Our Child Health Work Focuses On

MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH

A healthy childhood starts with a healthy mom and a healthy pregnancy and continues with access to post-partum care and early childhood support for parents and infants.

CHILDREN’S HEALTH COVERAGE

To ensure children’s success, state leaders should reduce the number of uninsured Texas children and parents and ensure that public and private insurance programs meet families’ needs.

HEALTHY EARLY DEVELOPMENT

To ensure children get off to a healthy start in life, families need access to effective supports during early childhood.

NUTRITION AND FITNESS

To address both childhood hunger and obesity, we must ensure that Texas children have access to healthy food and opportunities to play and exercise at home, in their communities, and at school.

ENDING RACIAL DISPARITIES

We must end racial disparities in maternal mortality, maternal mental health challenges, infant mortality, babies born too early or too small, access to health insurance for moms and children, and more.

THE INTERSECTION OF CHILD HEALTH AND OTHER ISSUES

Efforts to support children’s health must include the foster care system, the juvenile justice system, mental health services, child care settings, schools, and other settings that shape children’s lives.

 

Our Latest on Child Health

SEE ALL OUR RESOURCES ON CHILD HEALTH →

 

Additional Resources

Our June 2023 report on maternal and child health issues from the 2023 legislative session

Our February 2023 policy brief with recommendations to the Legislature on ECI for toddlers with disabilities

Our July 2022 policy brief on enrolling eligible children in Medicaid/CHIP

Our webpage on maintaining health care for eligible Texas children and moms as the Public Health Emergency ends (updated throughout 2022)

Cover Texas Now March 2021 blog on the latest uninsured data for Texas and ways to address the problem

Our July 2021 legislative recap on maternal and child health

Our March 2021 blog on Mathematica’s report regarding untreated maternal mental health challenges

Our March 2021 blog and resources on legislation to allow eligible children to remain in Medicaid insurance for 12 straight months

Our March 2021 blog on legislation to provide Texas moms a year of health insurance after pregnancy

Our December 2020 press release on the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee’s report

Our November 2020 report on Early Childhood Intervention in Texas

Our August 2020 policy brief on why and how Texas leaders should address maternal health

Our July 2020 blog post on health coverage policy recommendations during the pandemic

Our June 2020 blog post on racial disparities facing Texas children

Our April 2020 policy brief on women’s health programs in Texas

Our June 2019 report on ways to improve behavioral health support for mothers during the year after pregnancy (and excerpts on disparities, maternal mortality, and maternal health programs)

Our 2019 legislative recap on on maternal and children’s health policy

Our December 2018 interactive map on developmental screenings.

Our April 2018 report on teen pregnancy in foster care

Our 2018 brief on substance use among pregnant women and new moms

Our 2017 legislative recap on maternal and children's health policy

Cover Texas Now website on the uninsured rate and health coverage for children and families

Our work on Maternal and Infant Health is led by:

Diana Forester
Director of Health Policy
[email protected]
@DForesterTX

Our work on Children's Health Coverage and Early Childhood Intervention is led by:

Alec Mendoza
Senior Policy Associate for Health
[email protected]
@AlecMendoza20