Mar 10, 2023 DFPS Council Meeting

[I. ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS]

[00:00:09]

I AM NOW CALLING THE MARCH MEETING OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER AT 9:03.

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE HERE IN PERSON AND WHO'S WATCHING ONLINE.

MS. GOMEZ. I THINK YOU'RE UP FOR OUR ROLL CALL.

JUDGE HELLUMS. HERE.

DR. ALMEIDA.

HERE. ENRIQUE MATA.

LIESA HACKETT.

GREG HAMILTON. HERE.

JULIE KRAWCZYK.

MATT KOURI. CORTNEY JONES.

AND DEE DEE CANTU ARISMENDEZ.

WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT.

OKAY. FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT.

THAT IS QUORUM.

I WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW COMMISSIONER, STEPHANIE MUTH.

BLESS HER HEART. I'D LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU.

THANK YOU, JUDGE, AND WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I AM STEPHANIE MUTH AND JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND.

I STARTED IN THIS POSITION ON JANUARY 2ND OF THIS YEAR, BUT HAVE ALMOST 25 YEARS OF PRIOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES EXPERIENCE IN A VARIETY OF OTHER POSITIONS.

STARTED MY CAREER WITH THE STATE WORKING FOR THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.

AND I THINK MOST RELEVANT TO SOME OF THE WORK HERE IS THAT MY EXPERIENCE WITH MEDICAID, A LOT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BACKGROUND.

WHEN I WAS CONSULTING, I WORKED WITH THE MEADOWS MENTAL HEALTH POLICY INSTITUTE, SO I'M EXCITED TO APPLY THAT KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN A DIFFERENT ARENA.

AND I ALSO WANTED TO INTRODUCE THE EXECUTIVE TEAM MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY, IF YOU ALL DON'T MIND STANDING.

AND SO JENNIFER SIMS IS THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER.

WE HAVE LISA KANNE, ERICA BANUELOS, [INAUDIBLE], CHANCE WATSON, SASHA RASCO, AND STEPHEN BLACK.

AND MEMBERS IN YOUR PACKET.

THERE IS AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, BUT WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES AS WELL.

THIS SWITCH IN MICS IS CHALLENGING, TO SAY THE LEAST.

I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT IF WE'VE GOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE DECEMBER 9TH MEETING MINUTES.

HAVE YOU ALL HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THOSE? YES.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT.

OKAY. ANYBODY DISAGREE? THE MINUTES ARE NOW ACCEPTED.

OUR MEETING SCHEDULE AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW.

[II. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]

JUNE 9TH, SEPTEMBER 8TH, AND DECEMBER 8TH.

THE UPCOMING DFPS EVENTS ARE THE GO BLUE DAY.

THE APS CONFERENCE.

AND PARTNERS IN PREVENTION CONFERENCE.

THE PIP CONFERENCE.

OKAY. WE NEED TO EACH ONE KIND OF GIVE A LITTLE INPUT AS TO WHAT KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE WE WERE LAST TOGETHER IN THE DECEMBER MEETING.

[III. COUNCIL ACTIONS/INITIATIVES]

[00:05:01]

ALL THE CHILD SERVING ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOL DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES AND FOLKS FOR WHAT WE CALL THE SYNERGY SESSION.

AND WE FOUND THAT TO BE REALLY HELPFUL.

THE GOAL OF THIS SESSION WAS TO TRY AND PREVENT INAPPROPRIATE DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS AND TRY TO MAXIMIZE OUR RESOURCES.

AND WE FOUND SPENDING THAT MORNING TOGETHER AND LISTENING TO WHAT ACTIVE PROGRAMS ARE UNDERWAY.

EVERYONE FROM, YOU KNOW, REGION 19 TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO CHILD SERVING MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS, ETCETERA.

WE HAD GOOD DISCUSSIONS AND REALLY IDENTIFIED AREAS WHERE WE COULD GET SOME WORKGROUPS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE MAXIMIZING OUR RESOURCES.

SO IT WAS TIME WELL SPENT ON FEBRUARY 8TH.

