The Texas Collaborative, a partnership of the Children's Defense
Fund, the Center for Public Policy Priorities and Texas Care for Children, announced
a $225,000 grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to strengthen
the state's efforts to cover all uninsured children.
"Recently, Texas has made significant progress in the fight to cover all children and the Foundation hopes to encourage and support committed advocates like the Texas Collaborative, who are working with state policymakers to finish the job and cover every Texas child," said Foundation President and CEO Carol S. Larson.
The grant is part of the Foundation's Finish Line Project, a multi-year campaign in eight states to advocate for state policy to cover every uninsured child.
Barbara Best, Texas Executive Director of the Children's Defense Fund said that the investment in Texas will make a significant impact in reducing the number of uninsured children nationally: "Of the 9 million uninsured children in America, 1.5 million of them live right here in Texas.
"By enrolling Texas children in health coverage, we help ensure that all American children get the healthcare that they need to grow into productive workers and responsible citizens," continued Best.
In 2007, the eight largest chambers of commerce throughout Texas endorsed the children's health coverage agenda. Legislative changes from 2007 will restore health coverage to 127,000 Texas children.
As Susan Craven, Executive Director of Texans Care for Children said, "Texas children deserve better. With the help of the Packard grant, we can continue to work with Texas business leaders, policy makers, faith leaders and other partners to give health care access to all of the state's children."