The action taken
The Youth Mental Health Initiative, led by the Out of School Time CARES Team composed of Bastrop County Cares staff, launched during a summer kickoff event at Veterans Stadium on the Del Valle High School campus June 21.
“The team is actively engaging youth and families through their Chill Out Zone and Emotional Backpack Workshops, offering tools and safe spaces that make mental wellness accessible and relatable for young people across the county,” said Norma Mercado, executive director of Bastrop County Cares, in a newsletter.
Each member was invited to participate based on their skills and alignment with the initiative.
“While they were asked to join, they accepted the role willingly and have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the work,” Mercado told Community Impact.
What parents should know
A graduate-level mental health intern from the Translational Health Research Center at Texas State University is supporting the Youth Mental Health Initiative.
“The intern has been instrumental in research, program planning, and the development of trauma-informed, youth-centered strategies that strengthen the impact of the OST CARES Team,” Bastrop County Cares officials said in a newsletter.
Emotional Backpack Workshops will be implemented at area campuses through partnerships with local school districts, including Bastrop ISD. The first of several took place June 27 at Mina Elementary in Bastrop ISD, and more are planned for Elgin ISD and Smithville ISD.
“The event served 65 children,” Mercado said. “The response from Bastrop ISD officials has been overwhelmingly positive. They are excited about the initiative and are eager to expand it to additional after-school campuses across the district.”
Also of note
The OST CARES Team will also mobilize the Chill Out Zone—which places an emphasis on coping strategies and the importance of checking in on oneself as well as others—to underserved communities across Bastrop County.
“By meeting youth and families where they are, the OST CARES Team is helping ensure that all children have access to the support they need to grow, thrive and feel heard,” Bastrop County Cares officials said.
Bastrop County Cares anticipates reaching approximately 1,500 students by June 1, 2026, through a combination of workshops, training and expanded OST CARES programming, Mercado said.