AND OUT OF THAT, WE HOPE TO SEE SOME MORE BETTER COMMUNICATION ACROSS THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

THAT'S ONE BIG UPDATE.

OKAY, GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER AND JUDGE.

SO, I'M LIESA HACKETT FROM WALKER COUNTY.

WE'VE BEEN REALLY DOING SOME GREAT THINGS.

I PARTICULARLY AM FOCUSED ON ADULTS, SENIORS.

THE APS WORLD.

I'VE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT THE YOGA FOR SENIORS THAT WE STARTED DURING THE COVID TIME, AND IT'S ACTUALLY TURNED OUT TO BE EXTREMELY GREAT.

WE ARE AVERAGING ABOUT 80 ON TUESDAY.

SO TWICE A WEEK WE HAVE YOGA FOR SENIORS.

ON TUESDAY, WE HAD 93 IN ATTENDANCE.

SO THEY COME TWICE A WEEK AND IT'S REALLY HELPFUL.

THE AVERAGE AGE IS ABOUT 80.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I THINK I HAVE SEVEN WHO ARE NOW OVER 90.

BUT WHAT WE'VE TURNED TO DO TO TRY AND HELP THOSE SENIORS IS TURN THAT INTO EVEN MORE THAN JUST THEIR HEALTH.

WE ARE FOCUSING ON SCAMMERS, HELPING THEM NOTIFY SCAMMERS, NOTICE WHO SCAMMERS ARE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.

THE PHONE CALLS AS WELL AS DOOR TO DOOR MAIL INS AND EVEN FAMILY MEMBERS.

AND IT'S TURNED OUT TO BE REALLY, REALLY BENEFICIAL.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THAT'S DOING.

ADDITIONAL TO THAT WE ARE LETTING THEM KNOW SOME MORE ABOUT THEIR BENEFITS AND RESOURCES AS A SENIOR.

SO THAT CLASS HAS REALLY TURNED OUT AND IS REALLY TURNING OVER INTO THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE HAVE NOW CHURCHES AND DOCTORS WHO ARE TELLING THEIR PATIENTS TO COME AND THEY ARE HELPING US SPREAD THE WORD TO HELP OUR SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT BENEFIT.

THANK YOU. DR.

ALMEIDA. HELLO.

THANK YOU. ONE OF THE AREAS WE'VE REALLY FOCUSED ON IS WORKFORCE RESILIENCY, ESPECIALLY OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS. SO WE REALLY HAVE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ON A CURRICULUM.

SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD OF TBRI TRUST BASED RELATIONAL INTERVENTION AND WORK WITH TCU IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND REALLY LOOK AT THE ADAPTATIONS OF THAT CURRICULUM TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

SO WE DID A THREE DAY TRAINING, AND IT WAS EXTREMELY WELL RECEIVED.

AND I JUST BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF WORK IN AN AREA THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.

IF WE DO NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE, PROVIDING SERVICES, TAKING CARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE, TAKING CARE OF OUR CHILDREN.

I MEAN, I DON'T EVEN KNOW.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY WHERE WE ARE NOW, SO THE, THE TRAINING IS FREE.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO EXPAND THIS.

WE'RE, ACTUALLY, I THINK THE OTHER SITES ARE GOING TO BE LOUISIANA AND FLORIDA.

SO, I HOPE WE DO MORE OF THAT ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WE'LL SUPPORT THAT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

MY NAME IS GREG HAMILTON.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS OR MONTHS WAS ATTEND A WEBINAR THAT WAS PUT ON BY BLANCA, I BELIEVE HER NAME IS, AND I ATTENDED THREE OF THOSE DIFFERENT WEBINARS.

BUT ONE IN PARTICULAR GOT ME EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND THE YOUNG LADY'S NAME WAS DR.

TONYA STAFFORD MANNING.

SHE TALKED ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE, AS I SAID JUST A MINUTE AGO, DOCTOR, AND SHE WAS A FOSTER CHILD ALSO, AND SHE GAVE A

[00:10:04]

THE ONLY BAD PART ABOUT HER PRESENTATION WAS THAT IT WASN'T LONG ENOUGH AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE DFPS TO TRY TO GET HER BACK FOR A PRESENTATION.

