REGULAR MEETING of the EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 10, 2025, 9:00 A.M. CITY HALL, BOARD AND COMMISSION ROOM #1101 301 WEST SECOND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Early Childhood Council may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once, either in person or remotely, and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Caitlin Oliver, Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health, at 512-972-6205 or Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Choquette Hamilton, Chair Brooke Freeland Chloe Latham-Sikes Cathy McHorse Craig McNary Hilda Rivas Brianna Menard, Vice Chair Eliza Sears Cynthia McCollum Andrea McIllwain Alice Navarro AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers to register prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on August 16, 2025 STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Briefing from Caitlin Oliver, Austin Public Health (APH), about the Austin-Travis County Family Child Care Educator Network and updates from related local early childhood groups such as Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Austin ISD, Success By 6 Coalition, Child Care Regulation, and Workforce Solutions Capital Area DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. Updates from the August Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meetings Updates regarding the implementation of the Travis County voter-approved Child Care and Out-of-School Time (CCOST) initiative Presentation from Trudy Taylor Smith, Senior Administrator of Policy and Advocacy at Children’s Defense Fund-Texas, regarding the impacts of immigration enforcement on Austin-area families Presentation from Decision Information Resources (DIR) regarding the initial findings of the quality-of-life study of Austin’s families with young children FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please or Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. at …
Impacts of Immigration Enforcement on Austin- area families September 10, 2025 Children’s Defense Fund builds community so young people grown up with dignity, hope, and joy. This presentation is intended to provide general information only. None of the content of this presentation constitutes legal advice. Children’s Defense Fund-Texas (CDF-TX) is an independent, non- partisan 501(c)3 organization. The information provided in this document is for informational and educational purposes only and is not an endorsement of any political candidate or party 3 Policies Targeting Immigrant Families • Executive Order 14160 (ending birthright citizenship for children of certain immigrants) • Rescission of the Protected Areas Policy • Escalating raids and the threat of arrests, detention, and disappearances • Courthouse arrests • Family and child detention • Family separation • Data sharing • New eligibility requirements for federal benefits programs that exclude new categories of lawful immigrants • Supercharged funding for ICE and a massive system of private immigration prisons 4 Table created by a s ta te p a rtne r How is enforcement impacting families and children? • Family separations • Children left without guardians • Lack of access to services • Pervasive stress and fear Resources for Further Learning CDF- Te xa s b log p os t e xp la ining wha t Exe c utive Ord e r GA- 4 6 me a ns for immig ra nt fa milie s in Te xa s The Ce nte r for the Stud y of Soc ia l Polic y’s (CSSP) b rie f a nd b log on the imp a c t of the Trump a d minis tra tion’s immig ra tion p olic ie s on fa milie s with young c hild re n, b a s e d on inte rvie ws with c hild c a re p rovid e rs Se p te mb e r 7, 2 0 2 5 Aus tin Ame ric a n- Sta te s ma n a rtic le , “Trump ’s immig ra tion c ra c kd own up e nd s life a t Aus tin e le me nta ry s c hool” Exp la ine r a b out fa mily d e te ntion from the Bre nna n Ce nte r for J us tic e Aug us t 15 , 2 0 …
Quality of Life Study for Austin's Families with Young Children September 2025 Update Providing High Quality Research, Evaluation, & Technical Assistance for Making Informed & Equitable Decisions RESEARCH • EVALUATION • SURVEYS • TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE www.dir-online.com Agenda • Welcome • Review of Study Methods • Outreach activities • Overview of Findings • Discussion of Recommendations • Next Steps Mixed-Methods Approach Landscape Analysis Focus Groups Caregiver Survey Outreach Methods RESEARCH • EVALUATION • SURVEYS • TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE www.dir-online.com Study Outreach • On-the-ground operations: • Connecting with community organizations • Attending community events • Attending special interest events • Connected directly with families and capturing their interest early on • Over 500 caregivers expressed interest in participating • Word-of-mouth/snowball • Several caregivers shared the study flyers, survey links, and interest forms to friends and family Study Results Sample Descriptions RESEARCH • EVALUATION • SURVEYS • TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE www.dir-online.com Survey Response Details • Total Completes: 569 (114% of goal) • Average respondent age: 35.9 (range: 20-68) • Relationship to child: 74% were biological parents • Age of child: 82% were born between June 2020 and December 2023 Gender 58% Female 35% Male 5% 1% Non-Binary Trans Female Or Woman Race/Ethnicity 6% 8% 8% 9% 15% 24% 29% Middle Eastern or North African Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Asian or Asian American Native American Indian or Latina/o/x/e or Hispanic White Black or African American Alaskan Native or Indigenous Immigration Status 143 respondents (25%) indicated having immigrated or being related to someone who has immigrated to the US: 4% 9% 10% 13% Refugee/asylum seeker Migrated as a child or adult Child of an immigrant or refugee Family member of an immigrant or refugee Focus Group Demographics • 5 focus groups and 1 interview, 38 participants • Demographics: • 94% participants are Black/African American • 3% Native American Indian or Alaskan Native or Indigenous; 3% Hispanic • 50% participant had household income between $15,000 - $44,999 • Diverse mix of caregivers represented (parent, kinship, step-parents, aunts/uncle, sibling, foster parent) • Gender identity: 65% female; 32% male; 3% trans female or woman Defining Quality of Life For caretakers, QoL blends security and stability with health, happiness, meaningful connections, and the freedom to live in a way that aligns with one’s values and aspirations. “… I would actually say that quality of life for me and my family means the overall well-being and satisfaction of my family. And …
