North Texas Children’s Health report links kids’ poor mental health to tech use
North Texas children’s mental health is being compromised by overuse of technology, experts emphasized on Tuesday as a piece of a larger, comprehensive report.
A new biennial report released by Children’s Health examines the quality of life for children in North Texas counties, including Tarrant, specifically through the lens of health, economic security, safety and education. During a symposium at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, leaders of the pediatric health care system discussed the report’s findings alongside a research scientist, focusing on the current state of mental health and child well-being in the area. The findings also included statistics on the state of education, child care and general youth health in Tarrant County.
Too much screen time and exposure to social media were pinpointed as culprits of poor health outcomes in children. Children’s Health President and CEO Christopher Durovich said technology has become a source of stress and anxiety for young people that needs to be addressed through creating safeguards to protect them from online harm and expanding behavioral health access.
“The mental and behavioral health of our children is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. The National Institutes of Health reports that nearly one in five children ages 3-17 now have a mental, emotional, developmental or behavioral disorder,” Durovich said. “In Texas, experts point to high social media use and problematic online patterns as major contributing factors.”
Zach Rausch, senior research scientist and managing director of the Tech and Society Lab at New York University’s Stern School of Business, described “a tragedy in two acts” where a play-based childhood first started to disappear from 1980-2010. The second “act” is the full transition to a phone-based childhood centered around iPhones, social media and high-speed internet from 2010-2015.
He recommended four “new norms”: No smartphones for children before high school; no social media before 16 years old; phone-free schools for the full school day; and more independence, responsibility and free play in the real world.
“We want to protect childhood like a refuge,” Rausch said. “Because we’re entering into this… whole new age of digital technologies that are untested and being thrown into kids’ lives, which are AI chatbots and ed tech.”
The Children’s Health report is extensive, touching on several statistics across eight counties. Here’s what it revealed about the health, child care access and education of Tarrant County youth.
Tarrant County findings
Tarrant County’s youth population of more than 548,000 has continued to diversify, according to the report. The percentage of children identifying as multiple races more than doubled from about 15% to about 31%, reflecting statewide trends. Children of Hispanic and/or Latino descent make up about 38% of the youth population, a percentage that’s held steady since 2019, the report states.
From 2019 to 2023, the county’s median family income increased 4.5% to more than $99,000 when adjusted for inflation. This was among the statistics signaling the county’s ongoing economic growth, anchored by “strong migration and job creation in the Fort Worth area.”
Although Tarrant County’s child poverty rate declined from about 17% in 2019 to about 15% in 2023, demographic disparities remain.
“...21.9% of Black/African American children and 19.1% of Hispanic/Latino children live in poverty, compared to 7.7% of non-Hispanic white children. The sharpest improvement was among Hispanic/Latino children, whose poverty rate dropped by 5 percentage points,” the report states.
In regard to health, the report states:
- More than 50% of pediatric visits to the emergency department in Tarrant and Dallas counties were considered avoidable in 2023, reflecting obstacles in accessing primary care for those who are Medicaid-eligible and uninsured.
- “Asthma remains one of the most common chronic conditions among children, with more than 176,000 affected regionally and hospitalization rates highest in Dallas and Tarrant counties.”
- There was “mixed progress” in early childhood health, as immunization rates declined regionally, with most of them “falling below the 95% threshold for community protection.” But there was a statewide expansion of Medicaid postpartum coverage in 2024 that could improve infant mortality outcomes in the future.
- “Denton and Tarrant counties experienced steady declines (in childhood immunizations) across all vaccine types over the five-year period, with Tarrant’s DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) and varicella (which prevents chicken pox) coverage falling to about 90%.”
- “Dallas and Tarrant counties’ rates (of early prenatal care) remain below both state and national benchmarks.”
The report also touched on child care access, noting it as a “major concern.” Subsidized child care enrollment declined in 2021 due to COVID-19 disruptions but recovered in 2022.
Although licensed child care slots have increased, the number of licensed facilities decreased in both Tarrant and Dallas counties.
“Providers cited rising liability insurance costs and administrative burdens as barriers to operating, and a recent state system transition disrupted subsidy access, leading to enrollment losses. Employer-supported child care and public-private partnerships were highlighted as promising but not yet widespread,” according to the report.
The report also noted a decline in Head Start enrollments in Tarrant County from 2024 compared to previous years, “indicating possible access challenges in urban areas with higher poverty rates.”
In regard to education, the report underscores underwhelming reading proficiency scores across North Texas, which reveal early literacy challenges. There were about 46% of Tarrant County third-graders meeting grade level in STAAR reading in 2024.
“Third-grade reading proficiency declined across North Texas in 2024 with only Collin County exceeding 65% of students being at grade level,” said Durovich of Children’s Health.
Factors impacting student achievement include a child’s economic security. There were more than 62% of Tarrant students eligible for free or reduced-fee meals in 2024.
“Childhood hunger and malnutrition can cause weaker school performance and elevate risks of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, diabetes and developmental issues. Programs offering free or low-cost meals at school to at-risk children are vital in fighting food insecurity,” the report states.
The full 117-page report can be read here.
This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 5:42 PM.
