Dec 09, 2022 DFPS Council Meeting

[00:00:01]

GOOD MORNING. I CALL THE DECEMBER MEETING OF THE ADVISORY

[I. ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS]

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE THAT'S UP HERE WITH ME, AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU HERE AS WELL.

CHERYL.

OKAY. JUDGE BONNIE HELLUMS. DR. CONNIE ALMEIDA.

HERE. MATT KOURI.

DEE DEE CANTU ARISMENDEZ.

GREG HAMILTON. LIESA HACKETT.

CORTNEY JONES.

ENRIQUE MATA.

AND JULIE KRAWCZYK.

YOU HAVE SIX PEOPLE.

I'M DECLARING THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM.

WE HAVE A SPECIAL PERSON UP HERE WITH US, KEZ WOLD IS SITTING IN AS THE INTERIM COMMISSIONER FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME, AND WE WELCOME HIM TO BE UP HERE AND SIT WITH US.

THERE WE GO. GOOD MORNING.

COUNCIL MEMBERS. JUDGE, I'M.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'D SAY HAPPY TO BE HERE, BUT I AM HONORED TO BE SITTING UP HERE WITH YOU FOLKS.

WE HAVE HAD SOME LEADERSHIP CHANGES AT DFPS AND FOR THE NEXT MONTH THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, I WILL BE SERVING AS THE INTERIM COMMISSIONER. AND IN JANUARY, STEPHANIE MUTH WILL BE COMING ON BOARD AS THE COMMISSIONER.

SHE DID SEND HER REGRETS.

SHE WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO EVEN SIT IN THE BACK AND GREET FOLKS.

BUT SHE'S VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING ON THIS CHALLENGE.

AND I KNOW SHE'S EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES.

SO WE'RE REALLY, REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE HER ON BOARD.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE TEAM THAT ARE PRESENT.

SO I WILL TRY TO CALL EVERYONE WE'LL START WITH IN THE BACKGROUND LOOKING VERY SHARP, SIR JOSE MARTINEZ, OUR HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

AND THEN HERE IN THE IN THE SECOND ROW, WE HAVE SASHA RASCO.

OUR CHIEF OF PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY WELL BEING, AWESOME. AND SITTING NEXT TO HER, WE HAVE LISA KANNE, OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.

CHANCE. OUR WONDERFUL INTERNAL AUDITOR.

MR. STEPHEN BLACK, STATEWIDE INTAKE.

WE HAVE TRICIA THOMAS, WHO'S NOT PART OF MY EXEC TEAM, BUT SHE'S HERE FROM THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY BASED CARE.

AND THEN A ON A RETURN VISIT.

SECOND TIME AROUND, WE HAVE MR. JAMES SYLVESTER, JIM SYLVESTER, OUR HEAD OF CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS.

AND THOSE ARE THE EXECS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BE HERE.

BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO BROCK BOUDREAUX.

BROCK IS OUR DEPUTY ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, AND HE WILL BE SITTING IN FOR ERICA BANUELOS TODAY, WHO UNFORTUNATELY OR MAYBE FORTUNATELY HAD JURY DUTY. I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT THAT, BUT WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THIS TEAM HERE AND THEY HAVE BEEN A THEY HAVE BEEN A GREAT SUPPORT, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT. NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING I DO, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT THESE FOLKS DO.

THIS AGENCY IS GOING TO BE OKAY, NOW WE NEED TO REVIEW.

I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE IT AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK OVER THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING.

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS THEY STAND? OR ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS? SECOND. OKAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

[INAUDIBLE] THE MOTION IS ACCEPTED AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

[00:05:05]

[II. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]

SO YOU CAN WORK ON GETTING YOUR SCHEDULE TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN HAVE YOU HERE TO KIND OF GET UPDATES ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THE AGENCY TO FIND OUT THE NEW AND EXCITING THINGS THAT WE'RE TAKING ON AND DOING.

LET ME JUST REMIND YOU THAT JANUARY IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING MONTH.

SO THAT HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF MY BIG PASSIONS AND I WILL SHARE WITH YOU ALL IN A LITTLE WHILE.

BUT IT'S BE EVER ALERT TO THAT, ESPECIALLY IN JANUARY AS WE CELEBRATE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE CHANGES THAT WE THAT PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL, AS WELL AS ALL OF YOU OUT THERE THAT WORK WITH US, KNOW THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO TRY.

SAVE KIDS THAT ARE BEING PULLED INTO THE SYSTEM OF SEX TRAFFICKING.

OKAY. EXCUSE ME.

WE'D LIKE TO GO.

[III. COUNCIL ACTIONS/INITIATIVES]

START WITH MATT, AND WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN DOING WITH ANY ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF THIS MEETING HERE THAT PERTAIN TO THE WORK THAT WE DO WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

YEAH. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I LIVE HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND HAVE BEEN GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH A NUMBER OF GRASSROOTS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE AND SUPPORT FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES AND FAMILIES OF ORIGIN.

AND WE'VE BEEN HELPING TO SET UP A NUMBER OF PEER SUPPORT GROUPS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAUMA INFORMED CARE FOR OUR FAMILIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO SERVE KIDS WHO ARE IN, IN AND OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

AND SO IT'S ALWAYS A HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK WHEN I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT KIND OF WORK, WORKING WITH CASA ORGANIZATIONS AND INCREASINGLY SEEING MORE AND MORE FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS WANT TO STEP UP AND PLAY A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN SERVING FAMILIES AND KIDS.

SO IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN SUPER ENCOURAGING IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

THANKS. DR.

ALMEIDA. AND GOOD MORNING.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND AND PRESENT AT THE TEXAS CONFERENCE FOR CHILDCARE ADMINISTRATORS BACK IN OCTOBER. AND ACTUALLY OUR PRESENTATION, WE HAVE A COLLABORATIVE IN FORT BEND COUNTY TRUST BASED RELATIONSHIP INTERVENTIONS, TRAUMA INFORMED CARE.

BUT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE VALUE OF THESE KINDS OF INTERVENTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO FOR THE WORKFORCE RESILIENCY.

AND SO THAT WAS REALLY ACTUALLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE STATE.

SO I USUALLY DON'T ATTEND THOSE CONFERENCES.

SO I WAS REALLY ENCOURAGED ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF TREATMENT, FOSTER CARE AND SOME OF THE POSSIBILITIES AROUND THAT.

OF COURSE, EARLY INTERVENTION ALSO REALLY CRITICAL.

AND ALSO SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT REALLY FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW, THAT INVESTMENT IN OUR FOSTER FAMILIES WITH, YOU KNOW, ENHANCING THE TRAINING AND THE SUPPORT TO THOSE THAT ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR CHILDREN.

SO THAT WAS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY.

AND THERE'S A LOT GOING ON TRYING TO EXPAND OUR WORK TO CHILDREN.

BUT AGAIN, THIS WORKFORCE RESILIENCY IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING THAT WE ALL NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

WE CAN START ALL THE WAY DOWN AT THE END AND THEN COME THIS DIRECTION.

THAT'D BE YOU? HOWDY.

I'M ENRIQUE MATA, AND I'M OUT IN EL PASO.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE A WHIRLWIND OF STUFF HAPPENED IN BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND TODAY.

IN EL PASO WE HAVE A GATHERING.

WE HAVE A LEADERSHIP COUNCIL THAT WORKS ON ALL THE CHILD SERVING ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY.

AND WE WERE PLEASED TO SEE THAT HELP ME GROW PROGRAM HAS RECEIVED SOME FUNDING AND IS STARTING TO MOVE ON SOME OF THE PLANS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON.

SO IT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THAT HAPPENING AND FOLKS ARE REALLY ENGAGED AND MOVING FORWARD.

THIS IS FOCUSED ON THE 0 TO 8 POPULATION AND LOOKING MORE AT PROACTIVE AND PREVENTIVE KIND OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.

[00:10:10]

SO I HAD THE HONOR OF BEING A PART OF THAT.

NOVEMBER 17TH, I WE HAD A GATHERING, A CONFERENCE ON THAT LAUNCHED OUR WEST TEXAS TRAUMA INFORMED CARE CONSORTIUM.

AND THIS IS A GROUP THAT'S BEEN WORKING TO PROACTIVELY IMPROVE THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO BE MORE TRAUMA INFORMED.

AND THAT MEANING THAT RECOGNIZING THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE TRAUMA, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY COME IN, THEY NEED TO BE A LOT MORE CAREFUL TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE THAT THAT IS RECOGNIZED, BUT ALSO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO REPEAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND RELIVE THE KIND OF SITUATION THAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH.

THAT IF THEY GATHER INFORMATION, THEY TAKE THAT IN AND DO THEIR BEST TO ENSURE THAT THE PERSON IS SUPPORTED AND AND PREVENTED FROM HAVING TO RELIVE THOSE KIND OF SITUATIONS.

SO WE APPRECIATE THOSE EFFORTS AND WE HOPE THAT THIS CONSORTIUM WILL GROW A LOT OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO THOSE ARE THREE BIG THINGS THAT I THOUGHT I'D MENTIONED.

GREAT JOB. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

I AM OMEDI CANTU ARISMENDEZ, THEY CALL ME DEE DEE FOR SHORT.

AND I WAS VERY HONORED TO BE INVITED TO A FUNDRAISER FOR DUVAL COUNTY WELFARE BOARD.

THEY WERE RAISING FUNDS FOR CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE TO HAVE A CHRISTMAS GIFT.

AND SO THE COMMUNITY REALLY CAME OUT FROM AROUND THE AREA TO SUPPORT THIS FUNDRAISER.

AND AT THE END OF THE EVENT, THEY MENTIONED THAT EACH CHILD THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR IN THEIR AREA WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A CHRISTMAS GIFT. SO THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY NICE.

AND ALSO THERE THERE'S A RANCH CALLED WYATT RANCHES, SO THEY ALSO PARTNER WITH DUVAL COUNTY WELFARE BOARD AND ASKED THAT THEY WANTED TO DO MORE FOR OTHER CHILDREN IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTIVE SERVICE.

SO THEY DID THAT ALONG WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THEY DONATED A TOTAL OF $60,000 TO WYATT RANCHES INVOLVING THE CASA IN THE [INAUDIBLE] AREA, WHERE THEY'RE ASKING FOLKS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TO ADOPT A CHILD FOR CHRISTMAS.

AND THEY'RE ASKING TO ADOPT THOSE THAT ARE OVER THE AGE OF MAYBE TEN YEAR OLD'S, A LITTLE BIT OLDER, BECAUSE THEY'RE AWARE THAT THE LITTLE ONES ALWAYS GET SOMETHING AND THEY GET HAPPY.

THEY'RE VERY HAPPY. IT'S THE OLDER ONES THAT ARE ALWAYS NEED.

SO THAT WAS REALLY NICE.

AT THIS TIME, I WANT TO THANK JIM SYLVESTER.

I CALLED HIM ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

HE WAS ON THE JOB FOR A FEW WEEKS AND I SIT ON THE ATLAS ROTARY CLUB AND AT THE LAST MINUTE OUR PROGRAM DIRECTOR CALLED AND SAID, I NEED A PROGRAM DEE DEE, DO YOU KNOW ANYONE? AND OF COURSE, I LOVE TO INVITE THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTIVE SERVICE SO THEY CAN SHARE THEIR STORY OF WHAT THEY DO.

SO MR. JIM SENT OVER A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR, PORFIRIO GUTIERREZ, AND HE CAME AND HE SPOKE HOW HE ASSISTED THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE.

AND MR. GUTIERREZ IS BASED OUT OF CORPUS CHRISTI.

SO, JIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CALLING.

I THINK IT WAS MAYBE A 24 HOUR TURNAROUND AND WE GOT IT DONE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN BUSY OUT IN THE COMMUNITY FOLLOWING WHAT IS DEPARTMENT AND FAMILY PROTECTORS DOING AND THEIR NEEDS OR OUR CHILDREN.

AND I DO LIKE TO FOLLOW THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA AND IN ANY ASPECT OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE DOING.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK, TOO. THANK YOU.

HELLO SO I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT SINCE THE LAST TIME WE'VE GOT.

MY NAME IS CORTNEY JONES, AND I AM HERE LOCALLY IN THE AUSTIN AREA AND I AM ON THE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION WORK GROUP. AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING A LOT ON ELEVATING THE VOICES OF THOSE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. AND SO IT HAS BEEN QUITE AN ADVENTURE IN DOING THAT.

AND I WAS AT THE ADMINISTRATORS CONFERENCE BACK IN OCTOBER TO REALLY HELP ELEVATE THAT VOICE.

I ALSO WENT TO A JUDGES CONFERENCE AS WELL TO ELEVATE THE VOICES OF THOSE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO TO EDUCATE ABOUT OUR

[00:15:09]

IT HAS BEEN USED IN JAILS TO REDUCE THE RECIDIVISM RATE.

IT'S BEEN USED IN SCHOOL SYSTEMS. INSTEAD OF BEING MORE PUNITIVE TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE AND IN TRYING TO BE MORE STRENGTH BASED APPROACH.

AND SO SINCE IT'S WORKED IN THESE SETTINGS WITH THE SUPPORT OF JUDGE MARTINEZ JONES, WE ARE ROLLING IT OUT HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.

AND REALLY, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IS ABOUT HEALING THE HARM THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND REALLY TRYING TO RESTORE FAITH BACK IN THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM.

AND SO WE ARE WORKING ON A REUNIFICATION CASE RIGHT NOW, PILOTING THAT AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN PRESERVING THEM.

AND WE ARE ALSO GOING TO START UTILIZING IT WITH CHILDREN WITHOUT PLACEMENT AND STARTING TO REALLY TALK WITH THEM AND HEALING THE HARM THAT HAS BEEN DONE WITH THEM, IN HOPES THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ADEQUATE PLACEMENT.

SO IT'S BEEN REALLY COOL TO HAVE THAT THAT TYPE OF SUPPORT AND TRAINING OTHERS ABOUT WHAT RESTORATIVE COULD LOOK LIKE FOR CHILD WELFARE.

WE AT CHANGE ONE HAVE HAD A THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION WHERE THIS WAS OUR NINTH YEAR AND WE BROUGHT THANKSGIVING JOY TO OVER 70 YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND NEXT YEAR I'M SUPER EXCITED THAT OUR 10 YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT AT KALAHARI.

SO WE WANT AS MANY YOUTH AND ALUMNI THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM [INAUDIBLE].

WE ALSO IN 2023, WE'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING FUNDING, CHANGE ONE TO HELP WITH HOMELESSNESS, TO PREVENT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM GOING INTO HOMELESSNESS.

SO WE'RE RECEIVING SOME RAPID REHOUSING DIVERSION FUNDS.

AND SO I'M SO EXCITED THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE WE KNOW WHEN THEY TRANSITION OUT OF FOSTER CARE WHAT THOSE THOSE STATISTICS LOOK LIKE.

AND SO WE'RE JUST DOING OUR PART TO SEE HOW WE COULD HELP THEM.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE COMMUNITY BASED CARE, SO I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU MORE.

ON THE LOCAL LEVEL WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR REGION SEVEN AND MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED IN WHAT THAT ROLLOUT LOOKS LIKE. AND JUST THE LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP IS THE FOSTER CARE REIMAGINED FOR THIS REGION THAT JUDGE MARTINEZ JONES IS LEADING.

I HAVE HELPED TO DEVELOP A FAMILY PRESERVATION COUNCIL OF A GRANDPARENT, AN ADOPTIVE PARENT, A PERSON WITH AN OPEN CASE AND A CLOSED CASE AND A YOUTH.

AND THEY ARE REALLY WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED AND HOW WE DO BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY. SO I'VE BEEN BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, AND I'M SUPER EXCITED TO SERVE.

I'M BONNIE HELLUMS AND I'M FROM HOUSTON.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, I AM A RETIREMENT FAILURE.

I HAD INTENDED TO RETIRE BACK IN 14, AND THAT LASTED ABOUT TWO AND A HALF WEEKS.

MY PHILOSOPHY IS THAT IF GOD PUTS GAS IN YOUR TANK, YOU NEED TO USE IT.

SO I'M STILL DRIVING BIG TIME.

ACTUALLY, MY HUSBAND DOES THE DRIVING, BUT NONETHELESS I'M STILL SITTING AS A VISITING JUDGE AND I HAVE SPENT THE LAST FOUR DAYS OF THIS WEEK AS THE JUDGE IN THE CPS COURT IN HOUSTON.

AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, I HAD A MONUMENTAL DAY YESTERDAY.

IT'S I AM NOT A TERRIBLY EMOTIONAL PERSON.

I ENDED UP CRYING ON THE BENCH BECAUSE I HAD ONE OF THE CPS SUPERVISORS THAT WAS ON THE ZOOM IN HOUSTON.

THE JUDGES HAVE TO BE IN THE COURT, BUT THE REST OF IT'S ON ZOOM.

SO I'M SITTING THERE WITH THIS HUGE SCREEN IN FRONT OF ME WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE ON IT, AND IT'S GOT CPS SUPERVISOR, BUT IN HER NAME.

BUT IT DIDN'T HAVE HER PICTURE.

SO I WASN'T AWARE THAT SHE WHAT SHE WAS DOING AND I WAS A THERAPIST BEFORE I BECAME A LAWYER AND A JUDGE.

AND SO CONSEQUENTLY, I LOOK AT A LOT OF THESE CASES FROM A THERAPEUTIC STANDPOINT AS WELL.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS ABOUT IS THE NECESSITY FOR ALL OF OUR CASEWORKERS, FOR ALL OF THE FOSTER PARENTS, FOR ANYBODY THAT'S DEALING WITH THESE KIDS THAT WE'RE TAKING IN TO UNDERSTAND TRAUMA.

BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE GOT IS A LOT OF KIDS THAT ARE IN CWP AND OTHER PLACES BECAUSE OF THEIR BEHAVIOR.

[00:20:04]

THE KIDS PERCEIVE THAT TO BE ANOTHER FAILURE ON THEIR PART.

AND WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING, I DON'T THINK, IS TO TREAT THE TRAUMA THAT CAUSED THEIR BEHAVIOR TO BE THE WAY IT WAS.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE STARTING RIGHT AWAY.

THE VERY FACT THAT WE'VE REMOVED KIDS FROM THEIR FAMILY IS A TRAUMA.

AND THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BECAUSE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE AMYGDALA, WHICH IS THE BASE PART OF THE BRAIN, DOES FIGHT FLIGHT AND FREEZE.

THAT'S IT. AND SO CONSEQUENTLY, WHEN THEY GET TRIGGERED, THEY BLOW THEIR LID AND THEIR EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING PART DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE.

AND THIS IS WHAT'S WORKING.

AND THEY'RE ACTING OUT AND THEY'RE FIGHTING AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU THEIR PHONE AND THEY'RE GOING TO THREATEN YOU AND ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF.

SO WE NEED TO TREAT THE TRAUMA BECAUSE WHEN THEY COME BACK IN, WE SAY, OH, WE'LL FIND YOU ANOTHER PLACEMENT, SORT OF INSINUATING THAT THE PLACEMENT WAS BAD, IT WAS THE BEHAVIOR THAT'S BAD. AND IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE BEHAVIOR, WE'RE GOING TO GET THE SAME SITUATION OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AND SO I HAVE BEEN BEGGING, PLEASE, LET'S GET THESE PEOPLE TRAINED.

AND I WAS GIVING THIS TALK TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CASES THAT I HAD IN FRONT OF ME YESTERDAY.

OH, I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD OF THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD, WHICH IS THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AND SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I BEGGED THEM TO PLEASE HELP ME WITH TRAUMA CARE FOR THE CPS KIDS.

JUDGE, THE STATE'S NOT GOING TO REIMBURSE.

IT IS. THEY ARE REIMBURSING US.

WE HAVE THE PEOPLE TRAINED.

WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING CPS CASES.

WE ARE NOW TAKING IN THE KIDS AND DOING TRAUMA WORK WITH THEM.

AND WHEN I WAS ANNOUNCING THIS TO THE VARIOUS GROUPS, THIS SAME CPS SUPERVISOR LADY WAS TAKING NOTES ON STUFF.

I DIDN'T REALIZE IT BECAUSE SHE WASN'T ON SCREEN, BUT SHE CALLED HARRIS CENTER.

AND MONDAY MORNING THEY ARE BRINGING ALL OF THE TEAMS FROM THE REGION SIX INTO HARRIS CENTER FOR THE TALKS.

AND I AM I DID I BURST INTO TEARS BECAUSE FINALLY SOMEBODY LISTENED AND IT WAS SOMEONE WHO COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

AND SHE DID.

AND I AM JUST BESIDE MYSELF.

I'M SO EXCITED BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO START GETTING THE KIND OF CARE FOR THESE KIDS.

AND THE FOSTER PARENTS NEED TO BE TRAINED AS WELL SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS WHEN THE KIDS ARE ACTING OUT WHY AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND HOW TO HANDLE IT AND HOW TO ESTABLISH TRUST.

BUT NONETHELESS, I'M ALSO STILL VERY ACTIVE WITH NTZ THE NO TRAFFICKING ZONE.

WE'RE FIGHTING SEX TRAFFICKING.

THEY ARE MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE THERE.

EVEN UP BEFORE THE CONGRESS, THEY DID A LOT OF CHANGES WITH THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT IDENTIFYING GIRLS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAFFICKED AS VICTIMS RATHER THAN PERPETRATORS AND PROSTITUTES, BUT THEY ARE NOW IN UP IN FRONT OF CONGRESS.

AND THAT WE HAVE SHEILA JACKSON LEE, WHO'S A DEMOCRAT, AND MICHAEL MCCAUL, WHO IS A REPUBLICAN, JOINTLY PUTTING FORWARD DIFFERENT BILLS FOR US TO CHANGE THE LAWS NATIONALLY ABOUT SEX TRAFFICKING.

AND I MEAN, I CAN'T BELIEVE THE WORK THAT'S ACTUALLY GETTING DONE ON ALL OF THIS.

AND WE WE'RE SEEING BIG CHANGES IN THE HOUSTON AREA AROUND NTZ, THE NO TRAFFICKING ZONE, WHICH IS WHAT THEY HAVE NAMED THE STADIUM THERE.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I THINK I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE, FIFA IS COMING IN FOUR YEARS TO HOUSTON BECAUSE THEY WERE SO MOVED BY THE FACT THAT WE HAD IDENTIFIED SEX TRAFFICKING AS A PROBLEM.

I ALSO AM ENCOURAGING AND HAVE GOTTEN THE WORD OUT THAT WE HAVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH KIDS THAT THEY HAVE ADOPTED AND COMING BACK AND HELPING WITH THAT.

WE'RE DOING PART OF THAT THROUGH THE [INAUDIBLE] AND IN HOUSTON.

SO ANYWAY, THERE IS A LOT OF REALLY EXCITING, EXCITING STUFF THAT'S GOING ON IN THE HOUSTON AREA.

AND I'M JUST SO DELIGHTED THAT THE SUPERVISOR FOR THE CPS THAT WAS LISTENING GOT UP AND DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

AND WE'RE WE'RE MOVING.

SO ANYWAY.

HEART OF GRATITUDE.

I THINK IT'S YOUR TURN, BUBBA.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE MULTIPLE PARTS OF THE AGENCY AND OUR MISSION THAT YOU TOUCH.

[IV. Agency Update]

THAT'S KIND OF HOW I LOOK AT.

I THINK I AM NEW TO THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE, AND I PROBABLY JUMPED THE GUN EARLIER AND GAVE YOU A BIT OF THE AGENCY UPDATE.

[00:25:02]

AND SO WE WE'LL NOW BE GIVING OUR AGENCY UPDATES FROM THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE AGENCY.

AND I GET TO PUT ON MY OLD HAT AS ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND KIND OF GIVE YOU THE UPDATE THERE.

I DO WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO CAMILLE PAYNE.

SHE WAS NOT HERE, BUT SHE IS ACTING AS INTERIM ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER.

SHE IS NORMALLY OUR DIRECTOR OF FIELD FOR ADULT PROTECTIVE.

SHE WE HAD OUR CONFERENCE THIS WEEK AND SO I TOLD HER SHE DID NOT HAVE TO COME IN TO AUSTIN.

AFTER SPENDING A WEEK WITH STAFF IN GALVESTON.

SO THAT WAS THE BIG NEWS IS THAT WE DID HAVE OUR 39TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN GALVESTON THIS WEEK.

IT WAS THE MOST ATTENDED THAT WE'VE HAD TO DATE.

WE HAD OVER 600 PEOPLE REGISTERED AND OVER 500 PEOPLE PHYSICALLY IN ATTENDANCE.

THE REST WERE ONLINE.

IT WAS AN AMAZING CONFERENCE.

WHAT STRUCK ME, YES, THERE WAS GREAT TRAINING.

YES, THERE WAS GREAT INFORMATION.

OUR STAFF GOT A LOT OUT OF IT.

BUT WHAT STRUCK ME WAS HOW PASSIONATE OUR STAFF IN APS ARE.

AND I KNOW THIS IS TRUE OF THE OTHER PROGRAM.

THESE FOLKS, DESPITE THE STRUGGLE, THIS DESPITE THE THE ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

THEY BELIEVE IN WHAT THEY DO AND I THINK THAT THEY HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE REMINDED OF THAT AND LIKE I SAID, TO REMIND ME AS WELL.

