Prevent Child Abuse Texas / Texprotects-The Texas Association for the Protection of Children

Texas Prenatal to Three Collaborative: The Texas Prenatal-to-Three (PN-3) Collaborative was established to meet the critical need for a coordinated early childhood system of care that effectively delivers services to infants, toddlers, and their families. The PN-3 Collaborative wants to ensure every child in Texas can be born healthy and have equitable access to health services, family supports, and early learning in their homes and communities. This level of collaboration and alignment on an early childhood agenda across child protection, health, and early childhood care and education in Texas did not exist before the formation of the PN-3 Collaborative. THE COLLABORATIVE HAS AN OVERARCHING GOAL TO ENSURE MORE THAN 400,000 ADDITIONAL INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND MOTHERS RECEIVE HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES BY 2026. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Family Connects North Texas: TexProtects, in partnership with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, MHMR of Tarrant County, and Metrocare Services, has launched Family Connects in North Texas. Family Connects, a universal, evidence-based home visitation program, is designed to serve families during the vulnerable time immediately following birth to improve maternal/child outcomes. Research indicates that 94% of families have at least one nurse-identified risk and/or need postpartum. Yet, there was no universal intervention to triage these risks and needs in Dallas County. Family Connects addresses this lack of alignment of resources for families with newborns and children through age 5. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Education, Research, Advocacy/Public Policy: TexProtects continues to spearhead legislation through public policy and budget agendas prior to each Texas legislative session with an emphasis on 1) child abuse prevention; 2) child protective services transparency, accountability, and effectiveness; and 3) improvements to the Foster Care system. TexProtects is also leading the charge for a CPS diversion hotline for community resources to better connect families to community resources to meet their specific and immediate needs. TexProtects is the founder and facilitator of the Child Protection Roundtable, the largest collaborator in our efforts. It includes 80+ organizations across the state that share a common interest that serves the best interests of all Texas children and especially the most vulnerable who are in or at risk of entering substitute care. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE 0)