Dear TexProtects Champions,
As we reflect on 2024, we are reminded of what inspires our work: communities seeking connections, families pursuing opportunities to thrive, children wishing for safety and love. We are profoundly moved by the hundreds of dedicated organizations and countless individuals who work tirelessly to strengthen families and ultimately prevent child abuse and neglect.
It is this collaborative effort that drove us to embark on a renewed path with the creation of a new mission statement focused on advancing public policy and local implementation to strengthen families throughout Texas. We know this focus of policy implementation is crucial, and it reflects our commitment to working alongside community-based partner organizations to champion their critical on-the-ground efforts.
We also recognize this work is more important than ever. In 2024, 53,543 cases of child abuse and neglect were reported in the state. This staggering number reminds us that not all children have the safe, happy childhood they deserve. For them, we must continue fighting.
From gathering like-minded partners to authoring legislative proposals, from advocacy in the Capitol to connections across the state, TexProtects is committed to advocating for a Texas where every child thrives, free from the shadow of abuse and neglect. We thank you for your belief in our mission; together, we will see a brighter future for all Texas families.
With gratitude,
Adrianna Cuéllar Rojas CEO
Our Mission Statement
TexProtects advances public policy and local implementation to strengthen families to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Driving Policy Change
Since 2004, TexProtects has been the leading voice for policy and advocacy aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect by strengthening Texas families. Recognizing the continued need for our role in preventing child maltreatment as well as the importance of policy change on communities, in early 2024, the TexProtects Board of Directors updated our mission statement to advance public policy and local implementation to strengthen families to prevent child abuse and neglect. This change allows for a more iterative, dynamic approach to ensure that community voice drives policy change. In 2024, TexProtects also reestablished its Public Policy Advisory Committee, a diverse group of leaders from across the state. Guided by our mission, their work directly shaped our agenda for the 89th Legislative Session.
89th Legislative Priorities
With a deepened commitment to the prevention of child maltreatment, TexProtects crafted 5 key priorities to champion during the 89th Legislative Session in 2025:
1. Strengthening Texas Families by increasing investment in a full continuum of preventative services to ensure all Texas families have access to these supports regardless of what community they live in.
2. Connecting Families to Resources by improving coordination amongst information and referral systems.
3. Supporting Informal Kinship Caregivers by ensuring they are able to access and connect to resources.
4. Family Preservation Efforts that minimize further CPS intervention by funding supportive services.
5. Preventing Child Sexual Abuse by increasing protection of youth online and in schools.
Policy in Action
With a state as large as Texas, connectivity is key when building a community among those dedicated to protecting children and strengthening families. For this reason, in early 2024, TexProtects launched the Texas Prevention Network. A result of our policy implementation efforts, this virtual learning community for prevention providers quickly gained traction, proving to be a valuable space for up-to-date information, meaningful learning experiences and collaborative partnership. In less than a year, the Network grew to over 280 members from across the state who’ve united to create a vibrant community of learning and shared purpose: building strong families throughout Texas. This growing membership also underscores the platform’s vital role in fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among child welfare professionals.
Looking to the Future
With the reauthorization of the federal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) grant program in 2022 and a historic $65 million in prevention funding approved by the Texas Legislature in 2023, TexProtects recognized the need to help communities access these funds. Throughout 2024, we focused on how best to empower and build capacity of local partners to access funding. By year’s end, we were ready to begin 2025 by developing curriculum that will ease the burden of complicated government applications, so communities can secure vital resources for Texas families.
FROM AN EARLY START
Prenatal-to-Three Collaborative
In 2024, the Texas Prenatal-to-Three Collaborative made significant strides in ensuring healthier beginnings for Texas children. As the Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) division transitioned to the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), TexProtects played a key role in advocating for a smooth transfer, ensuring families continued to have access to essential prevention services. We also partnered with HHSC/Family Support Services to support the launch of home visiting programs in several rural communities, including Anderson, Angelina, Atascosa, Cherokee and Nacogdoches Counties along with Maverick and Val Verde Counties in collaboration with SCAN, Inc.