IT WAS VERY MOVING AND IT WAS ALSO IT EDUCATED ME A LOT ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN THE TRAFFICKING SPACE. I CAN SAY THAT ME BEING A FORMER SHERIFF HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, THAT PRESENTATION, I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET HER TO GO AROUND TO THE DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND DO THAT PRESENTATION.

WELL, I'VE HAD A BUSY THREE MONTHS.

I'VE BEEN SITTING A FAIR AMOUNT IN CPS COURTS AND IN FAMILY COURTS IN EIGHT DIFFERENT COUNTIES AROUND TEXAS.

SO I'M ABLE TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT THE CPS PEOPLE ARE FACING AND THE APS SOMETIMES AS WELL.

AND. WELL, HERE I AM USING ACRONYMS. I'M SORRY. THE CHILDREN'S PROTECTIVE SERVICE VERSUS THE ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

ANYWAY, IT'S FASCINATING WHEN YOU DO GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THESE CASES THROUGH DIFFERENT LENSES.

AND I'M CONCERNED WITH THE TOPIC OF TRAUMA.

I CANNOT YELL THAT LOUD ENOUGH TO HAVE PEOPLE LISTEN.

SO MANY OF OUR KIDS THAT ARE REMOVED TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN ARE BECAUSE OF TRAUMA.

WE NEED TO GET TRAUMA CARE FOR ALL OF THESE KIDS THAT ARE BECAUSE THAT'S BEING A THERAPIST BEFORE I BECAME A LAWYER AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF PUTS ME IN A DIFFERENT LITTLE BOX WHEN I'M LOOKING AT STUFF AS A JUDGE.

MY HUSBAND AND I ARE WORKING CONTINUALLY ON THE NTZ THE NO TRAFFICKING ZONE 501C3 THAT WE HAVE SET UP THAT IS FIGHTING SEX TRAFFICKING.

SO WE PROBABLY NEED THE NAME OF THAT LADY AS WELL BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A WONDERFUL GROUP THAT HAS MADE CHANGES IN THE LEGISLATIVE POSITION HERE, BOTH THIS TERM AND THE LAST TERM, WHERE THEY CHANGED A LOT OF THE LAWS WHERE IF YOU TEXTED PEOPLE WHEN THEY WERE IN SCHOOL, THAT IS NOW A FELONY, TRYING TO GROOM THEM.

AND QUITE A FEW CHANGES IN THE HOUSTON AREA WHERE OVER BISSONNET USED TO BE, WHERE YOU PICKED UP GIRLS ALL THE TIME.

AND THAT'S A FELONY IF YOU'RE OVER THERE DOING THAT.

SO THE LAWS HAVE BEEN CHANGED A FAIR AMOUNT ON THAT.

BUT WE'VE GOT A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE IN HTRA, WHICH IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING, RELIANCE RESISTANCE.

RESOURCE ALLIANCE. THANK YOU.

MY HUSBAND'S HELPING ME RESOURCE ALLIANCE, AND THAT IS A COMBINATION OF THE FBI AND ALL THE LOCAL LEGAL GROUPS, THE SHERIFF, THE CONSTABLE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND EVERYBODY ARE ALL THERE AT AT FOOTBALL GAMES AND ONE SINCE WE WERE NAMED THE FIRST NO TRAFFICKING ZONE MY HUSBAND GOT HIM TO NAME NRG PARK AS THE FIRST NO TRAFFICKING ZONE IN THE WORLD. BECAUSE OF THAT, FIFA IS NOW COMING FOR THEIR FINAL PLAYOFF THINGS IN ANOTHER FEW YEARS BECAUSE THEY WERE THAT IMPRESSED.

SO. WE'RE MAKING SOME DIFFERENCE.

THEY ARE GETTING LEGISLATION DONE WITH BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT TOGETHER WORKING, WHICH IS UNHEARD OF.

