Texas PN-3 Newsletter
Greetings PN-3 Collaborative,
As we prepare for the 89th Legislative Session, our focus remains on advancing key advocacy priorities for Texas’ youngest children and families. We’re working diligently to ensure that these priorities are front and center in policy discussions, whether through testimony at interim hearings or direct engagement with legislators. Our commitment to shaping a stronger early childhood landscape is unwavering, and we’re using this time to fine-tune our strategies to make the greatest impact.
Read on for the latest updates!
Multi-City Events | Bi-Annual 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 Local Workforce Development Boards are investing in quality child care, explore the exciting possibilities of Texas Proposition 2, which grants a local tax exemption for property used to operate child care facilities, gather real-world feedback on the challenges facing family child care providers, and gear up for the upcoming legislative session. Let’s come together to shape the future of child care and early learning in Texas—see you on the road! Register here!
Virtual Event | Connecting Families to Resources
Each community in our state has their own unique way of connecting families to the local resources and the community-based organizations that provide these, such as churches, healthcare systems, schools, and nonprofits. Join us for a conversation about the importance of connecting families to resources.
Come ready to learn from a panel of experts about what needs to change to ultimately better support families and to help children thrive. Register Here!
Kids Missing Out on Health Care Amid Growing Backlog of Texas Medicaid Applications
Recent state data shows that over 200,000 Texas families submitted Children’s Medicaid applications that the state has not even started to process. We’re concerned that these delays are leaving Texas children waiting on checkups, immunizations, physical therapy for disabilities, medications to keep them healthy, mental health treatment, and other care. Check out the new blog post from Texans Care for Children to learn more about this challenge and the ways the Legislature can help by investing in upgrading the technology for the state’s Medicaid enrollment system.
Policy Priority Updates
Interim Charges & Continued Advocacy
During the interim between Texas Legislative Sessions, committees are assigned to study key issues. The Senate’s NRED Committee has been tasked with improving workforce productivity through child care access, while the House’s IRED Committee is charged with evaluating the state of early childhood education, including reviewing policies and barriers to programs like Child Care Services.
Child Care Hearings at the Legislature
September 10th | House Committee on International Resources & Economic Development
- Read CHILDREN AT RISK’s submitted testimony and check out their latest Legislative District One-Pagers.
- Read the latest Policy Brief from Texan’s Care for Children.
September 18th | Senate Committee on Public Education
- Read the testimony submitted by Texans Care for Children.
Rescheduled | Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development
- The hearing previously scheduled on September 17th will be rescheduled for a different date. Stay tuned!
Texas PN-3 Collaborative Open Meeting
August 21, 2024
- Missed our meeting the other week? Catch the recording here!
- View the slide deck shared during this meeting.
- Texans Care for Children, HHSC procurement forecast: https://apps.hhs.texas.gov/procurement-calendar/procurement-forecast.pdf
- Sign up to be notified when the ECI RFA is posted: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YFHPC8Y
- Find your local ECI program.
- Access the HHS website for PEI and Family Support to search for local programs, early childhood coalitions and family resource center locations.
- Learn more about (and register for) the 2024 Partners in Prevention conference!