Causes: Child Abuse Prevention, Children & Youth, Civil Rights, Crime & Law, Domestic Violence, Youth Development

Mission: C@r serves as a catalyst for change to improve the quality of life for children through strategic research, public policy analysis, education, collaboration and advocacy.

Programs: Since its inception, c@r has placed a high value on ensuring equitable access to education. To drive change in this area, c@r staff meets regularly with public officials, leaders in the academic community, and education agencies to discuss reform strategies. C@r educates the community on the need to improve the public education system through prominent media attention (press conferences, news stories, editorials, and articles), conducting and presenting research, and hosting an annual education reform conference. C@r also draws public attention to outstanding public schools and raises awareness around the need for education reform through its annual texas public schools rankings.

c@r established the center for parenting and family well-being (cpfwb) in 2011. In its first phase, cpfwb took an inventory of the current network of parenting services in houston, and found that there is a strong need for evidence-based parent education that is not punitive. Through a partnership including organizations that provide parent education services, pediatricians, academics, and public health practitioners, cpfwb determined that the community should move forward with developing structure to implement positive parenting program (triple p). During its second phase, the cpfwb is creating an infrastructure to disseminate triple p across harris county.

through its unique food in schools initiative, c@r continues to raise awareness and advocate for the implementation of universal free school breakfast (ufsb) in schools with high poverty levels. C@rs research shows that children who eat breakfast regularly are significantly less likely to be overweight, since breakfast can help jump-start their metabolism, improve their nutritional well-being, and decrease overeating later in the day. After playing an instrumental role during the 2013 legislative session in the passage of sb 376, which expands ufsb in texas poorest schools, c@r will look at the implementation of that law to ensure that students in these low-income schools receive a nutritious breakfast.