DO I NEED TO REPEAT THAT? THEY ARE WORKING TO.

ANYWAY, IN WASHINGTON DC, THEY HAVE SHEILA JACKSON LEE AND MICHAEL MCCAUL HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER AND OFFERED SEVERAL BILLS WHICH ARE HOPEFULLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WE'LL PASS.

AND ANYWAY, THE TRAFFICKING IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SO MANY OF OUR KIDS, WHEN THEY WERE RUNAWAYS, BECOME TRAFFICKED.

AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE TRAUMA THAT'S INVOLVED WITH THAT AS WELL.

AND ANYTIME YOU LOOK AT SOMEBODY THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR FAMILY, THAT IS TRAUMA, EVEN IF IT WAS TRAUMA TO LIVE WITH THEIR PARENTS.

SO TRAUMA IS A HUGE ISSUE AND SOMETHING THAT I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT WE GET AS MUCH POSSIBLE TRAINING FOR EVERYONE AS POSSIBLE.

WE'VE ALSO BEEN COLLECTING BAGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT FOR KIDS TO HAVE THEIR STUFF PUT INTO WHEN THEY'RE BEING REMOVED SO THEY DON'T HAVE THE TRASH

[00:15:07]

I THINK THAT'S IT.

COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU.

[IV. Agency Update]

SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE UPDATES.

FOR THE AGENCY, THERE'S BEEN A LOT GOING ON IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AS YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME LEADERSHIP CHANGES.

IN ADDITION TO MYSELF HERE AT DFPS, THERE IS A NEW ORGANIZATIONAL CHART THAT'S INCLUDED ON PAGE FOUR OF THE COUNCIL REPORT.

AND ESSENTIALLY THE CHANGE THAT I MADE WAS TO HAVE THE CORE PROGRAMMATIC FUNCTIONS REPORTING TO THE COMMISSIONER WITH SUPPORT FUNCTIONS, REPORTING TO THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER.

AND WE DO HAVE A NEW DEPUTY COMMISSIONER AND I WILL SAY NEW WITH AIR QUOTES BECAUSE JENNIFER SIMS HAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE DEPUTY HERE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND A NUMBER OF OTHER AGENCIES.

I TALKED HER TO COMING BACK OUT OF RETIREMENT.

SHE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN AT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES AND WAS THERE DURING THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

SO SHE'S A VERY SEASONED AND INVALUABLE, EXPERIENCED MEMBER OF THE TEAM AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HER BACK. ALSO TRINA ITA, SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY, BUT SHE HAS JOINED US.

YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S A NEW POSITION THAT IS REPORTING TO ME, WHICH IS THE CHIEF STRATEGIST FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

THIS WAS AN AREA I FELT LIKE WAS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND ISSUES THAT THE AGENCY IS DEALING WITH TO HAVE A REAL FOCUS ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

TRINA IS ON LOAN TO US FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION, BUT SHE IS HELPING BOTH ON THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL AS WE'RE WORKING TO TACKLE SOME ISSUES.

SHE'S VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, BUT ALSO ON THE SYSTEMIC LEVEL ABOUT WHAT TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS AND WHAT TYPES OF SERVICES WE SHOULD HAVE FOR THE CHILDREN IN OUR CARE.

I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION MARTA TALBERT.

SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY, BUT SHE'S THE ACTING ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER OF CPI, SO SHE'S HEADING THE INVESTIGATIONS.

BUT WE DO HAVE CLINT COX, WHO IS THE DEPUTY WHO'S HERE TODAY, AND THEN JOEY REED IS THE CHIEF OF STAFF.

HE'S ALSO ON LOAN TO ME.

I'M NOT ABOVE BORROWING WHERE NECESSARY, BUT JOEY HAS WORKED WITH ME PREVIOUSLY AND IS A REAL VETERAN OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND PREVIOUSLY WORKED AT THE SUNSET COMMISSION.

SO HAS VERY GOOD, VAST KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THINGS WORK IN TEXAS GOVERNMENT.

