Texans Care for Children publishes policy briefs on timely issues pertaining to Texas children.
Click on the links to download any of our recent policy papers or briefs in PDF format. For a full selection of research reports and publications, visit our main Publications page.
1.20.10
Promoting Children's Social and Emotional Development The first years of life represent a unique window of opportunity to promote children’s healthy social and emotional development. A growing body of research concludes several public programs and policies focused on the early years can be help ward off problems later in life. Texas, unfortunately, has a track record of underinvestment in children's early years, despite that taxpayers pick up exponentially higher costs for missing early opportunities to get children the right start. Our policy paper recommends a number of strategies to help Texas be more strategic and effective in fostering healthy development in the earliest years of children's lives.
Every year, hundreds of Texas kids who were removed from their families' care due to abuse or neglect turn 18 without ever having found a permanent home. Sometimes they leave the state's care with too little guidance and support to make it on their own. This paper examines situations these young Texans face and how our state can ensure all vulnerable youth have the chance to succeed when they become adults.
8.25.09
The Recession and Texas Children: How the Lone Star State's Kids are Weathering the Economic Storm As bad as the year's economy has been for Texas, children in the state are suffering even more. Tens of thousands are threatened by poverty due to an economic downturn that has brought unemployment to its highest level in years. This policy paper discusses the costs of child poverty for Texas, the long-term effects of recession-induced poverty, and challenges kids in Texas uniquely grapple with.
This brief fact sheet shows that Texas is the only state in the nation with a very high population of immigrant children to also rank in the bottom fifth for child wellbeing. Many states that rank poorly in child wellbeing have very low immigrant populations. What they share with Texas is a certain approach to taxation.
5.7.09
Children's Mental Health in Texas: Running a Diagnostic Test This paper grades Texas' performance in meeting unmet mental and behavioral health needs in children, examining the state's services and policies pertaining to children's mental health and development and providing recommendations for next steps.
