Over the past decade, behavioral health challenges among Texas youth have increased significantly, mirroring a global trend where mental health and substance use disorders are the leading cause of disability for children and youth.
Too often, parents are stuck making a gut-wrenching decision to leave their children, who are experiencing a crisis, at the hospital for days or even weeks at a time. Instead of having dinner at home with their family and sleeping in their own bed, kids are stuck in hospitals. But when kids get the YES Waiver services, they are often able to keep going to school, play on their sports teams, create memories with their friends and remain at home where it feels comfortable, safe and familiar.
The YES Waiver has provided effective support for youth with complex mental health challenges — including keeping children out of foster care and supporting children currently in foster or kinship care. YES Waiver services address a broad range of mental health challenges by offering specialized therapies, community living, family supports, employment assistance, respite services, transportation, and adaptive aids tailored to prevent out-of-home placements, ensuring youth remain with their families.
“First time that I had a group of providers who I felt were on my team.”
- Janice, mother of a Texas teen who relied on the YES Waiver
Unfortunately, the number of Texas children served in the program is falling — even as demand rises
That’s why we are urging the Texas Legislature to improve access to these services by supporting HHSC’s funding request.
Read more in our new policy brief.
