TexProtects Names Adrianna Cuéllar Rojas as Chief Executive Officer

CEO TexProtects

AUSTIN, TX – [Sept. 12, 2023] – TexProtects, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect across Texas, is pleased to announce Adrianna Cuéllar Rojas as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective Sept. 11, 2023.

Cuéllar Rojas brings a wealth of experience and a track record of success in building systems change in the Texas child wellbeing landscape.

“We are thrilled to welcome Adrianna to lead TexProtects into its next era,” said Susan Hoff, Chair of TexProtects’ Board of Directors. “Her heartfelt dedication to children’s wellbeing, coupled with her vast experience and inspiring vision in the nonprofit sector, is a perfect match for our mission. We’re confident her leadership will be a cornerstone in our pursuit of new horizons and our enduring commitment to protect the children of Texas.”

From 2014 to 2021, Cuéllar Rojas served as the President & CEO of United Ways of Texas, leading a network of 60+ local independent United Ways. During her tenure, she significantly increased the operating budget, led statewide services and initiatives, and created a cohesive public policy agenda prioritizing key issues such as public education, health, financial stability, and the nonprofit sector.

Most recently, Cuéllar Rojas held the position of Senior Program Officer at The Hector & Gloria López Foundation, a philanthropic foundation committed to expanding post-secondary educational opportunities for Latino students in Texas. She was instrumental in launching its grantmaking efforts, contributing her extensive knowledge and experience in philanthropy.

“As I step into the CEO role at TexProtects, I’m both humbled and invigorated to be part of an organization that has been at the forefront of child protection for nearly two decades,” said Cuéllar Rojas. “As we approach our 20th anniversary, I’m committed to both honoring our past and driving the organization’s vision into its next era. Alongside our talented team and network of partners, we will continue to bring meaningful change to the lives of children and families across Texas.”

Cuéllar Rojas has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to child welfare in her personal and professional life. She volunteered as a trained, court-appointed special advocate for several children in North Texas through Dallas CASA, where she also served on the Board of Directors before moving to Austin. She has held additional positions on boards and committees, such as Chair of the Foundation Communities Board of Directors, member of the Texas Nonprofit Council (an appointment by Gov. Greg Abbott), and member of the Prenatal to Three Texas (PN3) Steering Committee, among others. Her complete resume is available here.

Cuéllar Rojas holds a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and French from Trinity University, San Antonio.

TexProtects was founded in 2004 by Madeline McClure to drive large-scale, systems-wide change in child abuse and neglect prevention in Texas. Cuéllar Rojas follows the tenure of Sophie Phillips, who led the organization from 2018 to 2022.

About TexProtects

Established in 2004, TexProtects is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization in Texas dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect. As the Texas chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, we help build strong, safe childhoods for Texas children and families by developing and driving solutions to child abuse and neglect. By advocating for strong policy, conducting research, partnering with allies and raising public awareness, we get results for children and families. We know that when children thrive – so does Texas.

Media Contact

Meggie Abendschein
Vice President of PR & Marketing
Email: meggie@texprotects.org
Phone: 512-423-5888
www.texprotects.org

New Push For TX Lege to Support Babies, Toddlers, and Their Parents

For Immediate Release

Austin – Today three Texas nonprofit organizations announced a new effort to work with the Texas Legislature and other state leaders to increase the number of infants and toddlers who are healthy, supported, and arrive at school ready to learn. While Texas is home to 1 in 10 of our nation’s children, our current policies are not doing enough to support them, as Texas ranks in the bottom 10 for child well-being in the country. Despite the overwhelming evidence that a child’s first three years are critical for brain development and set the foundation for a child’s future, Texas does not invest enough to ensure infants, toddlers, and their families can access the health, education, care, developmental, and other services they need to set them on a path to success.

The new project, called the Texas Prenatal to Three (PN-3) Collaborative, is developing policy solutions to address these challenges. Three of the state’s leading children’s policy advocacy organizations — TexProtects, Texans Care for Children, and Children at Risk — are spearheading the new project. The Collaborative has the backing of over 110 partner organizations across the state. The Pritzker Children’s Initiative has awarded a generous $2.5 million three-year grant to the Texas PN-3 Collaborative in support of the Initiative’s work to increase access to critical education, health, social, developmental, and economic services for low-income infants and toddlers and their families.

COVID-19 has presented immense challenges to Texas families, from job loss or depressed wages to social isolation from support networks of families and friends. Now, more than ever, it is critical to support our youngest Texans and their families and connect them to the resources they need to be safe, stay healthy, and get ready for school.

The Texas PN-3 Collaborative will pursue a strategic agenda, known as The Texas Plan, to increase access to high-quality services for at least 300,000 low-income infants and toddlers and their families by 2026. The Texas Plan builds on and aligns with existing policy efforts and initiatives in the state. The Texas Plan focuses on the following three key areas:

  • Increasing the quality of and access to prenatal and postpartum health services for low-income mothers and health services for low-income infants and toddlers.
  • Increasing the number of low-income infants and toddlers and their families who are screened and successfully connected to necessary services, such as intensive home visiting or Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) for children under three with disabilities and developmental delays.
  • Increasing access to high-quality child care programs serving low-income infants and toddlers.

