Children At Risk
Encyclopedia
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
policy research and advocacy organization in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
which focuses on improving children's
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
quality of life
Quality of life
The term quality of life is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and politics. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of...
. Founded in 1989, its primary areas of focus are poverty, childhood health, public education, and safety issues. Its headquarters are in Houston, while its North Texas
North Texas
North Texas is a distinct cultural and geographic area forming the central-northeastern section of the U.S. state of Texas. North Texas is generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, and north of Waco...
office is in Dallas.
Growing Up
Children At Risk has published a biennial report, Growing Up In Houston: Assessing the Quality of Life of Our Children, since 1994 (currently in its eleventh edition) that tracks 130 (or more) Quality of Life Indicators on children's issues. Its most recent report indicates that 20.8% of the Harris CountyHarris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
children live in poverty, 6.5 per 1,000 die before age 1, and 38% drop out of high school. Past statistics have often been sources of alarm, and earned the organization a reputation as "feisty and tenacious" and its data a reputation as "exhaustive." Despite initial criticism of the organization as a source of "emotional outbursts and statistical shell games," its statistics have been recognized as an important source of information for city and county policy makers, who seek out its biennial reports.
The organization also does external research, for example for the National Center for Children in Poverty
National Center for Children in Poverty
National Center for Children in Poverty is an American non-partisan research center that promotes the interests of children in low-income families. The center was established at Columbia University in 1989 and is a part of the Mailman School of Public Health...
. Recently, the organization increased its Public Policy & Law Center staff to increase its legislative advocacy and research efforts.
High School Rankings
Children At Risk is also known for their annual High School rankings, starting in 2006, which grade Houston-area schools on teaching fundamentals, advanced placement courses, dropout prevention, and college preparation. The rankings have sparked discussion among high school administrators and others. Unlike other High School rankings, such as Newsweek'sNewsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
"America's Top 100 High Schools", the organizations rankings focus on a variety of diverse indicators, rather than just AP scores. In 2008, the number one-ranked school was the YES Prep Southeast Campus
YES Prep Public Schools
YES Prep Public Schools is a network of public, open-enrollment charter schools located throughout Greater Houston. The YES network has its headquarters in Greater Sharpstown, Houston. The YES program is a university-preparatory program for grades 6-12....
.
Issues
The organization has criticized the Texas Education AgencyTexas Education Agency
The Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas in the United States responsible for public education. The agency is headquartered in the William B...
for underreporting of high school dropouts, and has hosted conferences and focused research on the dropout issue. The organization has also been a critic of abstinence-only sex education and the clause of the state's constitution which limits child welfare programs to 1% of the state's annual budget. Children At Risk opposed a version of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 is a United States federal law considered to be a fundamental shift in both the method and goal of federal cash assistance to the poor. The bill added a workforce development component to welfare legislation, encouraging...
, which they perceived as using an inadequate child population parity formula, and worked with Representative William Reynolds Archer, Jr.
William Reynolds Archer, Jr.
William Reynolds “Bill” Archer, Jr. is a former American lawyer and politician. Archer served two terms, from 1967 to 1971, in the Texas House of Representatives — changing from the Democratic to the Republican party in 1969 — and later represented Texas in the United States House as a Republican...
to get an addition $100 million added.
In 1998, the organization spearheaded efforts to get state lawmakers and federal officials to examine Harris County's Head Start program, culminating in federal grants to other nonprofit organizations to work cooperatively with its original provider.
Funding and leadership
Past fundraising efforts have included: a Rock for Houston's Youth Concert, an annual Accolades award event, and promotional donations based on the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
performance.
Its Board of Directors is composed of Houston community and business leaders, lawyers, and physicians. Robert Sanborn, Ed.D.
Doctor of Education
The Doctor of Education or Doctor in Education degree , in Latin, Doctor Educationis, is a research-oriented professional doctorate that prepares the student for academic, administrative, clinical, or research positions in educational, civil, and private organizations.-Differences between an Ed.D...
, a former faculty member at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
, the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
, and Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
, is the current President and CEO. Founding President and CEO Jim Mickelson was with the organization for ten years, until 1999. Mickelson's departure was marked by a brief period of disagreement within the board over the direction the organization should develop.
JARC
The Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children At Risk is an open-access and peer-reviewed online journal that is uniquely focused on the needs of children through a holistic prism. Focused on interdisciplinary research that is linked to practical, evidenced-based policy solutions for children’s issues, JARC serves to inform legislative and policy decisions, as well as existing and innovative practice models. Furthermore, JARC aims to serve as a resource to child advocates and community stakeholders by providing case studies on how innovative research and data have been used effectively to influence local, state, or national policies. JARC focuses on timely child-related topics including—but not limited to—human trafficking, food insecurity, teen pregnancy, and the quality of public education. The first edition of JARC, launched in September 2010, highlights Latino children’s issues.External links
- Children At Risk
- Growing Up In Houston: 2006-2008 Available online
- About CHILDREN AT RISK from YouTube
- JARC