TEXAS

REBUILDING AND EXPANDING GENDER-RESPONSIVE PROGRAMING

One Heart Project partners with juvenile probation departments, Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs (JJAEP), and schools across Texas to walk alongside at-risk and justice-involved youth. Our work spans both intervention — meeting young people already inside the justice system — and prevention, reaching students through school-based programming before those systems ever become part of their story.

Texas programming is built around gender-responsive cohorts, meaning young men and young women each get programming shaped around their specific developmental and relational needs, delivered by consistent adult mentors who show up week after week.

OUR WORK IN TEXAS

  • Gender-responsive cohorts for both young men and young women, including dedicated female programming

  • Probation and JJAEP programming for justice-involved youth

  • School-based prevention that reaches students before deeper system involvement

  • County-level partnerships across the state, including strong completion outcomes in communities like Rockwall County

  • Expanding footprint, with newer programming taking root in counties like Bee County

Whether a young person is already navigating the justice system or a school is looking to intervene early, One Heart's Texas team builds relationships that hold steady over time — not quick fixes, but sustained presence.

Stories ofImpact

SHOWING UP CHANGES EVERYTHING

As a parent, nothing prepares you for the moment when your child makes a decision that changes everything. Our family faced one of the most frightening seasons of our lives when our son became involved in serious trouble online — trouble that quickly escalated and brought consequences we never imagined. After spending time in juvenile detention, it became clear to him that this was not the future he wanted. But knowing that and knowing how to move forward are two very different things.

That's when we were introduced to the One Heart Project.

At first, my son was anxious and unsure. He had questions, fears, and very little trust in what came next. But before the program even began, a One Heart mentor personally came to our home to welcome him and explain what to expect. That moment mattered more than I can express. It told us this wasn't just a program — it was people who genuinely cared.

From that point on, One Heart walked with our family. When I had questions or concerns, they were available — through calls, video chats, and group conversations with other families navigating similar challenges. For the first time in a long time, we didn't feel alone.

The mentors didn't just show up to classes — they showed up in our lives. They built real relationships, checked in consistently, and created a space where my son felt seen, respected, and supported.

And the change in him has been remarkable.

Through One Heart, my son learned accountability and responsibility — not through shame, but through encouragement and structure. He grew in confidence. He learned how to communicate openly and respectfully. A once quiet, withdrawn young man began speaking up, engaging with peers, and taking pride in his growth.

Now, he comes home from each session excited — eager to share what he's learning, whether it's a life skill, a conversation that challenged him, or a moment that made him laugh. He smiles more. He believes in himself again.

One Heart didn't just help my son avoid a bad path, it helped him discover a better one. As a parent, I am deeply grateful for a program that sees potential where others see problems, and that believes every young person deserves a second chance to become who they were created to be.

— A Grateful Mom

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