TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas — About a year and a half after Travis County voters approved a major investment in child care and youth programs, county leaders say nearly $52 million has already been distributed through the Raising Travis County initiative.

During a virtual community town hall Tuesday evening, officials shared updates on the voter-approved program, which was created to expand access to affordable child care and out-of-school time programs, including after-school and summer enrichment opportunities.

According to Travis County, $51.7 million has been distributed through 25 contracts so far. County leaders say that funding is expected to serve 9,402 children and youth across Travis County.

The largest investment to date has been $17.3 million for child care scholarships, followed by $4.2 million for provider support and another $4.2 million for child care gap funding, according to county data.

Travis County Judge Andy Brown said the county moved quickly after voters approved the initiative in November 2024.

“Our team hit the ground running, voters approved it, we got funds out into the community faster than any other similar initiative in the country,” Brown said.

Brown said the initiative is already having an impact on families and child care providers across the county.

“This is already making a huge difference in Travis County for our families here,” Brown said.

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For some families, the support has helped remove barriers that can make it difficult to stay employed.

One parent who received assistance through the program described the choices many families face when child care costs become unaffordable.

“Foster parents out there like me, and there are regular parents out there that can’t afford daycare, but they need daycare, so they need to choose between work or staying at home with their child,” the parent said.

Another parent said access to child care helped create stability for their family.

“It’s literally been the difference between homelessness and being housed,” the parent said. “Within months of us having that accessibility, me being able to work, we’re now housed, and we have this wonderful hope for a future.”

County officials say they are measuring outcomes through annual performance goals built into each contract. Metrics include child care quality, youth development, school readiness, and support for parents returning to the workforce. Travis County also plans to hire a third-party evaluator to assess the program’s progress.

Despite the investment, county leaders say demand continues to outpace available services in some areas.

According to Travis County, there is still an unmet need for child care and out-of-school time programs, particularly during nontraditional hours such as early mornings, evenings, and weekends.

Officials also say infant and toddler care remains a challenge. The county reported that many providers continue to have long waitlists for infant classrooms while facing enrollment challenges in some classrooms serving older children.

During the town hall, Raising Travis County leaders said community feedback will continue to play an important role as the program moves forward. Officials encouraged families to participate in engagement opportunities designed to help identify needs across Travis County.

Raising Travis County is the first initiative of its kind in Texas and one of the first in the United States, according to county leaders.