strengthen the Workforce, Particularly in Rural Communities
- Modernize and Coordinate Data Systems
Investing in the YES Waiver in particular should be a priority for the Legislature. The YES Waiver provides home- and community-based mental health services to children who are struggling with their mental health and are at risk of institutionalization or out-of-home placement. Unfortunately, the number of Texas children served in the program is falling, even as demand rises, with nearly 900 children left waiting for services in 2023. In fact, during the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers cut the YES Waiver by $1.3 million.
