Health Care Access Too few Houston-area residents are able to access affordable, high-quality health care consistently, contributing to poor health outcomes for a significant portion of our neighbors Uninsured rates in the three-county Houston region have steadily increased since 2016, while physician availability and preventable hospital stays have improved. Why access to health care matters …
Category Archives: Topic
Health
Understanding Health in Houston The physical and mental health and well-being of all Houstonians is essential to a thriving, equitable region. In addition to genetics, our physical and mental health status is shaped by our environment, ability to access affordable high-quality health care, and ease/depth of access to critical resources, like parks, fresh food and …
Funding, Enrollment & Teachers
Funding, Enrollment & Teachers A thriving public school system requires sufficient funding, robust student enrollment and effective teachers The COVID-19 pandemic upended student enrollment and had a significant effect on teachers just as HB3 increased funding to public schools. Why school funding, enrollment, and teachers matter to Houston Public schools need students, teachers and money. …
Post-secondary Education
Post-secondary Education The continued shift to a knowledge-based economy means the best opportunities for job prospects and upward mobility will require education and training beyond high school Rates of college readiness and enrollment in the region are stagnant or in decline, and not enough Houston-area students earn post-secondary credentials after high school. The effects of …
Academic Outcomes
Academic Outcomes How well students perform throughout elementary, middle and high school has profound effects on other important areas of their lives Academic outcomes for students in Houston’s three-county region have suffered since the pandemic, and they weren’t that great to begin with. Students of color and from low-income households have experienced the greatest disparities …
Educational Attainment
Educational Attainment An indicator correlated with many life outcomes, educational attainment profoundly affects individual and regional prosperity Though the average Houstonian today has more education than they did 10 years ago, significant disparities across race/ethnicity persist. Why educational attainment matters to Houston The benefits of obtaining an education beyond the 12 mandatory years extend not …
Early Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education in Houston The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted early childhood education in the region, prompting concerns about future academic readiness After experiencing years of steady growth, early childhood education enrollment in Houston’s three-county region fell during the COVID-19 pandemic. Why early childhood education matters to Houston What is early childhood education? Early childhood education …
Education
Understanding Education in Houston The benefits of an education extend not only to earnings, health and quality of life, but also to future generations and the collective well-being and economy of our region. The more education we have, the more we earn, we have greater job stability, are less likely to rely on public assistance, …
Population and Diversity
Population, Diversity and Immigration in Houston One of the strongest forces to shape the region, Houston’s diverse population is also its greatest asset. In the last decade, the population in Houston’s three-county region — due to strong levels of international and domestic migration — grew substantially and became far more diverse. Why population and diversity …
Community Context
Understanding Community Context in Houston How demographic changes, public safety and access to transportation shape and define Houston’s three-county region Understanding a region as large and diverse as Houston requires taking a deeper look at the foundational factors that shape our society — the community context. Exploring and analyzing critical indicators like population growth, transportation …