What We Do
PEI takes a public health approach to strengthening families and promoting positive outcomes for children, youth, families, and communities. We support the healthy social, emotional, and mental development of children and help develop safe and stable families and nurturing communities. We do this through:
- Contracts with community organizations to provide prevention and early intervention programs to children, youth, and families that encourage decisions and actions that improve their lives.
- Public education and programs that work to prevent risk factors that lead to child abuse or neglect or other childhood adversities.
PEI also helps communities develop and improve prevention programs to strengthen families so they can live better lives. This can mean families don't get involved with Child Protective Investigations or Child Protective Services and are able to stay together. It may also mean their kids stay in school, avoid risky behavior, and don’t become involved with the juvenile justice system. PEI makes free prevention services available to families all around the state. You can search for PEI programs available in your county on the DFPS website.
PEI’s Office of Child Safety focuses on programs that work to reduce fatal and serious child abuse. This office performs critical-case reviews, examines data and trends, and works with other agencies to provide a safety network across Texas. The Office of Child Safety develops recommendations and works together with non-profit, private sector, and government programs to help keep children safe.