Local
Austin youth decline puts focus on citywide plan for children and families
Austin’s youth population fell by more than 17,000 between 2019 and 2024, according to Generation ATX research. The city initiative is now working with local organizations to turn five priorities for children into a coordinated plan with measurable goals.
Austin lost more than 17,000 young residents — a 9.3% decline — between 2019 and 2024, according to research by Generation ATX. The drop has sharpened questions about whether families can find the housing, services and opportunities they need to stay in the city.
Generation ATX, known as GenATX, is a city initiative launched by Mayor Kirk Watson last fall with the goal of making Austin the best place in the country to be a child. With Fran Baylor now serving as its first executive director, the initiative is moving from research and community assessment toward coordinated action.
“If we want Austin to continue being a great city, we have to pay attention to what it’s like to grow up here today,” Baylor said.
GenATX’s work is organized around children’s health, safety and well-being. Its stated role is to bring together groups already serving young people and families, identify unmet needs and set shared measures of progress, rather than duplicate existing services.
The initiative has identified five priorities: early-childhood investment; access to health care, food and housing; stronger youth mental-health services; more recreation and social connection; and improvements to public education. Working groups are bringing together community organizations and local leaders around each area.
Partners named in the effort include United Way for Greater Austin, the Austin Healthcare Council, Central Texas Food Bank, Austin Child Guidance Center, Integral Care, Andy Roddick Foundation, YMCA of Austin, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Breakthrough Central Texas.
GenATX is working with those organizations and Austin consulting firm CivicSol to develop a strategic plan, identify opportunities for joint work and determine how progress will be tracked. Baylor’s responsibilities include coordinating the working groups, engaging community partners and funders, and translating research into practical strategies.
Baylor said her job is to move the initiative into its next phase while carrying forward its existing vision. She brings about 15 years of experience in family economic security, affordable housing, child care and workforce development, and also helps coordinate philanthropic investment supporting the Affordable Childcare Now! coalition through Asset Funders Network.
The initiative’s next test will be whether its partnerships produce measurable improvements for children and families. Baylor said she wants Austin to be a place where families choose to live and young people can see a future for themselves.