Newsroom

Welcome to Our Research and Resource Round-Up.
 
Below, we compile some of the latest and greatest information about Texas children, policy issues, and more from around the state and country. You can also visit our Publications section, State of the Children blog, Promise Area pages, and press releases section for more resources and helpful content.
 
Members of the Media: Click here to visit our "For the Press" page, and contact Texans Care's Communications Director Christine Sinatra at (512) 473-2274.

Children's Health
DateThe Lead
3/31/2010 Insurers Directed to Cover Preexisting Conditions in Children
 Will they, or won't they? That question about insurers and their plans for covering preexisting conditions in children has been asked a lot in the last week. The verdict seems to be yes, not only for one infamous case in Texas but for kids nationwide.
3/23/2010 Passage of Historic Health Reform Bill Means a Lot for Texas Children
 Health reform gives hundreds of thousands more Texas children access to quality, affordable health coverage. We provide a summary of how it will work.
3/5/2010 New Child Obesity Research Findings
 Preventing child obesity, according to a number of recently released studies, is entirely within our grasp. 
3/4/2010 A Closer Look at the Health and Human Services 2010 Cuts
 UPDATED: Medicaid providers, hospitals, and families with medically needy children are among those who stand to be affected by the 2010 budget cuts in health and human services.
2/25/2010 Connecting the National Health Reform Summit to Texas Children
 

Health reform for Texas kids and families is on Texans' minds again, with the National Health Reform Summit in the news and new plans on the table for how to reform the U.S. health care system.

2/9/2010 First Lady Launches Campaign Against Child Obesity
 Ending child obesity in a generation is the aim of a new initiative spearheaded by Michelle Obama.
1/22/2010 How National Health Reform Can Still Happen for Texas Children and Families
 

The way forward for health reform, a variety of health policy organizations and analysts are saying, is getting it passed sooner rather than later.

1/22/2010 What the Senate and House Health Reform Efforts Mean for Children
 

What's in health reform for kids? The House health bill would produce one set of outcomes for Texas children who are uninsured, on Medicaid, or covered by CHIP, and the Senate would produce another. Several new resources offer all the details you need to know. UPDATED

12/22/2009Are Children in Child Care Getting Enough Activity?
 

The physical activity-daycare link is the subject of several new reports about whether young children especially are getting enough exercise when not in their family's care.

11/18/2009Covering Children in Health Reform Debate a Priority
 

A poll finds affording coverage for children is a priority of the American people in the national health reform debate, according to the Georgetown Center on Children and Families.

7/23/2010 Round-Up of Children's Health News
 

See what we're sharing on Twitter, Facebook, Digg, and more. Browse a complete list of our child and maternal health news links.  

Child Protection
DateThe Lead
4/8/2010 New Report Examines Experience of Young Adults Aging Out of Foster Care
 Aging out of foster care is the subject of the newly released "Midwest Evaulation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth," one of most comprehensive studies of former foster youth to date. 
2/25/2010 Texas Child Fatalities from Abuse and Neglect Surge
 Child abuse and neglect led to the deaths of 280 Texas children last year, an all-time high. If there is a silver lining, it is in knowing that these deaths can be prevented.
12/1/2009 Keeping Children Safe from Abuse
 Fighting child abuse was top news today around the world, as media shined a light on the continuing campaign to prevent abuse. Also, a national organization offers tips and resources worth sharing to prevent the sexual abuse of children.
7/23/2010 Round-Up of Child Protection News
 See what we're sharing on Twitter, Facebook, Digg, and more. Browse a complete list of our child protection news links.
Family Financial Security
DateThe Lead
6/16/2010 New Poverty Measure Stirs Discussion
 A supplemental poverty measure newly undertaken by the federal government is the subject of some debate and, experts say, misunderstanding.
3/31/2010 Audit Finds Applying for Programs in Texas Often Overwhelming
 "A system that time forgot" is how one public official characterized the state eligibility system in the wake of a new state auditor's report about inefficiencies and processing headaches for Texans needing assistance.
3/12/2010 Progress in Connecting Texas Kids with Meal Programs
 Food stamps and school lunches are just two government programs that help low-income children get meals they need, and both programs were connected to events in the news this week.
3/3/2010 Financial Literacy in Schools as a Path to Better Economic Outcomes for Texas
 Kids' financial future can be shaped by what they learn to do for themselves with their first income. A couple of new programs aim to support high schoolers' financial literacy.
2/19/2010 New Resources and Research about How Tax Policy Can Help Low-Income Texans
 Helping families at tax time is one way public structures and nonprofit organizations can ensure more children are lifted from poverty. New free resources and research about tax proposals support efforts like these.
2/4/2010 Number of Children Receiving Food Pantry Assistance Up 50 Percent Since 2006
 Food banks feed 1 in 5 kids in Texas at some point during a year, according to the largest study of domestic hunger to date from Feeding America and Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
1/29/2010 More Indicators that the Recession is Impacting Texas Kids
 Nine states, Texas included, are at the highest risk for seeing big increases in the child poverty rate, according to a new report. Meanwhile, the ranks of the uninsured are growing, putting new pressure on Texas' community health centers.
1/13/2010 Food Stamp Crisis in Texas is Worst in U.S.
 

