We envision a future where very child, youth and young adult is healthy, connected and thriving. Learn more about OCOF at www.ocof-hot.org!
Our Community Our Future (OCOF) envisions a future where every child, youth and young adult is healthy, connected and thriving. We are collaborating to advance a cohesive, responsive and accessible system of care serving children, youth, young adults and their families across the Heart of Texas. OUR REGION:
The Heart of Texas region includes Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone, and McLennan counties—six communities united by a shared commitment to strengthening the health, connectedness, and well-being of children, youth, young adults and their families.
04/14/2026
This week, we celebrate the youngest members of our community and you can make it extra special.
To start off the Week of the Young Child, we’re kicking off a community-wide Children’s Book Drive. From April 11–25, you can:
📖 Drop off new or gently used children’s books forat the locations around Waco
🔗 Or give through our Amazon Wish List: https://a.co/00ehDNP6
All donations go directly to children through local nonprofits, giving them access to stories that inspire.
📚 Final Donation Day: 10am–7pm on April 24 at the Bledsoe Miller STEAM Center
📖 Storytime readings: 11am–1pm
Your donation is more than a book; it’s a chance to be part of a child’s story. Will you join us?
04/14/2026
OCOF Community Partners !
In celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, Morgan Pettijohn (OCOF Early Childhood subcommittee co-facilitator) and members of the Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network Klaras Children's Center ECI team attended the Heart of Texas Autism Network (HOTAN) 5K and Family Fun Walk event on Saturday, April 11th.
It was a fun day of community building, connecting families with resources, and developing relationships with other community partners!
04/10/2026
College, Career & Trade Enrollment Night
Join Heart of Texas Goodwill Industries for their exciting event happening next week on April 16th ! We will also have staff onsite to assist with applications for GED or adult high school diploma programs. Everyone is welcome regardless of their educational level. This is also a great opportunity
04/10/2026
Play ball! 🥎
April is Autism Acceptance Month, and we are partnering with Baylor Athletics to host a special game recognizing and celebrating individuals with autism and their families.
This is an opportunity to come together as a community, raise awareness, and affirm the gifts and contributions of autistic people.
Let’s show what it looks like to build communities of belonging on and off the field!
04/10/2026
🤝 5TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY EVENT
🗓️Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
⏰Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
🗺️Location: Dewey Park & Community Center (925 N. 9th St, Waco, TX 76707)
Mark your calendars! The 5th Annual Community Opportunity Event (COE) is back at Dewey Park & Community Center.
Created by the Waco Police Department, the COE connects youth, teens, and young adults with valuable resources and opportunities.
Attendees can access:
💼 Job opportunities & mentoring programs
🩹 Mental & physical health resources
🏫 GED and education pathways
📝 Scholarships and grant opportunities
Policing our community is not just about enforcing laws; it’s about building relationships. The COE is a chance for us to come together as partners and help bridge gaps in our community.
Bring your family and join us. We hope to see you there!
Join us for a fun-filled evening at Cameron Park Zoo as Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network's Klaras Center for Families hosts Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, presented by Bird Kultgen Ford!
🗓 Saturday, May 16th
🕔 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
This family event promises entertainment, resources, and support for the whole family. Enjoy zoo activities and interactive exhibits while learning about children's mental health. We'll have something for kids of all ages, so bring the whole crew! Come connect with us and let's prioritize our community's mental well-being together.
Join us for a fun-filled evening at Cameron Park Zoo as Klaras Center for Families hosts Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, presented by Bird Kultgen Ford! This free family event promises entertainment, resources, and support for the whole family. Enjoy zoo activities and interactive exhibits w
04/08/2026
Today's Youth Homelessness subcommittee meeting (a partnership with Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition) was a time to connect with local community partners working to ensure that every youth and young adult in the Heart of Texas has a secure home that meets their needs.
Subcommittee members reviewed the existing plan for ending youth homelessness to identify strategic opportunities to support youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in our community.
Kaitlin Fedro (OCOF System of Care Coordinator) and Morgan Pettijohn (Program Director of Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network's Klaras Children's Center Early Childhood Intervention & OCOF's Early Childhood subcommittee co-facilitator) attended the United Way of Waco-McLennan County Constellation of Care summit today.
The day was spent connecting with other United Way Designated Agencies, assessing needs and gaps across the local system of care, and developing deeper partnership and richer collaboration!
04/08/2026
Today, members of the Opportunity & Transition Aged Youth subcommittee met with Jenn Esparza-Arismendi, a counselor at the McLennan Community College Counseling Center who works specifically with students in MCC's workforce education programs.
Building connections like these are just one way OTAY subcommittee members are collaborating to advance a cohesive, responsive and accessible system of care serving children, youth, young adults and their families across the Heart of Texas!
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Our Community Our Future (OCOF) was started in the Fall of 2015 when Klaras Center for Families, Heart of Texas Region MHMR, helped to organize a committee of community stakeholders to look at the needs of children and adolescents in our community. Our initial goal was to identify gaps in services and pool resources between various community partners to meet these needs.
Mission Statement
Our committee name and mission is “Our Community Our Future.” A great deal of intentionality was put into this because we all want to promote collective responsibility for the children, adolescents, and youth of our community. In an effort to meet some needs identified by the OCOF committee, we applied for grant funding. We were awarded the grant and received $3.4 Million for an initiative called “Closing the Gaps.”
There are three main targets for the funding of this 4-year grant:
School-Based Mental Health
A counselor and a case manager are placed on a school site to serve the most intensive children and adolescents with mental health needs. This allows children and adolescents to receive the care they need with minimal disruption to their school day, quick and easy access to a counselor or case manager during times of crisis and allows for collaboration with school staff to best meet the student’s needs.
Transition Age Youth (TAY)
This program serves youth and young adults between the ages of 18-22 years of age. The program provides youth and young adults with mental health services and additional support for life skills, education, and employment.
Crisis Respite For Youth
This is a service that is much needed in our community to address the need for youth who need a temporary place to stay as opposed to juvenile placement, CPS placement, or hospitalization. The OCOF Committee believes that this would be able to serve the community on several levels: children in a mental health crisis, homeless youth in crisis, victims of human trafficking, CPS youth in need of respite, and other similar situations.