ADDITIONALLY, IN ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES, WE HAVE COMPLETELY FINISHED OUR TRAINING REDESIGN THE DESIGN PIECE, AND WE HAVE HANDED THAT OVER TO THE FOLKS AT THE CENTER FOR LEARNING AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE, OUR TRAINING DIVISION AT DFPS, AND THEY ARE WORKING TO IMPLEMENT OUR NEW TRAINING APPROACH, WHICH IS MORE HANDS ON MORE IN THE FIELD AND ALLOWS NEW CASEWORKERS WITHIN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORKLOAD SO THAT OUR TENURED WORKERS HAVE SOME RELIEF. THEY SEE THE VALUE OF THOSE NEW EMPLOYEES COMING IN AND ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE CASEWORK.

WE ARE GOING TO ROLL THAT TRAINING ON SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 1ST OF 2023.

SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED.

SHORT TIME FRAME IF YOU THINK ABOUT COMPLETELY REDESIGNING YOUR ENTIRE TRAINING APPROACH.

BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

SO THAT'S THE APS UPDATE.

AND IF.

YOU'RE OKAY. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO [INAUDIBLE].

YES, MA'AM. I CAN PUSH HER FURTHER DOWN.

WE WILL COME BACK TO SASHA AND WE'LL GO TO STEPHEN BLACK WITH STATEWIDE INTAKE FOR AN UPDATE.

GOOD MORNING. JUST A QUICK UPDATE FOR STATEWIDE INTAKE.

KIND OF WRAPPING UP WHAT WE SAW IN FISCAL YEAR 22.

I NOTICE UP HERE A FEW TIMES TALKING ABOUT THE VOLUME AND HOW IT SEEMED REALLY BUSY.

AND SO ONCE WE SAW THE FINAL NUMBERS, WE DID BREAK RECORDS FOR BOTH CALLS INTO OUR ENGLISH ABUSE QUEUE.

CALLS ANSWERED ON THAT QUEUE AND ALSO TOTAL E-REPORTS PROCESSED ALSO BROKE THAT RECORD AS WELL.

IN ALL, WE WERE STILL ABLE TO MEET THE [INAUDIBLE] BENCHMARK OF THE 7.3 MINUTE HOLD TIME.

SO IT'S VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

AND A BIG CONGRATULATIONS GOES TO OUR STAFF FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

AND THEN WE FOLLOW FISCAL YEAR 22 WITH THE FIRST MONTH OF FISCAL YEAR 23 BEING SEPTEMBER, BREAKING EVERY MONTHLY RECORD FOR ANY MONTH OF THE CALENDAR YEAR THAT MONTH.

SO THE THAT VOLUME DID CONTINUE.

SO WE ARE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND ON THE WHOLE TIME HEADING INTO FISCAL YEAR 23.

HOWEVER, LOOKING INTO THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THAT VOLUME HAS SEEMED TO START TO RETURN BACK TO NORMAL.

SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

ALSO, TOWARDS THE END OF THE SUMMER, WE DID LAUNCH THE PARENT HELP LINE THAT'S RUNNING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STAFF THAT OPERATE THE TEXAS YOUTH HELPLINE.

STARTED SLOW ROLLOUT, JUST TUNING THE ADVERTISING JUST RIGHT.

AND WE WENT FROM ABOUT 70 CONTACTS TO IT IN SEPTEMBER TO 480 CONTACTS TO IN OCTOBER.

SO WE THINK WE FOUND SOME ADVERTISEMENTS THAT'S GOING TO WORK FOR IT.

SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

IT'S NEW PREVENTION RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE THINK IS GOING TO BE VERY HELPFUL.

AND THAT KIND OF SEGUE JUST REAL QUICK LOOKING AHEAD TO THE CALENDAR YEAR COMING UP.

I SAID THE PARENT HELP LINE IS ACTUALLY RUN BY THE SAME STAFF THAT RUN THE TEXAS YOUTH HELPLINE.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW THE YOUTH HELPLINE, IT USED TO BE THE TEXAS RUNAWAY HOTLINE, THAT DATES ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1973.

SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED THAT NEXT YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

[00:30:01]

IN ADDITION, THE OTHER BIG PROJECT WE HAVE GOING INTO NEXT CALENDAR YEAR IS AND I THINK I MENTIONED THIS AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, WORKING ON OUR MANDATORY REPORTER TRAINING, REVAMPING IT.

AND WE'RE REALLY TARGETING A SPRING ROLLOUT AND THAT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF BUFFER FOR A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.

BUT WE SHOOT FOR SPRING.

WE FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT WE CAN HAVE IT READY IN TIME FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

SO WE'RE ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME.

THANK YOU. SO, I MEAN, CONGRATULATIONS AND BEING ABLE TO MEET THAT BENCHMARK.

I KNOW THAT TOOK A LOT OF WORK AND.

IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE.

JUST YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE WHY THE INCREASED VOLUME.

I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT IN RELATION TO IT'S HARD TO COMPARE THE PAST TWO FISCAL YEARS WHEN YOU HAVE LIKE CALENDAR YEARS AND FISCAL YEARS.

AND I THINK WE EXPERIENCED COVID YEARS BEGINNING IN MARCH, RUNNING THROUGH KIND OF A FEBRUARY.

WE SAW TWO SCHOOL YEARS WHERE SCHOOLS WERE EITHER CLOSED COMPLETELY FOR SIGNIFICANT MONTHS OR THEY WERE VIRTUAL.

AND SO TEACHERS, COUNSELORS WEREN'T HAVING THE 1 TO 1 CONTACT WITH THE STUDENTS.

AND SO I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO NATURALLY SEE AN INCREASE JUST ON SCHOOLS BEING BACK IN PERSON.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT COMPLETELY ANSWERS EVERY QUESTION, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU GO BACK THREE YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT VOLUME.

BUT I THINK YOU COMBINE IT AND THAT YOU'RE COMPARING IT TO YOURS BEFORE COVID WAS PREVALENT.

YOU ALSO SEE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS JUST OVERALL INCREASE IN OUR TEXAS POPULATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND ALSO I THINK THE PANDEMIC CAUSED A LOT OF STRESS, TOO.

AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE STRESSED, YOU KNOW, BAD DECISIONS CAN BE MADE.

AND THAT'S WHAT LEADS TO PHONE CALLS FOR OUR HOTLINE.

AND I THINK YOU CAN ALSO SEE THAT WITH THE HELP LINE, TOO, WE SAW THE INCREASES THERE AND THE TEXAS YOUTH HELPLINE.

AND I THINK THAT WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF KIDS AND WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED GOING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

SO I'M NOT FOR SURE IF THIS IS IN YOUR AREA AND IF YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS, BUT, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

SINCE WE KNOW THAT SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS ARE THE NUMBER ONE REPORTERS, DO YOU KNOW THE DIRECT CORRELATION OF THE TRAINING THAT ARE PROVIDED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS IT RELATES TO THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT ARE ACTUALLY COMING IN? AND THE REASON WHY I ASK THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE FAMILY PRESERVATION COUNCIL WITH PEOPLE THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL, SEVERAL FAMILIES SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THEY REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT CHILD ABUSE NEGLECT IS.

AND SO THEY MAKE A LOT OF REPORTS IN REGARDS TO MAYBE A KID HAS TOO SMALL SHOES OR MAYBE THEY'RE IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, IS IT SUBJECTIVE OR OBJECTIVE? AND I THINK THAT WHEN WHEN SCHOOLS DON'T WHEN THEY'RE NOT AS EDUCATED IN REGARDS TO WHAT ACTUAL CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS, THEY MAKE UNNECESSARY CLAIMS. AND THEN THAT UPROOTS AND CAUSES A LOT OF HARM IN OUR FAMILIES.

AND SO DO YOU ALL KNOW HOW HOW MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE BEING TRAINED IN WHAT THAT IS? WELL, I THINK THERE IS TRAINING THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS REQUIRED.

HOWEVER, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEY'RE A BIT DECENTRALIZED AND THAT ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY BE USING AS TRAINING ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT COULD BE USING SOMETHING ELSE.

ON OUR ON OUR PUBLIC WEBSITE.

WE DO HAVE SOME TRAININGS BOTH FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, PHONE CALLS, AND ALSO THE ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICE PHONE CALLS TOO.

I WOULD SAY I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD DATED BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE INFORMATION OUT THERE IS OBSOLETE OR INACCURATE, BUT IT NEEDS A REFRESH BECAUSE IT'S BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT 8 TO 10 YEARS.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SCHOOLS ARE USING THAT AS THEIR OFFICIAL TRAINING.

AND SO IT'S HARD TO SAY AS OF RIGHT NOW WHAT THE CORRELATION IS.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU KIND OF THREE GOALS I HAVE IN MIND FOR THE TRAINING WE WANT TO BRING ABOUT.

AND I THINK IT TOUCHES ON WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

ONE IS GETTING THIS INFORMATION THAT WE NEED.

SO WHEN THERE IS ACTUAL ABUSE, NEGLECT OCCURRING, MAKING SURE THEY'RE PROVIDING US ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE THAT ACCURATE ASSESSMENT.

AND I'M REALLY TALKING ABOUT OUR INTERNET REPORTS THERE.

TEACHERS USE OR INTERNET REPORTS MAYBE MORE OFTEN AND THEY CALL IN.

BUT SOMETIMES THE INFORMATION WE SEE THERE'S KIND OF LACKING.

NOT FILLED OUT COMPLETELY, AND IT'S HARD TO MAKE THE ASSESSMENT.

SO ONE PIECE OF THE TRAINING IS GOING TO FOCUS ON THAT.

THE OTHER PIECE IS GOING TO FOCUS ON EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THAT WHAT REALLY IS ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

[00:35:05]

YOU KNOW, WE ARE A SCREENING MECHANISM [INAUDIBLE].

WE SHOULDN'T BE PASSING THINGS ON JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY CALLS IN IF IT DOESN'T MEET.

BUT THE MORE YOU THROW AT US, THAT DOESN'T MEET THE POSSIBILITY FOR SOMETHING TO SEEP THROUGH INCREASES.

RIGHT. AND SO WE DO WANT TO USE THIS TRAINING AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY CLARIFY WHAT IS NEGLECT AND WHAT IS A FAMILY THAT NEEDS RESOURCES.

AND THEN I WOULD THINK THE THIRD CATEGORY, TOO, IS THAT WE WANT TO GET RID OF THE CALLS AND THE REPORTS WHERE WE FEEL SOMEBODY IS JUST CHECKING A BOX, IS WHAT I CALL IT.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS ABUSE, NEGLECT, BUT I'M LOOKING AT MY ORGANIZATION'S PROTOCOLS AND I HAVE TO CALL THIS IN.

AND THE LAW IS PRETTY CLEAR.

DO YOU HAVE A REASONABLE SUSPICION OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT IF YOU DON'T SUSPECT IT AND YOU'RE ONLY CALLING US BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO FULFILL YOUR ORGANIZATION'S CHECKLIST THAT GIVES US MORE VOLUME AND MAKES IT HARDER TO GET TO THE FAMILIES THAT REALLY NEED HELP.

AND SO THAT IS ONE THING I ALSO WANT TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS TRAINING TO TRY TO GET SOME OF THOSE EXCESS CALLS THAT WE REALLY DON'T NEED FROM THEM AGAIN.

WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT TRAINING, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT WE INCLUDE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD REPORTS MADE THAT HAS UPROOTED THEIR LIVES IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TRAINING IS SOMETHING THAT IS BENEFICIAL AND THAT THE VOICES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED IT ARE HEARD.

AND I THINK THAT YOU'RE SPOT ON WHEN YOU SAY, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND THEN TRYING TO REVAMP IT.

AND JUST I WOULD I WOULD EVEN LIKE TO SEE LIKE MORE DATA IN REGARDS TO LIKE WHAT ARE THE CALLS AND THE ONES THAT ARE UNFOUNDED AND UNFOUNDED AND THEN BEING ABLE TO DO TRAININGS BASED UPON THE ONES THAT WERE UNFOUNDED BECAUSE, LIKE YOU SAID, POVERTY IS NOT ABUSE OR NEGLECT.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU.

I HAVE THREE OTHER QUESTIONS.

I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. SYLVESTER FOR THE CPI UPDATE.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ALL BACK HERE IN AUSTIN AGAIN.

GET OUR LITTLE UPDATES.

HOPEFULLY THE PRESENTATIONS FROM THE EXEC TEAM WILL BE MORE THAN SATISFACTORY, AND I'M SURE THEY WILL BE.

WITH THE KICKING THINGS OFF FOR INVESTIGATIONS, OUR STAFFING ISSUES AND WORKLOAD.

WE HAVE WE HAVE A 46% TURNOVER RATE CURRENTLY IN OUR PROGRAM AREA.

WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT WHAT MAY BE THE CAUSATION, THE DRIVING FACTOR BEHIND THAT.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HAS RELEASED THEIR STUDY AND SO WE'RE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH THAT DATA TO SEE HOW THAT REFLECTS ON THE EXIT INTERVIEW PROCESS.

THE TOP TWO THAT WE HAVE ON HERE IS WORK RELATED STRESS AND WORK LIFE BALANCE ISSUES ON THAT.

AND SO AS A RESPONSE TO THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS I MET YESTERDAY, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED IN OUR DIVISION A PEER TO PEER OR PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM.

WITH MY TEN YEAR EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, I FOUND IT TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE IN HELPING EMPLOYEES DEAL WITH THE WORKPLACE TRAUMA OR FAMILY TRAUMA THAT'S GOING TO DIRECTLY IMPACT HOW THEY DO THEIR JOB AND HOW THEY TREAT THEIR FAMILIES THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH.

I THINK THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

SO WE'VE GOT TEAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS IN DIFFERENT REGIONS.

AND SO WE HAD OUR FIRST LITTLE MEETING YESTERDAY, AND I'M HOPING WE CAN WRAP THAT UP AND ENCOURAGE MORE OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THAT TYPE OF THING.

AS FAR AS PEER SUPPORT, TO BE PART OF THE TEAM, GO TO THE TRAINING PROCESS TO BETTER SERVE OUR STAFF AND MAYBE WE CAN ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE ISSUES ON THAT WORK RELATED STRESS.

AND OF COURSE, SOME OF THAT WORK RELATED STRESS IS JUST THE FACT THAT OUR EMPLOYEES, WHEN THEY GET THESE SERIOUS CASES, THERE'S NO DOUBT THERE'S STRESS IN THEIR LIVES HOPING THAT THEY MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION, THAT THEY COVER ALL OUR BASES AND A CHILD DOES NOT END UP IN A BAD WAY.

AND THE FAMILY'S BEEN ABLE TO STAY TOGETHER.

AND IT'S A BIG IT'S A BIG ORDEAL FOR ANYBODY TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT AND TRY AND MAKE SURE THEY MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.

HOW THAT IMPACTS THE FAMILY.

AND THIS IMPACT, AS YOU KNOW, IS A LONG LIFE LONG IMPACT THAT CAN BE CAN CAUSE TRAUMA TO THE FAMILY, TRAUMA TO THE EMPLOYEE.

SO HOPEFULLY THE PEER TO PEER PROGRAM, WE'RE TRYING TO MINIMIZE AND HELP WITH OUR EMPLOYEES ON THAT PART.

THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES ON THERE.

WE HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH THE DETAILS ON IT, BUT NEXT WEEK I'M MEETING WITH THE DOCTOR LANDA FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A DRILL DOWN ON SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAD ON THE SURVEY, LIKE HOW DID YOU GET TO WHAT QUESTIONS DID YOU ASK TO DETERMINE THAT WORK LIFE BALANCE IS AN ISSUE OR WORK

[00:40:10]

OUR AVERAGE DAILY CASELOAD, THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD, HAS US AT 13.6%.

THAT'S OUR TARGET. WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 16.4%, WHICH PUTS US AT 2.8 OVER THE AVERAGE.

AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING SOME OF THE STRESSES THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAVING ARE TENURED, MID-LEVEL AND OLDER TENURED STAFF.

I THINK THAT GOES BACK TO THE WORK RELATED STRESS.

THEY'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH. SO YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T NEED THIS. THIS IS TOO STRESSFUL FOR ME.

AND SO WE HAVE A A LARGER PORTION OF OUR WORK GROUP NOW, YOUNGER IN TENURE WITH THE AGENCY.

AND SO THAT MAY HAVE SOME IMPACT ON WHAT WE DO FOR FUTURE SUPERVISORS.

AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO FOR OUR MENTORING PROGRAM IS WE'VE GOT, IN ESSENCE, BABIES TEACHING, BABIES.

AND I SAY BABIES.

I MEAN, YOUNG AND TENURE WITH THE AGENCY ARE YOUNG AND TENURE IN THE PROFESSION.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT, TAKING ALL THE RIGHT STEPS TO MENTOR THOSE NEW SUPERVISORS AND HAVE THEM WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HAVE A GOOD, GOOD MENTORING PROGRAM TO WORK WITH THE PROTEGES WHEN THEY COME IN, MAKE SURE THEY'RE RECEIVING ADEQUATE TRAINING, CAN MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS WHEN THEY WHEN THEY RELEASED ON THEIR OWN.

UPDATES REGARDING INVESTIGATIONS OF CHILD OR CHILDREN ALLEGEDLY TAKING HORMONES OR PUBERTY BLOCKERS FROM FEBRUARY 23RD, 2002 TO FEBRUARY 7TH OF 2022.

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A TYPO ON THAT.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED 15 INTAKES WHICH RESULTED IN 14 INVESTIGATIONS.

ONE CASE WAS CLOSED AS PM, WHICH IS A PRIORITY [INAUDIBLE] NOT INVESTIGATED.

ZERO REMOVALS HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THESE ALLEGATIONS.

WE HAVE 11 CLOSED CASES AND THREE REMAIN CURRENTLY OPEN DUE TO LITIGATION.

OUR REMOVALS HAVE DECREASED.

A LOT OF THAT HAS BEEN DUE IN PART TO HB HOUSE BILL 567, WHICH HAS IMPACTED US THROUGH NO NONEMERGENCY REMOVALS.

THE DEFINITION OF NEGLECT HAS CHANGED.

MARIJUANA FOR NO REMOVALS ON THAT AND PLACING WITH NON OFFENDING PARENTS.

ALL THOSE HAVE REALLY DECREASED OUR NUMBERS DRAMATICALLY ON REMOVALS AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN A GOAL OF THE LEGISLATURE AND I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS, I THINK SOME AGENCIES, NOT JUST US IN TEXAS BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY, FAMILY PROTECTIVE AGENCIES HAVE PROBABLY BEEN TOO QUICK TO REMOVE CHILDREN AND SAY WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO TRY AND DO A BETTER JOB AND REALLY ASCERTAIN IS THIS CHILD GOING TO BE BETTER OFF AWAY FROM THE FAMILY.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY WORKING HARD TO MINIMIZE THAT AND KEEP THE FAMILY UNITS TOGETHER.

THE A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS, OR SUCCESSES.

OUR MENTOR PROGRAM IS MOVED BACK UNDER THE DIVISION BEFORE STRICTLY UNDER CHLOE, AND WE FELT WE NEEDED MORE CONTROL OVER THAT.

SO WE WORKED WITH CHLOE AND WE'RE STILL WORKING HAND IN HAND.

BUT NOW THAT IS COMPLETELY OVERSEEING THE MENTOR PROGRAM WITHIN OUR AGENCY AND SO WE CAN KEEP HANDS ON ALL THE TIME AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DOING WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO.

AND THERE'S NO INTERIM, BECAUSE BEFORE, FROM MY EXPERIENCE, IT APPEARED THAT IT WAS CHLOE WOULD HANDLE THINGS, AND IF THEY HAD ISSUES THAT WOULD GET TO US, WE FELT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO GO STRAIGHT TO US ON ISSUES WITH THE MENTOR PROGRAM AND THEN HAVE THEM JUST AS A MAINTAIN ALL THE RECORDS FOR THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS AND WEEKLY MEETING FORUMS. AND THAT'S WORKED OUT QUITE WELL SO FAR.

BUT IT'S STILL EARLY. AND TRAINING WE HAVE THE NEW THE BSD MODEL THAT WE WENT THROUGH, WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH CHLOE TO UPGRADE THE MODEL, CHANGE THE FORMAT, HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THE INSTRUCTION HOURS IN CLASS AND AND TRY AND FIGURE OUT A HAPPY MEDIUM AND HOW MUCH TIME IS SPENT IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND THEN WHEN THEY GO TO THE FIELD AND THEN GO FOR THE FIELD FOR X AMOUNT OF WEEKS AND THEN GO BACK TO TRAINING AGAIN.

SO IT'S A BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THOSE TWO THINGS.

ONCE THE PROTEGES OR THE PEOPLE IN THE CLASS GO IN THE FIELD, THEY CAN GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO AND THEY COME BACK TO THE CLASSROOM AND THEY CAN DISCUSS IT WITH THEIR PEERS AND PEOPLE WITHIN CHLOE AND THE INSTRUCTORS.

THE OTHER THING MASTER INVESTIGATION PROGRAM, THE MIS ALONG WITH STAFF FROM FIVE REGIONS, HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO CLOSE CASES.

EXCUSE ME. SO WE HAVE A TOTAL OF JUST THE MIS AND CLOSE TO 7,165 CASES SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.

AND THESE CLOSURES HAVE REDUCED BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL WORKER CASELOAD AS WELL AS THE REGIONAL BACKLOG.

SO THE MIS ARE LIKE THE THE HOTSHOT FIREFIGHTERS THAT Y'ALL MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THEM AND THEY'RE A HIGHER LEVEL INVESTIGATORS AND HAVE SOME REALLY EXPERTS IN THE FIELD.

AND IF WE SEE A PARTICULAR REGION THAT'S STRUGGLING, WE'LL JUST DROP THOSE IN THERE AND THEN THEY WORK ON THE CASES BEHIND THE SCENE TO KIND OF BALANCE IT OUT AND GET THINGS WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.

[00:45:01]

SO I'LL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

JIM, THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP HERE.

IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB. MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOUR FOLKS AND THE STRESS AND THE WORK LIFE BALANCE THEY'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.

AND WHAT I THINK IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE HARDEST JOBS.

OBVIOUSLY THE STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT MAYBE IN THE STATE PERIOD.

SO. THANKS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THAT OF THAT GROUP.

CAN YOU TELL ME I KNOW IT WAS IN YOUR REPORT.

APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY INVESTIGATIONS TOTAL WOULD DPS DO IN A YEAR? I KNOW WE'VE HAD THAT DATA BEFORE, BUT I'M JUST NOT REMEMBERING.

YOU HAVE AN APPROXIMATION OR A ROUGH A ROUGH NUMBER, OR DO YOU HAVE AN ACTUAL NUMBER FOR THAT 2022 PERIOD? SO I'LL GIVE YOU A GUESSTIMATE, BUT ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER BLACK WILL GIVE YOU THE EXACT DETAILS.

BUT I THINK WE'RE. STEVE, WOULD YOU SAY OVER 200,000, 260,000 CALLS CAME THROUGH INTAKE LAST YEAR.

THAT'S [INAUDIBLE] CAME IN THROUGH INTAKE.

AS FAR AS HOW MANY OF THOSE ACTUALLY RESULTED IN INVESTIGATIONS BY MY TEAM, I DON'T HAVE THAT, BUT I CAN GET THAT TO YOU.

SO OF THAT 260,000 INTAKES, WE DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD HOW MANY OF THOSE WOULD BE INVESTIGATED OR ARE MOST OF THEM INVESTIGATED OR COUNTED AS INVESTIGATIONS OR TYPICALLY SOME SUBSET OF THOSE? THOSE 260,000 INVESTIGATIONS, THAT'S MINUS THE NUMBER OF INTAKES THAT WE HAD.

SO THE SUBSET OF THE 260,000 INVESTIGATIONS THAT CAME TO MY DIVISION, YOUR REQUEST IS THAT YOU WANT A SUBSET OF THOSE.

THAT 250,000 NUMBER IS THE NUMBER I WAS LOOKING FOR.

AND SO YOU REPORTED HERE TODAY THAT IN RELATION TO INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN CALLED IN AND AND PURSUED REGARDING HORMONE TREATMENT THERAPY AND THAT CATEGORY OF INVESTIGATIONS, WHICH WE KNOW IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO HAS BEEN NEW TO THE DEPARTMENT, THAT THERE WERE 14 TOTAL INVESTIGATIONS.

I THINK YOU SAID THERE WERE 15 THAT WERE CALLED AND ONE WAS DISMISSED AND 14 WERE INVESTIGATED.

THAT IS CORRECT. 14 OUT OF 260,000.

WHICH BY MY MATH, MY DECIMALS DON'T GO THAT SMALL ON MY CALCULATOR, BUT IT'S SOMEWHERE IN THE .00005.

AND AND YOU SAID THAT THERE WERE ZERO REMOVALS AS A RESULT OF THOSE INVESTIGATIONS OF THAT CATEGORY.

NO KIDS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES.

THAT IS CORRECT, SIR.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT DATA FOR US TO UNDERSTAND.

THANK YOU, JIM. I HAVE A QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INFORMATION.

DEFINITELY TURN OVER.

IT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING WITH.

SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I WANT A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.

HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS? BUT ALSO, DO YOU SEE THAT TREND CONTINUING OR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE 40% TURNOVER, IS IT GETTING BETTER? AND THEN JUST ANOTHER QUESTION IS, YOU TALK ABOUT CHLOE AND I PRETTY MUCH COULD UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

CHLOE OUR TRAINING CENTER.

THEY TAKE CARE OF ALL TRAINING FOR THE AGENCY.

TRAINING POLICIES. PROCEDURES.

THEY RUN THE TRAINING ACADEMIES.

AND THAT'S TAUGHT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND THEN AS FAR AS YOUR TURNOVER QUESTION, I'M GOING TO BE THE ETERNAL OPTIMIST AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO TURN THAT CORNER WITH TAG, WHICH IS CALLED THE TALENT ACQUISITION GROUP, AND ASK THEM, GIVE ME A STATE OF THE UNION, WHERE ARE WE? WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THIS? AS FAR AS DOING RECRUITING EFFORTS AND THEY PRODUCED AN 11 PAGE DOCUMENT FOR ME.

