October 19, 2021

Texas Children’s Chief of Psychology Dr. Karin Price delivered key testimony this month to the Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety about the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on children and adolescents across the state.

Price appeared before the committee in Austin on October 4 alongside witnesses from the Meadows Institute, UT Health and the Health and Human Services Commission. Working with Texas Children’s own Government Relations team, she coordinated and prepared testimony that highlighted the increase in patients presenting with behavioral health needs throughout the pandemic.

Hospital data shows that from 2019 through this year, the number of patients coming to Texas Children’s Emergency Center locations for behavioral health crises grew from less than 100 patients monthly to more than 400 per month.

Price noted in her testimony to the committee that this growth in patient behavioral health crises is particularly concerning given the severe gaps in Texas in mental health care along the entire of continuum care in terms of access, capacity and workforce availability – from early intervention and detection, through crisis intervention and stabilization.

Price also reinforced Texas Children’s goal to keep children out of crisis, living safely at home with their families and not returning to our Emergency Centers for treatment.

“We at Texas Children’s know children and adolescents are incredibly resilient, and as we all continue to experience major disruptions in our everyday lives and routines, we will continue our work now to help mitigate the lasting effects of COVID-19 on our children,” she said.

September 29, 2020

The US Constitution, Article 1, Section 2, mandates that every ten years, the country must conduct a count of its population. Today, that count is done by the non-partisan, US Census Bureau for every state and our five US Territories.

Besides knowing how many people live in the United States and our territories, the census informs elected officials, health authorities, school boards, and civic leaders about the communities they serve and the needs of its residents. The 2020 Census will determine how over $800 billion in federal tax dollars gets allocated and apportions how many elected representatives we have in Congress and creates new districts for future office holders. The Census helps state and local leaders decide where schools and health clinics are built, what infrastructure and transportation projects should be prioritized, and informs us of the composition of US households across our great country. For these reasons and others, it is critically important that we all respond to this year’s census.

The average census response rate for the US is 88 percent, but as of early September 2020, Texas is behind this average at 85 percent. This lower response rate means Texas could forgo crucial funding and resources which could then be redirected to other states with a higher response rate.

Every member of our One Amazing Team should perform this civic duty and respond to the 2020 Census questionnaire before the September 30 deadline. We urge you to encourage your family and friends to do the same.

There are four easy ways to respond to the Census and it only takes two minutes to complete!
Secure Internet: For the first time this year, the Census will be available online.
https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-online.html
Respond by phone: The census phone lines are available at 1-800-923-8282.
https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-by-phone.html
A significant undercount would dramatically deprive our region of vital public and private resources for the next ten years! Go to https://www.2020census.gov now and get counted!

June 8, 2020

When it comes to voting, the process can seem unclear. To ensure all eligible voters have the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding voting, and to help navigate the voter registration process, the Government Relations department will be providing periodic updates to help clarify voting processes and procedures.

Here are important items to keep in mind when exercising your voting rights:

Register to vote

To vote in any election in Texas, you must be registered to vote* at least 30 days before election day, so check your status as soon as possible. To check your status please visit the “Am I Registered?” section of the Texas Secretary of States’ website.

If you want to vote in the July 14, 2020 primary run-off election, you must register by June 15, 2020. To vote in the November 5, 2020, General election, you must register by October 4, 2020.

If you recently moved or legally changed your name, you must fill out another voter registration form with this updated information and mail it to Secretary of State or submit it at a county office location. Online voter registration forms from the Texas Secretary of State website can be found here.

This will ensure you’re voting in the correct precinct and voting for candidates that are representing your new community.

Make your plan to vote
Voting is the fundamental right of our democracy. If you’re voting early or on election day, be sure to think about your schedule for that day. Also, plan to research your candidates and make a list of who you want to vote for ahead of time. Below, are resources from the League of Women Voters Education Fund and the Texas Secretary of State websites, to assist you.

Acceptable forms of voter ID: http://www.votetexas.gov/mobile/id-faqs.htm

Find out who is on your ballot: https://www.vote411.org/ballot

Find your polling place here: https://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do

Have other questions?

VoteTexas.gov is the “go-to” website for any questions you may have. This site is powered by the Texas Secretary of State and provides comprehensive information on voting in Texas.

February 24, 2020

US House Representative Dan Crenshaw visited Texas Children’s Hospital last week to learn about our organization and get an up-close view of our operations.

Crenshaw, who represents Texas’ second congressional district, had the opportunity to meet with executive vice presidents, Michelle Riley-Brown, Dan DiPrisco, Mark Mullarkey, and Weldon Gage where they spoke candidly about access to care and Texas Children’s role working with Medicaid and Medicaid populations. They also discussed our efforts to support innovative research and our focus on medical residency and training programs.

“It’s important that our elected representatives have an opportunity to see Texas Children’s first-hand,” said Rosie Valadez McStay, assistant vice president for Governmental Relations and Community Benefits. “We are an organization that is so greatly impacted by their work. To that end, touring our patient care areas to see how care is provided, and meeting with our clinical leaders and administrators, provides them the opportunity to learn how their legislative decisions effect our patients and families. Our hope is that these experiences assist them in making informed and insightful health policy decisions.”

