Texas Mental Health Youth Advocacy Coalition Fellowship (Fall 2026)

The Jed Foundation (JED) is now accepting applications for the 2026 cohort of the Texas Mental Health Youth Advocacy Coalition (YAC) Fellowship. YAC brings together young mental health advocates in a brave space to drive change through education, policy advocacy, media, and storytelling. This ten-week hybrid, paid fellowship trains undergraduate students in mental health advocacy and community outreach. Fellows receive a structured curriculum, expert mentorship, and paid compensation to develop and launch their own strategic advocacy plans. Fellows will participate in Advocacy Days on Capitol Hill and continue their advocacy throughout the 2026-2027 academic year. Informational Webinar: The Jed Foundation will host an informational webinar for interested students and university partners on July 29th at 4 P.M. ET/ 3 P.M. CT. Register for the webinar here . Personal Summary/Write-Up Submission Requirement PLEASE USE THE PERSONAL SUMMARY SECTION OF THIS APPLICATION TO SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING: Submit two short essays between 300-400 words in length each, responding to the following prompts: Prompt 1: “Why are you interested in joining the Youth Advocacy Coalition? "What mental health advocacy efforts, policy initiatives, or projects do you hope to pursue through this program at the state and national levels?” As you prepare your response to Prompt 1, we encourage you to share how you think critically, collaborate with others, and draw from your own experiences, passions, and perspectives. We are especially interested in how you hope to uniquely contribute to efforts that support youth mental health and help prevent suicide across the state of Texas and the U.S. Prompt 2: “Do you think artificial intelligence (AI) should be used to support youth mental health? Why or why not? If yes, what rules or safeguards should be in place?” As you prepare your response to Prompt 2, we encourage you to reflect on how artificial intelligence may be shaping youth mental health. The review committee is especially interested in hearing your unique perspectives and experiences, as well as your thoughts on how emerging technologies can be used in ways that are both safe and supportive for young people. Commitment Program Dates: October 5 – December 11 (Virtual, 16 hours per week) Fellows will receive advance notice of opportunities to travel to Washington, D.C., or within Texas for advocacy engagement opportunities. JED will provide travel and lodging for all selected fellows for these specific opportunities. Application Timeline Applications OPEN: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Applications CLOSE: Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 3:00 P.M ET/ 2:00 P.M CST Applicants will be notified: Mid September 2026 Eligibility Requirements: Fellows must be permanent residents of Texas and actively enrolled as an undergraduate student in a Texas-based college or university for the 2026–2027 academic year.