THEY SHOWED THE MOST RECENTLY THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR.

ALL THE PLACES AND LOCATIONS AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT THEY'VE GONE TO AND WHAT THEY PLAN TO GO TO THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.

AND IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

I MEAN, THEY GO EVERYTHING FROM INTERNET SITES, SOCIAL MEDIA SITES TO GOING TO HANDS ON COLLEGE UNIVERSITIES, UNITED STATES MILITARY, WHEREVER THEY CAN, PUT UP A

[00:50:04]

THEY'RE THERE. AND SO WE'RE ASSESSING THAT.

AND I HAVE A MEETING SET UP WITH THEM NEXT WEEK, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT LIST AND DETERMINE WHICH ONE OF THESE IS THE BEST RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT.

WHICH ONE OF THESE DO WE YOU KNOW WHAT WE KEEP GOING HERE.

WE GET ONE OR TWO APPLICANTS.

OKAY, MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE BEST PLACE TO GO.

WE HAVE ANOTHER LOCATION THAT WE GET TEN OR FIFTEEN APPLICANTS EVERY TIME WE COME THROUGH THERE.

SO MAYBE WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE OUR EFFORTS MORE ON THAT AREA.

SO WE'RE REALLY WORKING HARD ON THAT AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD WITH THE HR, WITH DIRECTOR MATHIS HALE ON THAT AND GETTING HIS INPUT FROM HIS STAFF AND WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER AND TO DO A BETTER JOB TO RECRUIT FOLKS.

YES MA'AM. THANK YOU. UM, I HAVE A QUESTION WHEN I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

SO, ONE, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT CHLOE, IS YOUR TRAINING DEPARTMENT.

DOES CHLOE, IN REGARDS TO YOUR BSE TRAINING, ARE YOU ALL USING LIKE INTERNAL TRAININGS OR EXTERNAL LIKE, CURRICULUM? I CANNOT ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT I'LL FIND OUT WHERE THEY GET THEIR RESOURCES.

I WOULD I WOULD GUESS IT'S FREEZING AND HOPING.

THEY'RE USING A VARIETY OF BOTH MEDIUMS FOR INSTRUCTION.

BUT I'LL GET THAT ANSWER AND GET BACK WITH YOU.

OKAY. AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION WAS, YOU WERE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MENTORING.

IS IT MENTORING OF, LIKE EMPLOYEES OR MENTORING? LIKE, WHAT CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE MENTOR? YES, MA'AM. THE MENTORING TERMINOLOGY FROM MY PREVIOUS JOB IS BE LIKE A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER AND SAY WE HAVE SOMEONE IN THE FIELD THAT'S A MENTOR THAT'S GONE THROUGH A SELECTION PROCESS AND MAYBE LIKE CALL THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN THAT FIELD FOR INVESTIGATIONS.

AND WHEN SOMEONE COMES OUT OF THE TRAINING ACADEMY, WE ASSIGN THEM TO A MENTOR AND HELP WORK WITH THEM THROUGH THEIR STEPS UNTIL THEY CAN BE RELEASED ON THEIR OWN TO START WORKING CASES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND YOUR STAFF.

BUT I AM CONCERNED ON YOUR TURNOVER RATE, THAT'S 46%.

AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IT'S CONCERNING TO YOU COMING INTO THIS AGAIN.

MY QUESTION IS WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH HR I KNOW IN THE PAST I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AN APPLICATION THROUGH ONLINE AND THERE'S QUESTIONS BEING ASKED, AND IT COULD BE THAT MAYBE SOME OF OUR POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES THEY GET MISSED INTO SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO WORK WITH THE STATE.

SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH HR TO TRY TO GET THESE JOBS FILLED BECAUSE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.

BUT CAN YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR TRAINING WORK MODULE? CLASSROOM TRAINING, IS THIS FOR NEW EMPLOYEES OR ARE THESE FOR EMPLOYEES ALREADY HERE? LIKE FOR THAT HAS 5-10 YEARS MOVING FORWARD? CAN YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT? OH, SORRY. THE TRAINING MODEL WAS FOR THE BSD IS FOR THE BRAND NEW EMPLOYEES COMING TO THE AGENCY.

AND SO WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THAT? IS IT LIKE A TWO WEEK TRAINING OR THREE MONTHS TRAINING? OR IT DEPENDS ON THE.

THE BSD PROGRAM IS GOING TO RUN ABOUT NINE WEEKS, BUT ONCE THEY GET OUT OF COMPLETE THAT, THEN THERE'S STILL ADDITIONAL TRAINING THEY DO IN THE FIELD.

SO YOU HAVE THE WHAT YOU WOULD CALL THE CLASSROOM PHASE AND YOU HAVE THE APPLICATION PHASE.

THANK YOU.

AND I GUESS, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'LL CIRCLE BACK FOR SASHA RASCO, OUR CHIEF OF PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY WELL BEING.

I GOT IT RIGHT, SASHA.

IT MUST BE TIME TO CHANGE IT.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

I JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS I KNOW.

MY TEAM GETS REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF WRITTEN MATERIALS.

LIKE MAYBE A BOOK. I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF IT, BUT I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS.

WE DID THE PREVENTION, AND I'M GOING TO START WITH PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION DIVISION.

THEY'VE PUT OUT TWO REPORTS OUR BUSINESS PLAN LOOKING FORWARD, OUR ROADMAP FOR THE THIS FISCAL YEAR AND ALSO OUR OUTCOMES REPORT ABOUT THE YEAR WE JUST CLOSED OUT. WHEN I STARTED IN PEI, THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT DOES THAT DIVISION DO? HOW DO THEY DECIDE WHAT TO DO? HOW DO YOU GET THAT FUNDING? WHO GETS FUNDING? HOW DO THOSE HOW DOES THAT GET CHOSEN? SO WE'VE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO MAKING THAT VERY TRANSPARENT.

WE CANNOT WRITE CHECKS.

[00:55:01]

WE ARE DIRECTED WITH OUR FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDERS TO RUN PROGRAMS FAIRLY SPECIFICALLY.

SO THAT IS ALL LAID OUT THERE LIKE THE WHEN THINGS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY PROPOSAL AND AND HOW WE CHOOSE WHAT WE FUND.

SO THEY'RE AVAILABLE FOR YOU IF YOU WANT SOME RIVETING LATE NIGHT READING.

MUCH LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER JONES MENTIONED, WE HAVE REALLY BEEN ENCOURAGING OUR PREVENTION GRANTEES AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL TO INCORPORATE PARENT VOICE AND YOUTH VOICE IN THEIR WORK. AND AND WE HAVE DONE THE SAME.

SO WE HAVE FORMED A PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL AND A YOUTH AMBASSADOR COUNCIL TO INFORM OUR WORK.

AND IT IS JUST A DELIGHT.

AND MOST TIMES WHEN I MEET WITH THEM, I JUST WANT TO TURN OVER THE PROGRAM.

THEY REALLY COULD RUN IT AND ARE JUST SUCH AN INSPIRATION.

AND AND BRING SO MUCH WISDOM AND DEPTH TO OUR WORK.

I HAVE DONE SARAH ABRAHAMS, THE DEPUTY CHIEF OVER PEI, AND I HAVE BEEN ON A LISTENING TOUR AND I'LL JUST WITH BOTH OUR GRANTEES AND CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE IN PEI, WHICH WAS ROUGHLY ABOUT 60,000 YOUTH AND FAMILIES LAST YEAR.

PREDOMINANTLY WHAT WE JUST REPORT TO YOU, WHAT WE HEARD, THE THEMES THAT WE'VE HEARD.

I'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN HOW MANY PARENTS JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PARENT DIFFERENTLY AND HOW APPRECIATIVE THEY ARE TO JUST GET HELP AND RECOGNITION THAT PARENTING IS HARD AND IT IS A [INAUDIBLE].

THERE ARE SKILLS THAT ONE CAN LEARN AND SUPPORTS THAT HELP.

HAVING SAID THAT, EVEN PARTICIPATING IN OUR PROGRAMS ARE HARD FOR PARENTS THAT ARE STRESSED AND IT'S NOT OFTEN THEIR TOP PRIORITY.

THEY HAVE OTHER MORE IMMEDIATE NEEDS LIKE HOUSING OR TRANSPORTATION.

AND FOR THAT REASON, ONE THING WE HEARD IS IN THIS LAST YEAR WITH COVID FUNDING, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PASS ALONG DOLLARS TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF FLAVORS OF FUNDING TO OUR GRANTEES TO PROVIDE WHAT WE CALL BASIC NEED SUPPORT OR MORE IMMEDIATE HELP FOR GETTING UTILITIES PAID OFF OR REPAIRING THE WASHING MACHINE OR BUYING GROCERIES.

AND THE IMPACT THAT THAT'S MADE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS, NOT JUST OBVIOUSLY THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT IS IS MEASURABLE, BUT MORE THAT PARENTS, IT HELPS CONNECT THEM TO PROGRAMS AND FEEL THAT WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE MET FIRST AND AND THAT THEY WERE SEEN AND THAT THEY DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO SIGN UP JUST FOR A PROGRAM IN ORDER TO GET HELP.

SO IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN A BIG THAT'S BEEN VERY WELL RECEIVED.

THE OTHER THING WE'VE HEARD ON THE ON THE ON THE DOWNSIDE, OF COURSE, MUCH LIKE JIM TALKED ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY WORKFORCE IN THIS SPACE THAT ISN'T STRUGGLING WITH RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF STAFF.

AND THE SAME IS TRUE FOR OUR GRANTEES, WHO PROBABLY EMPLOY AROUND 900 TO 1,000 PARENT EDUCATORS AND HOME VISITORS AND COUNSELORS AND MENTORS.

AND THEY'RE ALL STRUGGLING TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN STAFF.

SO THAT WAS A PREDOMINANT CHALLENGE THAT WE HEARD ON OUR LISTENING TOUR.

LASTLY, AND THE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION DIVISION, I WANT TO REPORT ON SOME PROMISING REAUTHORIZATION OF FEDERAL FUNDING AT THE US CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL, THE MATERNAL AND INFANT EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING FUNDING THAT COMES FROM HRSA OR THE HEALTH RESOURCE SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.

I KNOW IT'S A MOUTHFUL, ALL THESE BUREAUCRATIC NAMES, BUT IT'S PROVIDES ABOUT $17 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR HOME VISITING PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE PROGRAMS PREDOMINANTLY FOR PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN THAT HAVE CURRICULA AROUND HOLISTICALLY SUPPORTING PARENTS AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND WELL BEING.

VARIETY OF HOME VISITING MODELS THAT ARE ON THEIR CLEARINGHOUSE THAT WE FUND.

BUT THIS REAUTHORIZATION IS NOT JUST TO CONTINUE THE FUNDING WHICH WE NEED, BUT ALSO TO POTENTIALLY EXPAND IT STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 25 WITH A SMALL POTENTIAL INCREASE, BUT THEN WITH QUITE A GENEROUS MATCHING IN IN LATER YEARS THAT WILL BE MORE CENTERED ON POPULATION, WHICH AS YOU CAN IMAGINE IS OF GREAT BENEFIT TO TEXAS.

BUT THE PREVIOUS DISTRIBUTION HAD BEEN MORE AROUND LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOW MUCH HOME VISITING WAS ALREADY THERE AND LESS ABOUT HOW MUCH NEED WAS THERE.

SO IT ALL LOOKS VERY FAVORABLE TO POTENTIALLY DOUBLE OR TRIPLE OUR FUNDING IN 3 TO 4 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

SO THAT'S EXCITING.

MOVING ON TO THE FAITH BASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM, WHICH IS A GROUP OF AROUND 60 STAFF WHO HAD BEEN IN BOTH APS PROGRAMS AND THE CPS PROGRAMS SUPPORTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THEN CONSOLIDATED TO MORE STRATEGICALLY FOCUS THOSE EFFORTS.

JUST TWO QUICK THINGS THEY'VE BEEN WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WITH ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES ON THE FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION MONTH AND ON ALL THE PROMOTION AND COMMUNITY

[01:00:04]

AND THEN DECEMBER IS ALWAYS A VERY BUSY MONTH FOR BOTH SETS OF ENGAGEMENT STAFF TO TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN THROUGH THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

AND OUR PARTNERS ARE INVALUABLE IN MAKING AND HELPING WRAP AROUND SUPPORT AND SERVICES.

AND THAT TAKES MAN HOURS FROM THE AGENCY TO SUPPORT THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.

SO THAT'S THEY'VE BEEN THEY ARE VERY BUSY RIGHT NOW.

LASTLY, I WANT TO MENTION THE FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION SERVICES ACT AS A FEDERAL RE-ENVISIONING RIGHT OF THE SPENDING OF FOUR YEAR FOSTER CARE DOLLARS TO EXPAND AND EXPAND THAT SUPPORT TO FAMILIES OF ORIGIN.

FIRST, THE IDEA BEING LIKE WE DON'T NEED TO WAIT TO TO HELP OUT WHEN CHILDREN ARE IN FOSTER CARE.

IF WE OFFER SIMILAR TYPES OF SUPPORTS AND SERVICES IN THE VERY BEGINNING, MAYBE WE CAN KEEP CHILDREN WHERE THEY DO WELL BEST, WHICH IS IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

SO WE'VE BEEN WE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GAVE THE STATE $50 MILLION TO TRY TO TRANSITION AND IMAGINE WHAT WHAT THOSE CHANGES MIGHT LOOK LIKE. AND WE'RE RUNNING ONE SET OF PILOTS AS DIRECTED BY HOUSE BILL 3041.

AND THEY'RE UP AND THEY'RE THEY'RE UP AND RUNNING.

BUT ONE THING BUT ANOTHER SET OF.

OF SERVICES THAT WERE STANDING UP ON A SMALLER SCALE IS WE'RE ADDING DOLLARS TO BACK TO OUR HOME VISITING PROGRAMS. MANY OF THEM ARE ALSO RECOGNIZED AS POTENTIALLY FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES OR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE AND AND ARE ELIGIBLE UNDER THAT UNDER THIS FAMILY FIRST FUNDING AS WELL.

AND WE ARE ADDING DOLLARS TO PEI'S HOME VISITING PROVIDERS SPECIFICALLY TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN THE FAMILY BASED SAFETY SERVICES STAGE.

SO IT'S A SPECIALIZED CAPACITY THAT WE BEFORE IT'S BEEN JUST MORE GENERALLY AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND WITHOUT KIND OF A PRIORITIZATION OR A SET ASIDE OR CAPACITY. SO THERE'S SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND THAT CAPACITY AND SPECIFICALLY EARMARK HOME VISITING SLOTS FOR OUR [INAUDIBLE] FAMILIES.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE HOW WE CAN TAILOR THAT SERVICE FOR THOSE FAMILIES NEEDS IN PARTICULAR.

AND THAT IS WHAT I HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY.

ANY QUESTIONS? I JUST HAVE A COMMENT AND JUST REALLY I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE NUMBERS AND IT JUST REALLY DOES SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE KNOW THAT EVERY EFFORT, EVERY AREA OF THE DFP SYSTEM IS VERY IMPORTANT, I THINK THE PREVENTIVE SIDE OF THINGS, YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT STITCH IN TIME REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IT DOES SAVE A LOT OF HARDSHIP AND CRISIS AND IT PREVENTS A LOT OF CRISIS.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING TO GET THOSE RESOURCES OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES.

[INAUDIBLE] AND I WANTED TO THANK AND MENTION COUNCIL MEMBER MATA THAT YOU YOU WERE CONTINUALLY TALKING ABOUT THE HELP ME GROW EFFORTS IN EL PASO.

AND IF AND SO FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, HELP ME GROW IS A SORT OF A COMMUNITY FRAMEWORK FOR BOOSTING AND COORDINATING RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN AGE 0 TO 8.

AND A LOT OF IT IS HAS A SCHOOL READINESS, BUT ALSO SORT OF A HEALTH COMPONENT.

AND WE ARE JOINTLY PARTNERING WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES TO ROLL OUT THAT HELP ME GROW FRAMEWORK IN EL PASO, I KNOW FORT WORTH HAS A VERY ROBUST HELP ME GROW INITIATIVE AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THERE IN EL PASO AS WELL.

IT HAS BEEN A TRUE PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU.

AND I AM SORRY.

I'M ELATED THAT YOUR FIRST OBJECTIVE IS INCORPORATING PARENT AND YOUTH VOICE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AROUND THAT.

I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO I NOTICED IN YOUR REPORT THAT THERE ARE ONLY CERTAIN COUNTIES THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT IN REGARDS TO PARENT VOICE.

AND I WAS WONDERING, HOW DID Y'ALL DETERMINE THOSE COUNTIES AND DO Y'ALL ANTICIPATE ROLLING IT OUT IN OTHER COUNTIES IN THE FUTURE? THANK YOU. IT'S ALWAYS HARD IN TEXAS BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPOSSIBLE TO SCALE EVERYTHING AND REPRESENT EVERYONE.

WE DID NOT SELECT THE COUNTIES IN ADVANCE.

WE PUT A CALL OUT FOR NOMINATIONS TO ALL OUR PEI GRANTEES, AND I THINK THAT'S JUST WE DID MAKE SURE WE HAD A GOOD GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY.

AND ANOTHER WE ALSO HAVE WE WANTED OTHER TYPES OF DIVERSE VOICES TOO, LIKE WHAT KIND.

WHAT WAS YOUR PARENT EXPERIENCE? WE HAVE FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN CPS FAMILIES [INAUDIBLE].

SO I THINK IT'S MORE JUST WE'RE WORKING WITH A NATIONAL GROUP TO SUPPORT THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT DOES TAKE A PARTICULAR SKILL TO REALLY BRING IN LIVED

[01:05:03]

WE REALLY WANT TO REALLY BE ABLE TO INCORPORATE THEIR WORK.

AND THEY HAD KIND OF A RECOMMENDED SIZE FOR WHAT'S A MEANINGFUL SIZE OF FOLKS TO WORK WITH.

SO HENCE WE CANT HAVE SOMEONE FROM ALL 254 COUNTIES.

BUT, BUT I THINK OUR VISION IS THAT THEY WILL LIKE ANY OTHER COUNCIL, THEY'LL THEY'LL ROTATE AND STAGES AND THEN WE WILL SORT OF SEEK FOLKS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE AS WE BRING IN NEW MEMBERS AND AND LET OTHER MEMBERS OFF THE HOOK FOR FOR SERVING, IF THAT HELPS ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

YES, IT DOES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

AND I WAS ALSO WONDERING, YOU MENTIONED THERE IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT IS SUPPORTING THAT WORK.

WHAT IS THAT NATIONAL ORGANIZATION? [INAUDIBLE] SO IT'S THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF CHILDREN'S TRUST FUNDS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FOLKS ARE AWARE, BUT THE STATE, THE DPS, THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THEN DPS RECEIVES A PORTION OF ALL MARRIAGE LICENSE FEES IS DIRECTED TOWARDS THE PREVENTION OF CHILD MALTREATMENT.

WE DO ABOUT $5-7 MILLION IN OTHER STATES.

THAT TRUST FUND IS OFTEN AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION LIKE A QUASI PUBLIC PRIVATE ORGANIZATION, AND THAT HAD BEEN THE CASE IN TEXAS ALONE.

I'M GIVING YOU A VERY LONG ANSWER, LIKE A HISTORY LESSON HERE.

BUT ANYWAY, SO WE BELONG TO THIS NATIONAL ALLIANCE BECAUSE WE DO IN FACT RECEIVE THE TRUST FUND DOLLARS AND ADMINISTER THEM IN THE SAME WAY WE TURN AROUND AND GRANT THOSE DOLLARS OUT FOR PREVENTION.

AND SO IT'S A GROUP THAT IS SINGULARLY FOCUSED ON CHILD MALTREATMENT PREVENTION AND PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THEIR NATIONAL MEETING WITHOUT PARENTS THERE.

THEY HAVE. I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN INVOLVING PARENTS IN THEIR NATIONAL WORK BEFORE IT WAS TRENDY THING TO DO.

SO THEY REALLY WALK THE WALK AND THEY'VE DEVELOPED A PARTICULAR SKILL AND THAT'S WHO WE BROUGHT IN TO HELP US.

THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION, IN REGARDS TO THE YOUTH AND PARENT ADVISORY COUNCILS.

WHAT TYPE OF TRAINING ARE Y'ALL PROVIDING THEM TO BE AT THE TABLE? AND THEN ALSO, ARE Y'ALL COMPENSATING THEM FOR THEIR TIME OR ARE Y'ALL ASKING THEM TO JUST DO THIS ON THEIR OWN DIME? IT'S SORT OF IN BETWEEN.

SO THE TRAINING THAT WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING IS THROUGH ANOTHER GROUP.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ROLLING OUT FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS AND THAT GROUP IS SUPPORTED BY A NATIONAL BACKBONE ORGANIZATION CALLED THE NATIONAL FAMILY SUPPORT AND NATIONAL FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK SERVICES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

ANYWAY, I'M GOING TO GET IT WRONG, BUT THEY AND THEY HAVE A TRAINING ON PARENT LEADERSHIP FOR THEIR FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS OR CHILD SERVING ORGANIZATIONS.

AND WE'VE BEEN OFFERING THAT BOTH VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON, BOTH IN OUR IN OUR CONFERENCES AND AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND FOR OUR GRANTEES.

AND THEN IN TERMS OF WE CERTAINLY PROMOTE THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF PARENT LEADERSHIP.

I MEAN, THEIR TIME IS VERY VALUABLE AND THEY ARE CONSULTANTS AND THEY SHOULD BE PAID JUST LIKE A CONSULTANT.

AND THAT'S SORT OF THE I THINK CASEY FAMILY PROGRAMS FEELS THE SAME, SAME WAY.

AND SO WE'VE HAD BOTH CASEY FAMILY PROGRAMS SOMETIMES FUND THE INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS ON OUR BEHALF.

AND THEN IN OUR GRANTEES, WE HAVE NOT WHERE WE HAVE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, WE GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, BUT WE ALLOW THEM TO USE THEIR BUDGET THAT THEY HAVE WITH US TO PAY THEIR PARENTS.

AND WE JUST WORK WITH THEM ON ON ADJUSTING.

AND BECAUSE IT'S USUALLY A LIMIT, IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUNDING AND MORE ONE TIME AND NOT IT'S USUALLY MANAGEABLE WITHIN THEIR WITHIN THEIR BUDGETS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

ONE THING THAT I ALWAYS PROMOTE IS TRAINING TO THOSE THAT WERE ASKING TO BE AT THE TABLE, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE, WE WANT THEM TO MAKE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE LANDSCAPE THAT THEY'RE IN SO THEY FEEL COMPETENT AND THEY FEEL INCLUDED IN THE CONVERSATION.

AND NOT JUST A PARTY SITTING AT THE TABLE, BUT ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.

AND THEN THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT THEY ARE THE EXPERT AND THAT THEY ARE ADDED VALUE.

AND SO EVERYONE AT THE TABLE IS GETTING PAID BY AN EMPLOYER.

SO I ALWAYS PUSH, PUSH, PUSH THAT PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR TIME AND THEIR EXPERTISE AND NOT JUST GIVING THEM AN H-E-B GIFT CARD OR A WALMART GIFT CARD, BUT REALLY COMPENSATING THEM.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND NOW BROCK BOUDREAU, OUR DEPUTY ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, WILL GIVE THE CPS UPDATE.

[01:10:10]

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU FOR SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US THIS MORNING.

ERICA BANUELOS, OUR ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER, COULDN'T BE HERE THIS MORNING.

SHE'S WITH A JURY DOING JURY SELECTION PROCEEDINGS THIS MORNING, SO SHE SENDS HER REGRETS.

BUT I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

MY NAME IS BROCK BOUDREAU.

I'M YOUR DEPUTY ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, AND I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN IN CHILD WATCH TO START.

AND SO I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THAT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I UPDATED YOU ON THE LAST TIME I ADDRESSED THIS COUNCIL.

THIS IS THE VERY FIRST COUNCIL I PUBLICLY GOT TO ADDRESS IN MY POSITION AS THE DEPUTY.

AND SO I'M ALWAYS STOKED TO COME TO THIS MEETING AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

CHILD WATCH.

I TOLD YOU THAT IN JUNE OF 2021, WE HAD ABOUT AN AVERAGE OF 400 UNIQUE YOUTH IN CHILD WATCH.

AND NOW WE'RE DOWN CLOSER TO JUST UNDER 200.

AND SO THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT.

I WOULD LOVE TO THINK THAT IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE DOING BETTER AT FINDING PLACEMENTS FOR THE YOUTH THAT ARE IN THE CHILD WATCH POPULATION.

I CAN'T REALLY SAY THAT TO BE SURE.

IT COULD HAVE TO BE WITH THE LOWERING OF THE CENSUS, AS WE KNOW FROM INVESTIGATIONS.

WE CERTAINLY WANT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE WITH THIS IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PLACEMENT CAPACITY FOR USE WITH THIS KIND OF NEED.

RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT AN AVERAGE OF 80 YOUTH EVERY DAY IN CHILD WATCH.

THAT'S BEEN STEADY SINCE AT LEAST JUNE.

THESE YOUTH HAVE VERY COMPLICATED NEEDS.

THESE YOUTH HAVE LEVELS OF CARE OF INTENSE AND SPECIALIZED AND JUDGE HELLUMS YOU'RE RIGHT ON THE MONEY.

THEY CAN BE AGGRESSIVE WHEN THEY'RE TRIGGERED.

THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF TJJB INVOLVEMENT.

THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF RUNNING AWAY.

AND MOST OF THEM HAVE A HISTORY OF PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION AND NOT JUST ONE, BUT MULTIPLE EPISODES OF PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION.

WE WILL SEE THESE YOUTH TYPICALLY CYCLE BACK AND FORTH FROM CHILD WATCH TO A PLACEMENT TO A HOSPITAL, MAYBE TO A PLACEMENT RUN AWAY, COME BACK INTO CHILD WATCH. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT RECIDIVISM RATE, BUT WE'VE GOT AN ANALYSIS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

WE HOPE TO HAVE IT FINISHED IN LATE JANUARY TO REALLY GIVE US AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THE CHILDREN ARE COMING FROM, WHERE THEY GO WHEN THEY EXIT [INAUDIBLE] AND WHAT THE RECIDIVISM RATE IS.

BUT THE LAST RECIDIVISM RATE I REMEMBER LOOKING AT WAS IN MARCH AND IT WAS CLOSE TO 40%.

WHEN YOU'VE GOT A RECIDIVISM RATE LIKE THAT, IT'S TELLING YOU THAT WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING IS NOT HELPING TO FIX THESE FOLKS.

THEY NEED TO GET BETTER TREATMENT.

AND THAT REALLY COMES DOWN TO PLACEMENT CAPACITY.

THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO YOU, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT? AND I SAID, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH OUR PROVIDER PARTNERS.

AND WE HAD SOME GRANT MONEY AND WE WANTED TO PUT OUT AN RFA AND SEE IF THE PROVIDERS COULD COME BACK TO US WITH SOME GOOD IDEAS THAT WE COULD FUND.

AND I HAVE VERY GOOD NEWS.

WE WERE ABLE TO GRANT $18 MILLION IN FOSTER CARE CAPACITY EXPANSION.

THE PROVIDERS REALLY CAME TO THE PLATE.

THEY CAME WITH VERY GOOD IDEAS.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY NEXT YEAR TO BRING SOME CAPACITY ONLINE.

MY PRELIMINARY NUMBERS ARE AS HIGH AS 265 BEDS.

THESE ARE IN FACILITIES AND OTHER CARE FACILITIES.

AND THE GREAT NEWS ABOUT THOSE BEDS ARE THAT THESE.

THEY'RE NOT ALL TARGETED TO SPECIALIZED AND INTENSE, BUT THEY WILL GREATLY INCREASE OUR OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE YOUTH INTO FACILITIES THAT CAN CARE FOR THEIR NEEDS.

TALKING ABOUT FOSTER HOMES GENERALLY.

ALMOST 470 HOMES ARE PLANNED TO COME ONLINE.

AND THE BEST NEWS ABOUT THAT IS ALMOST 300 OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT FOSTER HOMES, DR.

ALMEIDA. THAT IS GREATLY GOING TO INCREASE OUR OPPORTUNITY TO PUT KIDS IN A FAMILY LIKE SITUATION TO HELP THEM TO HEAL. WE PROJECTED THAT WE NEEDED ABOUT 300 OF THOSE AND WE GOT 175 OF THEM.

SO WE'RE REALLY STOKED.

YOU LOOK LIKE YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

I HOPE YOU DO. I DO.

FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS.

I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK FUNDING AND FOCUS TO DEVELOP THAT HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE.

I DID WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE PSYCHIATRIC PIECE, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THESE KIDS CYCLE THROUGH PSYCHIATRIC

[01:15:07]

SO ARE YOU ALSO LOOKING AT LIKE SUBACUTE CARE FOR THESE YOUTHS SO LONGER HOSPITALIZATION IF IT'S NEEDED? OH.

ALL RIGHT. LET ME START WITH SAYING THAT.

I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT ONE OF THESE EXPANSION PROJECTS IS A QRTP.

SO THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A CAPACITY OF ESTIMATED 100 BEDS.

SO THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

OR TO TREAT 100 YOUTH ANYWAY? YES, MA'AM. WOULD YOU EXPLAIN THE ACRONYM? YEAH, AN ACRONYM, PLEASE.

I WAS I WAS SO EXCITED.

I WANTED TO GET IT OUT THERE. IT'S A QUALIFIED IT'S A QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM.

AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A LONGER TERM 90 DAY SORT OF PROGRAM FOR YOUTH TO COME IN, POSSIBLY CAN BE LONGER.

THEY HAVE 24 HOUR CLINICAL STAFF THERE, 24 HOUR NURSING STAFF.

IT'S A REALLY NICE FACILITY.

IT'S DESPERATELY NEEDED HERE IN TEXAS.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY IN TEXAS.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST ONE OF ITS KIND.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE CAUGHT THAT IN OUR NET WITH [INAUDIBLE].

NOW I'M SAYING THIS WE HAVEN'T SIGNED THESE CONTRACTS NOW, SO YOU CAN'T HOLD ME TO IT.

BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS DEAL DONE WITH THESE FOLKS.

OKAY? THIS WAS JUST HOT OFF THE PRESS.

AND THIS IS SORT OF WHERE WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE DEALS WITH EACH OF THESE PROVIDERS TO BRING THIS CAPACITY ONLINE.

DR. ALMEIDA, YOU ASKED ME ABOUT SUBACUTE CARE, AND I'D RATHER DESCRIBE IT IN TERMS OF STABILIZATION.

AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER PROJECT THAT IS NOT A DONE DEAL, BUT IT'S AN IDEA.

AND SO I'M TRYING TO WORK WITH A PROVIDER WHO CAN SET UP A STABILIZATION PROGRAM FOR THEM.

SO WHEN WE GET A YOUTH TO A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION EPISODE, THEY'VE BEEN DISCHARGED THROUGH THE ACUTE EPISODE, BUT THEY STILL HAVE RESIDUAL BEHAVIORS THAT ARE SELF-HARMING LIKE BEHAVIORS.

THEY'RE EITHER A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.

YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES THERE THEY REMAIN IN THE HOSPITAL IN WHAT'S CALLED EXTENDED STAY DAYS.

AND I THINK THAT TO SOME DEGREE IS AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE SOME STABILIZATION SERVICES.

BUT PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS ARE NOT GEARED.

THAT'S NOT THEIR BUSINESS.

SO WE NEED ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE.

AND I'M WORKING ON TRYING TO GET A PROGRAM STOOD UP.

AND WE THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET CLOSE TO GETTING THAT DONE.

BUT THERE'S MORE TO COME FROM THAT.

SO CONGRATULATIONS.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR THIS.

WITH THE $80 MILLION, YOU SAID THAT THERE WAS AN RFA.

AND I WAS WONDERING, IS THAT ONE ENTITY THAT RESPONDED AND THAT YOU ALL HAVE SELECTED OR IS IT MULTIPLE ENTITIES THAT THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE DISBURSED? 23 DIFFERENT PROVIDERS.

AND CORTNEY IT'S A VARIETY OF OF HOMES.

IT'S A VARIETY OF HOMES.

LUCKILY, WE GOT A LOT OF THERAPEUTIC FOSTER HOMES FROM IT, TOO, WHICH I THINK WE REALLY NEEDED.

BUT BASIC FOSTER HOMES IN THOSE THINGS, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THE SAME KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE HAD BEFORE.

BUT A LOT OF THE BEDS AND I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT PERCENTAGE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THEY ARE GEARED FOR INTENSE AND SPECIALIZED YOUTH.

SO I THINK IT'LL BE PARTICULARLY HELPFUL FOR YOUTH AND CHILD WATCH, BUT IT'LL BE BROADLY APPLICABLE TO ALL ALL THE YOUTH AND CARE.

IT'S IT'S A GREAT SHOT IN THE ARM THAT WE REALLY DESPERATELY NEED IT FOR PLACEMENT CAPACITY GENERALLY.

AND I WAS WONDERING IF ANY OF THAT FUNDING GOING TO BE USED TOWARDS LIKE COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS TO HELP WITH THEIR BEHAVIOR? BECAUSE WE WE KNOW TRADITIONAL THERAPY IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S THE APPROACH THAT WE'VE BEEN USING WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND SO ARE THERE ANY FUNDS GOING TO COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS TO SUPPORT KIDS THAT ARE IN CHILD WATCH? I DON'T THINK THAT ANY OF THIS MONEY NECESSARILY IS EAR TAGGED FOR THAT.

BUT CERTAINLY WE NEED TO INVEST IN UPSTREAM RESOURCES THAT CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES BEFORE THEY COME IN TO CARE JUST GENERALLY.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT A LOT OF MY STAKEHOLDERS TALK TO ME ABOUT, AND I'M SURE THAT YOUR STAKEHOLDERS AND YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT IT TOO, ARE YOUTH COMING INTO CARE AS A RESULT OF WHAT WE CALL WRAPPER DISPOSITION.

THIS IS A IT'S A FAILURE OF A PARENT TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE YOUTH, AND THEY WANT TO SURRENDER THE YOUTH TO

[01:20:06]

A LOT OF TIMES THIS HAPPENS IN A CIRCUMSTANCE OF A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY WHERE PARENTS HAVE BROUGHT THEIR YOUTH TO A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY FOR TREATMENT. HE'S BEEN TREATED THROUGH AN ACUTE EPISODE AND.

PARENTS DON'T WANT TO COME PICK THEM UP.

ABOUT 40% OF THE YOUTH THAT COME IN TO CHILD WATCH COME THROUGH THAT PARTICULAR MECHANISM.

WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS TO FIND THOSE RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY BEFORE THEY EVER GET TO THAT POINT.

BECAUSE THEN THEN JIM'S TEAM HAS TO COME IN AND TRY TO ASSESS HAS EVERYTHING ELSE BEEN DONE BEFORE WE CAN TAKE CUSTODY OF THAT YOUTH.

AND THIS PLACE IS A GREAT PRACTICAL STRAIN ON PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES AND OTHER FACILITIES THAT CARE FOR YOUTH OF THIS LEVEL OF NEED.

AND WE GOT TO DO BETTER AS A COMMUNITY TO TRY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CATCH THESE YOUTH BEFORE THEY GET TO THAT POINT.

SO I WHOLLY ENDORSE YOUR APPROACH.

BUT THIS MONEY HERE IS PRIMARILY THINKING ABOUT THE [INAUDIBLE] POPULATION THAT WE GOT.

WE'VE GOT WE'RE JUST STUCK AT 200.

WE CAN'T MAKE MUCH MORE GROUND THAN THAT WITHOUT EXPANDING THAT PLACEMENT CAPACITY.

SO I THINK THAT WAS REALLY WHAT WE ASKED FOR IN [INAUDIBLE].

I THINK THAT IT'S GREAT THAT Y'ALL ARE ABLE TO GET MORE MONEY IN ORDER TO HAVE CAPACITY FOR THEM TO NOT BE IN CPS OFFICES.

BUT I WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE THE DEPARTMENT TO LOOK AT FUNDING GOING TOWARDS COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THESE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES, BECAUSE IF WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, BUT ALL WE'RE DOING IS ADDING MORE BEDS, THEN WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO KEEP HAVING THE RECIDIVISM RATE OF 40%.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IN THE REPORT IT TALKS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY KIDS ARE IN PSYCHIATRIC, HOW MANY KIDS ARE 17% ARE RUNNING AWAY.

SO WHY ARE THEY RUNNING AWAY? WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY AS A DEPARTMENT TO KEEP KIDS IN CARE? THEY'RE RUNNING AWAY FOR A REASON.

AND SO HAVING MORE BEDS IS NOT GOING TO STOP THEM FROM RUNNING AWAY.

SO LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, OTHER MODALITIES OTHER THAN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS, LIKE WHAT KIND OF MONEY CAN WE PUT TOWARDS THAT SO THAT WE CAN HEAL THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY PRESERVE MORE FAMILIES BY ADDRESSING THAT? I THINK THAT DR.

ALMEIDA WAS WAS TRYING TO EMPHASIZE THAT AND I'M TRYING TO TALK AROUND THIS PROJECT, BUT I'M SO GOD BEING PROUD OF IT.

I WANT TO I WANT TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT.

BUT THE WAY IT WORKS RIGHT NOW, CORTNEY, IS WHEN A YOUTH HAS AN EPISODE, WE ADMIT THEM TO A PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENTIAL, INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL.

THEY'LL BE THERE FOR FOUR OR FIVE, SIX, SEVEN DAYS.

THEY'LL BE TREATED THROUGH THEIR ACUTE EPISODE AND THEN THEY'RE READY FOR DISCHARGE.

AT THAT POINT, WE'LL GENERALLY TRY AND STEP THEM DOWN TO A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER.

BUT A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER REALLY DOESN'T PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF CARE THAT A YOUTH WITH RESIDUAL HARM TO SELF AND BEHAVIORS WOULD HAVE.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO NOW IS BUILD CAPACITY AND A PROGRAM, A NEW PROGRAM, CORTNEY, TO GET YOU OUT OF THAT ACUTE EPISODE AND GET YOU INTO A STABILIZATION PROGRAM.

IF WE CAN GET YOU INTO A STABILIZATION PROGRAM, MAYBE 90 DAYS, LET'S GET YOU STABLE.

LET'S GET YOU REALLY READY TO DROP DOWN INTO THAT RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CARE FACILITY.

AND THEN HOPEFULLY, LET'S GET YOU INTO ONE OF THESE THERAPEUTIC FOSTER HOMES.

THAT'S THE KEY, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON TRYING TO DO.

CAN I JUMP IN HERE JUST A SECOND? I HAD A CASE THE LAST FOUR DAYS WHERE THE FATHER, THE ADOPTIVE FATHER, HAD DONE A RELINQUISHMENT LETTER AND HE WAS ON SCREEN WITH ME AND.

I ASKED HIM, I SAID, WE HAVE NOW GOTTEN PERMISSION FOR THE THE COUNT THE COUNCIL AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOING TO BE TAKING YOUR SON FOR THE TREATMENT FOR TRAUMA.

AND I SAID, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DON'T THINK HE REALIZED IS THAT I HAD TO ACCEPT AS JUDGE, I HAD TO ACCEPT HIS LETTER OF RELINQUISHMENT ON THE CHILD BEFORE IT WAS EFFECTIVE.

AND I SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO ACCEPT IT TODAY.

ARE YOU OKAY WITH HANGING ON WITH THE HOPE THAT IF HE GETS THIS TREATMENT, HE CAN STILL STAY WITH YOU?

[01:25:01]

SO IT ISN'T ALWAYS A FINAL WHEN THEY FILE THE RELINQUISHMENT LETTER BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE JUDGE FIRST.

AND IF THE JUDGE KNOWS TO TELL THEM TO HANG IN THERE, LET'S GIVE THE KID A CHANCE TO GET SOME TREATMENT WHERE THEIR BEHAVIOR WILL BE CHANGED BY GOING THROUGH THE TRAUMA TREATMENT.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE ON THAT PARTICULAR CASE SO.

ANYWAY, THERE'S ONE OUT OF IT THAT WE MAY HAVE SAVED.

THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO, AS SOMEONE WHO'S OVER THE YEARS WORKED IN MY HOME IN THE COMMUNITY DIRECTLY WITH HUNDREDS OF FOSTER FAMILIES AND KIDS AND JUST SORT OF SEEING THE LEVEL OF TRAUMA AND THE STRUGGLE THAT SO MANY OF THEM HAVE.

IT'S SO COMPLEX AND I CAN'T TELL YOU MAYBE A LITTLE EVEN MORE EXCITED THAN YOU ARE ABOUT THE PROGRAMS YOU'RE DESCRIBING TODAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK ALL OF US REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE INTENSITY OF THE QRTP PROGRAM, WHAT THESE KIDS ARE GETTING WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO MOVE FROM A TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT INTO SOMETHING THAT'S MUCH MORE INTENSIVE AND SPECIFICALLY THE THERAPEUTIC FOSTER FAMILY PIECE OF THIS.

I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THAT'S A HUGE ANSWER TO A LOT OF A LOT OF PRAYER AND A LOT OF NEED AND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

I'VE GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO WORK WITH A NUMBER OF THERAPEUTIC FOSTER FAMILIES, AND THEY'RE HEROES.

THEY'RE THE THEY'RE THE MARINES OF THIS SYSTEM.

RIGHT. I KNOW FAMILIES THAT HAVE BOTH QUIT THEIR JOBS TO TAKE CARE OF ONE KID IN A THERAPEUTIC PLACEMENT.

IT'S THEIR FULL TIME JOB IN THEIR HOME.

AND THEY'VE BEEN IN MY HOME AND I'VE SEEN THE KIDS GROW.

THOSE KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN EIGHT PLACEMENTS, YOU KNOW, IN FOUR YEARS OF THEIR LITTLE LIVES RIGHT, THEY'RE HEALING.

AND SO I JUST I APPLAUD THAT AND I'M EXTREMELY ENCOURAGED BY IT.

AND IT IS PREVENTION, RIGHT? IN MANY WAYS THE WORK IS PREVENTATIVE OR EVEN THOUGH IT FALLS UNDER YOU, I'M ENCOURAGED BY THAT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE INVESTMENT THERE AND I HOPE TO SEE EVEN EVEN MORE OF THAT GOING FORWARD.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, THOUGH.

ONE OF THE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME THAT I CONTINUE TO SEE AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOUR TAKE ON IT IS, IS THE WEIGHING OF PRIORITIES FOR PLACEMENT DECISIONS, PARTICULARLY FINAL AND PERMANENCY PLACEMENT DECISIONS OF FACTORS LIKE FAMILY OF ORIGIN AND FRANKLY, SIBLINGS SEEMING TO TAKE A HIGHER PRECEDENCE OVER HEALING.

I SEE MANY, MANY CASES CONTINUE TO GO THE ROUTE OF SEEMING TO PRIORITIZE PLACING CHILD X PERMANENTLY WITH A SIBLING, WHETHER IT'S WITH A FAMILY MEMBER OR WITH ANOTHER FOSTER FAMILY, WHERE THERE MAY BE SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT KIDS IN THAT HOME AS OPPOSED TO THIS HIGHLY EQUIPPED FAMILY THAT'S READY AND HAS THE CHILD FOR A LONG TIME IS MAYBE THERAPEUTIC AND THE CHILD IS PROGRESSING AND HEALING AND THEY'RE CHOOSING.

YOU KNOW, THOSE FACTORS OVER WHAT WHAT FEELS TO ME AND THOSE INVOLVED IN THE CASE TO BE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD, EVEN IF IT'S NOT THAT THAT THAT TWO YEAR OLD, OR THREE YEAR OLD MIGHT, YOU KNOW, GROW UP OR BE MORE AROUND SOMEONE OF THE SAME BLOOD ORIGIN.

AND SO I'M CURIOUS, TO WHAT DEGREE DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE DEPARTMENT IS IS WEIGHING THOSE SORT OF HEALING FACTORS AS EQUALLY AND SOMETIMES I WOULD SAY EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN SORT OF FAMILY FACTORS.

RIGHT. AND WE ALL AGREE.

ALL ELSE BEING EQUAL, A KID BEING PLACED WITH A FAMILY IS WHAT WE WANT.

FAMILY OF ORIGIN, EXTENDED FAMILY, SIBLINGS.

RIGHT. I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S A BAD THING, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE OVER BEING OVERWEIGHT AND RELATIVE TO HEALING SITUATIONS.

I'M CURIOUS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THAT.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK THERE.

I THINK I WOULD START WITH I THINK WHERE WE WHERE WE AGREE THAT IDEALLY YOU WANT TO USE IN A FAMILY LIKE SETTING.

WITH SIBLINGS, IF THAT'S WHAT'S MOST APPROPRIATE, AND HOPEFULLY WITH THE KINSHIP FAMILY, SOMEBODY THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED TO.

NOW, BARRING THAT, YOU WANT TO TRY TO KEEP SIBLING GROUPS TOGETHER JUST GENERALLY.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A HIGH NEEDS YOUTH IN THAT SIBLING GROUP, YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER WHAT'S BEST FOR THE YOUTH AND NOT NECESSARILY WHAT'S BEST FOR THE WHOLE GROUP.

AND, YOU KNOW, EACH CASE CAN BE DIFFERENT WITH ALL THE MYRIAD OF CONSEQUENCES AND FACTORS THAT YOU NEED TO THINK THROUGH.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS TO CONSIDER.

I KEEP GOING BACK TO SORT OF A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE ON THIS AND NOT CASE BY CASE, BUT A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE, MEANING I THINK MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS CAPACITY TO TREAT HIGH NEEDS YOUTH.

SO IF WE HAVE A SIBLING MEMBER WHO HAS HIGH NEEDS, WE NEED TO GET THEM THE TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED.

[01:30:04]

BUT WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT THEM? YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACEMENT FOR YOUTH WHERE THOSE SIBS ARE PLACED AND YOU DON'T WANT TO MOVE THE WHOLE GROUP.

SO IN THAT CASE, IT COULD GO THE OTHER WAY.

YOU MOVE SOMEONE OUT OF REGION, POSSIBLY.

SOMETIMES YOU PUT THEM OUT OF STATE.

AND AS SOON AS YOU DO THAT, THERE'S ANOTHER GROUP OF FOLKS THAT'LL SAY, WELL, YOU GOT TO KEEP THEM TOGETHER OR YOU GOT TO KEEP THEM IN REGION.

YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT TO HAVE TRADE OFFS AS TO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE YOUTH.

AND SO I THINK WE TRY TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR ANY ONE YOUTH.

WE WANT TO GET THEM THE CARE THAT THEY NEED, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE YOUTH AND CHILD WATCH, BECAUSE THESE YOUTH ARE THE MOST TRAUMATIZED AND THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE 16 OR 17 YEARS OLD, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE MUCH MORE TIME TO GET THEM THE INTERVENTION THAT THEY NEED.

AND FROM A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE, I WANT TO GET KIDS THE CARE THAT THEY NEED.

I APPRECIATE THAT PERSPECTIVE. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT.

I'LL JUST TELL YOU FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I'M CONTINUING TO SEE INCREDIBLY QUALIFIED AND DEDICATED FOSTER FAMILIES WHO PUT MONTHS, SOMETIMES YEARS, INTO HEALING KIDS AND DEVELOPING A BOND WITH THEM.

OFTEN YOUNGER KIDS UNDER UNDER FIVE, UNDER FOUR HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE THOSE ARE DISRUPTED OVER PLACING A KID BACK WITH A FAMILY OF FIVE. AND I CAN TELL YOU AS AS A FATHER WHO'S ADOPTED THREE KIDDOS, RIGHT? WE'VE HAD SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

ANY ONE OR TWO OF KIDS WHO'VE EXPERIENCED TRAUMAS A LOT FOR EVEN A HIGHLY EQUIPPED FAMILY TO BE ABLE TO PARENT.

AND SO I GUESS MY REQUEST WOULD BE JUST PLEASE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE YOUR FOLKS TO TO EQUALLY PRIORITIZE THAT HEALING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, EVEN IF IT'S OUTSIDE OF A OF A SIBLING PLACEMENT.

NOW I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS QRTP, BUT JUST TO CLARIFY, IN THE EL PASO REGION, OUT IN THAT AREA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT'S STARTING UP OR PLANS FOR THAT? I WISH I HAD STUDIED MY NOTES A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY.

I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHERE THE QRTP IS NOW.

THERE'S ONLY ONE THAT WAS EITHER PROPOSED OR AWARDED.

I'M SURE IF THERE WERE ANOTHER ONE, WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE AWARDED IT KNOWING HOW MUCH WE NEEDED IT.

BUT I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHERE THAT IS AND IF THERE'S ANY OF THESE AWARDEES THAT ARE OUT, OUT YOUR WAY, I'LL LET YOU KNOW.

SO, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF HAVE LIKE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION IN REGARDS TO FOSTER CARE.

FOSTER CARE IS SUPPOSED TO BE TEMPORARY.

IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PERMANENT.

AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO HELP FAMILIES WHEN THEY'RE IN NEED.

AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO LIKE KIDS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO LANGUISH IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.

AND, YOU KNOW FAMILIES ARE IMPORTANT REGARDLESS OF WHAT AGE THAT KID IS AND KNOWING YOUR LINEAGE OF YOUR FAMILY AND IN FOR MEDICAL REASONS, FOR CULTURAL REASONS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.

AND ALTHOUGH I DO BELIEVE HEALING IS IMPORTANT, HEALING CAN OCCUR IN BOTH SETTINGS.

BUT, YOU KNOW FOR ME, AS SOMEONE THAT HAS LIVED IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM FOR TEN YEARS AND MY FAMILY DID NOT GET THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEEDED AND I HAD TO REMAIN IN THE SYSTEM AND BOUNCE AROUND AND AGE OUT INTO HOMELESSNESS.

WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT MY COUSINS WERE IN FOSTER CARE, I STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND I SAID, I WANT TO BE THERE.

YES, THEY WERE IN A GOOD FOSTER HOME AND THEY WERE ONE AND TWO.

BUT I AM SO ELATED THE FACT THAT I GOT TO ADOPT MY COUSINS FROM FOSTER CARE AND THAT THEY GET TO KNOW WHO THEIR GRANDMOTHER IS, THEY GET TO KNOW THEIR OTHER SIBLINGS, BECAUSE IF THEY WERE ADOPTED BY THEIR THEIR FOSTER PARENTS, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF WHO THEY ARE.

AND WHEN THEY GROW UP, THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEY COME FROM, ESPECIALLY CULTURALLY, BECAUSE MY CHILDREN ARE WHITE AND BLACK.

AND SO IT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE FAMILIES AT ALL COSTS.

AND IF IT'S NOT A THREAT TO THAT CHILD AND THEIR WELL-BEING AND SAFETY.

