The Choices We Make The Texas We Create Frances Deviney, Ph.D. Texas Kids Count Director Center for Public Policy Priorities April 5, 2012

@cppp_tx #kidscount

What trail will Texas’ children #kidscount

The U.S. added 2 million kids in last decade 2M U.S. child pop grew by 2 million between 2000 and 2010 Decennial Census data, U.S. Census #kidscount

Texas accounted for half of that growth! 50% U.S. child pop grew by 2 million between 2000 and 2010 Decennial Census data, U.S. Census #kidscount

2000 (5.9M) 2010 Texas added nearly ONE MILLION Kids 6.9 M Source: 2000 and 2010 Decennial Census data, U.S. Census Bureau

Bexar Co grew to over 465,000 kids, with largest growth occurring in the Hispanic population Source: 2000 and 2010 Decennial Census Data, U.S. Census Bureau

96% OF BEXAR CO KIDS ARE CITIZENS 2010 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

Struggling from the Start 1 OF EVERY 7 BEXAR CO BABIES BORN PRETERM Texas Department of State Health #kidscount

Struggling from the Start Percentage of BEXAR CO BABIES BORN Weighing less than 5.5 lbs Up 24% , Texas Department of State Health Services

Struggling from the Start Births to Bexar Co. teens going down Texas Department of State Health #kidscount

Struggling from the Start Of Bexar Co. babies born to teens, nearly 1 in 4 were born to teens who were already moms Texas Dept of State Health #kidscount

Struggling from the Start 26% OF BEXAR CO BABIES BORN WITHOUT PRENATAL CARE Texas Department of State Health Services

Choices : And to make matters worse... New state rule for Medicaid Women’s Health Program violates federal law We will lose 90% of funding On top of $73M statewide cut Family Planning Program

1 of every 7 BEXAR CO KIDS ARE UNINSURED (15 th best in state) 2009 Small Area Health Insurance Estimates

Public health insurance buffers loss of private health insurance for Texas kids Private Health Insurance Public Health Insurance Uninsured March supplement, Current Population Survey

Choices : Texas’ Public Policy Decisions Affect Whether Bexar Co.’s Kids Become and Stay Enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP Texas Health and Human Services Commission data & CPPP analysis of state #kidscount Applying for Medicaid made simpler CHIP launched CHIP cuts in 2003 lead to loss of 16,000 on program by 2006 CHIP 12-mth eligibility reinstated

Texas’ poor and uninsured kids less likely to be in excellent/very good health 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health

We have made choices that cut older adult poverty by nearly two-thirds nationally US poverty rates for people 65+, March supplement, Current Population Survey

We haven’t made the same commitment to reduce poverty for Texas kids Kids Working -age 65+ Poverty rates, March supplement, Current Population #kidscount

Bexar Co. child poverty has held fairly steady; fluctuations coincide with unemployment Poverty: SAIPE, Unemployment: TWC

19,090 / year To be considered “officially poor,” a family of three has to make less than Source: 2012 Poverty Guidelines for a family of 3 with two related children under 18 years old

Work Supports actually do make a difference for kids! National Child Poverty Rates Official Poverty Measure Supplemental Poverty Measure US Census #kidscount

Choices : Income support for kids in the poorest families virtually eliminated 2003: Start of Texas’ full family sanctions 1996: Start of federal welfare reform Texas Health and Human Services Commission

Choices: More Bexar Co. kids receiving food assistance (SNAP) thanks to improved enrollment system Texas Health and Human Services #kidscount

Choices : Expansion of Summer Food Program Source: Texas Department of Agriculture. Summer food data is the average daily participation from summer 2010.

One of Every Four Texas Preschoolers Not Read to Regularly Source: 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health from Annie E. Casey Foundation, KIDS COUNT Data Center

Choices: Increase in Bexar Co. 4-yr-olds in pre-k due, in part, to pre-k expansion grants 49%34% Texas Education #kidscount

Economically Disadvantaged kids who went to pre-k did better on their TAKS tests Analysis of TEA 2011 TAKS data by the Office of Rep. Mike Villarreal

Bexar Co. TAKS reading achievement gap shrinking GAP 20 points 11 points Economically Disadvantaged Not Economically Disadvantaged CPPP analysis of Texas Education Agency #kidscount

Bexar Co. Dropouts: Still Not Great, But Improving Attrition rate, Intercultural Development Research Association

In Texas, dropouts only make 36 cents for every dollar earned by college graduates Median earnings for adults 25+ yrs by educational attainment, 2010 American Community Survey

Choices: Texas’ Educational Investment 46 th Per pupil spending before the cuts NCES, Kids Count Data #kidscount

Choices: We underfunded public education by $5.3 Billion for CPPP analysis of data from the Legislative Budget Board

Choices: Including the elimination of CPPP analysis of data from the Legislative Budget Board Pre-k expansion grants High school completion grants

Department of Family and Protective Services Child Protective Services: Our service of last resort

Nearly 5,915 Bexar County kids confirmed as abused or neglected in 2011 Department of Family and Protective Services

Choices: Helping support a safe home environment 70% of kids who receive child protective services are served in their homes Department of Family and Protective Services

Choices: When Bexar Co. kids are removed from their homes, fewer are going to foster care, 85% 69% thanks to increased focus on placing kids with relatives Department of Family and Protective #kidscount

Even with more kids placed with relatives Nearly 3,600 Bexar County children lived in foster care Department of Family and Protective Services

Choices: Because we underfunded in-home services to save money, we may see a shift back to putting kids in Foster Care which, ironically may actually cause us to spend more than we saved because... CPPP analysis of budget for Department of Family and Protective Services

Foster Care services cost 26X more per year than providing in-home or reunification services $12,567$481vs. Foster Care In-home and Reunification Services Average annual spending per year per child, DFPS

Texas Century for children

Cuts to Kids Provider rate cuts in Medicaid and CHIP Initiative to improve rural health care Community Mental Health services State and community mental health hospitals Newborn health screenings Child abuse, neglect, and delinquency prevention Children with special health care needs Early Childhood Intervention Foundation School Program Community-based obesity prevention Family Planning Services Communities in Schools program Financial support for Family Based Services for abused kids

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus "We have no choice, unless we want to continue to try to grow our population and continue to shrink spending significantly," Straus said. "I think at some point you can't cut your way to prosperity." Oct 28, 2011, El Paso Times

Where do we go from #kidscount

Sustained & balanced investment is the key to healthy child development and Texas’ future prosperity.

“It broke me down, emotionally and mentally, that I couldn’t provide for my family. We’d never been in a situation like this before.”

“I’m working a good job... I’m spending more time with my kids. For all the little things that I have, I am happy.” Manuel Luna, 31, San Antonio

We know we can do big things. It’s time to do the right thing.

Contact Information Frances Deviney, PhD Texas KIDS COUNT Director (512) ext. 106