Pathway
Strong foundations
Schools, childcare, youth programs, and family safety.
Every decision about schools, childcare, and children’s services is made by someone who was elected or appointed. Knowing who is the first step.
1Resources
8Organizations
20Services
10Policies
10Opportunities
The Journey
Your Journey in Families
124 resources across 5 levels of engagement
ArticleFree College Handbook: How to Start Tuition-Free ProgramsThis handbook helps leaders create free college programs in their communities. Written by experts at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, it answers 25 common questions about Promise programs - local scholarships that cover college tuition for residents. The guide is for mayors, college leaders, nonprofits, and community groups who want to remove tuition barriers and increase college attendance. Most Promise programs only cover tuition and fees, not housing, food, books, or transportation. But even covering just tuition can change expectations, get more students into college, and make communities better places to live and work. The Kresge Foundation funded this updated 2025 version, which includes videos and connects to a new Promise Programs Hub website with program databases and research.
ArticleBerkeley's Guide to Better Teaching and LearningThis is the education section of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center website. It shares research-based articles and tools to help teachers, parents, and school leaders support children's emotional and social development. The site covers topics like helping quiet children speak up, teaching students how to disagree respectfully, protecting immigrant students during difficult times, and building critical thinking skills even when certain topics are restricted. Teachers can find monthly happiness calendars with daily tips, learn about self-compassion to handle stress, and discover ways to create kinder classrooms. The content is based on scientific research about wellbeing and meaningful relationships. Parents can learn how to encourage intellectual humility in their kids and understand teenagers better. School leaders get advice on staying grounded during challenging times and building compassionate school communities. All articles are written by education researchers and experts who translate complex studies into practical advice that anyone can use to help children thrive emotionally and academically.
ArticleFamily Support & Parenting Resources from UC BerkeleyThis is a collection of family and parenting resources from the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. The site offers research-based articles, videos, and guides to help parents and caregivers support their children at different stages. Topics include helping school-aged kids develop emotional skills, teaching teens to value diversity and bridge differences with others, and understanding how families can have better conversations across different viewpoints. The content covers parenting challenges from early childhood through the teenage years. Most resources are based on scientific research about child development, emotional intelligence, and family relationships. The site also explores how popular culture like movies and TV shows can teach us about empathy and understanding. All content is designed to help families build stronger relationships and raise children who can connect positively with others, even when they disagree. The resources are free to access and include practical tips parents can use right away. The organization believes that science can help families create more meaningful and connected lives together.
ArticleChurch Group Helps 6,500 Families Buy Their First HomesThe Nehemiah Strategy is a powerful community development program that has helped over 6,500 families become first-time homeowners. Led by faith communities and organizations like East Brooklyn Congregations, this program transforms empty lots and abandoned land into affordable homes in low-income neighborhoods. The strategy works by getting city governments to sell empty lots cheaply and provide building subsidies. It has created $1.5 billion in wealth for African-American and Latino families in cities like Brooklyn, Chicago, Baltimore, and Washington DC. Rev. David Brawley from St. Paul Community Baptist Church explains that it started with imagination - seeing something better where there were only empty lots. The program works with both Democratic and Republican mayors to secure funding. CBS News featured stories of homeowners like Matilda Dyer, who called her application an 'act of faith,' and Sandra and Armando Martinez, who call their home their 'palace.' This approach helps neighborhoods grow stronger without pushing out existing residents through gentrification. The program proves that with organized community power and vision, the American Dream of homeownership can become real for working families.
ArticleHouston Schools Research Group Studies Education EquityThe Houston Education Research Consortium (HERC) is a partnership between Rice University's Kinder Institute and eight Houston-area school districts. They work together to study how to make schools more fair and equal for all students. HERC does long-term research on important school topics like helping students who move between schools, supporting kids learning English, improving pre-K programs, and getting students ready for college and careers. They look at real data from schools to help leaders make better decisions. Recent studies include how the state's school grading system affects low-income students, what parents think about HISD's Parent University program, and how social-emotional learning helps with school discipline. They also studied how Hurricane Harvey affected homeless students and how COVID-19 changed school enrollment. The research helps school districts understand what works best for students, especially those who face challenges like poverty or language barriers. All their reports and data are shared publicly to help improve education in Houston.
