YEARS
FOR 20 YEARS,
TexProtects has been a constant champion for Texas children. Since its founding, TexProtects has led the charge in passing 54 bills and securing more than $265 million for programming and services that strengthen Texas families.
In 2004, Dallas philanthropist Madeline McClure had a vision of creating an organization that would lead state-level systems change focused on protecting Texas children. Our vision is clear: a Texas where every child grows up safe, protected, nurtured and thriving. Every day, TexProtects amplifies voices, unites advocates and pushes for policies that strengthen families — because every child deserves a bright future.
2007
Passing Landmark Legislation
Secured $8.9 million for the Nurse-Family Partnership Act, expanding the Dallas-piloted program to serve 2,000 families statewide. Ensured use of Child Abuse Trust Fund dollars exclusively for prevention programs and passed legislation requiring child abuse training for Family Court judges.
2008 Forming a Collaborative Force
Founded the Child Protection Roundtable — now with over 80 member organizations — working together, along with the Department of Family and Protective Services and the Texas Legislature, to improve children’s safety and wellbeing through effective policy solutions.
2009
Doubling Down on Prevention
Doubled Nurse-Family Partnership funding to $17.8 million, increased the CPS budget by 8.1% and advocated for relative daycare support and trauma-informed training for professionals. TexProtects was involved in the Blue-Ribbon Task Force, charged with developing a statewide child abuse prevention strategy.
2011 Protecting Vital Services & Safeguarding Children
Reversed what would-have been a proposed 50% cut to NurseFamily Partnership, maintaining crucial services, and advocated for policies and training on child sexual abuse and maltreatment within schools.
2012 Uniting for Home Visiting Excellence
Launched the Texas Home Visiting Consortium, bringing together key home visiting programs from across the state.
Madeline McClure’s vision created an organization that has made a lasting difference for tens of thousands of Texas children, families and those who support them. Congratulations, TexProtects, on our 20th Anniversary and cheers to many more years of strengthening Texas families to prevent child abuse and neglect.”
SUSAN HOFF 2024 Board Chair
2013
Securing Sustainable Funding
Passed the Texas Home Visiting Expansion and Accountability Act and secured $7.9 million to scale home visiting programs to 5,000+ families. Established the Tx Home Visiting Trust Fund which allows for donations on vital record applications including birth certificates and marriage licenses.
2014
A Surge in Prevention Investment
Helped establish the Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Intervention Support program, a flexible grant that allows communities to fund prevention strategies that fit their unique local needs for families with children from birth to age 5.
OVER A DECADE LATER, the HOPES program continues to fund communities’ specific needs. In FY2024, the HOPES program served 12,355 families in 33 counties. Thanks to the prevention strategies funded by this grant, 96.84% of the children in those families remain safe today
2015
Continued Reforms and Funding
Secured significant state and federal funding, while driving reforms to the Department of Family and Protective Services, including improved pay and training for caseworkers.
2017
Securing Care for the Caregivers
Secured an 11% funding increase for prevention programming and advocated to increase reimbursement for kinship caregivers providing care to children in state custody. Led successful advocacy for salary increases for CPS caseworkers, maternal depression screenings and enhanced use of child fatality data to drive prevention strategies.
2018
Taking the Helm
Assumed the role of Prevent Child Abuse Texas, an affiliate of Prevent Child Abuse America.
2020
Leading the Prenatal-to-Three Movement
With multiyear funding from the Pritzker Children’s Initiative and Episcopal Health Foundation, TexProtects served as the backbone for the Texas Prenatal-to-Three (PN-3) Collaborative, led in partnership with Texans Care for Children and Children At Risk. PN-3 recognizes that the critical development that occurs between birth and age 3 sets the foundation for a child’s success and the future of our state.
PN-3 WORKS WITH STATE LEADERS to advance state policies that ensure Texas infants, toddlers and families are off to the strongest start. Since its inception, over 100 organizations, business leaders and families have joined the PN-3 movement, which has successfully advocated for expanded services to 500,000+ Texas families
2021
Protecting Funding & Ensuring Transparency
Protected state funding, increased investments in prevention programs, mandated monthly child protection data reporting and helped pass legislation to support youth aging out of foster care.
2023
Historic Funding
Secured an historic $65 million increase in prevention funding, as well as $6.9 million for kinship caregivers, and advocated for improvements in efforts to retain CPS workforce.
2024 A Path to the Next 20 Years
Recognized the importance of support to the hundreds of direct service providers that strengthen families in communities across the state and launched the Texas Prevention Network — now with 260+ members — as a learning community of providers invested in preventing child abuse and neglect. Convened the TexProtects Public Policy Advisory Committee, with representation of kinship providers, child welfare and policy experts from across the state to enhance our advocacy and policy impact.