BUT I JUST I STAND BY THAT, MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, KIDS, BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OVERREPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN OF COLOR IN FOSTER CARE AND THEY'RE PLACED IN HOMES THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE THEM.

AND SO THEY ARE RIPPED FROM THEIR CULTURE.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ENSURE THAT WE ARE EQUIPPING THE FAMILIES WITH WHAT THEY NEED IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE PRESERVED.

[01:35:07]

IT IS NOT PERMANENT.

FOSTER PARENTS SHOULD NOT GO INTO THIS THINKING THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO OR WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO ADOPT A CHILD.

FOSTER PARENTS SHOULD GO INTO IT LIKE I WANT TO SUPPORT THIS CHILD.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS CHILD HAS EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED AND THAT THE PARENTS HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES ARE WHOLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE SECOND THING THAT I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS STABILIZATION, BUT I'M WONDERING HOW DOES THAT STABILIZATION WORK IN REGARDS TO COMMUNITY BASED CARE? WELL, FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR VIEW WITH ME AND THANK YOU FOR BEING INVOLVED IN YOUR COUSIN'S HEALING.

THE OTHER THING IS.

THIS IS AN IDEA.

THE STABILIZATION IS AN IDEA.

IT'S GOING TO BE IF WE GET IT GOING, IT'S GOING TO BE A PILOT.

IF WE GET IT GOING, WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF DATA THAT TELL US THAT THIS IS GOING TO WORK OR IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

AND I THINK THAT WE'LL PROBABLY GET STARTED VERY SOON.

WE'LL RUN IT THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE DATA AND SEE HOW THAT LOOKS.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH ONE SIDE PRIMARILY.

AND IF IT WORKS, MS. JONES, I THINK WE'LL OPEN IT UP ACROSS THE BOARD AS SOON AS WE CAN FIND PROVIDERS WHO CAN USE THE SAME PROGRAM.

CBC, AS YOU KNOW, AND DIRECTOR THOMAS CAN SHARE MORE WITH YOU ABOUT HOW THAT ROLLS OUT.

BUT, YOU CAN THINK OF IT FROM THE AS IS.

THE AS IS IS THE LEGACY SYSTEM AND YOU'VE GOT YOUR REGIONS.

SO YOU HAVE DIFFERENT RESOURCES IN DIFFERENT DENSITIES IN EACH OF THE DIFFERENT REGIONS.

RIGHT. SO IF THIS PROGRAM EXISTS AND OTHER PROVIDERS WANT TO PICK IT UP, THEN THEY CAN BUILD THAT CAPACITY IN EACH OF THOSE REGIONS AND OR CATCHMENT AREAS.

AND SO AS LEGACY REGIONS FLIP TO CBC, IF THE RESOURCES GO WITH IT.

SO THIS IS REALLY NOT A LEGACY DEFINED OR A SSC OR SSCC OR COMMUNITY BASED CARE DEFINED PILOT OR PROGRAM OR IDEA.

ANYBODY WILL BE ABLE TO USE IT.

AND IF IT'S THERAPEUTICALLY SOUND, I THINK WE'LL KNOCK THAT 40% RECIDIVISM DOWN TO SOMETHING THAT'S CLOSER TO FIVE OR SIX AND THAT WILL GET US BELOW THE 100 MARK.

SOMEBODY ONCE TOLD ME IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BAD IDEA, YOU'RE NOT EVER GOING TO HAVE A GOOD IDEA.

SO YOU GOT TO TRY SOMETHING OUT.

IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA AND SEE IF IT WORKS OR NOT.

SO WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A GUARANTEE.

AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING WITH TAKING YOUR IDEA.

AND LET'S SEE IF IT'S GOING TO WORK AND IF IT DOES.

I MEAN, NOT EVERYTHING WE HAVE TRIED TO DO HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

SO HAVING ANOTHER IDEA AND TRYING IT IS A GOOD IDEA.

I REALLY, NO, MA'AM.

I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

AND AS ANY ONE OF THESE GUYS WILL TELL YOU, I'VE HAD LOTS OF BAD IDEAS.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.

NOW TRISH THOMAS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY BASED CARE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU.

I THINK THIS IS MY FIRST TIME IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS, SO PLEASE ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU HAVE.

THE FIRST THING THAT WE'RE REALLY DOING WITH THE OFFICE COMMUNITY BASED CARE TRANSITION IS WE'VE MOVED BELONG, WHICH IS OUR PROVIDER IN 8B TO STAGE TWO.

SO THERE ARE CURRENTLY THREE STAGES IN COMMUNITY BASED CARE.

THE FIRST ONE IS ALL ABOUT PLACEMENT.

THAT HAPPENS USUALLY WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF SIGNING A CONTRACT.

THE SECOND ONE WE GO TO THAT IS ALL ABOUT CASE MANAGEMENT AND THAT HAPPENS NOW A YEAR AFTER YOU GO INTO STAGE ONE AND THEN STAGE THREE IS WHAT WE'RE NOW WORKING ON WITH CHAPIN HALL TO KIND OF DEVELOP AND FINALIZE THAT STAGE. WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH CHAPIN HALL, DFPS AND SSCC TO GET THAT GOING.

[01:40:06]

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FOUR SSCCS THAT ARE ALL IN STAGE TWO THAT, OF COURSE BELONG, SAINT FRANCIS, TO ENGAGE AND OCOK.

THAT'S ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE STATE.

WE HAVE THREE RFAS THAT WE PUT OUT THERE IN THE SUMMER AND ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATION.

WE'RE HOPING THAT WE GET CONTRACTORS.

WE CUT WE FINALIZE THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ON THAT SOON AND GET THOSE CONTRACTS SIGNED SO WE CAN START IMPLEMENTATION IN THOSE AREAS.

CURRENTLY, THAT'S WITH METROPLEX EAST, WHICH IS 3 EAST, PINEY WOODS, WHICH IS REGION 4 AND DEEP EAST REGION 5.

SO THOSE ARE THE THREE AREAS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON CURRENTLY GETTING THOSE CONTRACTS SIGNED.

WE ARE PUTTING AN RFA OUT FOR 3 WEST, WHICH IS OCOK'S AREA, PLUS THE THREE COUNTIES NORTH OF THAT THAT WILL GO OUT WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THAT OUT AND REBID.

OCOK HAD THAT AREA, WILL HAVE IT TEN YEARS.

SO WE DO THESE FIVE YEAR CONTRACTS AND SO WE'RE AT THE END OF OUR EXTENSION.

SO WE'LL BE MAKING SURE THAT WE IMPLEMENT BY SEPTEMBER 1ST OF 2023.

WE ALSO HAVE AN UNSOLICITED BID PROCESS.

THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH WITH DFPS AND HHSC.

WE HAVE IT POSTED ON THE HHSC WEBSITE.

YOU CAN FIND OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

BUT BASICALLY THROUGH SENATE BILL 1896, IT ALLOWS FOR THIS PROCESS OF UNSOLICITED BIDS SO YOU CAN SUBMIT AN AREA THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A REGION.

IT PROVIDES MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR A POTENTIAL SSCC.

AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT GETTING ONE OF THOSE BIDS.

WE HAVE NOT YET GOT ONE, BUT WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

WE WILL GO THROUGH THE SAME RIGOROUS EVALUATION PROCESS AS WE DO A CURRENT, JUST AN RFP WE PUT OUT. SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE, THE MAIN WAY CURRENTLY WE'VE GOTTEN NEW SSCCS IS PUT OUT AN RFA, BUT THIS IS THE NEW PROCESS.

SO IN ADDITION TO DOING THE RFA PROCESS.

WE CONTINUE TO DO OUTREACH ACROSS THE STATE.

WE HAD A MEETING WITH BEXAR COUNTY.

WE WORK WITH ALLIANCE AND DFPS AND WORKING WITH THAT AREA TO REALLY ENCOURAGE CVC COMING BACK THERE. THERE'S A MEETING WITH THE ALLIANCE AND DFDS AND REGIONAL FOLKS AND COMMUNITY FOLKS IN REGION 7 COMING UP MONDAY.

SO JUST PART OF OUR GROUP IS NOT ONLY FOCUSED ON THE IMPLEMENTATION, BUT ALSO ON THE OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITIES, MAKING SURE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITIES ARE READY AND REALLY DOING THE DUTY SET ASIDE IN 1896.

OUR LAR WITH DFDS INCLUDED INTEROPERABILITY FUNDS FOR THE SSCCS AS WELL AS THE DFDS SIDE TO GET MORE INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN THE SSCC SYSTEMS AND IMPACT, WHICH IS THE DSPS SYSTEM.

WE ALSO ARE OUR BIGGEST THING IN THE LAR IS EXTENDING CBC TO FOUR NEW STAGE ONE AREAS AND THEN DOING STAGE TWO FOR FOUR MORE AREAS WITH THE GOAL OF HAVING EVERYTHING IN CBC BY 2029.

SO THAT'S MY UPDATE.

I'D LOVE TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I HAVE A QUESTION AND THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THE 2029, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.

WHAT'S THE GOAL? THAT ALONG THOSE SAME LINES ARE YOU FINDING THAT THE OUTCOMES THAT WE EXPECTED? SO FIRST OF ALL, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FOLLOW THIS ROLLOUT OF CBC AND I CAN'T FOLLOW IT.

IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED FOR ME.

SOMETIMES I CAN FOLLOW SOME COMPLICATED THINGS, BUT I CAN'T ON THIS.

BUT I THINK THE BASIC QUESTION THAT I'M ASKING IS, IS THE DEPARTMENT FINDING, ARE WE GETTING THE RESULTS THAT WE EXPECTED FROM

[01:45:01]

THAT WOULD BE MY OUTCOME THAT I WOULD EXPECT.

BUT WE DO PUT OUT LIKE THE QUARTERLY REPORTS, IF YOU WANT, YOU KNOW, MORE INFORMATION ON THE DETAILS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT COMES OUT QUARTERLY.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR ANNUAL IMPLEMENTATION REPORT.

YES, WE ARE SEEING, YOU KNOW, SOME DIFFERENCES AND SOME SIMILARITIES BECAUSE OF SOME THINGS ARE MORE FLEXIBLE.

SOME THINGS ARE LESS, YOU KNOW, MORE STANDARD WITH THE LAWSUIT.

BUT I THINK THAT THE GOAL REALLY IS TO THAT KIDS NEED TO BE SERVED IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE AT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING WITH THAT THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE NIMBLE IF YOU'RE ONLY LOOKING AT YOUR SMALL COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW THAT CALL AND THAT CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE WHEN YOU'RE RIGHT THERE, WHEN YOU'RE ALWAYS THERE, YOU KNOW, IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

SO RIGHT NOW, THE STATE'S DIVIDED INTO 16 AREAS, 16 REGIONS.

AND SO THE THOUGHT IS WE WOULD GO TO EACH OF THOSE REGIONS.

HOWEVER, WITH THE PROCESS OF UNSOLICITED BIDS, IT MAY BE A FEW MORE, MAYBE A FEW LESS.

WE WANT TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOLKS TO DECIDE, YOU KNOW, HOW BIG OF AN AREA IS THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO GIVE SOME MORE FLEXIBILITY.

SO. DO YOU KNOW THE NEXT FOUR REGIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ROLLED OUT WITH STAGE ONE? OR IS THAT PUBLIC YET? IF I TURNED THIS OFF, IT WOULD HELP.

IF IT'S IN OUR LAR WE DIDN'T LINE THEM OUT.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE REQUESTING FOR FOUR NEW ONES AND SO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHICH FOUR THOSE ARE, BUT AE PRETTY MUCH WAITING FOR FUNDING TO ANNOUNCE THOSE. AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT WE'D BE PUTTING OUT AN RFA IF WE GOT THAT FUNDING.

SO. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THEN I DID WANT TO PROVIDE WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE TO THE COUNCIL.

SO THE 88TH SESSION WILL CONVENE ON JANUARY 10TH AT NOON.

THEY HAVE ALREADY BEGUN THE BILL FILING PROCESS NOVEMBER 14TH.

THAT'S STARTED. SO FAR, OVER 1000 BILLS HAVE BEEN FILED AND DFPS IS CURRENTLY TRACKING 164 BILLS.

THEN ONCE A BILL IS FILED, THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM, OUR LEGAL TEAM EVALUATE IT.

THEY THEN ASSIGN IT OUT TO THE PROGRAM, THE APPROPRIATE PROGRAM TO ANALYZE HOW TO IMPLEMENT AND TO IDENTIFY IF THERE'S ANY POTENTIAL COST TO THE BILL.

JUST FOR REFERENCE SAKE.

LAST SESSION, THERE WERE OVER 7000 BILLS FILED AND DFPS TRACKED APPROXIMATELY 800 OF THOSE BILLS.

THE DEADLINE FOR MEMBERS TO FILE IS MARCH 10.

SO WE CERTAINLY EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE MORE WORK TO BE DONE THIS SESSION.

BUT WE'VE GOT A GREAT GR TEAM, WE'VE GOT A GREAT LEGAL TEAM, AND THE PROGRAM IS READY TO EVALUATE PATIENTS.

WE'RE EXCITED TO BE GEARING UP FOR.

THANK YOU FOR FILLING IN AND KEEPING US UP TO DATE ON WHAT'S NEXT.

THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS PUBLIC TESTIMONY, WHERE WE WELCOME INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDERS REGARDING ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM.

[V. Public Comment]

PLEASE KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL, NONE OF US UP HERE OR COMMISSIONER WOLD OR VICKI OR COUNCIL DOWN AT THE END OF THE TABLE THERE, WE'RE ALL UNABLE TO COMMENT OR RESPOND TO YOUR STATEMENTS DURING PUBLIC TESTIMONY, BUT THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH US.

IF YOU PLAN TO TALK ABOUT A SPECIFIC CASE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE OFFICE OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS CALLED, PLEASE SIGN UP AT THE REGISTRATION DESK TO RECEIVE THAT CALL.

WE OBSERVE TIME LIMIT, TWO MINUTES.

[01:50:01]

THE TIME KEEPER WILL KEEP TRACK OF THE TIME FOR YOU AND INDICATE WHEN YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT BY A FLASHING OF THE YELLOW LIGHT ON THE PODIUM.

WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, THE RED LIGHT WILL COME ON.

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF THE TIME LIMITS THAT HAVE BEEN SET.

AND WHEN THE RED LIGHT GOES OFF, PLEASE SEE.

SURE. YOU'RE SPEAKING AT THAT TIME.

AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE.

DON'T MAKE ME GAVEL YOU.

I HAVE DONE IT.

LET'S NOT GO THERE.

OKAY, LET'S GET STARTED.

LET'S SEE. OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE AND I HAVE THE LIST OF THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SIGNED UP.

HERE E GO. THERE'S A TOTAL OF 35 PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.

THE FIRST SPEAKER IS INDIGO GILES.

GILES. I MAY NOT HAVE SAID IT CORRECTLY.

I'M READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD AND URGED DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS.

HI. I'M A NINE YEAR OLD GIRL FROM TEXAS AND I HAPPEN TO BE TRANS.

I HATE HAVING TO PUBLICLY STATE THAT FACT BECAUSE TO ME IT'S THE LEAST INTERESTING THING ABOUT ME, AND I DON'T THINK ABOUT IT MUCH.

I THINK ABOUT ROLLER SKATING, GOING TO SCHOOL, WHICH I LOVE, AND JUMPING ON THE TRAMPOLINE WITH MY BROTHER.

MY PARENTS SAID WE MIGHT HAVE TO MOVE IF THINGS DON'T GET BETTER IN TEXAS.

I DON'T WANT TO MOVE.

MY GRANDMA AND MY UNCLE LIVE NEARBY AND I WOULDN'T GET TO SEE THEM AS MUCH AS I WANT.

I ALSO DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MY SCHOOL AND MY FRIENDS.

I HAVE THE BEST TEACHER AND I'VE HAD HER FOR THREE YEARS.

ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND TEACHERS AT SCHOOL KNOW I'M TRANS AND THEY DON'T CARE AND DON'T TREAT ME DIFFERENT.

I LOVE MY HOUSE.

MY ROOM HAS A RAINBOW THAT MY MOM PAINTED ON THE WALL AND WE HAVE FIVE CHICKENS THAT WE'D HAVE TO LEAVE BEHIND.

MY MOM AND DAD ARE THE BEST PARENTS FOR ME AND MY BROTHER.

MY MOM IS A REALLY GOOD COOK AND MAKES ALL OF OUR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNERS.

MY DAD ALWAYS PLAYS GAMES WITH US AND WE LIKE TO ROLLER SKATE AND RIDE BIKES ON THE BAYOU AS A FAMILY.

MY FAVORITE THING TO DO IS SIT WITH MY MOM AND WATCH A FAMILY MOVIE WHILE SHE PLAYS WITH MY HAIR.

MY PARENTS ARE MY BEST FRIENDS OTHER THAN MY BROTHER.

PLEASE DON'T TRY TO TAKE ME AWAY FROM THEM.

THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T LET THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY LOVE ME AND MY BROTHER MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD.

AND AS A PERSONAL ASIDE, SEPARATE FROM THE TESTIMONY I JUST READ, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO COUNCILMAN KOURI SPECIFICALLY THAT EVEN A SINGLE WRONGFULLY CONDUCTED INVESTIGATION IS ONE TOO MANY. IT IS PATENTLY CLEAR TO ME THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE REAL HARM THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE AND CONTINUES TO BE PERPETUATED.

I URGED YOU AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL TO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THE STORIES YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TODAY IN HOPES THAT YOU WILL REALIZE THAT THE NUMBERS DO NOT MATTER.

IT'S THE IMPACT THAT MATTERS.

NOT A SINGLE FAMILY SHOULD HAVE HAD TO EXPERIENCE THE TRAUMA OF BEING INVESTIGATED BY CPS FOR THE CRIME OF LOVING AND SUPPORTING THEIR CHILD.

IT IS A REAL AND VISCERAL TRAUMA TO LIVE IN FEAR BECAUSE YOUR CHILD COULD BE TAKEN FROM YOU AND BECAUSE YOUR STATE PROVES OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT IT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU.

ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILD.

THEY MAY NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE IN DANGER OF BEING TAKEN FROM THEIR PARENTS THAT LOVE THEM.

EVEN IF UH HUH. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ADRIAN FERNANDEZ.

I AM READING THIS TESTIMONY FROM A TRANSGENDER PERSON AND ORDERED TO, URGED THE DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS. HELLO, MY NAME IS JORDAN.

I AM A LICENSED MASTER SOCIAL WORKER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

I WORK WITH TRANSGENDER YOUTH AND ADULTS.

I FOLLOW WPATH STANDARDS AS WELL AS THE STANDARDS OF THE SOCIAL WORK LICENSING BOARD OF TEXAS.

I MYSELF AM A TRANSGENDER PERSON.

I CAME FROM NO FAMILY SUPPORT TO FULL SUPPORT OF FAMILY.

THAT SUPPORT CAME FROM EDUCATION.

THAT WAS RESEARCH BASED AND INFORMED BY FACTS.

MY FAMILY DIDN'T WANT ME TO DIE JUST AS THE CAREGIVERS AND PROVIDERS OF TRANS YOUTH DON'T WANT TRANS AND GENDER DIVERSE CHILDREN TO DIE DUE TO LACK OF ADEQUATE CARE AND VITRIOL OF IGNORANCE AND HATE.

CAREGIVERS OF TRANSGENDER YOUTH OR SCARED, YOUTH ARE SCARED, AND ADULT TRANS PEOPLE ARE SCARED OF THE RECENT PATH THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS TAKEN AND THE DFPS IS ALSO TAKING.

VIOLATING THE RECENT PATH OF THE.

VIOLATING THE CODE OF ETHICS SET FORTH BY MEDICAL AND THERAPEUTIC BOARDS BEING DISMISSED.

[01:55:04]

THERE ARE STEPS DILIGENTLY TO BE TAKEN TO SEE IF MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS ARE EVEN NEEDED.

SCARING AND SCARRING TRANSGENDER YOUTH AND THE SUPPORT IN THE PARENTS IS NOT THE WAY OF THE OBJECTS OF SOCIAL WORKERS.

IT IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE DFPS SHOULD BE DOING.

TAKING DIRECTION FROM PEDAGOGICAL LEADERS AND NO FORMAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE CARE FOR.

YOU'VE EXPERIENCED GENDER.

EXPERIENCING GENDER DYSPHORIA IS DANGEROUS AND A VIOLATION TO CLIENT PATIENT.

THANK YOU, SIR. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS REVEREND BABS MILLER.

THAT MIGHT HELP. I'M READING THE TESTIMONY OF A TRANSGENDER WOMAN AND URGED THE DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS.

I'M AN ADULT SURVIVOR OF CHILD ABUSE AND I'M ALSO A TRANSGENDER WOMAN.

GROWING UP, I STRUGGLED WITH MY GENDER IDENTITY AND AS A RESULT WAS OFTEN BEATEN BY MY FATHER.

THERE WERE TIMES WHEN HE WOULD PUNCH ME CONTINUOUSLY IN THE STOMACH, DEMANDING THAT I BE A MAN.

MY FATHER WAS THE TYPE OF ABUSER WHO KNEW NOTHING, WHO KNEW HOW TO AVOID BEING CAUGHT.

THE BRUISES WERE ALWAYS COVERED UP.

THE STORIES ABOUT WHY MY WRIST WAS HURT OR WHY I WAS LIMPING, OR WHY I WINCED WHEN ANYBODY TOUCHED MY MIDSECTION WAS CONVINCING.

I WAS THE WEIRD KID WHO HAD CERTAINLY WHO HAD CLEARLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR FAMILY.

AND NO ONE WAS WILLING TO BELIEVE ME IF I SPOKE OUT ABOUT THE ABUSE I FACED AT HOME.

MY FATHER WAS WELL RESPECTED IN THE COMMUNITY, A CHURCHGOER AND A BUSINESSMAN.

PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WAS WONDERFUL, AND MANY EVEN LOOKED THE OTHER WAY WHEN THEY REALIZED HE WAS THE WAY HE WAS TREATING ME.

BECAUSE IN THEIR MINDS, I DESERVED TO BE.

I DESERVED IT FOR BEING DIFFERENT.

MY CHILDHOOD WAS FILLED WITH PAIN AND SADNESS, AND I CARRY THE EMOTIONAL SCARS AND PHYSICAL SCARS WITH ME TO THIS DAY.

WHEN PEOPLE LIKE GREG ABBOTT AND KEN PAXTON PAXTON ACCUSE AFFIRMING PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER KIDS OF CHILD ABUSE, IT DOES A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, IT GIVES COVER TO THE REAL ABUSERS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY HARMING THEIR KIDS GET TO FLY UNDER THE RADAR AND DEPARTMENT LIKE YOURS ARE OVERTAXED WITH BOGUS INVESTIGATIONS, WHICH MEANS THE KIDS WHO NEED YOUR HELP AREN'T GOING TO GET IT.

IT ALSO DIMINISHES THE STORY OF PEOPLE LIKE ME, PEOPLE WHO SURVIVED ACTUAL CHILD ABUSE AND ARE STILL ALIVE TO TELL THEIR STORIES.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW DIFFERENT MY LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN IF MY PARENTS HAD BEEN AFFIRMING OF WHO I AM INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BEAT IT OUT OF ME.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE RELIEF I MIGHT HAVE FELT IF SOMEONE HAD REPORTED MY FATHER TO CPS AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE WITH ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER.

THE INVESTIGATIONS.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS EVAN MAHONY.

GOOD MORNING. I'M A TRANSGENDER TEXAN.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THIS STATE, AND I'M READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD AND URGED DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS.

I AM THE MOTHER OF A WONDERFUL TRANS DAUGHTER WHO IS NAVIGATING TEENAGEHOOD AND AFFIRMING HER OWN GENDER IDENTITY.

MY PARTNER IS FROM TEXAS, AND RIGHT NOW WE COULD NEVER BRING MY DAUGHTER TO VISIT OR TO LIVE.

WHEN MY DAUGHTER CAME OUT TO ME, I FEARED SHE WOULD BE SUBJECT TO VIOLENCE AND HARDSHIP.

I'M GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN A CITY WITH SO MANY RESOURCES TO HELP AFFIRM HER TRUE IDENTITY.

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS RECOMMENDS AFFIRMING GENDER IDENTITY AS A MEDICAL NECESSITY TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE AND HEALTHY.

ANY MOTHER WANTS THEIR CHILD TO BE HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SAFE, AND KNOWING THAT WE CANNOT TAKE OUR DAUGHTER TO A STATE IN HER OWN COUNTRY FOR MEDICAL CARE IS TERRIFYING AS A PARENT. MY KID IS DOING THE BEST SHE'S EVER DONE.

AS AN EDUCATOR FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS THE ONE THING I KNOW IS THAT KIDS THAT FLOURISH ARE THE ONES THAT KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND HAVE THEIR NEEDS MET AT HOME.

[02:00:01]

SHE'S THE BRAVEST LITTLE BEING THAT I KNOW.

WITH THE AFFIRMING CARE THAT WE HAVE GIVEN HER SHE HAS MADE STRIDES EDUCATIONALLY AND SOCIALLY.

SHE'S QUICKLY BECOMING THE PERSON I WISH ALL CHILDREN COULD BE.

SHE EXPRESSES HER EMOTIONS, FOLLOWS HER PASSIONS, AND IS LIKE A SPONGE TO WATER WHEN SHE LEARNS.

THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, IT'S RARE TO SEE A STUDENT WITH SUCH DETERMINATION AND DRIVE.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WITHOUT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR HER TO FLOURISH.

WOULD ANYONE BE ABLE TO AFFECT THIS WORLD POSITIVELY WITHOUT FIRST UNDERSTANDING THEMSELVES? THIS IS HER LIFE AND WE'RE ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

I'M CONSTANTLY IN AWE.