Texas is worst in the nation at providing food assistance to families who need it, a top federal official says, and privatization was part of the problem. 

1/11/2010 Majority of Texas School Children are Now Economically Disadvantaged
 Most Texas students are now poor, according to two new reports, and the state has seen a 40 percent jump in the percentage of school-going kids who are economically disadvantaged, compared to just a decade ago.
12/3/2009 Payday Lending a Major Challenge for Texas
 Payday lenders target poor Texans. Some research finds that single mothers and others with children are among the most vulnerable. A recent series from the Texas Tribune examined the issue. Texans Care for Children also is seeking stories from real Texans about the issue.
7/23/2010 Round-Up of Family Financial Security News
 See what we're sharing on Twitter, Facebook, Digg, and more. Browse a complete list of our family financial security news links.
Juvenile Justice
DateThe Lead
1/29/2010 Do Kids with Mental Health Problems Belong in the Juvenile Justice System?
 Mental illness and juvenile justice have a long history of being intertwined issues, with the majority of youth in the system suffering at least one diagnosed illness. A recent summit from Texans Care for Children examined the issue and what Texas can do about it.
1/7/2010 Federal Report Finds High Prevalence of Sex Abuse in Juvenile Detention Centers
 Sex abuse at juvenile facilities was the subject of a new report from the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, and young inmates in Texas reported high rates of abuse.
7/23/2010 Round-Up of Juvenile Justice News
 

See what we're sharing on Twitter, Facebook, Digg, and more. Browse a complete list of our juvenile justice news links.  

Child Mental Wellbeing
DateThe Lead
7/26/2010 UPDATED: Mental Health Training Opportunities, Policy News and More from the Texas Children's Mental Health Forum
 More of the latest children's mental health news, training opportunities, and policy updates are captured in this summary of messages from Texans Care's Mental Health Policy Associate.
5/24/2010 Texas Ponders More Early Care Training
 Child care worker training requirements may increase, if a state agency determines this summer it can change the standards.
4/7/2010 Zero to Three Releases Findings from 2009 National Parent Survey
 The survey--designed to explore issues and challenges that parents of young children confront today and to identify gaps in knowledge of early development and sources of information, influence, and support for parents--has implications for policies and programs for infants, toddlers, and families
1/7/2010 Use of Powerful Psychiatric Medications for Kids is Up
 Antipsychotic drugs and young kids are being paired at increasing rates, and new evidence finds poorer children are more likely to get these very strong medications.
7/23/2010 Round-Up of Child Mental Wellbeing News
 

See what we're sharing on Twitter, Facebook, Digg, and more. Browse a complete list of our child mental wellbeing news links.  

More about Kids
DateThe Lead
7/26/2010 Member Spotlight: A Success Story for Down by the Border
 This Texans Care for Children member group had a great success for children with special health care needs last legislative session, and aims to have another win for children with disabilities in 2011.
7/20/2010 An Interview with Texans Care Member - The League of Women Voters of Texas
 

Getting out the vote, getting informed, and helping to elect candidates who will make the right decisions for Texas children matters. This interview provides key tips for achieving those goals.

5/28/2010 Texas Leaders Call for More Cuts Harmful to Texans
 

Today state leaders continued misguided calls for Texas to continue to cut needed services and programs for Texans, including children, youth, and families.

5/11/2010 Texas Budget Woes Worsen, As Needs for Families Rise
 State leaders in Texas legislative committee today discussed options for addressing a projected shortfall brought on by the recession.
2/24/2010 An Interview with Texans Care Member YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region
 Eliminating racism, promoting dignity, and empowering women are at the heart of the YWCA's work. For our February newsletter, we spoke in-depth with a Texans Care member, the YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region, to shed light on our theme for the month, opportunity for all Texas kids.

   

 

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