Note: This article originally appeared on Medium. How to Include All Texas Youth in the Evolving American Dream By Darrell Cox, Ed.D., Head Start Superintendent; and Paul Hernandez, LCCA, LCPAA, ORR Senior Executive Director at Upbring We know a person who is tenacious and resilient, strong and brave. They like to dream big, have a […] The post From Overlooked to Overcoming appeared first on Upbring ..read more

Note: This article originally appeared on Medium. Why hope may be the key to child wellbeing By Holly Raymond, Chief of Community Engagement at Upbring When you work in child welfare, the headlines can weigh you down. Waves of immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, rising poverty, inflation, plus funding shortages for education and other social […] The post Children in Texas’ care can rewrite their own stories appeared first on Upbring ..read more

Note: This article originally appeared on Medium. With the right reforms, Texas can move forward for our children by Andrew Benscoter, Ed.D., Chief Education & Growth Officer at Upbring In May, 25 students proudly earned their high school diplomas from the Trinity Charter Schools (TCS) Reclaim Academy. Graduations are always a special occasion, but this […] The post Virtual education means equal opportunity for children in foster care appeared first on Upbring ..read more

Note: This article originally appeared on Medium. How you can help at-risk children and why it matters By Holly Raymond, Chief of Community Engagement I love being a Texan. I was born and raised in the Austin area I still call home, earned my degrees from the University of Texas, and have three children who […] The post Child wellbeing is an investment in Texas appeared first on Upbring ..read more

Note: This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune Using modern tech to rethink antiquated systems for our children’s future Have you ever marveled at the uncanny accuracy of Amazon’s product suggestions? Or wondered how Walmart handles its massive logistics system to ensure consumer safety? Every day connected data systems are continuously enhancing our lives. […] The post The game-changing potential of data integration in transitioning child welfare towards child wellbeing appeared first on Upbring ..read more

Note: This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune. Strong, successful organizations—whether they be for-profit or non-profit—have two things in common: a unique and valuable product or service, and financially well-structured operations. As a professional with over 20 years of experience in finance and new CFO of Upbring, I have firsthand experience of how important […] The post Building strong foundations: Optimizing organizational structures for child wellbeing appeared first on Upbring ..read more

Note: This article originally appeared on Medium. Challenging Policies, Processes, and Procedures Pave the Way for Progress by Michael Loo, President & CEO at Upbring Nearly seven years ago, after over a century since its establishment, Upbring took a bold step towards unlearning (so to speak) what it had referenced as best practices for child […] The post The Child Wellbeing Sector Holds Moral Responsibility to Question the Status Quo appeared first on Upbring ..read more

Note: This article originally appeared on Medium. To help children in state care, we must rethink what it means to be ‘normal’ by Krystale Bezio, MSW, LCPAA, is Chief Program Officer at Upbring Imagine a child has been placed in a loving, stable foster home. They enroll in a new school, make a friend or two, and […] The post Child Wellbeing Deserves More Than A One-size-fits-all Approach appeared first on Upbring ..read more

Note: This article originally appeared on Medium. How small, everyday affirmations contribute to child wellbeing By Frank Lopez, LCSW-S, LCPAA, CART, Statewide Director of Foster Care & Adoption; and Jaime Ochoa, LPC, Clinical Director of Upbring Foster In Texas at Upbring When it comes to supporting child wellbeing, we can think of a magic number: five. Praise […] The post The transformative power of positive support appeared first on Upbring ..read more

Each summer, the spirit of St. Nicholas, popularly known as Santa Claus, brings Christmas cheer to our girls at Upbring New Life Children’s Center (New Life). History tells us that St. Nicholas was the patron saint of children, protecting them from abuse and exploitation. His presence each July is a heartwarming reminder of hope and […] The post Crafts, Games and Snowball Fights: Christmas in July at Upbring New Life appeared first on Upbring ..read more