State must closely monitor health concerns and provide federal funds to providers
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is one of the state's main programs for influencing children's trajectory during the developmentally critical years of early childhood and ensuring that more students start kindergarten ready to succeed. The proposed Medicaid rate cuts for children's therapies would adversely affect the community organizations that provide ECI services, which are distinct from the home health agencies at the center of the rate controversy. After past budget cuts to ECI, legislators should ensure full funding and support is provided to the program and the children with disabilities and delays who rely on it.
Over the last several days the news about Child Protective Services (CPS), and the children who rely on the state agency, has been fast, furious, and at times deeply disturbing. As Texans try to digest all of these stories and consider what should happen next, it's important to avoid a few wrong impressions. Here are six things to keep in mind.
We should be proud that juvenile crime continues at historic lows and that we're holding more youth accountable in a way that increasingly helps them stay safe and on a path to success. As policymakers and others seek to build on this success, one of the key issues to start working on is confinement of youth on county probation.
This year, the new commissioner will also oversee the department's once-every-six-years update to child care licensing standards, meaning he or she will have a critical opportunity to put in place stronger standards to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of kids in licensed child care and foster care group homes across the state. Here's how DFPS can ensure more Texas children are on the right track.
Testimony to House Public Health Committee
Texas can reduce the human and financial impact of obesity by working to address and prevent childhood obesity, with particular attention to healthy pregnancies and the first few months and years of a child's life. We urge the committee to improve access to prenatal and postpartum care; continue investing in evidence-based interventions such as home visiting; and build on the state's programs to improve healthy eating and fitness in childhood, such DSHS's Obesity Prevention Program.
Momentum for legislative action on children's mental health continues to build. Following the recent discussions on children's mental health in the Texas Senate Finance Committee and House Public Education Committee, the House Select Committee on Mental Health spent all day Tuesday taking a deep dive on some of the key issues facing Texas children and youth who struggle with mental health concerns.