AND AS YOU KNOW, THE 88TH REGULAR SESSION CONVENED ON JANUARY 10TH, JUST OVER A WEEK AFTER I STARTED IN THE POSITION, AND BILL FILING IS REALLY IN FULL SWING.

IN FACT, TODAY IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE HOUSE TO HAVE BILL FILES.

WE'RE HAVING WE'RE SEEING AN AVERAGE OF 180 BILLS BEING FILED EACH DAY.

THAT AVERAGE IS GOING TO GET BLOWN TODAY WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE A LARGE NUMBER OF BILLS FILED.

WE HAVE OVER 4,000 BILLS IN TOTAL THAT HAVE BEEN FILED SO FAR.

WE'RE TRACKING 494 OF THOSE BECAUSE IN SOME WAY, EITHER DIRECTLY OR TANGENTIALLY, THEY WILL IMPACT OUR WORK.

AND JUST AS A REFERENCE, LAST SESSION, THERE WERE OVER 7,000 BILLS FILED AND WE TRACKED ABOUT 800 OF THOSE.

ADDITIONALLY, BUDGET DISCUSSIONS ARE IN FULL SWING.

THE FULL BUDGET COMMITTEES MET AND THEY HAVE A WORKGROUP AND A SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE RESPECTIVELY.

AND I THINK LEANNE [INAUDIBLE], OUR ACTING CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, PRESENTED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING ON WHAT ITEMS WE WERE REQUESTING. BUT I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THAT REQUEST WHEN I CAME ON BOARD AND MADE SOME CHANGES SIGNIFICANTLY.

I WANT TO MENTION THAT WE REQUESTED ABOUT $75 MILLION DOLLARS IN MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES THAT WOULD BE FOCUSED ON EITHER THE

[00:20:02]

MOST OF THOSE DOLLARS ACTUALLY WILL NOT FLOW THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, BUT THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION.

BUT OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES WOULD BE PRIORITY POPULATIONS.

A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IN THERE ARE THINGS SUCH AS MOBILE CRISIS UNITS AND HAVING ADDITIONAL SERVICES AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES SUCH AS RESPITE CARE.

SO THERE'S A WIDE VARIETY OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORTS WITHIN OUR ASK.

AND RIGHT NOW THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE HAS MET AND MADE THEIR INITIAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE FULL COMMITTEE.

THEY DID ADOPT ABOUT 70 JUST UNDER $70 MILLION DOLLARS OF OUR TOTAL ASK.

SO THAT'S VERY POSITIVE.

ALSO, WE HAVE WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING A PILOT STOOD UP FOR INTENSIVE PSYCHIATRIC STABILIZATION, WHICH IS A STEP DOWN.

AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF KIDS WHO ARE GOING INTO PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS.

THEIR ACUTE SITUATION IS STABILIZED.

THEY'RE RELEASED, BUT THEY MAY NOT BE READY FOR A REGULAR PLACEMENT.

SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A PILOT TO TEST A MODEL WHERE THERE IS AN INTENSIVE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED FOR UP TO AN ADDITIONAL 60 DAYS.

SO WE HAVE ASKED FOR IT.

WE'VE RECEIVED SOME APPROVAL TO FUND THAT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS BIENNIUM, BUT WE'VE ALSO REQUESTED CONTINUATION OF THAT FOR THE NEXT BIENNIUM. ALSO, COMMUNITY BASED CARE IS A BIG FOCUS OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

AND I SHOULD MENTION THAT IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE FILED VERSIONS OF THE BILL.

THERE WAS A COUPLE OF THINGS IN THERE THAT ARE NOTABLE FOR THE AGENCY.

ONE WAS THERE YOU PROBABLY SAW THIS IN THE PAPER, BUT THERE'S A TOTAL OF A 10% WITH 5% STARTING THIS SUMMER AND THEN 5% SEPTEMBER 1ST OF NEXT YEAR ACROSS THE BOARD PAY RAISE FOR ALL STATE EMPLOYEES.

SO THAT WAS DEFINITELY GOOD NEWS.

