Health & Nutrition
1 out of every 5 uninsured children in the United States lives in Texas
CHILDREN AT RISK believes all children deserve a healthy food environment, safe opportunities for an active lifestyle, and access to preventative health services.
Center for Child Health Research & Policy
Without access to adequate healthcare and nutrition, children can’t properly grow, learn, and thrive. Early gaps, in a child’s fundamental health needs, have proven to have long-term consequences for health, educational attainment, and economic security later in life. CHILDREN AT RISK’s Center for Child Health Research & Policy (CCHRP) strives to improve the health of all children through collaboration, policy, research, and education. The Center believes that organizations across sectors should work together to create an infrastructure that aims to provide all children with a healthy food environment, safe opportunities for an active lifestyle, and access to preventative health services for them and their caregivers.
The Center for Child Health Research & Policy
Researches the root causes of economic, racial, and social disparities in children’s health.
Collaborates with community health experts, hospital systems, clinics, and schools to address disparities in health, prevent adverse childhood experiences, and tackle food insecurity.
Advocates for strategies to increase access to healthy foods, policies that protect recess and outdoor playtime for children in schools, supports maternal health, and extends health coverage for children.
Featured Resources
Kroger School Food Rankings
Free or Low-Cost Meals Maps
Universal School Breakfast & Afterschool Meal Case Studies
OUR LATEST HEALTH RESEARCH & RESOURCES
CHILDREN AT RISK and Texas Family Leadership Council Host Second Annual Motherhood Summit
Last month, the Texas Family Leadership Council and CHILDREN AT RISK hosted the second annual Motherhood Summit. The summit explored some of the most pressing issues facing Texas mothers and how these issues affect not just themselves, but their children and families...
2023 Kroger School Food Rankings
Across Texas, over 5.4 million students were offered free school meals through federal programs, such as the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. For many of these children, meals eaten at school are the only substantial meals they receive...
Growing Up In Houston: Assessing the Quality of Life of Our Children
Data must be the catalyst for any conversation regarding the well-being of our children. However, data alone is not sufficient. We must also overlay context to better understand the complexities of the many issues facing our children. Growing Up in Houston aims to do just that.
CHILDREN AT RISK and Texas Family Leadership Council Host Third Annual State of Black Children in Texas
On Thursday, February 16, the Texas Family Leadership Council and CHILDREN AT RISK hosted the third annual State of Black Children in Texas summit. The summit explored the challenges Black children face growing up in Texas and how to best support them at all stages of...
CHILDREN AT RISK Releases 2022 Annual Report
2022 was a year of huge growth for CHILDREN AT RISK, both in our work and as an agency! In addition to our main office in Houston, we are proud to report C@R now has multiple staff members based in North Texas, Central Texas, and El Paso. Having this statewide...
The Latest on Kids and Social Media
By: Lauren Biegel, Asst. Director, Programs Social media is everywhere. Especially through COVID-19 sheltering, social media connects many of us to people across the world, and there’s a lot to love about it: funny videos, life hacks, and updates on friends we...
Op-Ed: Every student in Texas should access a free school meal
As published in Dallas Morning News, December 12, 2022. By Bob Sanborn and Laura HayesAccording to Feeding America, 1 out of 5 children in North Texas faces hunger due to limited resources, poverty and parental unemployment. Just like a car running out of gas, hungry...
Experts Gathered to Discuss the Importance of Texas Mothers During May 5 Summit
Researchers and advocates gather to discuss federal and state policy implications maternal health outcomes, family planning, and economic justice at first-ever Texas Motherhood Summit.On May 5, Children at Risk and Texas Family Leadership Council (TXFLC) presented...
How Caregivers Can Be Aware of – and Support – Their Child’s Mental Health
By Jarret GuajardoChildren’s mental health is a key element of child wellbeing, one that is too often neglected. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, one in five US children aged 12-17 had experienced a major depressive episode, 37% of high school students had reported...
Petro-Proximate Learning in Texas
Media Contact: Rashena Flagg, 713.301.4577 Research shows petrochemical plants within close proximity to schools negatively impact a child’s performance. On April 25, CHILDREN AT RISK released a new report analyzing the proximity of petrochemical plants to...
Thought Leaders Convene for Second-Annual Border Health Summit
EXPERTS gathered to explore the INNOVATIVE PRACTICES AND UNIQuE HEALTH CHALLENGES IN THE TEXAS BORDERLANDS DURING APRIL 7 SUMMIT While the health challenges impacting the Borderlands are many, the strong sense of collaboration within the region has created unique...
2022 Kroger School Food Rankings
Across Texas, over 3.7 million students from low-income households qualify for free or reduced-price school meals through federal programs, such as the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. For many of these children, meals eaten at school...