Childhood is a critical period due to rapid growth and development. Children will go through a lot of changes. At a very young age, there are periods of quick physical growth. And children develop cognitive, social, and life skills. They also build habits and behaviors that impact their future health. DSHS' Maternal and Child Health (MCH) supports Texas families as their children grow.
MCH defines childhood as ages 1-12. The 2019 Texas Demographic Center estimates there are 6,919,588 children in Texas under age 18. Over 40% are ages 5-11 and about 28% are birth-4.
MCH addresses different levels of health prevention and promotion. MCH uses proven strategies, data, and research to:
- Increase
health-promoting behaviors;
- Decrease
child injuries;
- Increase
healthy environments;
- Reduce
overweight and obesity in children in Texas;
- Increase
partnerships with stakeholders across Texas;
- Increase
developmental screenings; and
-
Promote health equity.
Emerging Issues in Child Health in Texas:
- Food security;
- Screen time use;
- Dental health;
- Uninsured or under insured youth;
- Childhood asthma;
- Mental Health;
- Poverty; and
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
Early Childhood Texas Website Launched!
The
Early
Childhood Texas website is a one-stop shop to access information about
programs and resources available from:
- The
Texas Workforce Commission;
- Texas
Education Agency;
- Texas
Department of Family and Protective Services;
- Texas
Department of State Health Services; and
-
Texas
Health and Human Services Commission.
The website
offers Texans information and resources in the following areas:
- Health & Development: child development (including resources for
children with special needs), nutrition, health tips, and healthcare;
- Parenting: child safety, parenting tips and support, and at-home learning
activities;
- Child Care & Education: child care and after school programs,
pre-kindergarten, Head Start, and Early Childhood Special Education; and
- Eligibility Programs: state sponsored programs and assistance
opportunities for Texas families.
Help Your Child Grow and Thrive!
As a parent, you already have what it takes to help your
young child learn and grow. Watch your child’s amazing progress by tracking his
or her developmental milestones —how he or she plays, learns, speaks, acts, and
moves – and sharing that progress with your child’s doctor at every check-up.
Check out free tools from Learn
the Signs. Act Early. to help you track your child’s milestones!
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised its developmental milestones. These milestone checklists
help parents, healthcare providers, and early childhood professionals identify
children with developmental disabilities at younger ages. This can connect families to proven interventions earlier.
The
checklists show when 75% of children should reach certain
milestones. This makes it easier to determine when a child might need
further evaluation. A checklist is available for each recommended well-child visit including ages 15 and 30 months.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
For information and resources about COVID-19 and child health, please visit the following links:
COVID-19 Information
Coping Strategies & Mental Health
These resources are specific for families with children ages 1 to 12 years. Visit the DSHS COVID-19 website for COVID-19 resources specific to children with special health care needs.
Please contact us for more information on child health or the Maternal and Child Health programs at:
Texas Department of
State Health Services
Maternal & Child Health
PO Box 149347, Mail Code 1922
Austin, TX 78714-9347
512-776-7373: Phone
512-458-7658: Fax
TitleV@dshs.texas.gov
External links are informational and DSHS does not endorse them. These external sites may also not be accessible to
persons with disabilities.