"Grieve about injustice. Quit pretending that things are all right. Imagine that things could be different, and courageously say so to the people."
- Phil Strickland, Texans Care for Children founder
In the 1980s, a Texan who cared, Phil Strickland, noticed how the politicians of his state talked a good game, but didn't uphold the values that mattered most to Texans like him. Phil was then director of the Christian Life Commission, and part of what bothered him most was conditions for children. To him, even one child going hungry was unacceptable. Yet Texas had many kids who went without meals every day. Many kids, too, couldn't see a doctor when they needed to, because their families couldn't afford health care.
The children hurt by abuse, the ones growing up in poverty, the ones thrown into lock-ups--all of them seemed to need a champion. But powerful elected officials looked the other way.
Part of the problem was that the groups going to the Capitol for children rarely worked together or even spoke. Legislators would hear from one group about feeding children, another about giving them health care, and still another about keeping kids safe. Causes got pitted against one another, as if one need in a child's life--to be healthy, or fed, or cared for--somehow outweighed all others.
Phil brought the groups together and led them to speak with one powerful voice for children. He made improving children's lives through better public policies his mission. That mission lives on in the organization our late champion began: Texans Care for Children.
Thirty years later, Texans across the state continue to come together under the name "Texans Care," believing we can make Texas a better place for children. When we do, we have a better future for us all.
Over the years, great results have followed when we partnered with fellow Texans to carry forward Phil Strickland's legacy for children:
Improved the safety of 63,000 kids in the juvenile justice system by pushing for reforms that led to better services--health, mental health, and rehabilitative--for more kids in trouble. The number of children locked up in Texas youth prisons has fallen by more than half.
Brought needed reforms for young victims of child abuse or neglect by pushing for change to our state's Child Protective Services and championing laws to help families who care for young relatives after abuse or neglect led those children to be removed from their parents' care.
