Raising Texas is a statewide, collaborative effort to strengthen Texas' system of services for young children and families so that all children enter school healthy and ready to learn. Through the collaborative partnership of nine state agencies, 16 community based agencies and 60 key stakeholders, a state plan has been developed to improve the current system of services for all children age birth to 6. The Raising Texas strategic plan was three years in the making and is designed to promote evidence-based practice and increase the coordination between health, behavioral health, and education services.
Recent research on the importance of brain development in the first five years of life emphasizes the importance of a healthy start for young Texans.
- Brain development can be optimized by positive early experiences.
- Research demonstrates that early experiences set the foundation for health, behavioral health, and learning throughout life (ACE Study).
- Providing quality comprehensive services that address the health, behavioral health, and learning of children has been shown to provide high returns in terms of subsequent educational attainment, social problems, health, and welfare dependency among others. (Bernanke 2007, Heckman 2006, RAND 2006)
- Better coordination of early childhood service systems allows Texas to comprehensively promote optimal early childhood experiences.
- There is mounting evidence that collaborative and well-coordinated services can address gaps in services, can alleviate many early childhood risk factors that prevent optimal development, and can prevent duplication in service delivery.
The Raising Texas strategic plan is designed to improve the current system of services across four major service delivery areas: Access to Insurance and Medical Home, Social Emotional Development and Mental Health, Early Care and Education; Parent Education and Family Support.