SHE KNOWS HERSELF BETTER THAN MOST.

THROUGH GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, SHE'S EXPRESSED EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE OF WHICH I WISH ALL PEOPLE WERE CAPABLE.

THE FACT THAT I HAVE TO WRITE THIS TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE POSITION OF PROTECTING THEIR CHILDREN AND TAXES IS SIMPLY DISGRACEFUL.

DO YOUR JOB. WE ARE NOT THE VILLAINS HERE.

THANK YOU.

HERE WE GO. JONATHAN CARRUTHERS.

OKAY, WE'LL PASS ON THAT ONE.

ALLISON THOMPSON.

I AM HONORED TO BE READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD AND URGED DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS. IF A CHILD TELLS YOU THAT THEY ARE IN PAIN AS A PARENT, YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THEM.

IF MY CHILD HAD A BROKEN ARM, I WOULD TAKE THEM TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

IF MY CHILD WERE BLEEDING FROM THEIR BODY, I WOULD GET MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY.

WHEN YOUR CHILD IS HURTING, AS A PARENT YOU BELIEVE THEM.

MY CHILD IS TRANSGENDER AND CAME TO ME TWO YEARS AGO IN PAIN.

IT WAS A PAIN THAT THEY DESCRIBED TO ME AS BEING TRAPPED IN A BODY THAT THEY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WHO THEY WERE.

THAT PAIN FELT, THE PAIN THEY FELT WAS PERSISTENT.

THEY KNEW WHO THEY WERE WAS CONSISTENT.

AND THEIR PLEAS FOR HELP FROM ME WERE INSISTENT.

SO I DID WHAT A GOOD PARENT IS SUPPOSED TO DO, AND I HELPED MY CHILD.

WE SOUGHT THE ADVICE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, AND WE BUILT A TEAM OF CAREGIVERS TO HELP GUIDE US THROUGH THE JOURNEY OF WHAT IT MEANT TO HAVE A TRANSGENDER CHILD. AND WE TRUSTED THOSE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO PROVIDE THE STANDARD OF CARE THAT MAJOR MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE DETERMINED IS RIGHT FOR TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.

WHEN YOUR CHILD IS HURTING, YOU LISTEN TO THEM.

TO DO OTHERWISE WOULD BE CHILD ABUSE.

BUT PROVIDING SPACE FOR LEARNING, LOVING YOUR CHILD AND ACCEPTING AND SUPPORTING THEM, THAT ISN'T CHILD ABUSE.

IT'S GOOD PARENTING.

THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN ARE WRONG AND RISK HURTING CHILDREN AGAIN BY FORCING THEM INTO A BROKEN FOSTER CARE SYSTEM OR INTO A SITUATION WHERE THEIR IDENTITIES ARE NOT AFFIRMED AND THEY ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN EXISTENCE THAT THEY KNOW TO BE HARMFUL TO THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.

I AM A PARENT AND IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB I HAVE.

I WILL ALWAYS PRIORITIZE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF MY CHILD AND I WISH THAT DFPS WOULD DO THE SAME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[INAUDIBLE] HELLO. I'M A NON-BINARY PERSON READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDERED CHILD.

LAST YEAR, WHEN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE FILED MORE THAN 70 BILLS ATTACKING LGBTQ+ PEOPLE, I WAS ONE OF THE MANY PARENTS WHO WENT TO THE CAPITOL OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY AND MY TRANSGENDER CHILD.

I VISITED THE OFFICES OF PEOPLE WITH A LONG HISTORY OF TRYING TO HARM LGBTQ+ TEXANS.

I TOLD THEM ABOUT MY FAMILY AND OUR JOURNEY AS THE PARENTS OF A TRANSGENDER CHILD.

I EXPLAINED TO THEM THE LIES THAT WERE BEING SPREAD ABOUT GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTH CARE.

I OFFERED THEM RESOURCES.

I CITED SCIENCE AND FACTS.

I MADE MY VOICE HEARD BECAUSE AS A MOTHER, THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE I PLAY IS PROTECTING MY CHILDREN FROM HARM.

WHEN GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND ATTORNEY GENERAL PAXTON PUSHED DFPS TO DECLARE FAMILIES LIKE MINE CHILD ABUSERS, I WAS DISHEARTENED, BUT I WAS NOT SURPRISED.

BOTH OF THOSE MEN HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF USING THE POWER AT THEIR DISCRETION TO HURT THE PEOPLE THEY DON'T LIKE IN ORDER TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS WITH THEIR BASE OF VOTERS.

[02:05:09]

I WAS SURPRISED AT HOW AN AGENCY TASKED WITH PROTECTING CHILDREN WOULD ALLOW ITSELF TO BE WEAPONIZED AGAINST THE FAMILIES WHO ARE NOT IN DANGER OF ABUSE IN THE LOVING, AFFIRMING HOMES THEY LIVED IN.

I WAS SURPRISED THAT AFTER AN EXODUS OF CASEWORKERS FROM THE AGENCY WHO REFUSED TO GO ALONG WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS, DFPS REFUSED TO CHANGE COURSE.

I WAS SURPRISED THAT AFTER THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT, THE MOST CONSERVATIVE COURT IN THE NATION DECLARED THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT DID NOT HAVE THE POWER TO ORDER DFPS TO PURSUE THESE INVESTIGATIONS THAT YOU CHOSE TO CONTINUE WITH THEM.

WITH WITH ALL OF THE SCANDAL PLAGUING DFPS, I WAS SURPRISED YOU WOULD BE SO WILLING TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY WRONG AND JEOPARDIZES THE SAFETY OF NOT JUST MY CHILDREN, BUT OF ALL OF THE CHILDREN IN NEED OF HELP WHO WILL FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THE SYSTEM.

CRACKS THAT YOU HAVE WILLINGLY WIDENED AND MADE DEEPER.

ONE OF THE GREAT FEATURES OF OUR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[INAUDIBLE].

GOOD MORNING. I'M COMING TO YOU AS A FORMER FAMILY FIRST WORKER AND ADOPTIVE PARENT OF A THRIVING CHILD WHO WAS PART OF THAT PROGRAM.

I'M READING A TESTIMONY FROM THE FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD AND URGING DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS.

I IMAGINE MOST OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TEXAS LAW REGARDING CHILD ABUSE.

THE LAW IN PART DEFINES CHILD ABUSE AS CAUSING OR PERMITTING A CHILD TO BE IN A SITUATION IN WHICH THE CHILD SUSTAINS A MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL INJURY THAT RESULTS IN THE OBSERVABLE AND MATERIAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE CHILD'S GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING.

I'VE BEEN A PARENT FOR 20 YEARS.

I HAVE, LIKE ALL PARENTS, MADE COUNTLESS MISTAKES, BUT I'VE NEVER INTENTIONALLY HURT MY CHILDREN.

I'VE NURSED THEM, READ TO THEM, SANG TO THEM, ROCKED THEM TO SLEEP, DRIED THEIR TEARS, BANDAGED THEIR HURTS, BOTH PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL.

EDUCATED THEM, SHELTERED THEM, FED THEM, CLOTHED THEM, SUPPORTED THEM, PUSHED THEM, PROTECTED THEM, HELD THEM, SUSTAINED THEM.

THEY ARE MY HEART'S BEATING OUTSIDE MY BODY.

I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR A CHILD TO LIVE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT A STATE CONSIDERS THEIR PARENTS ABUSIVE, FOR ALLOWING THEM TO BE WHO THEY ARE INTRINSICALLY ARE, IN ADDITION TO ANY ANXIETIES A CHILD MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THEIR IDENTITY, MAKING THEM A TARGET FOR ABUSE IN GENERAL, KNOWING THAT THEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE SAFEST PLACE THAT THEY KNOW INTENTIONALLY.

BECAUSE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS THE GOVERNOR SPECIFICALLY THINKS THAT THERE ARE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEM AND WRONG WITH THEIR PARENTS FOR ACCEPTING THEM.

THERE'S NO WAY TO PROHIBIT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR MINORS, TO PROHIBIT PARENTS FROM AFFIRMING THEIR CHILDREN.

AND THAT DOES NOT INHERENTLY MAKE THE STATE GUILTY OF CHILD ABUSE.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, BEFORE EVER ACTUALLY ENTERING MY HOME, HAS CAUSED OBSERVABLE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL INJURY TO ALL OF MY CHILDREN, NOT JUST THE ONE WHO'S TRANS.

BY SUPPORTING THAT MY NON-BINARY CHILD IS DEFECTIVE AND THAT WE AS PARENTS ARE ABUSIVE AND SUPPORTING OF THEIR NAME CHANGE, THEIR SOCIAL TRANSITION AND THEIR PURSUIT OF APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE.

THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD MORNING. I'M A TRANSGENDER TEXAN.

I'M READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD, AND I URGED DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS.

I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

TRANSGENDER PEOPLE OF ALL AGES DESERVE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES FREE FROM ATTACKS FOR FOLLOWING BEST PRACTICE MEDICAL GUIDANCE THAT HAS EXISTED FOR DECADES.

ALLOWING THE RADICAL RIGHT TO ATTACK THE SMALLEST AMONG US IS AS DESPICABLE AS IT IS COWARDLY.

AS THE PARENT OF A TRANSGENDER ADULT THAT IS NOW IN COLLEGE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE MIGHT NOT STILL HAVE HER IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE SHE RECEIVED FROM COUNSELORS AND DOCTORS.

OUR DAUGHTER CAME OUT TO US IN THE FALL OF HER SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS CAME AS A BIT OF A SHOCK AND TOOK US A BEAT TO FIGURE EVERYTHING OUT.

THROUGH A LOT OF RESEARCH, WE KNEW THAT THE BEST WAY TO LOVE AND SUPPORT OUR DAUGHTER WAS TO FIRST GET HER TO SEE A GENDER AFFIRMING COUNSELOR.

THROUGH THAT COUNSELING, OUR DAUGHTER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH GENDER DYSPHORIA.

THERE IS A PROTOCOL FOR DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

THAT IS THE ROUTE WE ALL CHOSE TO GO.

AND OUR DAUGHTER STARTED HRT WHEN SHE WAS 17.

AFTER BEING ON HER MEDICATIONS FOR A FEW MONTHS, WE STARTED TO SEE OUR HAPPY GO LUCKY CHILD RETURN TO US.

SHE WAS NO LONGER DEPRESSED AND ANXIETY RIDDEN.

SHE SMILED ALL THE TIME AND STARTED TO TRANSITION SOCIALLY AS WELL.

[02:10:01]

SHE IS MAKING GREAT GRADES, HAS A JOB, LIVES IN AN APARTMENT AND HAS A SIGNIFICANT OTHER.

SHE IS ADULTING AND GIVING BACK TO SOCIETY.

NONE OF THIS WAS DONE QUICKLY OR ON A WHIM.

THERE WAS A LOT OF RESEARCH AND TALKING TO LOTS OF PROFESSIONALS BEFORE DECISIONS WERE MADE.

NONE OF THIS WAS CHILD ABUSE.

ALL OF THIS WAS DONE TO SHOW THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF LOVE TO OUR CHILD AND SHE IS BETTER FOR IT.

PLEASE STOP THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THESE PARENTS FOR CHILD ABUSE.

THEY ARE JUST DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR CHILD AND LOVING THEM THROUGH EVERYTHING.

IT IS A WASTE OF EVERYONE'S TIME AND MONEY AND IS WHAT I WOULD LIKEN TO A WITCH HUNT.

PLEASE LEAVE YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT.

YOU COULD LEARN A LOT FROM OUR HISTORY OF WHAT NOT TO DO.

IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO LEARN.

AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW ANY TRANSGENDER PEOPLE, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND SPENDING.

THANK YOU. BRAD PRITCHETT.

GOOD MORNING. WE'VE BEEN HERE AT DFPS COUNCIL MEETINGS SEVERAL TIMES NOW ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF FAMILIES WHO HAVE TRANSGENDER KIDS.

AND FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE DFPS STAFF WHO HELP RUN THESE MEETINGS.

THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ANYTHING BUT FRIENDLY, WELCOMING AND HELPFUL TO US EVERY TIME WE'VE BEEN HERE, AND WE ARE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.

AT THE END OF THE SEPTEMBER MEETING, I WAS STANDING AT THE BACK OF THIS ROOM WITH A GROUP OF FOLKS WHEN A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL APPROACHED US.

THAT MEMBER TOLD US THAT AT THE TIME THERE HAD ONLY BEEN 13 INVESTIGATIONS AND ZERO REMOVALS WITH REGARDS TO FAMILIES WITH TRANSGENDER KIDS.

SO IN THEIR WORDS, WE WERE WASTING OUR TIME BY BEING HERE.

THAT IDEA WAS PRETTY SHOCKING, ESPECIALLY TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY IN DFPS LEADERSHIP.

IT WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTING.

IT WAS THE IDEA THAT THIS PROCESS THAT EXISTS FOR FOLKS TO COME AND SPEAK TO COUNCIL AND MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD IS A WASTE OF TIME.

BECAUSE DFPS IS ONLY HURTING 13 FAMILIES.

NOW WE KNOW IT'S 15 FAMILIES.

BUT YOU'RE ALL SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT THESE INVESTIGATIONS DON'T JUST IMPACT 15 FAMILIES.

IT'S NOT JUST 15 KIDS WHO ARE TERRIFIED ABOUT BEING REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES.

IT'S NOT JUST 15 MOMS OR 15 DADS WHO ARE WAITING FOR A KNOCK ON THE DOOR THAT COULD RESULT IN THEIR CHILD BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM.

THESE INVESTIGATIONS RIPPLE OUTWARD.

THEY GO INTO EXTENDED FAMILIES.

THEY GO INTO THE COMMUNITY AND TO SCHOOLS AND TO THE MEDIA.

THERE HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN MORE THAN 15 MEDIA STORIES ABOUT THESE INVESTIGATIONS INTO TRANS FAMILIES, THE FAMILIES OF TRANS KIDS AND TRANS KIDS.

MANY OF THE FAMILIES THAT WE WORK WITH HAVE KIDS WHO ARE TRANSGENDER, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE KIDS WHO AREN'T TRANSGENDER.

AND YOU'RE ALL SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT IF ONE OF THESE FAMILIES WAS DETERMINED TO BE COMMITTING CHILD ABUSE BY GIVING THEIR KID GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, THAT ALL THE KIDS IN THAT HOUSEHOLD ARE AT RISK OF BEING REMOVED.

THE REALITY IS THAT TRANS KIDS COULDN'T GO LIVE WITH AN IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER BECAUSE THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS WOULD LIKELY CONTINUE THE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING, BECAUSE THE CONTINUITY OF CARE IS THAT IMPORTANT, WHICH MEANS THEY WOULD BE FORCED STRAIGHT INTO THE CPS SYSTEM.

AND THAT'S NOT MENTIONING THE FAMILIES WHO HAVEN'T BEEN INVESTIGATED OR ARE TERRIFIED THAT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ANY DAY NOW.

WHAT WE. THANK YOU, SIR.

RICARDO MARTINEZ.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? HI.

HOW ARE YOU? VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I'M HERE READING A TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD.

AND AS WE HAVE DONE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR, I URGED YOU TO STOP THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE LOVING FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER KIDS.

WHAT HAVE THESE UNJUST DFPS INVESTIGATIONS COST MY FAMILY? THEY HAVE COST US OUR HOME.

IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM GREG ABBOTT AND THE DFPS STAFF AND LEADERSHIP WHO HAVE GONE ALONG WITH THESE ATTACKS ON TRANSGENDER CHILDREN WE HAVE LEFT TEXAS.

MOVING FROM TEXAS TO OUR NEW HOME IN A SAFE STATE COST US MORE THAN $30,000.

AND THAT ISN'T TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE LOSS WE TOOK ON SELLING OUR HOME OR THE PAY DECREASE MY HUSBAND HAD TO TAKE IN ORDER TO FIND EMPLOYMENT IN ANOTHER STATE.

WE ARE THE FORTUNATE ONES WHO HAD THE MEANS TO SPEND MONEY TO PROTECT OUR KIDS.

BUT NOT EVERYONE IS SO LUCKY AND TEXANS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOME BECAUSE THEY HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO SIMPLY HATES THEIR FAMILIES.

BUT IT HAS COST US SO MUCH MORE THAN MONEY.

BEFORE THESE INVESTIGATIONS, MY KIDS WERE KIDS WHO DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BIG PICTURE BAD THINGS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I PROTECTED THEM FROM THOSE STORIES. WE WANTED THEM TO HAVE ACTUAL CHILDHOODS THEY COULD LOOK BACK ON FONDLY WHEN THEY WERE ADULTS.

THESE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE COST THEM THOSE CAREFREE MOMENTS.

INSTEAD, THEY'LL REMEMBER THE TIME THEIR PARENTS WERE ACCUSED OF CHILD ABUSE.

MY TRANSGENDER CHILD WILL REMEMBER OUR FAMILY HAVING TO PACK UP AND LEAVE THE HOME THEY LOVED, THEIR FRIENDS THAT THEY HAD IN SCHOOL.

[02:15:04]

YES, THERE ARE PHYSICAL COSTS THAT THESE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE INFLICTED ON TEXANS, BUT IT'S THE UNSEEN COSTS THAT YOU WILL HAVE FAR MORE LASTING CONSEQUENCES.

MY JOB AS A PARENT IS TO MAKE THE BEST LIFE POSSIBLE FOR MY CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILY.

WE MOVED BACK TO TEXAS BECAUSE WE WANTED OUR KIDS TO KNOW THEIR GRANDPARENTS, THEIR AUNTS, THEIR UNCLES, THEIR COUSINS.

WE WANTED FAMILY BARBECUES AND BIG CROWDED HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS THAT WERE NOISY AND JOYOUS AND WONDERFUL.

THESE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE COST US THAT, TOO.

NOW WE'RE FIVE STATES AWAY, REBUILDING OUR LIVES, ISOLATED AND REMOVED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. JAMES CHAMBERS.

FIRST OF ALL, GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU DO DO HERE.

BUT PLEASE GET THE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE ISSUE CORRECT.

I'M READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY MEMBER OF A TRANSGENDER CHILD AND URGED DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS.

MY BROTHER HAS A BEAUTIFUL, VIBRANT TRANSGENDER CHILD.

I'M PROUD AUNT TO THIS AMAZING KID WHO LOVES READING, WHO DOES AMAZING CARTWHEELS, AND WHO WANTS TO BE AN AIRPLANE PILOT WHEN HE GROWS UP.

AS THE AUNT I GET TO HAVE HIM OVER TO SPEND TIME WITH HIS COUSINS FOR SLEEPOVERS AND WEEKENDS WHEN MY BROTHER AND HIS WIFE ARE TRAVELING OR FRANKLY, NEED A BREAK FROM ALL THAT ENERGY. I'VE NEVER KNOWN PARENTS WHO ARE MORE LOVING AND COMMITTED TO THEIR CHILD THAN MY BROTHER AND HIS WIFE.

WHEN THESE DFPS INVESTIGATIONS STARTED, WE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR THEIR CHILD.

AND THE FACT IS, WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS CALLING CHILD ABUSE IS REALLY JUST ALLOWING KIDS LIKE MY NEPHEW TO HAVE THE HAIRCUT THEY WANT, WEAR THE CLOTHES THAT MAKE THEM HAPPY AND BE CALLED BY THE APPROPRIATE NAME.

THAT'S IT. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW ABSURD THAT IS, WHEN YOU CONSIDER HOW MUCH MONEY THIS DEPARTMENT HAS PUT INTO CARRYING OUT THESE INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE BASELESS, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL DISENCHANTED BY HOW OUR GOVERNMENT IS TREATING VULNERABLE CHILDREN.

CHILDREN NOT JUST MY NEPHEW, BUT ALL THE OTHER KIDS.

DFPS IS SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING BUT ISN'T BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO BUSY DOING ABBOTT AND PAXTON'S POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING.

IF MY NEPHEW WERE REMOVED FROM HIS HOME, HE COULDN'T EVEN BE PLACED WITH HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS BECAUSE WE TOO WOULD AFFIRM HIS GENDER IDENTITY.

WE WOULD TOO ENSURE THAT HE CONTINUES GETTING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

SO YOU HAVE TO ASSUME WE WOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO.

THE ONLY PLACE THESE KIDS CAN END UP IS IN FOSTER CARE, WHERE THEY'RE TOLD THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

THIS IS TWISTED AND IT ISN'T RIGHT.

PLEASE PROTECT THE KIDS.

THANK YOU.

CAROLYN DOWER.

I'M READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD AND URGED DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS. I'M A MOM TO A NON-BINARY TEEN.

THEY ARE BRILLIANT, COMPASSIONATE, CREATIVE AND FUNNY.

THEY ARE FIERCE, AN ABSOLUTE SUPERNOVA OF A HUMAN AND THEIR DAD AND I LOVE THEM MORE THAN BREATHING.

HE TOLD OUR FAMILY THAT THEY ARE NON-BINARY AROUND THE DINNER TABLE LAST DECEMBER.

IN JANUARY, THEY ASKED IF WE COULD SEE A DOCTOR ABOUT PUBERTY BLOCKERS.

IN FEBRUARY, I GOT THE FIRST SLOT AVAILABLE WITH A LOCAL TRANS FRIENDLY PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGIST.

AND THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER, GREG ABBOTT DECIDED THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS SHOULD DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR MY CHILD.

NOT MY CHILD THEMSELVES, NOT ME OR THEIR DAD, NOT THEIR DOCTOR.

BUT GREG ABBOTT AND OR THE STATE OF TEXAS WAS NOW THE ARBITER OF MY CHILD'S IDENTITY AND WHAT MEDICAL CARE THEY CAN AND CANNOT RECEIVE.

NEVER MIND THAT STUDY AFTER STUDY CONFIRMS THE BENEFITS OF APPROPRIATE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

NEVER MIND THAT EVERY RELEVANT MEDICAL ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZES GENDER CARE AS NECESSARY AND GOOD.

NEVER MIND THAT SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE CONFIRMS THAT GENDER AND EVEN SEX ARE FAR MORE VARIABLE AND AMBIGUOUS THAN WE ONCE BELIEVED.

SHORTLY AFTER I MADE THE APPOINTMENT FOR E, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE ENDOCRINOLOGIST OFFICE INFORMING ME THAT DUE TO THE GOVERNOR'S DIRECTIVE, THE OFFICE WAS NO LONGER PROVIDING GENDER CARE.

FOR US, FOR MY CHILD, THIS IS FRUSTRATING, BUT NOT INSURMOUNTABLE.

LOSING LOCAL ACCESS TO NEEDED MEDICAL CARE FOR US WAS NOT THE WORST PART.

THE WORST PART IS THAT NOW EVERY TIME I INTERACT WITH A TEACHER OR A DOCTOR OR A THERAPIST, I HAVE TO WONDER IF THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT MY CHILD AND DECIDE TO MAKE A

[02:20:03]

I CANNOT ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE.

OH, SHOOT. THANK YOU.

AMANDA ALVARADO.

I, TOO, AM READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD AND URGED FPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS.

I AM THE PARENT OF A WONDERFUL TRANSGENDER BOY.

I, LIKE ANY OTHER PARENT, WANT MY CHILD TO BE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY SAFE AND HEALTHY.

THAT CANNOT HAPPEN IN TEXAS AS LONG AS DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE BASED ON BIAS AND UNEDUCATED OPINIONS.

DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THE HEALTH CARE OF CHILDREN ARE BEING MADE AGAINST THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF EVERY SINGLE MAJOR PEDIATRIC MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION IN THE US.

WE NEED THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO PROTECT TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.

YES, WE NEED YOU TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE IGNORANCE AND BIGOTRY OF SOME DECISION MAKERS.

WE NEED YOU TO PROTECT TRANSGENDER CHILDREN BY LISTENING TO THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS AND THE PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINE SOCIETY.

WE NEED YOU TO PROTECT TRANSGENDER CHILDREN BY LISTENING TO THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

WE NEED YOU TO PROTECT TRANSGENDER CHILDREN BY READING STATISTICS ON SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION AMONG TRANS YOUTH, AND BY REACHING OUT TO THE TREVOR PROJECT AND HEARING FROM THEM ABOUT HOW THE NUMBER OF CALLS THEY RECEIVE FROM CHILDREN IN CRISIS HAS RISEN SINCE THIS HORRID IGNORANT WITCH HUNT STARTED.

MY SON WAS A HAPPY GO LUCKY KID UNTIL TEXAS STARTED REGRESSING AND ALIENATED THE RIGHTS TO LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

MY KID BECAME DEPRESSED AFTER THE ORDER TO INVESTIGATE FAMILIES THAT PROVIDE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE WAS ISSUED.

HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANT FOR US AS A FAMILY.

HE AND I BOTH WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WOULD FOLLOW.

WE WORRIED ABOUT HOW DFPS COULD BE WEAPONIZED BY IGNORANT BIGOTS.

THE ORDER TO INVESTIGATE FAMILIES SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ISSUED.

IT HAS NO LEGAL STANDING, AS HAS BECOME EVIDENT WITH THE INJUNCTION NOW IN PLACE.

IT HAS NO SCIENTIFIC BIAS, AS EVIDENCED BY ALL THE STATEMENTS ISSUED.

THANK YOU. JOHN FOUNTAIN.

THANK YOU. I AM READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD AND URGED DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS. MY NIECE IS A SHINING STAR.

THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST CONSIDERATE PEOPLE I KNOW.

THEY ARE INTELLIGENT, KIND, CAREFUL AND THOUGHTFUL.

A JOY TO BE AROUND.

THEY ARE SO LOVED BY THEIR FAMILY.

