Growing Up
BLOG POSTS, PRESS RELEASES, & ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CHILDREN AT RISK2026 Houston Honor Roll
Get InvolvedOur vision is for the state of Texas to be the best possible place for children to grow and families to work. CHILDREN AT RISK's policy team works tirelessly to listen to community needs and advocate for public policy that truly supports children and...
Harris County’s Early Learning Quality Network Celebrates Three Years of Impact
CHILDREN AT RISK and community partners to share results of $16.4 million ARPA investment in early learning and child care. Media Contacts:Morgan Gerri, 832.600.9354Rashena Franklin, 713.301.4577 HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (Oct. 13) — A $16.4 million investment in early...
Dr. Bob Sanborn, President and CEO of CHILDREN AT RISK, to Retire After Two Decades of Leading the Statewide Research and Advocacy Nonprofit
Media Contacts:Morgan Gerri, 832.600.9354Rashena Franklin, 713.301.4577 TEXAS (October 8, 2026) – Dr. Bob Sanborn, a longtime leader in Texas child advocacy and public policy, will retire as president and CEO of CHILDREN AT RISK on July 1, 2027, concluding more than...
Don’t Close the Door on Our Youngest Learners: Head Start Is Essential for Texas Children
As the Administration weighs the public comments in response to their recent Head Start Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, C@R's data team comments on the ways in which Head Start is actually essential for Texas children. Written by Christine Thomas MS, Director, Center...
Beyond Eligibility: What Drives CEP Participation in Schools
Across Texas, 68.7% of eligible schools participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), allowing them to offer breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students. Yet financial and operational barriers leave nearly one-third of eligible schools unable to...
Press Conference: Community Experts Discuss the Ongoing Trauma of Texas Children
As Texas students return to school, prolonged child detention, family separation, and immigration-related fear can affect children’s well-being, and larger community stability. Media Contacts:Morgan Gerri, 832.600.9354Rashena Franklin, 713.301.4577 TEXAS (September...
ELQN @ 2026 NAFCC Conference
Written by Christina Alton, Assistant Director, Early Childhood Education & Early Learning Quality Network, CHILDREN AT RISKChicago (July 16, 2026) – Representing Harris County Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity (DEEO)’s Early Learning Quality Network...
Early Childhood Education & Childcare Testimony: House Committee on Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Hearing
Texas House Committee on Trade, Workforce & Economic Development HearingAugust 26, 2026Texas has a child care system that serves thousands of children and families every day. While the system is not perfect and there are important improvements that must be made,...
Houston Child Care Sector Braces for Reduction in Subsidized Child Care Seats
Estimates indicate that upwards of a thousand Houston-area children are likely to no longer receive subsidized child care as state and federal changes place pressure on the sector. Media Contact:Morgan Gerri, 832.600.9354 TEXAS (August 27, 2026) – The Texas Workforce...
C@R Testifies at Sunset Commission TWC Hearing
C@R Provides Testimony Focused on Opportunity Youth, Early Childhood, and Anti-TraffickingAugust 12, 2026CHILDREN AT RISK leaders Mandi Kimball and Kim Kofron provided public testimony before the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission during its August 12 public hearing on...
Fall 2026 Early Childhood Texas Tour
Each fall, CHILDREN AT RISK brings early childhood leaders and stakeholders together for community-centered conversations in 12 major Texas cities to exchange insights, examine regional experiences, and envision a stronger future for child care across Texas. This...
Systems-Change for the Next Generation: Recap of the Child Safety, Security & Opportunity Summit
Written by Lucy Lusk, Summer 2026 Media Fellow, CHILDREN AT RISK On July 16th, CHILDREN AT RISK hosted their 2026 Child Safety, Security, and Opportunity Summit: Systems-Change for the Next Generation. With the support of our incredible sponsors, The Harvey R. Jr And...
Press Conference: Child Advocates Discuss Proposed Head Start Overhaul and State-by-State Impacts
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) removes significant federal regulations, shifting most standards toward state and local regulation Media Contact:Morgan Gerri, 832.600.9354 TEXAS (August 13, 2026) – On Thursday, August 6, the U.S. Department of Health and Human...
Press Conference: Head Start is Critical to Texas’ Academic and Economic Foundations
Child care stakeholders urge policymakers to preserve Head Start regulations in anticipation of the release of Federal Notice of the Proposed Rulemaking. Media Contacts:Morgan Gerri, 832.600.9354Rashena Franklin, 713.301.4577 TEXAS (August 5, 2026) – Ahead of any...
Liza Gomez Appointed as C@R’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Strategic leader to help drive organizational excellence and advance mission-driven innovation, including responsible AI adoption IMMEDIATE RELEASE Houston (July 28, 2026) CHILDREN AT RISK (C@R), a leading nonpartisan research and advocacy organization dedicated to...
Public Statement: Children Make Up 53% of Those Who No Longer Have Access to SNAP Benefits
IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 24, 2026 As SNAP participation declines across the country, Texas has experienced the steepest drop in both overall enrollment and child participation. Of the 597,353 Texans who have lost access to SNAP, 317,316 are children—more than half...
Seeds of Change: Recap of the 2026 Early Childhood Education Summit
Written by Lucy Lusk, Summer 2026 Media Fellow, CHILDREN AT RISK On June 11, CHILDREN AT RISK and Texas Prenatal-to-Three (PN-3) Collaborative, in partnership with the Texas Family Leadership Council (TXFLC), hosted the 2026 Early Childhood Education Summit: Seeds of...
Public Comments on the Sunset Advisory Commission Staff Report: Texas Workforce Commission
July 2, 2026 - CHILDREN AT RISK appreciates the Sunset Advisory Commission staff review of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The staff report describes ways to strengthen the administration, accountability, transparency, technology infrastructure, and coordination...
2026 Human Trafficking Sunset Recommendations
Related: Click here to read all of CHILDREN AT RISK’s recommendations for the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission.Every 12 years, most Texas state agencies undergo a comprehensive review by the Sunset Advisory Commission, a process that includes staff analysis, public...
2026 Early Childhood Sunset Recommendations
Related: Click here to read all of CHILDREN AT RISK’s recommendations for the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission.Every 12 years, most Texas state agencies undergo a comprehensive review by the Sunset Advisory Commission, a process that includes staff analysis, public...
2026 OYYA Sunset Recommendations
Related: Click here to read all of CHILDREN AT RISK’s recommendations for the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission.Every 12 years, most Texas state agencies undergo a comprehensive review by the Sunset Advisory Commission, a process that includes staff analysis, public...
System Gaps and Survivor Needs: Human Trafficking Focus Groups
System Gaps and Survivor Needs CHILDREN AT RISK conducted focus groups to better understand the experiences of survivors of Human Trafficking and the organizations that support them. These conversations included survivors and frontline service providers from across...
Growing Up in Houston 18th Edition
Growing Up in Houston: Assessing the Quality of Life of Our Children Children make up 26.4% of Harris County residents, a new report shows evidence of both the promise and pressures that Texas families face. June 4, 2026 | 18th Edition MEDIA CONTACTS Morgan Gerri,...
Keeping the Home Cool, Calm, and Collected
CHILDREN AT RISK and Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity (DEEO)’s ELQN Host Event on Emergency Planning and Summer Safety for Home-Based Child Care Providers. Written by Christina Alton, Assistant Director, Early Childhood Education & Early...
Insights from the Spring 2026 Texas Tour
Last month, CHILDREN AT RISK virtually traveled across the vast landscape of Texas, visiting 12 diverse cities to listen, learn, and engage with the people who power our child care system. From the Panhandle to the Valley, the message was clear and consistent: child...