Rooted in collaboration. growing alongside our community.

Our roots

In 2016, Klaras Center for Families (KCF) was awarded a System of Care Expansion Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)—a turning point for our region. This national initiative aims to improve how communities support the mental health and well-being of children, youth, and young adults by encouraging systems to work together rather than in isolation. For families, this means fewer gaps, more coordinated care, and services that center the voices and strengths of young people and their caregivers.

our work

With this funding, our region was able to grow and strengthen services in three key areas:

• School-Based Mental Health – partnering directly with schools to bring mental health care where students already are.

• Transition-Age Youth – providing tailored supports to young people navigating the shift to adulthood.

• Youth Crisis Respite – offering safe, short-term support for youth in crisis outside of hospital or law enforcement settings.

To help guide this work, the Our Community Our Future (OCOF) Steering Committee was established—a collaborative made up of local child- and youth-serving organizations across the six-county Heart of Texas region. Rooted in the values of the System of Care approach—family voice, cultural humility, community collaboration, and youth-driven solutions—OCOF brought together providers, advocates, and families to identify local needs and co-create meaningful responses.

our future

Over the years, OCOF has grown into more than just a grant initiative. It has become a space for shared learning, meaningful connection, and collective action. As the landscape of needs and resources continues to shift, OCOF remains committed to showing up with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to adapt.

We are listening deeply—to families, to young people, to providers and partners—recognizing that the most lasting solutions are shaped by those most impacted. The way forward begins with community, and we believe that centering youth and family voice is essential to building systems that truly support well-being, belonging, and opportunity for all.