THE FACT THAT THEY AND I HAVE TO LIVE IN A FEAR AND THE FEAR OF TRAUMA OF AN INVESTIGATION IS TERRIBLE.

THEY ARE FORTUNATE TO BE IN A LOVING AND SUPPORTIVE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT.

THEY HAVE CERTIFIED AND PROFESSIONAL DOCTORS WHO THEY CAN CONSULT WITH TO MAKE CAREFUL DECISIONS ABOUT IMPORTANT MEDICAL CARE.

THERE IS NOTHING BUT THE KIND OF SUPPORT AND LOVE EVERYONE DESERVES HERE.

TRANS YOUTH ALREADY HAVE IT HARD, AND POLICIES LIKE THIS JUST ADD TO THE TRAUMA THEY FACE JUST FOR BEING BRAVE ENOUGH TO BE THEIR TRUE SELVES.

I ASK YOU TO EXAMINE WHY THIS SHOULD BE A RISK LOSING MY FAMILY TO ANOTHER STATE.

YOU ALL RISK LOSING THIS AMAZING YOUNG PERSON TO ANOTHER STATE IF HOSTILE POLICIES LIKE THIS ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.

THAT ALONE IS TERRIBLE.

WITHOUT EVEN CONSIDERING THE IMPACT OF INTRUSIVE INVESTIGATIONS OR DENYING MEDICAL CARE.

THERE ARE SO MANY CHILDREN WHO ARE IN TERRIBLE SITUATIONS.

FOCUS ON THOSE KIDS WHO NEED YOUR HELP.

YOU'RE NOT INTERFERE IN THE LIFE OF A HEALTHY, LOVING AND SUPPORTING FAMILY.

THANK YOU. GRAHAM PRITCHARD.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M A FORMER FOSTER PARENT AND I'M READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH TRANSGENDER CHILD.

AND I URGE DFPS TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE INVESTIGATIONS.

I'M THE PARENT OF A TRANS TEEN, AND THE INVESTIGATIONS OF TRANS KIDS FAMILIES BY DFPS HAVE BEEN SO UPSETTING AND SCARY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

FOR YEARS, I FOLLOWED THE ADVICE OF MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS GUIDED BY SCIENCE AND RESEARCH, IN ORDER TO GIVE MY CHILD THE BEST CHANCE AT A HAPPY AND HEALTHY

[02:25:09]

FOR DFPS TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE IS LIKE A SLAP IN THE FACE.

FOR PARENTS WHO HAVE DONE EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW BEST PRACTICE EVIDENCE BASED CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN IT'S TERRIFYING TO THINK THAT THERE ARE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WHO ARE CALLING THIS TREATMENT ABUSE.

THE RESEARCH IS OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE ABOUT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

MY FAMILY HAS HAD TO COME UP WITH PLANS FOR HOW TO MOVE TO ANOTHER STATE IF WE ARE INVESTIGATED.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY GUT WRENCHING, ANXIETY PROVOKING, AND SO VERY SAD.

MY CHILD TRIED TO TAKE THEIR OWN LIFE SEVERAL TIMES.

BEFORE WE STARTED GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

I WANT MY CHILD TO WANT TO LIVE AND THIS CARE AS PART OF THAT.

PLEASE DON'T IGNORE THE MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE WORKED SO DILIGENTLY TO FIND OUT WHAT TREATMENTS ARE THE GOLD STANDARD TO HELP OUR KIDS.

PLEASE DON'T BE SWAYED BY FEAR MONGERING, HATE AND IGNORANCE.

WE LOVE OUR KIDS AND WANT THEM TO BE SAFE, HAPPY AND HEALTHY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

SARAH ORMAN.

HELLO. I AM A TEXAN, BORN AND RAISED AND I'M GRATEFUL TO SERVE AS A CASA VOLUNTEER IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.

I'M HERE TO READ THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD AND URGE DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS.

TREMBLING BODY, UNABLE TO CATCH THEIR BREATH, THEIR HANDS GRIPPING NOTHING BECAUSE THEY WERE SO NUMB.

THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO MAKE THEM FEEL SOMETHING.

A POUNDING HEARTBEAT AND A LOOK IN THEIR EYES OF SHEER TERROR.

THIS IS WHAT MY 11 YEAR OLD TRANSGENDER CHILD'S PANIC ATTACKS LOOK LIKE.

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS AFTER BEDTIME.

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE WATCHING TELEVISION WHEN SHE STARTED SCREAMING OUT IN PAIN.

WHEN I WENT IN, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

ALL I KNEW WAS THAT MY BABY WAS HURTING AND NEEDED HELP.

WE CALLED AN AMBULANCE AND LATER AT THE HOSPITAL, THE DOCTORS TOLD US THAT THE SYMPTOMS WERE THOSE OF A PANIC ATTACK.

SHE STAYED HOME FROM SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY, AND WHEN SHE HAD FINALLY FORCED HERSELF TO EAT SOMETHING, I ASKED IF SHE REMEMBERED WHAT SHE WAS THINKING ABOUT WHEN THE ATTACK HAPPENED.

SHE SAID SHE WAS TRYING TO FALL ASLEEP BUT COULDN'T BECAUSE SHE WAS AFRAID SHE WOULD WAKE UP SOMEWHERE ELSE, THAT SHE'D WAKE UP HAVING BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM HER FAMILY.

IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH QUESTIONING TO FIND OUT THAT SHE HAD SEEN STORIES ON THE NEWS ABOUT DFPS INVESTIGATING TRANSGENDER KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES, OR THAT OTHER KIDS AT THE SCHOOL KNEW THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING, TOO.

SINCE THAT FIRST PANIC ATTACK, SHE'S HAD MANY MORE AND THEY USUALLY ALL COME AFTER BEDTIME.

NOW WE KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM, AT LEAST TO REDUCE HOW SCARY THEY ARE IN THE MOMENT FOR HER.

BUT WE CAN'T STOP THEM FROM HAPPENING.

BUT MAYBE YOU CAN.

WE ARE ONE OF THE LUCKY FAMILIES THAT HAVEN'T HAD A CPS INVESTIGATOR KNOCK ON OUR DOOR YET.

I SAY YET BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL ALLOWING THESE INVESTIGATIONS TO TAKE PLACE.

JUST THE THOUGHT OF BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM HER FAMILY HAS HARMED MY DAUGHTER AND OUR ENTIRE FAMILY IN REAL WAYS.

I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD DO TO HER IF WE WERE FORCED THROUGH ONE OF THESE SHAM INVESTIGATIONS.

DFPS IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT KIDS, BUT THE FAMILIES.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. [INAUDIBLE].

YOU LISTENED BUT DIDN'T HEAR.

YOU TOOK MY INFORMATION AT THE LAST MEETING BUT NEVER BOTHERED TO CONTACT ME.

IF THE STATE IS TAKING CHILDREN TO BE PLACED PERMANENTLY OUTSIDE THE FAMILY FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF ADOPTION BECAUSE OF INCOME DIAGNOSED AND TREATABLE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ESPECIALLY THOSE EXACERBATED DUE TO THE RECENT PANDEMIC, AS WELL AS PURPOSELY KEEPING THEM FROM THEIR SIBLINGS WHO IN THIS CASE HAPPENED TO BE BIRACIAL SIBLINGS.

THEN THAT'S DISCRIMINATION AS WELL AS MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

MY DAUGHTER CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE THIS IS HAPPENING TO.

AND IF SO, THEN THAT'S TARGETING.

I WAS NEVER SPECIFICALLY APPROACHED TO SEE IF I COULD TAKE THE KIDS BEFORE THEY WERE SENT TO FOSTER CARE.

[02:30:04]

I WAS TOLD AT LEAST TWO TIMES VERBATIM BY A DIRECTOR OF [INAUDIBLE] THAT THIS IS A LEARNING PROCESS.

MY DAUGHTER WAS TOLD BY HER CASE MANAGER THAT SHE HADN'T RECEIVED ALL HER TRAINING YET.

PHASE THREE.

IF YOU DON'T LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THESE SITUATIONS, HOW WILL YOU KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DELVED INTO SO THAT POLICIES CAN POSSIBLY BE AMENDED ACCORDINGLY? YOU CANNOT TREAT EVERY FAMILY'S ISSUES THE SAME WAY.

INITIALLY, GRANTED, THERE ARE STEPS TO FOLLOW, BUT IF OR WHEN AN INVESTIGATION PROGRESSES AND YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND YOU'RE ULTIMATELY IN A SITUATION THAT AFFECTS AN ENTIRE FAMILY'S FUTURE, THEN YOU NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND NOT RUSH TO DECISION REGARDING TERMINATION JUST TO CLOSE A CASE.

MY DAUGHTER GAVE UP TRYING TO FIGHT TO GET HER CHILDREN BACK BECAUSE OF FEAR THAT SHE WOULD UPSET THE FOSTER PARENTS.

THANK YOU, MA'AM, FOR COMING IN.

KAYDEN ASHER.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY, COOL.

HI. MY NAME IS KAYDEN ASHER.

I USED TO BE A FOSTER YOUTH, AND I AM TRANSGENDER.

SO WE WERE THROWING AROUND NUMBERS EARLIER, SO I'M GOING TO THROW SOME AROUND, TOO.

YAY! 30% OF FOSTER YOUTH IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ.

TRANS YOUTH ARE FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE KICKED OUT, ABANDONED OR RUN AWAY.

45% OF TRANS YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE HAVE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, COMPARED TO 19% OF TRANS YOUTH OUTSIDE OF CARE.

THOSE ARE REALLY HIGH NUMBERS.

THOSE ARE SCARY NUMBERS.

THOSE ARE TERRIFYING NUMBERS.

AND NUMBERS MATTER, OF COURSE.

BUT ALSO YOU'RE DEALING WITH KIDS AND KIDS LIVES AND KIDS MATTER.

SO THE NUMBERS MAY BE LOW, BUT GUESS WHAT? IT'S LIFE.

I WAS IN FOSTER CARE, OBVIOUSLY, AND MY FAMILY WAS VERY ABUSIVE.

FOSTER CARE, DIDN'T REALLY CARE.

WHY? BECAUSE MY FAMILY HAD MONEY AND MY FAMILY WENT TO CHURCH.

AND SO THEY WERE GOOD PEOPLE.

AND BECAUSE THERE WERE NO BRUISES ON ME, MY FAMILY WAS ABUSIVE BECAUSE I WAS DIFFERENT, BECAUSE I HAD UNDIAGNOSED ADHD, BECAUSE I WAS TRANS, FOR MULTIPLE REASONS, THEY WERE ABUSIVE.

WHEN I CAME OUT, IT WAS THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER.

NOT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO COME OUT, BUT BECAUSE I WASN'T ACCEPTED, I HAD TO COME OUT IN A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY DURING FAMILY THERAPY BECAUSE MY FAMILY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME.

SO I HAD TO DO IT IN FRONT OF A THERAPIST SO THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BELIEVE ME.

SO, YEAH, KIDS LIVES MATTER.

WE ALL MATTER. TRANS LIVES MATTER.

AND WE MAY JUST BE NUMBERS TO SOME OF Y'ALL, BUT WE'RE ACTUAL LIVES.

AND IT REALLY IS IRRITATING AND FRUSTRATING WHEN PEOPLE JUST USE NUMBERS WITH US BECAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST NUMBERS, WE'RE LIVES, PEOPLE AND WE NEED TO BE SEEN.

THANK YOU. JESSICA BROWN.

HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JESSICA BROWN AND I'M THE PROGRAM AND EDUCATION DIRECTOR AT COLIN'S HOPE.

WE ARE A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO WATER SAFETY AND DROWNING PREVENTION ACROSS THE STATE.

DROWNING IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN AGES 1-4.

AND IT'S A LEADING CAUSE THROUGH AGE 14.

WE KNOW THAT SO FAR THIS YEAR, TEXAS HAS LOST 76 CHILDREN TO FATAL DROWNING IN ALL KINDS OF WATER, BEACHES, BACKYARD POOLS, BATHTUBS AND MORE.

BUT THESE DROWNINGS, THEY'RE PREVENTABLE.

AND SO WE WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE FIRST TO THANK DFPS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE TO FURTHER OUR MISSION OF WATER SAFETY AND REALLY KEEP THIS AT THE TOP OF YOUR AGENCY'S MINDS. WE WANTED TO EXTEND A PERSONAL THANK YOU TO SASHA RASCO, WHO HAS REALLY BEEN A TRULY A WATER SAFETY CHAMPION IN OUR DIRECT WORK WITH PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION. BUT AS WITH PREVENTION WORK, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO DO.

AND TODAY WE COME TO YOU TO ASK YOU TO CONTINUE RELYING ON COLIN'S HOPE AND OUR EVIDENCE BASED RESOURCES AND PRACTICES FOR DROWNING PREVENTION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

[02:35:07]

THERE'S A GREAT NEW WEBSITE CALLED EARLY CHILDHOOD TEXAS THAT'S A TON OF VARIETY OF RESOURCES FOR TEXAS FAMILIES.

DFPS IS A PART OF IT, BUT IT DOESN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT WATER SAFETY.

AND SO WE'D REALLY LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL TO GET OUR EVIDENCE BASED CURRICULUM, DROWNINGISPREVENTABLE.ORG, ON THE WEBSITE AND THE APPROPRIATE PLACES.

WE ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT OUR WORK AT COLIN'S HOPE STAYS RELEVANT BECAUSE OF YOUR WEBSITE, DFPS, AND THE DATA COLLECTION THAT'S HAPPENING BY A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF JOHN LENNON.

THAT WORK KEEPS US DATA DRIVEN, AND SO WE WANT TO HOPE, WE HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE THAT AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.

WE REALLY HOPE TO CONTINUE THIS PARTNERSHIP AND WE WANT YOU TO RELY ON COLIN'S HOPE AGAIN AS A EXPERT IN WATER SAFETY AND DROWNING PREVENTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

KORI DELAPENA.

HI COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS KORI DELAPENA.

MY HUSBAND JOHN AND I HAVE A DROWNING PREVENTION NONPROFIT CALLED LIVE LIKE CATI.

WE BEGAN THIS NONPROFIT AFTER OUR SIX YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DROWNED UNDER THE CARE OF A SUMMER CAMP HERE IN CEDAR PARK, TEXAS.

AFTER HER DEATH, WE HAD MANY QUESTIONS, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE HAD TOLD THE CAMP THAT SHE COULDN'T SWIM.

SHE NEEDED A LIFEJACKET.

WE CHECKED ALL THE BOXES.

WE HAD AN AMAZING CPS INVESTIGATOR, WHICH I GIVE THE CREDIT FOR HIM, FOR ME BEING HERE.

WE ASKED ANGEL HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED? WE LEARNED THAT THERE'S ZERO TRAINING ON WATER SAFETY FOR LICENSED CARE FACILITIES, NO TALK ABOUT LIFE JACKETS OR EVEN IDENTIFICATION OF NON SWIMMERS.

WE ASK, WELL, IF DROWNING IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH OF CHILDREN, WHY IS IT THAT IT'S NOT THERE? WE NEED THAT EVEN TO TAKE KIDS TO A FIELD TRIP, A LICENSED FACILITY HAS TO EVEN DO TRANSPORTATION TRAINING.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, ANGEL SAID, KORI, THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IS GO TO LEGISLATION.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

WE KNOW THAT DROWNING RATES ARE INCREASING IN TEXAS, AND ESPECIALLY ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN.

WITH THE HELP OF REPRESENTATIVE VIKKI GOODWIN AND REPRESENTATIVE JACEY JETTON, WE WILL BE INTRODUCING, REINTRODUCING CATI'S ACT, WHICH IS A BIPARTISAN WATER SAFETY BILL COMING UP.

THIS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SIMPLY IDENTIFY THOSE CHILDREN WHO CANNOT SWIM, PUT THEM IN A LIFE JACKET BEFORE ENTERING THE GATES OF THE POOL.

VERY SIMPLE.

OF COURSE, BESIDES SAVING LIVES, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THAT CATI'S DEATH WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE IN TEXAS THAT HAS HAPPENED THE WAY IT HAS.

BUT THE BIGGEST PART OF THIS IS WE'LL START BRINGING DROWNING PREVENTION DISCUSSIONS INTO THESE FACILITIES, WHICH WE KNOW A LOT OF TIMES THESE ARE THE FIRST TIMES PARENTS AND CHILDREN START LEARNING ABOUT SAFETY.

SO STARTING TO HAVE THOSE DROWNING PREVENTION TALKS, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO US.

SO THIS BILL WILL BE COMING UP.

AND SO WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR EFFORTS ON WATER SAFETY.

WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONTINUE SUPPORTING WATER SAFETY LEGISLATION, WHICH THERE WILL BE ON THIS COMING LEGISLATION, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO WILL INCREASE AND FURTHER THE MISSION OF DFPS, WHICH IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CHILDREN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S OK. MILA GRANT.

MILA. I'M SORRY.

THERE YOU GO. MY NAME IS REVEREND MILO GRANT.

MY PRONOUNS ARE THEY THEM AND I'M A TRANS NON-BINARY PASTOR HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

I AM READING A TESTIMONY FROM A TRANSGENDER FAMILY.

I'M SAYING THIS EXPLICITLY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HERE, BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID.

THESE ARE ANONYMOUS LETTERS, BECAUSE THEY ARE FEAR TACTICS THAT ARE IN PLACE PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM BEING ABLE TO TELL THEIR OWN STORIES.

SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.

SO IN HONOR OF THIS FAMILY, I'D LIKE TO READ THE TESTIMONY.

I'M THE PARENT OF A TEN YEAR OLD TRANSGENDER DAUGHTER.

I ALSO HAVE A DEGREE IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SCIENCES FROM U.T., AND I'VE WORKED WITH CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 18 FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

IN OTHER WORDS, I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDHOOD SAFETY.

THESE INVESTIGATIONS AND LETTERS PUT OUT BY PAXTON AND ABBOTT HAVE PUT OUR FAMILIES IN DANGER INSTEAD OF DOING THEIR JOB TO PROTECT US.

THEY HAVE LITERALLY CAUSED OUR FAMILY'S TRAUMA.

AS A RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATIONS MY ENTIRE FAMILY IS NEEDING THERAPY TO COPE WITH THE TRAUMA, $800 AFTER INSURANCE EACH MONTH TO COVER THE COSTS.

THE PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN JUST WANT THE BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

[02:40:01]

INSTEAD OF BEING ATTACKED, PARENTS SHOULD BE PRAISED FOR THEIR DILIGENCE IN RAISING CHILDREN TO BE HEALTHY, CARING AND AUTHENTIC HUMANS.

DFPS SHOULD FOCUS THEIR RESOURCES ON THE CHILDREN THAT TRULY BEING NEGLECTED AND ABUSED INSTEAD OF ON THE SUPPORT OF FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.

I HOPE THAT YOU'LL HEAR THESE STORIES AND REMEMBER THEM AS YOU CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK.

BE MINDFUL OF HOW OUR LIMITED RESOURCES ARE BEING USED AND USE THEM TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY TO STRENGTHEN AND EMPOWER OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND NOT SOME POLITICAL AGENDA.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

BRAD [INAUDIBLE].

HELLO. I AM READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD AND URGED DFPS DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS. I'VE BEEN CALLED BY MANY TITLES IN MY ADULT LIFE.

SOLDIER, POLICE OFFICER, VETERAN, SON, UNCLE, HUSBAND.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT TITLE I'VE EVER BEEN IS FATHER.

MY FAMILY HAS BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE THREE HAPPY AND HEALTHY CHILDREN, TWO BOYS AND A GIRL.

MY KIDS ARE HAPPY AND HEALTHY.

THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY.

THEY ARE CARED FOR, RESPECTED, LISTENED TO AND LOVED.

IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT ONE OF MY KIDS IS TRANSGENDER.

TO OUR FAMILY, THAT HASN'T CHANGED MUCH FOR US IN THE WAY WE LIVE OUR DAILY LIVES.

BILLS STILL HAVE TO GET PAID.

KIDS STILL HAVE TO BE DROPPED OFF AT GYMNASTICS OR SOFTBALL.

LAUNDRY STILL HAS TO GET DONE.

AND IF WE'RE LUCKY, WE MAKE IT THROUGH A MEAL WITHOUT RANSACKING THE KITCHEN.

OUR LIVES ARE PRETTY UNREMARKABLE FOR THE MOST PART.

BUT ACCORDING TO THE STATE OF TEXAS, OUR FAMILY IS SO DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS THAT WE DESERVE TO BE TARGETED BY A STATE AGENCY FOR DISCRIMINATION.

YOU MAY NOT WANT TO BELIEVE THIS, THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS DOING TO FAMILIES LIKE MINE IS DISCRIMINATION.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HAS HAPPENED AT OUR HOUSE SINCE THE DFPS DECIDED TO GO ALONG WITH GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S WITCH HUNT OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.

MY TRANSGENDER SON, WHO FOR THE MOST, FOR THE MOST PART OF HIS YOUNG LIFE, DIDN'T HAVE A CARE IN THE WORLD OTHER THAN WONDERING IF THE ASTROS WERE GOING TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES, HAS BEEN WAKING UP EVERY OTHER NIGHT WITH NIGHTMARES.

NIGHTMARES WHERE HE'S TAKEN AWAY FROM HIS SIBLINGS AND HIS PARENTS, RIPPED OUT OF HIS BED, FORCED TO LIVE WITH STRANGERS WHO TELL HIM THAT HE ISN'T WHO HE KNOWS HIMSELF TO BE.

HIS BROTHER AND SISTER AREN'T IMMUNE TO THE TERROR THAT'S BEEN FOCUSED ON FAMILIES LIKE OURS.

WHEN A CASEWORKER SHOWED UP TO SCHOOL TO QUESTION THEM, THEY REALIZED THAT IF THEIR BROTHER WAS TAKEN FROM OUR HOME, THAT MEANT THAT THEY WOULD MOST LIKELY BE TAKEN FROM THEIR HOME AS WELL.

LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT WHY WE ARE BEING INVESTIGATED.

WE ARE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR LETTING OUR SON WEAR THE CLOTHES HE WANTS TO WEAR, CUT HIS HAIR THE WAY HE FEELS COMFORTABLE, BE CALLED BY HIS NAME.

WE ARE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR TRUSTING.

THANK YOU. CARRIE HOLLEY-HURT.

HI. I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH MY TESTIMONY, SO I'M GOING TO SAY A FEW THINGS.

THE FIRST IS THAT FOR THOSE 15 FAMILIES WHO'VE BEEN INVESTIGATED, THIS IS NOT STATISTICALLY INSIGNIFICANT AND IT'S NOT STATISTICALLY INSIGNIFICANT FOR THE FAMILIES WHO WONDER IF THEY'LL BE 16.

THIS IS TERRORISM.

THIS IS TRAUMATIC FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

FOR MANY FAMILIES AND THIS MOM WHO DID THE HARD WORK OF SEEING HER DAUGHTER FOR WHO SHE IS, IS TERRIFIED AND KNOWS THAT SHE WILL DO ANYTHING.

SHE WILL MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH TO MAKE SURE HER DAUGHTER IS SAFE.

THEY'LL LEAVE THE STATE IF THEY HAVE TO.

BUT LIKE IT'S BEEN MENTIONED, THAT'S REALLY HARD.

IT'S EXPENSIVE.

Y'ALL ARE TERRORIZING THIS FOR POLITICAL MOTIVATIONS, FOR VIOLENT MOTIVATIONS.

MIRANDA WOOD.

HELLO. I'M READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD AND URGED DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS.

I'M THE MOTHER OF TWO TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.

AT AGE 14, ONE OF MY CHILDREN REALIZED THAT THEY WEREN'T A GIRL AND THEY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A BOY EITHER.

THEY FINALLY DISCOVERED THE LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS NON-BINARY, WHICH FIT HOW MY CHILD FELT INSIDE.

MY CHILD STILL FELT THE VERY REAL INTENSE PAIN AND DISTRESS FROM GENDER DYSPHORIA, FROM THEIR INSIDES NOT MATCHING THEIR OUTSIDES AND SUFFERED FROM DEPRESSION AND SELF HARM.

[02:45:10]

AFTER RECEIVING THIS MEDICAL CARE MY CHILD WAS A DIFFERENT PERSON.

MY CHILD WAS AT HOME IN THEIR OWN BODY FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHICH GREATLY REDUCED THEIR DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

TODAY, MY CHILD IS A CONFIDENT COLLEGE STUDENT WITH A VERY STRONG SENSE OF IDENTITY, DUE IN NO SMALL PART TO THE HEALTH CARE THEY RECEIVED.

I HAVE HEARD COUNTLESS STORIES FROM FAMILIES LIKE MINE, COUNTLESS PARENTS WHOSE TRANSGENDER CHILDREN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THE MEDICAL CARE THEY NEEDED. THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT RECENTLY STATED THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND AG PAXTON DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TELL DFPS WHOM TO INVESTIGATE.

THE COURT ALSO STATED THAT NO TEXAS LAW HAS CHANGED.

MANDATORY REPORTERS HAVE NO DUTY TO REPORT TRANSGENDER YOUTH WHO ARE RECEIVING MEDICALLY RECOMMENDED CARE OR THEIR PARENTS.

THE ACTIONS AND OPINIONS OF GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND AG PAXTON ARE HARMFUL TO TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AND TO THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WHO ARE PROVIDING LIFESAVING MEDICAL CARE.

TRANSGENDER KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE PAWNS IN THEIR UGLY POLITICAL GAME.

SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS ARE MOVING THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF TEXAS, A STATE THAT THEY LOVE BECAUSE THEY ARE TERRIFIED OF BEING INVESTIGATED BY THIS AGENCY FOR HELPING THEIR TRANSGENDER CHILDREN ACCESS MEDICAL CARE THAT HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY EVERY MAJOR MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

WE ALL WANT OUR KIDS TO BE HEALTHY AND SAFE.