THEY ALSO FUNDED EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY BASED CARE TO THREE ADDITIONAL AREAS IN THE UPCOMING BIENNIUM.

SO THAT WAS IN BOTH THE BASE BILL FOR THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

BUT THE OTHER ITEM THAT WAS IN THE BASE BILL WAS ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR OUR PROVIDERS TO CONTINUE SOME OF THE RATE INCREASES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO.

SO IN THE HOUSE BILL THEY FOCUSED IT ON PROVIDERS THAT SERVE BASIC AND MODERATE, AND THE SENATE DIDN'T SPECIFY. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES THAT WE'LL SEE BE WORKED OUT THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

NOTABLY, ALSO WE JUST RELEASED A REPORT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION ON A RATE MODERNIZATION EFFORT WHICH WOULD SEEK TO BETTER IDENTIFY COSTS THAT PROVIDERS ARE INCURRING AND DEVELOP THE APPROPRIATE REIMBURSEMENT RATES THAT ARE BASED.

THE PLACEMENTS ARE BASED MORE ON THE NEEDS OF THE CHILD VERSUS THE BEHAVIORS OF THE CHILD.

SO THE LEGISLATURE IS CONSIDERING THE FUNDING OF THAT RATE MODERNIZATION EFFORT.

NOW THERE'S CURRENTLY DISCUSSIONS GOING ON, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO UPDATING YOU AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON WHERE WE END UP.

WE'RE ALMOST HALFWAY THROUGH THE SESSION, SO IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT, BUT WE STILL HAVE THE MORE THAN HALF THAT'S THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AHEAD OF US.

SO LOTS TO COME.

AND AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM EACH OF THE PROGRAMS. I'M GOING TO START WITH ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

KEZ CAN YOU JOIN US FOR AN UPDATE? OH. AND THERE WE GO.

GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.

SO GREAT TO SEE YOU KEZ WOLD ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

AND I DID WANT TO JUST UPDATE YOU ON SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH APS.

WE'VE HAD A BUSY QUARTER.

THE LAST THREE MONTHS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY FOR US.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING GROUNDBREAKING OR EARTH SHATTERING, BUT THIS IS MORE OF AN UPDATE ON SOME THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON.

WE WERE ABLE TO FILL 17 TRAINING SUPERVISOR POSITIONS.

THESE ARE NEW POSITIONS THAT WILL BE SUPPORTING OUR NEW TRAINING MODEL, WHICH WILL OFFICIALLY START SEPTEMBER 1ST.

BUT WE HAD TO GET THE PEOPLE IN PLACE.

I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THIS GROUP TWICE NOW AND THEY ARE SOME OF THE MOST EAGER, EXCITED PEOPLE THAT I HAVE EVER GOTTEN TOGETHER WITH.

THEY'RE A COMBINATION OF TENURED SUPERVISORS, BUT WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME TENURED CASEWORKERS WHO HAVE DECIDED TO STEP UP TO BECOME TRAINING SUPERVISORS.

[00:25:09]

AND THEY WILL BE SUPERVISING THEM FOR THE FIRST REALLY FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS OF THEIR TIME WITH US AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS AND ADDITIONAL HANDS ON TRAINING IN OUR NEW MODEL, WHICH IS GOING TO BE CALLED TRAINING WHILE WORKING.

SO WE'RE REALLY THRILLED ABOUT THAT.

WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO PILOT A CRITICAL THINKING TRAINING.

THIS IS A TRAINING THAT IT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY UT, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US TO CUSTOMIZE THE TRAINING FOR ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES FRONTLINE STAFF. WE HAD OUR INITIAL PILOT TRAINING.

WE'VE PROVIDED THEM WITH SOME FEEDBACK AND AS SOON AS WE KIND OF WORK OUT THE THE DETAILS, WE WILL BE TAKING THAT TRAINING FORWARD AND PROVIDING IT TO ALL OF OUR FRONTLINE STAFF. UPDATE ON OUR CASE READING DATABASE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TO BUILD A NEW DATABASE FOR OUR QUALITY ASSURANCE TEAM.

