Texas Health and Reach Council outline youth 'Seeds to Success' program, RFP open April 13

Aaron Bennett, representing Texas Health Community Impact, told the Keene City Council on April 2 that the organization uses a data‑driven, upstream approach to community health and that its 2025 community health needs assessment identified local priorities. Bennett said Texas Health has invested $18.2 million across North Texas since 2019, with $1.2 million going specifically to Johnson County.

"We are guided by data," Bennett said, announcing that the request for proposals for the 2027–28 grant cycle will open April 13, close May 29, and be accompanied by a regional webinar on April 16. He said the program’s focus for that cycle will be innovation and that Texas Health is emphasizing organizational capacity building in rural communities.

Gracie Gray and Molly Fuller of Reach Council described Seeds to Success, a program for youth ages 15–25 targeting priority ZIP codes (Keene, Cleburne, Rio Vista and Alvarado). Gray highlighted a local statistic used to design the program: "18% of youth in Johnson County ages 16 to 19 are not enrolled in school and they're not employed anywhere," she said, noting the county rate exceeds state and national averages.

The program offers one‑on‑one mentorship, peer support groups, skills workshops (resume building, interview skills, cooking, basic car/home care) and pro‑social activities. Gray said phase‑one of Texas Health’s two‑phase grant model provided planning funds, with Johnson County receiving $100,000 split across three collaboratives; one collaborative was awarded $250,000 for implementation in phase two.

Molly Fuller shared a participant success story: a young woman who aged out of foster care and lacked a high‑school diploma and driver's license has progressed toward completing high‑school requirements, obtaining a license and reaching employment — steps that Reach Council said were possible in part because Texas Health supported fees for license testing and diploma programs.

Reach Council encouraged referrals and outreach: staff offered QR codes and an email for signups and said the group will host a kickoff skills event April 10 at the East Cleburne Community Center and participate in the Keene Chamber luncheon on April 23.

Council and staff asked clarifying questions on geography and eligibility; presenters said eligibility is residency by ZIP code and that the program is open to youth in the listed priority areas regardless of whether they meet the 'not enrolled/not employed' statistic. No council action was required; the presentation was informational and included an RFP timeline for local nonprofits seeking funding.