Cradle & Compass Read the manifesto

Independent reporting · North Texas

Early parenthood in North Texas, argued in plain sight.

What no one writes about early parenthood in North Texas: the real questions, argued one at a time and signed.

Practical reporting on prenatal care, WIC, Medicaid and family support across Dallas, Fort Worth and North Texas.

Read the manifesto Latest thesis

The wrong sentence

"Everything you need to know about babies."

The sentence we write instead

One question, one entry, one photograph made for it. The sources named at the end are the public pages the editors read; where a source does not settle a question, the entry says so instead of guessing. The date on an entry is the day it was last checked.

Latest entries

8 theses held so far

  1. Family Centers and Home Visiting in North Texas

    What family centers and home visiting programmes offer North Texas parents, from play groups and classes to a visitor who comes to the home.

    Rights, Options and Local Networks · · 8 min

  2. How the 211 Texas Helpline Works for New Families

    How the 211 Texas helpline answers requests for food, rent and medical help, what callers are asked, and what the service can and cannot do.

    Food, Housing and Baby Basics · · 7 min

  3. The Volunteers Behind Early Parenthood Support

    What volunteers actually do for expectant and new mothers in North Texas, how they are trained and screened, and what the role asks of them week to week.

    Rights, Options and Local Networks · · 7 min

  4. Where Texas Families Get Diapers and Baby Basics

    How diaper banks and baby supply closets across Texas work, who can collect from them, how often a family may return and what to bring to a first visit.

    Food, Housing and Baby Basics · · 7 min

  5. Rights, Options and Local Networks in North Texas

    What pregnant workers and new parents can claim in Texas, how adoption and child support proceed, and the free advice services that answer questions.

    Rights, Options and Local Networks · · 6 min

  6. Food, Housing and Baby Basics in North Texas

    How North Texas families find food, help with rent, and the baby equipment a first year needs, plus which offices and charities handle each request.

    Food, Housing and Baby Basics · · 8 min

  7. Free Legal Help for Texas Families

    Where North Texas families find free legal advice on benefits, housing, employment and family matters, and how legal aid intake works.

    Rights, Options and Local Networks · · 8 min

  8. Child Support in Texas, Explained

    How the Texas child support system works: establishing paternity, opening a case, how amounts are set and how payments are collected and changed.

    Rights, Options and Local Networks · · 7 min

The four chapters

Elsewhere in print