I AM PLEASED TO SAY THE DATABASE WAS ROLLED OUT.

WE NOW HAVE A FEW MONTHS OF DATA IN IT.

WE HAVE BEEN ENTERING AND ALL OF THE BUGS ARE WORKED OUT AND SO WE ARE CLOSING THE BOOK ON THAT.

IT IS NOW OUR OFFICIAL DATABASE AND WE'RE JUST THRILLED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH IT ON THAT.

AND THEN ANOTHER UPDATE THE APS PARTNERSHIP MODEL.

THIS WAS A MODEL DEVELOPED WITH THE CONTRACTOR SHERRY MATTHEWS, A PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM.

WE HAVE FINALIZED THE MODEL AND NOW WE ARE WORKING WITH FAITH BASED AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HERE AT DFPS TO REALLY DETERMINE, OKAY, NOW WE KNOW WHAT WE WANT TO DO, HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT THAT MOVING FORWARD? AND SO WE'RE REALLY THRILLED TO BE STARTING THAT WORK NOW THAT WE'VE FIGURED OUT WHERE WE WANT TO GO.

SO THAT'S THE APS STORY THIS LAST THREE MONTHS.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'M GLAD TO ANSWER THEM.

THANK YOU, KEZ.

SASHA RASCO WILL GIVE US AN UPDATE ON PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING.

OKAY. THE RED MEANS OKAY.

I THOUGHT I NEEDED THE GREEN TO GO, BUT I'M WEARING THE GREEN.

I GOT THE MEMO, COMMISSIONER.

GOOD MORNING. I HAVE A FEW UPDATES TO SHARE.

I WANT TO SAY GLOBALLY THAT THE FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIVISION, THEY DO SO MANY THINGS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

IT'S HARD TO HIGHLIGHT ANY ONE OF THEM, BUT THEY REALLY ARE THE GLUE CONNECTING THE COMMUNITIES AND ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND CHURCHES THAT WANT TO HELP WITH OUR MISSION TO THAT WORK, BECAUSE OUR CORE PROGRAMS ARE USUALLY PRETTY DARN BUSY AND IT CAN ONLY DO THAT MUCH CONNECTION.

SO THERE I JUST WANT TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT CONTINUALLY GETTING THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT CHAIR HELLUMS, GETTING BACKPACKS FOR NEW KIDS OR CLOTHES TO STOCK THE RAINBOW ROOMS OR THEY'RE GEARING UP FOR THE HOT SUMMER FOR TO SUPPORT APS CLIENTS WHO NEED FANS OR WEATHER SUPPORT.

SO AND FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY IN GENERAL, THEY'RE JUST BUSY BEES AND THEY DO A LOT TO WRAP THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE CLIENTS AND THE CORE MISSION OF DFPS. I HAVE TWO SPECIFIC HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION DIVISION THAT ALL INVOLVE ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR HELP OF FAMILIES AND NEW PARENTS THAT ARE VERY EXCITING.

WE IMPLEMENT A FEDERAL MATERNAL INFANT EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING GRANT, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS MIECHV.

IT'S AROUND $19 MILLION DOLLARS THAT GOES TOWARDS EVIDENCE BASED HOME VISITING.

IT'S A VERY PRESCRIPTIVE GRANT BUT IT WAS REAUTHORIZED AT THE US CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL VERY RECENTLY AND IT WILL CHANGE ITS FORMULA FUNDING TO BE MORE POPULATION BASED, WHICH IS ALWAYS A WIN FOR TEXAS.

IT HAD BEEN AWARDED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE AWARD PROCESS PRIOR.

SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AN INCREASE EVEN IN JUST THAT BASE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING FOR HOME VISITING AND THEN STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 27, THAT THERE WILL BE AN ALLOWANCE TO DRAW DOWN ADDITIONAL MIECHV DOLLARS FOR EVERY STATE INVESTMENT IN AN EVIDENCE BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAM, WHICH IS ALREADY A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FOOTPRINT AND IT WILL AWARD EXISTING INVESTMENTS.

