Public Policy & Advocacy

CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN

Research & data without action are not enough. CHILDREN AT RISK leverages its expertise to educate policymakers and advocate for policies that improve the lives of children.

Public Policy and Law Center (PPLC)

The Public Policy and Law Center (PPLC) was established in 2006 as an outgrowth of CHILDREN AT RISK’s longtime research and advocacy work and in response to the American Bar Association’s appeal to the private bar, “[to] get involved and use its legal expertise on behalf of Houston’s children (American Bar Association Children’s Rights Litigation Committee, 2004).”

PPLC is led by a Law Advisory Board of over 35 attorneys from the legal and business communities and staffed with a dedicated and creative group of attorneys and public policy analysts, which has enabled it to be tremendously successful in its years of operation.

The mission of CHILDREN AT RISK’s Public Policy and Law Center is to improve the lives of children across Texas through:

  • Legal and policy research and advocacy
  • Legislative and administrative rule drafting
  • Drafting of amicus briefs and impact litigation
  • Continuing education for attorneys and other professionals on children’s legal and policy issue

Chronic Absenteeism Legislative District Profiles

Welcome to CHILDREN AT RISK's Chronic Absenteeism Policy Resource hub, where you can explore the data landscape of each Texas House and Senate district.Chronic absenteeism is an early warning sign for educators. A student who is chronically absent in any year between eighth and twelfth grade is seven times more likely to drop out of school. For high school students, lack of attendance is a...

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Legislative District Profiles | Opportunity Youth & Young Adults

Welcome to CHILDREN AT RISK's Opportunity Youth & Young Adults Policy Resource hub, where you can explore the economic and data landscape of each Texas House and Senate district.Texas’ youth have the power to drive a thriving economy and vibrant communities. Yet, too many are left without the support they need to pursue education or careers. Opportunity Youth and Young Adults (OYYA) are a...

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Fall 2024 | Early Childhood Education Texas Tour

CHILDREN AT RISK's Early Childhood Texas Tour is coming to a city near you, and you won’t want to miss it. C@R is hitting the road with 12 in-person stops across the state, bringing together child care providers, community leaders, and anyone passionate about improving quality in early childhood education. At each stop, we’ll dive into the latest data and insights from our new report on how...

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Legislative District One-Pagers: Early Childhood Education

Welcome to CHILDREN AT RISK's Early Childhood Education Policy Resource hub, where you can explore the child care landscape in each Texas House and Senate district.Texas’s economic success hinges on a stable workforce, with employers and working parents relying heavily on access to quality child care. However, Texans face significant challenges in meeting the needs of working families.KEY FACTS...

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Recap | National Immigration Summit: Leading with a Child-Centered Focus

This post was written by Sebastiao Goncalves, Communications Intern & Podcast Producer, and Becky Quintanilla, Project Coordinator with CHILDREN AT RISK. On Thursday, June 20th, CHILDREN AT RISK (C@R), the Texas Family Leadership Council (TXFLC), DiversifiED Consulting, The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, The New York Immigration Coalition, and American Families United teamed up with the...

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Advocates Convene in Support of New DACA & Parole in Place Executive Orders on Immigration

Advocates Convene in Support of Recent Executive Orders on Immigration Texas advocates applaud federal efforts to stabilize families and empower economic prosperity for undocumented spouses and Dreamers.  Media Contact: Rashena Flagg, 713.301.4577 CHILDREN AT RISK convened with other advocates to celebrate the new federal, child-forward, executive orders on immigration while exploring the...

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Transparency, Quality, Efficiency: A historic look at child care legislation in Texas

Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and the Texas Legislature have worked hard for years to improve child care for working parents. Due to smart bipartisan legislation and gubernatorial action in the past decade, Texas now has a more accountable and transparent child care system. Parents and taxpayers can rest assured that money is being invested so that parents can work, and...

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2024 C@R Special Events

Special Eventsconvening for change Every dollar donated helps us improve the lives of Texas children. CHILDREN AT RISK is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 76-0360533). Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.  It is with immense pride and joy that we announce a significant milestone: the 35th Anniversary of CHILDREN AT RISK. For over three decades, our...

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2023 Annual Report

It is with immense pride and joy that we announce the start of a significant milestone: the 35th Anniversary of CHILDREN AT RISK. For over three decades, our organization has been at the forefront of advocating for the well-being and rights of vulnerable children, tirelessly working to create a Texas where every child has an opportunity to succeed. Our efforts are deliberate, measurable, and...

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2024 Equity Tour

The Texas Equity Tour, slated for March and April 2024, is a pivotal event organized by CHILDREN AT RISK (C@R) to address systemic racism and its impact on Texas children and families. Rooted in the principles of racial equity, the tour serves as a platform to present key findings from the Texas Racial Equity Collaborative's (TREC) comprehensive report, "State of Inequity: Dreams Deferred,"...

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CHILDREN AT RISK is pleased to offer expert speakers on pressing children’s issues for any venue.