Click here to find nonprofit organizations working to provide solutions for these issues.
In Austin schools serving low-income families, 21% of kindergarteners are held back each year.
Over half of the families in Travis County with children ages 3-5 need full-time child care.
Summer child care puts thousands of low-income Austin families at risk for homelessness each year.
Studies done at Georgetown University show that by age 5, children in high-risk environments can already be two years behind developmentally. This gap tends to persist over time, adversely impacting school readiness and lifelong success.
In some Austin schools serving low-income families, the percentage of kindergartners who are held back each year is almost 21 percent.
Over half of the families in Travis County with children ages 3-5 need full-time child care.
Leading economists have estimated that every $1.00 invested in quality preschool programs can save society as much as $17.00 in remedial education, welfare costs, and court and prison expenses.
Young children are especially vulnerable to child abuse and neglect as children younger than 1 year accounted for 45 percent of fatalities, while younger than 4 years accounted for 81 percent of fatalities. These children are the most vulnerable for many reasons, including their dependency, small size, and inability to defend themselves.
11.5 per 1000 children are confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect. (Travis County)
In the past year 18.2% of families with children under 5 have an income below the poverty level. (Travis County)
Child Protective Services received 206,978 reports of child abuse and neglect. There were 138,587 investigations of child abuse and neglect by CPS and 50,529 were confirmed victims.
In 2006, 70 children drowned in Texas. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental injury deaths for children under 14 years old.
Every year, children are accidentally left in vehicles during hot weather. As a result, they are at risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, leading to permanent disability or death. In 2003, 10 Texas children, most of them infants, died after being left in vehicles in which they had been riding. That year, the Lone Star State led the nation for the number of such fatalities.