Rep. Crenshaw’s afternoon tour featured visits to:

  • Texas Children’s Legacy Tower Mission Control
  • Texas Children’s Heart Center
  • Texas Children’s Neurology Center
  • Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers

To learn more about Crenshaw’s life, work and service in the United States military visit: https://crenshaw.house.gov/about/

February 17, 2020

Employees, patients and members of Texas Children’s entities are encouraged to take the 2020 Census. The effort to educate us is being led by The Section of Public Health Pediatrics and Community Benefits at Texas Children’s Hospital.

“Every 10 years, the census counts how many people live in each community to decide how much funding and representation in congress each community should receive,” said Cassie Jones, community initiatives coordinator. “An accurate census count means more programs and services will be available to the children and families we serve to support their full health and well-being.”

This funding supports everything from disaster recovery to higher education to road improvements to Medicaid funding.

“Texas Children’s is uniquely situated to reach hundreds of thousands of families and encourage them to complete the census,” Jones added.

She goes on to say that children under the age of five and low-income populations are often undercounted in the Census and it is estimated that communities miss out on $10,000 in funding for every person that is not counted. If children reside in more than one home, they should be counted where they stay most often, even if their parents don’t live there. If there is any confusion, children should be counted where they will be staying on Census Day – April 1st, 2020. For newborn babies still in the hospital on April 1, 2020, they should be counted at the home where they will live and sleep most of the time.

There are only nine questions and your responses cannot be shared with anyone. Every household in the United States should complete the census regardless of citizenship or immigration status. There are no questions about citizenship. For more information go to 2020 CENSUS.

Four easy ways to respond

Secure Internet: For the first time this year, the Census will be available online.
Respond by phone: Beginning March 1, 2020 the Census phone lines will be available at 1-800-923-8282.
Respond by mail: From March 12, 2020 through March 20, 2020 every home will receive an invitation in the mail to complete the Census. This information will explain how to complete the Census to help ensure our community receives the funding we need to help our patients, families, and community thrive!
In-Person interview: United States Census Bureau enumerators will visit residences that choose not to self-respond.

Important Census Dates
  • March 12 – 20: Households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail.
  • March 30 – April 1: The Census Bureau counts people in shelters, at soup kitchens and mobile food vans, on the streets, and at non-sheltered, outdoor locations such as tent encampments.
  • April 1: Census Day is observed nationwide. By this date, every home will have received an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. Once the invitation arrives, you should respond for your home in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by mail. When you respond to the census, you’ll tell the Census Bureau where you live as of April 1, 2020.
  • May – July: Census takers will begin visiting homes that have not responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted.
  • December: The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts to the President and Congress as required by law.
Need assistance?

Lines are open from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. CST seven days per week.

English (1-844-330-2020) and Spanish (1-844-468-2020).

If you service communities with different language needs, please check out the language specific phone lines at: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/2020-census/planning-management/memo-series/2020-memo-2019_18.html

January 28, 2020

The Texas 2020 Primary election is March 3, 2020, and the deadline to register to vote is February 3, 2020. Now is the time for each of us to ask our co-workers, friends, neighbors, and patient family members if they have registered to vote or if their registration is up-to-date.

Texas Children’s government relations department is partnering with the League of Women Voters to offer several voter registration drives leading up to the state’s registration deadline. See below for more details on time/location and stop by our tables to receive information on the voting process, creating your personal plan to vote and help Get Out The Vote in 2020!

Take advantage of one of these opportunities to register:

Main Campus

Thursday, January 30: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., The Auxiliary Bridge
Friday, January 31: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., The Auxiliary Bridge

West Campus

Thursday, January 30: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., (Lobby)
Friday, January 31: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., (Lobby)

The Woodlands

Thursday, January 30: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., (Lobby area close to the cafeteria)
Friday, January 31: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., (Lobby area close to the cafeteria)

December 16, 2019

Texas Children’s Hospital recently hosted Dr. John Zerwas, former state representative who served twelve years in the Texas House and is known as a champion for children’s health.

Dr. Zerwas has been a frequent guest of the hospital over the years, but on this occasion he was honored for his dedicated service and leadership in the Texas legislature.

President and CEO Mark Wallace and members of the Texas Children’s Advocacy and Public Policy committee hosted Dr. Zerwas, along with Stacy Wilson, President of the Children’s Hospital Association of Texas. Ms. Wilson, on behalf of the CHAT eight-member hospitals from across the state, presented Dr. Zerwas with an award as a token of appreciation for his commitment to the needs of children and the providers that serve them.

Rosie Valadez-McStay, assistant vice president of Government Relations and Community Benefits, also presented Dr. Zerwas with a painting created by a Texas Children’s patient as an example and reminder of the little ones that have so greatly benefited from his commitment to children’s health.

Dr. Zerwas served in the Texas House since 2007, representing District 28 and served as chair of the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee since 2017. He officially retired from the Texas House on September 30, 2019.