“Experiences during the first few years of childhood provide the foundation for the rest of our lives,” said Stephanie Rubin, CEO of Texans Care for Children, which is leading the Collaborative’s work on access to health services. “To make sure babies and toddlers get off to a strong start in life, one of the key steps the Legislature needs to take is reducing the uninsured rate for children and mothers.”

“Texas is home to 1.2 million infants and toddlers below the age of three, nearly half of whom are low income,” said Mandi Kimball, Vice President of Children at Risk and Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs. “This grant provides an incredible opportunity to better coordinate and align our early childhood systems to support families and give infants and toddlers the strong foundation they need to thrive later in life.”

“We are truly at the cusp of a PN-3 moment in our state,” explained Sophie Phillips, CEO of TexProtects. “Between the state’s Early Learning Strategic Plan, strong supporters of early childhood in the Texas Capitol, the Texas Early Learning Council, the considerable leadership in community early childhood coalitions, and the Texas PN-3 Collaborative, which acts as an umbrella organization for communities, advocates, and direct service providers, we are confident that we can make a positive impact on the systems and services that support our youngest, and make Texas the best place to be born.”

Texas is one of eleven states selected for funding by the Pritzker Children’s Initiative, as part of a competitive grant process.

About the Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI)

The Pritzker Children’s Initiative is a project of the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Foundation focused on increasing the number of young children who arrive in school ready to learn and succeed. More information about PCI can be found here.

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For interviews, please contact:
Andrea Payne
Prenatal to Five Advocacy Manager
TexProtects | Champions for Safe Children and Texas Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America

andrea@texprotects.org
Cell (214) 534-4064
www.texprotects.org

Statement on New Texas DFPS Commissioner

TexProtects has eagerly awaited the appointment of the next DFPS Commissioner and looks forward to welcoming Ms. Masters to Texas as we continue to work together to identify solutions that prevent abuse and promote the protection and healing of children in the child welfare system. We are enthusiastic about the unique expertise Ms. Masters will bring from a mental health and public health lens to the issue of child welfare in this state and look forward to opportunities to apply practical and proven strategies from the Midwest, which has frequently demonstrated stronger outcomes for children and families than Texas.

Read the rest of the press release.

TexProtects supports life sentence for Wesley Mathews

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2019
Contact: Lee Nichols
512-796-9877
Lee@texprotects.org

Dallas, Texas – Earlier today, Wesley Mathews of Richardson was sentenced by a jury to life in prison for his role in death of his daughter, Sherin Mathews.

TexProtects, the Texas chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, has watched this case closely. TexProtects CEO Sophie Phillips issues the following statement in response to the sentence:

“As the Texas chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, we are grateful to the jury and law enforcement officials that Wesley Mathews has been held accountable for ending the life of his adopted daughter Sherin. No innocent child should suffer at the hands of the very people that she trusts to protect her. If any good comes of this tragedy, we hope it will be that elected officials and community leaders realize the vital importance of child maltreatment prevention programs. We must reach more families before they reach a crisis situation.”

TexProtects, Champions for Safe Children, was created to tackle issues of Child Protective Services (CPS) reform, prevention and public awareness to bring a collective, organized voice representing the needs of children at risk of abuse and survivors of child abuse and neglect. TexProtects is the Texas Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. TexProtects is autonomous, nonpartisan and nonpolitical, designed to educate decision makers, private funders and the public at large. To date, it is the only Texas organization that has a dedicated focus on the main issues of protection, prevention, and healing of abused and neglected children. For more information, please visit www.TexProtects.org.

TexProtects applauds passage of SB 355 (re Family First Prevention Services Act)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2019
Contact: Lee Nichols
512-796-9877
Lee@texprotects.org

Austin, Texas — Earlier today, the Texas House passed Senate Bill 355 by Sen. Royce West (sponsored in the House by Rep. Stephanie Klick). This bill directs the Department of Family and Protective Services to develop a strategic plan for the coordinated implementation of community-based care and foster care prevention services that meet the requirements of the federal Family First Prevention Services Act.

TexProtects (the Texas chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America) applauds the passage of this bill by both chambers, resulting in SB 355 being sent to Governor Greg Abbott to be signed into law. Statement from TexProtects Vice President of Public Affairs Pamela McPeters:

We applaud the House for swiftly passing this key piece of legislation and sending it to the governor. The Family First Prevention Services Act marked a major shift in federal spending priorities, allowing money that previously was reserved solely for foster care to now be invested in crucial prevention programs that keep children from ever being removed from their families in the first place – safely protected in their homes. Senate Bill 355 will allow the state to develop a Texas strategy to leverage and maximize these funds for services that empower families to be resilient and self-reliant. FFPSA is a landmark recognition that we must support families before tragedy can occur, not just after it happens.