Virtual Press Conference: Birth rates in Texas decline, sparking conversations from community leaders

Amidst rollbacks of social support systems and mass policy change, many families report significant barriers keeping them from choosing to grow their family.

Media Contacts:
Morgan Gerri, 832.600.9354
Rashena Franklin, 713.301.4577

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TEXAS (AUG 5, 2025) – Birth rates in Texas fell by almost 21 percent between 2007 and 2019. A decline sharper than the national trend. This signals more than just a change in family preferences. It reflects growing pressure on the long-term sustainability of the state’s schools, workforce, and overall economy.

At the same time, public sentiment reveals a clear gap between desire and reality: many Americans would like to have two or more children. What holds them back are not values, but conditions. Families report that rising child care costs, limited access to healthcare, unstable housing, and a lack of paid family leave are all barriers they have to consider before deciding to have more children.

CHILDREN AT RISK will convene cross-sector experts on today, August 5, at 10:30 AM, to provide data-informed and people-centered solutions that address the true barriers preventing families from having more children in Texas. 

“There is a lot of discussion on how the United States should improve its declining birth rate. The solutions are not the easy answers like cash bonuses and medals for, while those are nice, the answers need to be much more robust,” said Dr. Bob Sanborn, president and CEO of CHILDREN AT RISK. “This is not rocket science. We’re talking about better childcare, Parental leave, and healthcare for moms. Moms and dads need to know that everyone is behind them. Having children should not be a high-risk operation.”

If current trends persist, the United States will reach a pivotal demographic milestone by 2035: for the first time in history, the number of Americans over age 65 will surpass the number of children under 18. This shift will reshape everything from school enrollment and caregiving demands to economic productivity and healthcare delivery. In response, some local governments and the federal administration have proposed incentives like cash bonuses for large families, fertility-focused education, or expanded child tax credits. Yet without addressing the underlying barriers that prevent families from growing, these efforts will fall short.

A meaningful and strategic approach to family growth must also acknowledge that many Texas families are being placed under increasing pressure as critical supports are reduced or eliminated. From attempts to roll back access to public healthcare and nutrition programs to stalled protections for paid leave and early education, many policies now place families under even greater strain.
 
These impacts are not felt equally. Communities of color, low-income households, immigrants, and mixed-status families are often the first to lose access and the last to be protected. Families in rural areas often face these same barriers at even greater distances, with fewer options for support.
 
For years, these families have quietly kept Texas growing by powering industries, sustaining school enrollments, and enriching communities. Yet too often, they are left out of policies that support child well-being and long-term family success. Any serious strategy to promote family growth must ensure that all parents — no matter where they live, what kind of job they hold, or whether they are currently included in existing public programs — have access to the basic resources that make raising children possible. Supporting family growth is not just about new incentives. It’s about removing the obstacles that keep families from thriving.

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About CHILDREN AT RISK

CHILDREN AT RISK is a research and advocacy nonprofit leading the way in improving the quality of life for Texas’ children. CHILDREN AT RISK considers the whole child by tracking issues in children’s health, safety, education, and economic security to improve equity and justice for all Texas families. Committed to action beyond the data, CHILDREN AT RISK drives evidence-based change by speaking out on behalf of children. For more information, visit childrenatrisk.org, Facebook, and Twitter. 

FEATURING

Dr. Bob Sanborn, President & CEO,  CHILDREN AT RISK (C@R)  

Christine Thomas, Director of the Center for Social Measurement & Evaluation, CHILDREN AT RISK

Lyn Lucas, Associate Director of Early Childhood Education, CHILDREN AT RISK

Mariana Niño De Rivera, Policy Fellow, CHILDREN AT RISK

Caila Foley, Policy Fellow, CHILDREN AT RISK

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