Bexar County Selected as the 2026–2027 Community Development and Engagement Initiative Site!

Text Bexar County Selected over dark background and conservatory dome with plants on side

We are pleased to announce that Bexar County has been selected as the 2026–2027 site for the Community Development and Engagement Initiative!

Their application reflected care, candor, and collaboration. It was clearly the result of genuine partnerships developed over several years.

What Made Their Application Stand Out

A strong and honestly assessed foundation, along with candor about current challenges. The Bexar County team paired a candid analysis of the jurisdiction’s disparities and challenges with a host of currently implemented programs and engagement activities designed to meet those challenges. Their efforts and plans are not just aspirational, but established infrastructure.

Momentum you can point to. Bexar County is moving from intention to implementation. Their specialty juvenile dockets and trauma-informed, individualized responses demonstrate a commitment to innovative practice. Following their participation in CYJ’s Certificate Program in Advancing Racial Justice and Equity in Youth Legal Systems in September 2023, they carried that Capstone forward into stronger data collection, funding for a comprehensive mapping and needs assessment, and formal strategies to honor youth and family participation in systems-level change. Their work with My Brother’s Keeper San Antonio, beginning in 2018; their signatory commitment to the Future Ready Bexar County Plan; their role in the STEP UP Texas project; and their collaboration with the City of San Antonio’s Health Equity Network describe a jurisdiction that has remained committed to this work through changing conditions.

What Comes Next

The Community Development and Engagement Initiative is a 12-month program from September 2026 to September 2027, featuring one half-day, on-site convening per month in Bexar County to encourage local participation. CYJ staff and national experts will provide ongoing coaching and technical assistance. The engagement includes team formation and foundational learning (months one and two), a community dialogue series and fairness assessment (months three to five), action plan co-creation and initial implementation (months six to eight), continued implementation and evaluation (months nine to eleven), and sustainability planning and final assessment in month twelve.

A big congratulations to the entire Bexar County team!

We are looking forward to working side-by-side over the next year with such a dedicated group of innovative partners, driven to make a positive impact on the lives of kids in their communities.