ArticleLISC Resource Library: Tools for Community DevelopmentThe Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has created a free online library filled with helpful resources for community development. The library contains reports, guides, webinars, and case studies on topics like affordable housing, small business development, child care, safety and justice, and wealth building. Featured resources include a guide on how faith-based organizations can use their land for affordable housing, a playbook for helping families keep inherited property, and tools to help small businesses prepare for disasters. The library is searchable by location (including Houston), topic area, year, resource type, and audience. Resources are designed for community development corporations, practitioners, policy makers, educators, and community members. Many materials focus on helping low-income communities build wealth, access affordable housing, and strengthen local businesses. The library includes both practical guides that people can use right away and research reports that explain what works in community development. All resources are free to access and use.
+38 moreOn the couch
What's Happening
The latest news and stories in families
Getting off the couch
Who's Involved
The elected leaders, organizations, and funders working on families
Organizations Doing This Work
UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley pushes the boundaries of knowledge, challenges convention and expands opportunity to create the leaders of tomorrow.
Braver Angels
Braver Angels is a citizens’ organization uniting red and blue Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America
Bread and Puppet Theater
Berkeley Youth Alternatives
Berkeley Youth Alternatives helps young people who have been in trouble with the police or courts get back on track. They provide mentoring, support, and programs to help youth succeed in school and life.
Houston Arts Alliance
Administers City of Houston arts grants through community-reviewed programs.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
World's largest private foundation with U.S. education programs in Houston.
Off the couch
What You Can Do
Volunteer, access services, and track the policies that affect you
Get Involved
Habitat for Humanity Builder
Help build homes for families
Mar 1Virtual
Youth Mentor
Be a positive role model for a young person
Feb 1Virtual
Homework Help Tutor
Help kids with their homework after school
Feb 1Virtual
Legal Clinic Assistant
Help at free legal clinics for low-income residents
Feb 1Virtual
Reading Buddy
Read with kids to help them learn
Feb 1Virtual
ESL Conversation Partner
Practice English with people learning the language
Feb 1Virtual
Available Services
BakerRipley Community Centers
BakerRipley has community centers all over Houston that help families get j...
Mental Health Counseling Services
You can talk to trained counselors who help people feel better and solve pr...
Houston Area Womens Center
This organization helps people who have been hurt by someone at home or som...
Crisis Text Line - Free 24/7 Crisis Counseling in Spanish
Crisis Text Line helps people who are going through tough times. You can te...
Policies & Legislation
HR 1028Pending
Women's Sports Protection
This federal bill sets rules about who can compete in women's Olympic and a...
HR 2157Introduced
Africa Service Members Tax Benefits Act
This federal bill would give military service members stationed in Kenya, M...
HR 2605Pending
SAVES Act
This federal bill strengthens protections for military service members by updating rules about their benefits and support systems.
HR 3156Introduced
Jobs and Services for People in Need
The JOBS for Success Act is a federal bill that would help people who recei...
HR 4312Pending
College Sports Oversight
The SCORE Act is a federal bill that would set up new rules for college spo...
HR 6392Pending2w ago
Recognizing Homeschool Graduates
This federal bill makes sure that students who are homeschooled get officia...
Topics in Families
Specific focus areas where you can dig in
Early ChildhoodK-12 EducationHigher EducationChildcareParenting SupportFoster CareAdoptionYouth DevelopmentTeen ProgramsFamily CounselingDomestic ViolenceChild Abuse PreventionMarriage & RelationshipsGrandparents as ParentsSpecial Needs ChildrenLiteracySTEM EducationArts EducationSchool MealsTutoring & MentoringAfter School ProgramsCollege PrepScholarships & Financial AidHomeschoolingSchool SafetyStudent Mental HealthParent-Teacher EngagementVocational TrainingGED & Adult EducationDigital LiteracySummer ProgramsSports & AthleticsMusic & Performing ArtsChild NutritionSingle Parent SupportMilitary FamiliesFatherhood ProgramsElder CareSibling SupportFamily ReunificationBirth Support & DoulasBreastfeeding SupportCo-ParentingFamily Legal Issues