LAREDO, Texas – While Webb County is a bustling international trading center, children are experiencing the brunt of historical and current policies that make economic mobility difficult, according to a new report from the Center for Public Policy Priorities. Vea el informe en español. According to State of Texas Children 2019: Child Well-Being in Webb County, barriers in housing, employment, health insurance and education contribute to far too many children living in poverty and experiencing other troubling disparities. “Far too many of Webb County’s 90,000 children are unable to reach their full potential because of policy and funding barriers," said Ann Beeson, CEO of the Center for Public Policy Priorities. "Fortunately, leaders—elected, business, or community—can use this data to craft policies and practices that will break down those barriers and reduce the disparities we see today between neighborhoods, family incomes, immigration status, or race and ethnicity.” Neighborhoods of concentrated poverty isolate residents from resources and opportunities. Children who live in income segregated areas are less likely to have economic mobility. In addition, Webb County is home to over 15,000 colonia residents, and children growing up in these colonias face unique challenges. These residential communities along the U.S.-Mexico border often lack the basic necessities for living, including potable water, sewer systems, electricity, paved roads, safe housing, etc. “This report makes clear that more needs to be done to put children in Webb County on the same field as other Texas children when it comes to basic life needs such as clean water, health care and safe communities to live and play,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. “Looking forward, it’s important to find solutions that will take a comprehensive, whole-person care approach to ensure children across Texas have what they need to live long, happy and healthy lives.” |