AND PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN ARE NO DIFFERENT.

STOP. THANK YOU, MA'AM.

ISA PILGRIM.

AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS PUTTING DOWN HOW TO SAY YOUR NAME, BECAUSE I PROMISE YOU I'D BUTCHER IT IF YOU DIDN'T.

GOOD MORNING FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES.

MY NAME IS ISA PILGRIM.

I'M GOING TO TALK FAST BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT TO SAY.

I WANT TO FIRST ADDRESS A TOPIC THAT WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER.

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATORS MAKING UNFOUNDED REPORTS.

I'M A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND THIS IS SOMETHING I SEE REGULARLY IN MY SCHOOL.

AND I FIND MYSELF EXPLAINING TO COLLEAGUES FREQUENTLY THAT POVERTY DOES NOT EQUAL NEGLECT .

IN THIS YEAR'S REQUIRED TRAINING AND IDENTIFYING ABUSE AND NEGLECT A TEACHER ASKED IF WE SHOULD REPORT EXCESSIVE ABSENCES AND THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR WHO WAS PRESENTING SAID, WHEN IN DOUBT, WE SHOULD MAKE A REPORT WHEN THERE ALREADY OTHER SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO ADDRESS TRUANCY AND LESS INVASIVE WAYS.

IN ADDITION TO TRAINING ON WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE TO MAKE A REPORT SCHOOLS ARE ALSO IN NEED OF TRAINING AND SUPPORT AROUND WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH FAMILIES TO COLLABORATIVELY MEET OUR STUDENTS NEEDS.

WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNNECESSARY REPORTS AND INVESTIGATIONS, THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT FAMILIES OF TRANS CHILDREN HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN MINIMIZED WITH SUCH REDUCTIVE STATEMENTS AS IT WASN'T THAT MANY FAMILIES OR NO CHILDREN WERE REMOVED.

WE'VE BEEN ENCOURAGED TO STOP SHOWING UP BECAUSE IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.

AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, A FOSTER PARENT, AND A SURVIVOR OF CHILDHOOD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, I'M INTIMATELY AWARE OF THE TRAUMA EXPERIENCED BY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO EXPERIENCED INVOLVEMENT IN ANY WAY.

I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THIS AS WELL.

THESE FAMILIES WILL BE DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF THIS TRAUMA FOR A LONG TIME.

THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE HAD TO UPROOT THEIR ENTIRE LIVES AND LEAVE THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE, WILL LIKELY BE PROCESSING THIS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

WHEN A CHILD STANDS UP AND SAYS, THIS IS WHO I AM AND THIS IS WHAT I NEED, WHY WOULD WE DO ANYTHING BUT LISTEN TO THEM? I AM A QUEER AND NON-BINARY PERSON, NOT A MAN, BY THE WAY.

MOST OF MY FRIENDS AND CHOSEN FAMILY ARE LGBTQ+.

MANY OF US EITHER HAVE NO CONTACT OR MINIMAL CONTACT WITH OUR BIOLOGICAL.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. EMILY WITT.

MY NAME IS EMILY WITT, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE TEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK TO CONTINUE VOICING OUR DEEP OPPOSITION ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNERS TO THIS DEPARTMENT'S DECISION TO INVESTIGATE THE LOVING FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN WHO MAY BE RECEIVING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

I'M ALSO HERE AS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE STATE AND FOSTER, THE STATE AND FOSTER CARE CAN NEVER BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR A LOVING FAMILY.

ESPECIALLY HERE IN TEXAS, WHERE OUR SYSTEM IS ALREADY CAN'T SUPPORT THE KIDS WHO NEED CARE AND A HOME.

[02:50:03]

SINCE ABBOTT AND PAXTON'S DIRECTIVE, WE'VE HEARD STORIES OF SO MANY FAMILIES, EVEN TODAY, WHO'VE BEEN FORCED TO LEAVE THE STATE SO THAT THEIR CHILDREN CAN LIVE.

MR. KOURI, YOU MADE SURE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ZERO REMOVALS FROM THESE INVESTIGATIONS.

FIRST OF ALL, INVESTIGATIONS ALONE ARE TRAUMATIC AND TERRIFYING FOR FAMILIES.

WE'VE HEARD THAT TODAY.

I KNOW EACH OF YOU KNOW THAT.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS THAT AS SOMEONE WHO PREVIOUSLY WORKED IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM WITH CASA.

DURING MY TIME THERE, I WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT COWORKERS ON A NUMBER OF CASES WHERE TRANS KIDS IN THE SYSTEM WERE FINALLY ALLOWED TO START GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

AND ONCE THEY DID, WE SAW THEM BE ABLE TO BEGIN HEALING FROM THE OTHER TRAUMAS THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING.

THESE KIDS WERE FLOURISHING.

THEY WERE FINALLY OPENING UP.

THEY WERE FINALLY BEING ABLE TO BE WHO THEY ARE.

AND THESE INVESTIGATIONS STOPPED THAT MIRACULOUS WORK THAT WAS ONLY JUST BEGINNING.

NOW IT'S UNSAFE FOR THEM TO RECEIVE THAT CARE.

AND I THINK OF THOSE KIDS OFTEN.

I WORRY FOR THEM. I CRY FOR THEM.

I JUST WANT THEM TO STAY ALIVE.

AND SOMETIMES I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR POSITIONS HAVE TRULY DONE THAT, HAVE TRULY THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

I HOPE YOU SIT WITH THAT.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THOSE TEXAS CHILDREN.

THINK OF THEM AND ALLOW TRANS KIDS AND THEIR LOVING FAMILIES TO LIVE SAFELY IN THEIR OWN STATE, IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM.

[INAUDIBLE].

IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO READ THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD.

I URGE DFPS TO END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

I AM THE 72 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER OF A TRANSGENDER CHILD.

I WOULD SEE NEWS STORIES OR CHARACTERS IN MOVIES AND WONDERED WHY SOMEONE WOULD WANT TO CHANGE WHO THEY WERE.

WHEN MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE, SHE STARTED TO WITHDRAW FROM HER FAMILY.

HER ATTENTION ALWAYS STUCK IN A BOOK OR A GAME.

ENGAGING HER IN CONVERSATIONS ONLY DREW ONE WORD ANSWERS, IF ANY.

SHE WORE LARGE SIZE BLACK CLOTHING, HOODIES OVER HER HEAD.

SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

BY THE TIME SHE WAS 12 I WAS IN FEAR SHE WOULD EVENTUALLY HARM HERSELF AND SHE WOULD NEVER SEE HER NEXT BIRTHDAY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT SPARKED THE CHANGE IN HER, WHETHER SHE KNEW SINCE SHE WAS EIGHT OR WHETHER SHE MET ANOTHER TRANSGENDER CHILD AND KNEW SHE WAS NOT ALONE, OR BOTH. BUT ONCE SHE CAME OUT TO HER PARENTS AND FAMILY, HE HAS BEEN A MUCH HAPPIER PERSON.

NOW HE IS ALWAYS SMILING AND LAUGHING.

HE ENJOYS TALKING AND ENGAGING IN CONVERSATION SO MUCH.

HE LOVES LIFE.

I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY A PERSON WOULD WANT TO BE, QUOTE, SOMEONE ELSE, UNQUOTE.

YES, I FEAR HE WILL FACE ADVERSITY IN THE FUTURE.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S INEVITABLE.

BUT I PRAY SOCIETY WILL EVENTUALLY CATCH UP WITH REAL LIFE.

POLITICIANS HAVE NO BUSINESS RULING AGAINST TRANSITIONING THE GENDER OF A CHILD.

TO KEEP A MISERABLE CHILD FROM BECOMING THE VIBRANT, LIFE LOVING YOUNG MAN HE IS TODAY, THAT WOULD BE ABUSE.

THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE].

SOFIA SEPULVEDA.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SOFIA.

I'M A TRANSGENDER TEXAN, AND I AM READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY THERAPIST.

IN ORDER FOR DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THIS POLITICAL, MOST POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS, I AM THANKFUL FOR THE PERSON READING THIS TO YOU TODAY.

I CANNOT READ IT IN PERSON OUT OF FEAR OF LOSING MY JOB AS A LICENSED THERAPIST.

IF I LOSE MY JOB, I CANNOT SUPPORT AND COUNSEL THE NUMEROUS KIDS AND FAMILIES WHO NEED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ADVOCACY MORE THAN EVER.

EVER SINCE TEXAS LAWMAKERS ISSUED ORDERS TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST TRANSGENDER CHILDREN, I HAVE SEEN COUNTLESS CHILDREN WHO ARE TRAUMATIZED AND FRIGHTENED.

AS A THERAPIST, I AM ALSO TERRIFIED OF THE LONG TERM HARM THESE ORDERS COULD CAUSE.

BEYOND THAT, I BELIEVE JUST THE MENTION OF THESE ORDERS HAS ALREADY CAUSED DAMAGE TO TRANSGENDER CHILDREN MENTAL HEALTH.

[02:55:01]

THAT CHILD COULD SPEND YEARS TRYING TO REWRITE WHAT THAT KIND OF DAMAGING THINKING AND THE PATTERNS IT CAN CREATE.

FOR MOST KIDS, THAT EMOTIONAL BURDEN IS TOO MUCH TO BEAR.

I RECENTLY HAD FAMILY DISCUSS THE IDEA OF MOVING OUT OF THE STATE TO PROTECT THEIR CHILD, AND EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS A SHOW OF SUPPORT AND LOVE, THE CHILD COULD ONLY FEEL FEAR. THE TRUTH IS, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THESE KIDS ARE ABSORBING BY THESE ORDERS.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THESE KIDS DECISION AFTER SESSION I SPENT WITH THESE KIDS IS ROOTED IN ONE COMMON THEME: FEAR.

AS A THERAPIST, IT IS PART OF MY JOB TO CONSIDER DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

EVEN IF YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS THAT THESE CHILDREN NEED LAWMAKERS INTERVENTION, THIS IS NOT HOW YOU GO ABOUT IT.

AS A COUNSELOR ESTABLISHED FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING CHILDREN, I URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO TODAY'S TESTIMONY FROM HUMAN BEINGS ASKING FOR TRANS CHILDREN TO BE SEEN AS HUMAN BEINGS. I AM NOT TRANS, BUT I SPEND AN AVERAGE OF 10 HOURS A WEEK WITH TRANS INDIVIDUALS.

AND I KNOW ONE THING FOR CERTAIN: THEY DO NOT DESERVE TO LIVE IN CONSTANT FEAR.

PLEASE STOP THIS HARASSMENT AND THIS TERRORISTIC ATTACKS TO OUR FAMILIES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

CHLOE GOODMAN.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHLOE GOODMAN.

I'M AN LMSW WITH ANOTHER MASTER'S IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AND I WANT TO ADDRESS MR. KOURI'S COMMENTS, BUT NOT THE ONES FROM TODAY, THE ONES FROM THE LAST SESSION.

AND I WANT TO ASK THAT IF YOU BELIEVE WE ARE ALL WASTING OUR TIME BEING HERE, AS YOU TOLD US.

SINCE THERE ARE ONLY 13 NOW, 15 FAMILIES BEING HARMED, HOW MANY IS TOO MANY? HOW MANY FAMILIES IS TOO MANY BEFORE THIS POLITICAL ATTACK ON INNOCENT PEOPLE BECOMES UNPALATABLE? SINCE YOU'RE A NUMBERS PERSON, WHAT IS THAT STATISTICAL THRESHOLD? IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT EVERY ONE CHILD MATTERS, YOU SHOULD NOT BE PART OF THIS AGENCY, MUCH LESS IN A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP.

AND IF YOU BELIEVED IN WHAT YOU SAID LAST TIME, YOU WOULD NOT BE LOOKING DOWN AND UNABLE TO LOOK ME IN THE FACE RIGHT NOW.

OH, YEAH. THANK YOU.

I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION.

DFPS IS AN AGENCY IN FREEFALL.

SHOUT OUT TO THE INTERIM COMMISSIONER.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE REST OF Y'ALL WHAT MR. KOURI'S NUMBER DOES NOT CAPTURE IS THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT ARE LEAVING THE STATE.

THIS AGENCY IS MAKING POLITICAL REFUGEES OUT OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG.

AND I WOULD REMIND YOU, MR. KOURI, THE ELECTIONS ARE OVER, SO YOU CAN STOP NOW.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

JOY BUTLER.

SMILE NOW. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M READING THE TESTIMONY FROM AN ANONYMOUS SOCIAL WORKER IN TEXAS AND URGED DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS.

I AM A LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER, A LICENSED CHILD PLACING AGENCY ADMINISTRATOR, AND HAVE WORKED IN THE TEXAS FOSTER CARE SYSTEM FOR OVER TEN YEARS.

I HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE WORST CASES OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IMAGINABLE, AND I HAVE ALSO SEEN UNCERTAIN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES, CASES THAT ARE CONCERNING BUT DIFFICULT TO SUBSTANTIATE ABUSE OR NEGLECT ALLEGATIONS.

I KNOW THESE CASES ARE DIFFICULT AND I KNOW THE DEFERENCE WE GIVE TO THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND SUBSTANTIATING ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

THE DEFERENCE WE GIVE THE MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY FOR ESTABLISHING THE DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES WE ASSESS, FOR GIVING US STANDARDS TO IDENTIFY AND DOCUMENT OBSERVABLE AND MATERIAL IMPAIRMENTS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING.

WE GIVE THE MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY DEFERENCE FOR THEIR EXPERTISE IN EVERY ASPECT OF CHILD WELFARE.

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? TO AGREE AND PARTNER WITH THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IN EVERY ASPECT OF CHILD WELL-BEING EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE AREA WHICH HAS BEEN POLITICIZED BY YOUR BOSSES. YOU DECIDE TO DISAGREE WITH THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY ON THIS ONE INSTANCE WHEN IT'S POLITICALLY CONVENIENT, NOT BECAUSE IT'S IN THE CHILD'S BEST

[03:00:04]

BY SIDING WITH POLITICS OVER THE MEDICAL AND MENTAL COMMUNITY YOU ARE BREAKING THE PRECEDENT OF OUR PRACTICE WITHOUT EVIDENCE TO SUBSTANTIATE ANY CLAIMS OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT AND IN WAYS THAT RESULT IN YOU CREATING LASTING HARM IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN THROUGH FORCED MEDICAL NEGLECT BASED IN PREJUDICE.

BEYOND MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE I ALSO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VISITED MY HOME AND TOLD MY PARENTS THAT IF THEY KEPT ABUSING MY SIBLINGS AND I, CPS WOULD HAVE TO RETURN TO OUR HOME AND REMOVE.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. REESE HENSON.

BRIT HICKS.

GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S ALMOST 2023, AND FAMILIES SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID.

I AM READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD AND URGED DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS.

TEACHING DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS A STRUGGLE, ONE THAT I FEEL MANY PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO.

STARTING THIS SCHOOL YEAR PROVIDED CHALLENGES THAT NOBODY COULD PREDICT IT.

SOCIALLY, KIDS WERE WITHDRAWN.

ACADEMICALLY THEY WERE FATIGUED AND DIFFICULT TO MOTIVATE.

HOWEVER, EVERY SINGLE STUDENT I TAUGHT FOUND A SAFE SPACE IN MY CLASSROOM AND MADE IT THEIR OWN.

THEY BUILT RELATIONSHIPS, ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS, AND STARTED TO SHINE AS THE YEAR WENT ON.

I HAVE A NUMBER OF TRANSGENDER STUDENTS, PRESENT AND PAST, WHO TOOK LONGER TO FEEL COMFORTABLE, WHO TOOK LONGER TO SHARE THEIR IDENTITIES.

NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE UNCERTAIN, NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE ONLY PRIVATE, BUT BECAUSE TEXAS IS A CONSERVATIVE STATE, A STATE WHOSE POLITICIANS ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO STAY OUT OF PEOPLE'S BUSINESS, THEN TURN AROUND TO IMPOSE INVASIVE LAWS AND ACT AND DISCRIMINATE IN DISCRIMINATORY WAYS. FINALLY, SOME OF THESE STUDENTS BEGAN SOCIALIZING MORE WITH OTHERS AND BEGAN LETTING THEIR IDENTITIES BE KNOWN BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE THE CLASSROOM WAS A SAFE SPACE FOR THEM.

AFTER A CRAZY TWO YEARS AND MANY HARD TRANSITIONS, THEY WERE JUST BEING NORMAL KIDS.

IT WAS JOYOUS.

WHEN ABBOTT AND PAXTON CHOSE TO TARGET THESE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE NEGATIVE REACTION AND IMPACT.

THE STUDENTS WERE WITHDRAWN.

THE LAUGHTER I HAD GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO IN MY CLASSROOM DISAPPEARED.

THE ANGER AND FRUSTRATION RETURNED FULL FORCE.

GRADES DROPPED, SADNESS PREVAILED.

MY STUDENTS ARE 10 AND 11 YEARS OLD.

THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE THE STRESS AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID OF THEIR DOCTORS, NEIGHBORS AND TEACHERS.

THEY ARE AFRAID OF THEIR TEACHERS OR FELLOW STUDENTS FAMILIES REPORTING THEM.

THEY ARE AFRAID OF LOSING THEIR LOVING, SUPPORTIVE HOMES.

ONE FAMILY. THANK YOU.

TEZ FIGUEROA.

THANK YOU. BUTTONS.

MY NAME IS TEZ FIGUEROA.

I GO BY THEY, THEM AND [INAUDIBLE] PRONOUNS.

I'M AN ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION COORDINATOR AT OUT YOUTH, WHICH FOR 32 YEARS HAS BEEN SERVING LGBTQIA+ YOUTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

I'M ALSO A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND I WAS ALSO A PERSON WHO HAD TO TAKE EMERGENCY CUSTODY OF MY NIECE WHEN SHE WAS TWO YEARS OLD BECAUSE MY SISTER WAS NOT ABLE TO CARE FOR HER.

SO I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A LOT OF MAYBE RELATIONS TO YOU IN THIS ROOM.

BUT TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE TESTIMONY OF AN ANONYMOUS TEACHER NAMED AMANDA, WHO'S BEEN A SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

AMANDA SAYS THAT SHE WANTS TO SHARE THAT HER EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH A TRANS YOUTH OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, THAT LAST CHRISTMAS AFTER STUDENT CAME TO AMANDA AND SAID THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BE REFERRED BY MASCULINE NAME AND MASCULINE PRONOUNS, THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM FOR HER, RIGHT? THIS IS JUST LIKE A NICKNAME.

LIKE IF I'M LOOKING AT FOLKS NAMES, LIKE IF ENRIQUE WANTED TO BE CALLED RICKY AND I ASSUME VICKI IS ALSO MAYBE PERHAPS A NICKNAME.

AND AFTER THIS OCCURRED, AMANDA SAYS, I NOTICED THAT OTHER STUDENTS FELT MORE COMFORTABLE AND LESS ANXIOUS IN MY CLASS WHEN THEY KNEW THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO HIDE WHO THEY WERE.

STUDENTS WHO PREVIOUSLY MADE HOMOPHOBIC REMARKS STOPPED DOING IT, AT LEAST IN MY CLASS.

AND I HEARD STUDENTS USE THE SAME REASON BASED ARGUMENTS THAT I HAD PRESENTED AND THAT WOULD STOP THEIR CLASSMATES FROM GETTING BULLIED.

[03:05:06]

FORCING TEACHERS TO TURN IN KIDS WHO ARE TRANSITIONING PUTS TEACHERS IN AN UNFAIR POSITION.

AND WITH THIS, I WHOLLY AGREE WITH AMANDA.

I COULD NEVER DO THIS IN MY CLASS AND WE HAVE WAY TOO MUCH MATERIAL TO GET THROUGH ANYWAYS.

SHE ALSO SAYS STUDENTS WHO ARE OUTED TO THEIR PARENTS ARE OFTEN ABUSED, NEGLECTED OR REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME.

MANDATED REPORTING SHOWS A LACK OF TRUST FOR TEACHERS AND THE STUDENTS MOST AFFECTED BY THESE AGENCY DRIVEN, DRACONIAN POLICIES.

AND I TRULY DO THINK IF DFPS IS TRYING TO IMPROVE ITSELF IN 2023, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU WORK WITH TEACHERS MORE ON.

THANK YOU. SARAH SUMMERS.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M A CISGENDERED MOM OF A NONBINARY CHILD, AND I'M READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A DOCTOR WHO WORKS WITH TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.

URGE DFPS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED MANY THANKS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE GATHERED TODAY.

I AM SEEING ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN CLINIC.

YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THAT THERE IS A SPECIALTY OF ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT MEDICINE REQUIRING ADDITIONAL TRAINING BEYOND PEDIATRICS OR FAMILY MEDICINE.

THOSE OF US IN THIS FIELD HAVE A DEEP FAITH IN THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE THE FUTURE OF THIS STATE.

WE UNDERSTAND WELL THAT THIS GENERATION HAS A STRONG SENSE OF EQUITY.

INCLUDING ABOUT GENDER IDENTIFICATION.

WE ALSO SEE DAILY IN OUR PRACTICES THE INCREDIBLE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES YOUTH FACE WITH ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND SUICIDALITY.

THE MEDICAL LITERATURE AND OUR OWN EXPERIENCE CONFIRM THAT CHILDREN FROM SUPPORTIVE FAMILIES LIVING IN SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITIES AND HAVING ACCESS TO BEST PRACTICE MEDICAL CARE THRIVE. WHY WOULD THE STATE OF TEXAS AND DFPS PURPOSEFULLY ACT TO DISRUPT LIFE SAVING SUPPORTS AND OLDER ADOLESCENT PATIENTS, WE'LL CALL THEM "A", CAME TO OUR CLINIC ANGRY, DEPRESSED, DOING POORLY IN SCHOOL.

ONE OF THOSE PATIENTS THAT WAS SO PRICKLY AND ANTAGONISTIC THAT I WONDERED IF I WOULD BE FIRED AS THE DOCTOR.

AFTER OVER A YEAR OF WORKING TOGETHER, ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SCHOOL ISSUES, AND RECOGNIZING THE TRAUMA AND BULLYING A HAS ENDURED.

AS NEVER FEELING COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN BODY, IMAGINE ALL OF YOU WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE BORN INTO A BODY THAT WAS WRONG FOR YOU.

A RECEIVED APPROPRIATE VALIDATION AND TREATMENT.

A BLOSSOMED AS A HUMAN, BECAME A DELIGHTFUL YOUNG ADULT, READY TO FOCUS ON SCHOOL AND A CAREER.

MY CLINIC SERVES MANY YOUTH IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.

YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED AND ABUSED.

FAMILIES WHO LOVE AND SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN AND BRAVELY SEEK THE CARE THAT THEIR CHILDREN NEED TO BE THRIVING.

MEMBERS OF OUR STATE ARE NOT THE ONES WE SHOULD BE PENALIZING.

I APPRECIATE THE HEAVY BURDENS THAT THE STATE AND DFPS CARRY IN WANTING SAFETY FOR ALL THE YOUTH OF OUR SHARED COMMUNITY.

SUPPORTING, NOT INVESTIGATING, THE BRAVE, DEDICATED FAMILIES WHO WANT THEIR OWN YOUTH TO THRIVE.

THANK YOU. IMELDA MEJIA TOVAR.

HELLO. I'M READING THE TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY WITH A TRANSGENDER CHILD WHO HAS HAD A VISIT FROM CPS.

I'M A 12 YEAR OLD TEXAN, AND I NEED YOU TO STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO MY FAMILY.

I HAVE A BROTHER WHO IS TRANSGENDER AND MY FAMILY LOVES MY BROTHER VERY MUCH.

THE FACT THAT HE IS TRANS DOES NOT MATTER THAT MUCH TO US BECAUSE TO US HE'S JUST OUR BROTHER WHO IS FUNNY AND LIKES BASEBALL, MAKES US ALL LAUGH WITH HIS FUNNY FACES.

SOMEONE FROM CPS CAME TO OUR HOUSE AND SCARED MY BROTHER, MY SISTER AND ME.

THE NIGHT AFTER THAT PERSON LEFT, MY MOM WAS CRYING ON THE COUCH IN THE LIVING ROOM.

MY BROTHER CAME INTO MY ROOM AND WANTED TO KNOW IF MOM BEING SAD WAS BECAUSE OF HIM, AND I HAD TO TELL HIM NO.

IT WASN'T HIS FAULT.

I TRY TO BE A GOOD BIG BROTHER WHENEVER I CAN, BUT I DON'T THINK HE BELIEVED ME WHEN I TOLD HIM IT WASN'T HIS FAULT.

MY BROTHER IS A GREAT PERSON AND NOW HE IS SCARED ALL OF THE TIME.

HE DOESN'T LAUGH AS MUCH AS HE USED TO AND HE SAYS SORRY TO MY MOM AND DAD ALL THE TIME.

IT ISN'T RIGHT THAT TEXAS WOULD TRY TO BREAK UP OUR FAMILY JUST BECAUSE OUR BROTHER IS TRANS.

OUR PARENTS ARE GREAT PARENTS AND THEY GIVE US EVERYTHING.

THEY GET PIZZAS EVERY OTHER FRIDAY.

WE GO TO THE TRAMPOLINE PARK.

WE HAVE FAMILY MOVIE NIGHTS AND WE GO TO SUNDAY SCHOOL.

THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE AND NONE OF US DESERVE TO BE THREATENED OR SCARED BY TEXAS.

LEAVE US ALONE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[03:10:04]

SO IF I CAN HEAR A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT.

WE'RE NOW ADJOURNED.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.