What if teen health wasn’t just about checkups and clinics, but about their goals, their voice and their future?
That vision is at the heart of Viva Teens; a brand shaped with input from teens themselves and launched by UT Teen Health to make health accessible and empowering for today’s youth.
“We wanted Viva Teens to feel like it truly represents youth voices,” said Briana Patlan, a health educator at UT Teen Health. “Members of our Youth Leadership Council played a key role in shaping the brand, from choosing colors and logos to building on each other’s ideas and making sure every voice was heard. Viva Teens isn’t just a brand, it is a declaration: Long live teens — their health, their dreams, their future. That is something we are passionate about.”
Viva Teens officially launched in 2024 as part of a five-year initiative. Viva Teens was built for teens, by teens, with their insight guiding the vision and direction of the brand. The goal from the start was to create something that speaks to teens in ways that feel relevant to their lives. The initiative focuses on reaching youth and families across 38 counties in South Texas, helping them access the resources and support they need to make informed choices about their health and future. In its second year, Viva Teens reached 6,430 youth, nearly tripling its impact from 2,212 youth in the first year. With year three underway, the initiative is building on that momentum with even bigger goals to expand its impact throughout the region.
So, what does this look like? Here’s what it looks like in action:
- Supporting teens with mental health, emotional well-being, relationship education and overall wellness in ways that actually connect.
- Building confidence in communication, boundaries and self-esteem.
- Providing resources teens can put into practice in their own lives.
This is not just talk. Viva Teens shows up every day through school and community partnerships, youth engagement, digital tools, events and workshops with UT Teen Health and its partners. The brand works alongside the community to meet teens where they are, whether online or in person, and to provide support that feels genuine and uplifting.
More than a brand, a movement for wellness
Viva Teens is powered by UT Teen Health, a program of UT San Antonio at the Health Science Center that has been serving the community for over 20 years by helping youth grow into healthy adults. UT Teen Health has always focused on evidence-based education, youth voice and positive youth development. The Viva Teens initiative builds on that mission and reflects the future of teen health.
From workshops to online content to community events and even service opportunities, Viva Teens is designed to lift teens up in every part of their wellness journey, supporting mind, body and beyond.
What’s New
This fall, UT Teen Health is rolling out new resources and programs to support youth. One highlight is the return of Project YES (Youth Empowerment and Support), a free, self-guided online program that helps teens manage their mental health. The tool offers short, interactive modules that each take less than 10 minutes, covering topics such as stress, mood and coping strategies. Teens can use it at any time, making it a resource that feels both practical and accessible. A Spanish-language version is available, so even more youth and families in South Texas can use it.
“Project YES is more than a mental health tool, it’s a commitment to our community,” said Kristen Plastino, MD, CEO of UT Teen Health. “By offering free, accessible and youth-driven support, we’re helping to close the mental health gap for teens in South Texas. This partnership ensures that every teen, no matter their background, has a chance to feel heard, supported and hopeful about their future.”
Readers can learn more about Project YES and explore the modules at www.tryprojectyes.org/utth.
Viva Teens will also continue to grow this fall with new content, fresh tools and more opportunities for youth, parents and partners to get involved.
So, whether a teen, caregiver or part of the community, welcome to Viva Teens. Viva Teens is only getting started.
Want to learn more or get involved?
Visit https://www.utteenhealth.org/, follow us on Instagram @utteenhealthsa and Facebook @utteenhealth, or reach out to the UT Teen Health team at utteenhealth@uthscsa.edu.
About UT Teen Health
Now in its 22nd year, UT Teen Health, a grant-funded program of UT San Antonio at the Health Science Center, is dedicated to helping young people grow into healthy adults. The team works closely with schools, families and community organizations to promote teen wellness through evidence-based education. Viva Teens further advances this mission with support from the Office of Population Affairs, whose funding expands UT Teen Health’s reach and delivers resources to youth and families across South Texas.
This publication was supported by Award No. TP1AH000285 from the Office of Population Affairs (OPA). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of OPA or the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).