LEADING THE CHARGE Child Protection Roundtable
TexProtects proudly continued its leadership of the Child Protection Roundtable throughout 2024, uniting a group of leaders committed to the well-being of Texas children. Comprised of over 80 organizations statewide, the Roundtable is dedicated to advancing effective policy solutions designed to prevent child abuse and neglect before it occurs, ensure the protection and well-being of children and youth who come into state care and facilitate the healing of ongoing trauma resulting from maltreatment. Reflecting its commitment to informed advocacy, in the fall of 2024, the Roundtable developed and promoted six priorities for the 89th Legislative Session:
1. Promoting family preservation.
2. Strengthening the children’s mental heath and disability service array.
3. Enhancing funding and polices for kinship care.
4. Strengthening the DFPS data system to support cross-system collaboration and data-sharing.
5. Supporting policies and continued funding to ensure safe, stable and trauma-informed placements that meet children’s needs.
6. Supporting funding and polices that improve services and supports for older youth in care and older youth exiting care.
Our work would not be possible without the generous support of our donors. Your donations help us fulfill our mission and strengthen Texas families.
$100,000+ DONATIONS Emy Lou and Jerry Baldridge
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DONATIONS
$10,000 - $49,999 DONATIONS
Casey Family Programs
Dorothy Castle
Darlene Byrne
Tom Connelly
The Dallas Foundation
Barbara Graves
Lyda Hill
Susan Hoff
Helen Holman
Daphne Alexander
Anonymous
Pamela Burge
Tina Chapman
Adrianna Cuéllar Rojas
Steve Davidson
Michael B. Decker
Diane Dzikowski
Christina Garza
Joseph Gaskey
Give Lively Foundation
Steve Gendler
David Graves
Communities Foundation of Texas
Don M. Glendenning
National Life Group Foundation
$1,000 - $9,999 DONATIONS
In-N-Out Burger Foundation
Mary M. Jalonick
Christina A. Jonsson
Elaine Klos
Madeline McClure
Katherine Perot Reeves
$1 - $999 DONATIONS
Cliff Halverson
Bethany Hampton
Mary Gatlin Hearon
Coleman Hubbard
Mallory Hubbard
Cynthia Hurrington
Christine Jaecks
Knox Kimberly
Eric Laub
Babajide A. Lawal
Emily Long
Christina Miranda
Paul Munger
Andrew B. Nace
Jamie Rose
Travis Smith
The Stallings Foundation
Swalwell-Connor
Family Foundation
Tyson Properties, LLC
Evy Kay Washburne
Kelly S. Opot
Nancy T. Preston
Tegwin Pulley
Suzie Ruel
Richard Schoech, Ph.D.
Tim Sexton
Matthew Sodergren
Andrea Sparks
SWE Homes, LP
Texas Instruments Foundation
Brittani Trusty
Shirley Weddle
William D. White
Statement of Financial Position
The TexProtects Team
Adrianna Cuéllar Rojas CEO
Adrianna@texprotects.org
Kerrie Judice Director of Policy and Advocacy
Kerrie@texprotects.org
San Juanita Ruvalcaba Partner Engagement and Policy Implementation Manager
SanJuanita@texprotects.org
2024 Board of Directors
Susan Hoff Chair
Coleman Hubbard CFA, Treasurer
The Honorable Darlene Byrne Secretary
Don M. Glendenning Development Chair
Veronica Hernandez Content Manager
Veronica@texprotects.org
Suzie Ruel Vice President of Strategy and Finance
Suzie@texprotects.org
Brittani Trusty Director of Development and Impact
Brittani@texprotects.org
Dr. Christopher Spencer Greeley
Helen Holman
Jennifer Hopgood
Cynthia Hurrington
Dr. David Lakey
Babajide Lawal
Dr. Dorothy Mandell
Kelly Opot
Becky Palmer
Tegwin Pulley
Toni Reynolds-Criner
Dr. Jeniffer Richardson
Jamie Rose
Andrea Sparks
Persephone Starks
A landmark year was on the horizon as we said goodbye to 2024 and welcomed 2025. Reaching our 20th anniversary – being celebrated throughout this year – reminded us of the astounding vision of our founder, Madeline McClure. Her hope for a Texas where every child is safe from child abuse and neglect and, just as importantly, where lawmakers recognize the importance of strengthening families will continue to drive our work for the next 20 years and beyond.
Our goal? That all Texas children grow up safe, protected, nurtured and thriving.