IT'S NOT JUST GO FORWARD INVESTMENT.

SO THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN HOME VISITING SERVICES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, DFPS WAS A PART OF A JOINT AGENCY APPLICATION LED BY THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION FOR PRESCHOOL DEVELOPMENT GRANT,

[00:30:07]

DFPS IS GOING TO ADMINISTER 5.6 MILLION OF THAT PER YEAR, SO ABOUT 16 MILLION FOR THREE YEARS TO SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD INVESTMENTS TO HELP CHILDREN BE READY FOR SCHOOL.

WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES IS THAT WE'VE MADE AVAILABLE A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO OUR CURRENT GRANTEES THAT RUN OUR HOPES OR TEXAS HOME VISITING PROGRAM. THEY CAN THERE'S 41 OF THEM.

THEY CAN ALL APPLY FOR SOME OF THAT MONEY TO STAND UP, PARENT CAFES, FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS, EXPAND THEIR EARLY CHILDHOOD COALITION WORK AND ALL ALL TO SUPPORT FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.

SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AND IT'S EXCITING AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

AND YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION.

I HAVE A QUESTION. HI.

HI. I HAVE A QUESTION.

SO ON THE HOME VISITING PROGRAM, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THESE NUMBERS, IT'S FINE.

BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK ABOUT HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE ACTUALLY BENEFITING OR FAMILIES ARE BENEFITING FROM THAT SERVICE? OH. I THINK DOING THE QUICK MATH, WE'RE PROBABLY CLOSE TO 15,000 FAMILIES.

I THINK STATEWIDE, BETWEEN THE EVIDENCE BASED HOME VISITING, WE'RE FUNDING THROUGH THE HOPES GRANTS AND THEN THE TEXAS HOME VISITING GRANTS.

I MEAN, AS YOU KNOW, THESE ARE INTENSIVE SERVICES.

SO THE DOLLARS ONLY GO SO FAR IN STANDING UP SERVICES.

BUT SO COMPARED TO, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES OUT THERE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, IT'S FAIRLY SMALL, BUT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT GROWING FOOTPRINT.

WHEN HHSC FIRST STARTED ROLLING OUT HOME VISITING, IT TOOK QUITE A LOT TO BUILD THIS INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT JUST WASN'T THERE.

SO IT'S I THINK THAT WHAT'S EXCITING IS NOT ONLY HOW MANY WE'RE SERVING, BUT THAT WE'VE CREATED CAPACITY TO GROW.

NEXT, I'D LIKE TO ASK STEPHEN BLACK TO PRESENT ON STATEWIDE INTAKE.

GOOD MORNING. HAVE THE NORMAL QUICK UPDATE FOR STATEWIDE AND TAKE OUR CALL VOLUME, I WOULD SAY HAS STARTED TO STABILIZE THAT SAID STABILIZE AT A VERY HIGH AMOUNT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WILL REBREAK THE RECORD THAT WE BROKE LAST FISCAL YEAR, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT THERE CLOSE TO IT.

I THINK THE RECORD THAT MAY BE IN JEOPARDY OF BEING BROKEN THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW IS INTERNET REPORTS.

SO WE'RE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THAT.

WE ARE ABOUT A COUPLE OF MINUTES OFF THE PACE WE WERE LAST YEAR ON OUR WHOLE TIME.

WE REALLY OUTPERFORMED LAST YEAR AND WE ENTERED THE YEAR WITH A FAIRLY HIGH AMOUNT OF VACANCIES.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT STATEWIDE APPROACH TO HIRING IS STARTING TO PAY DIVIDENDS.

WE ARE UP TO ABOUT 93% FILLED FOR OUR INTAKE SPECIALIST POSITIONS.

AND AS OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE HAD STAFF AND I THINK 39 DIFFERENT COUNTIES.

AND WITH THE NEW TRAINING CLASS THAT STARTED THIS WEEK, I'M PRETTY SURE WE'RE NOW UP OVER 40.

AND THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS APPROACH, THAT IT'S REALLY MORE THAN JUST GETTING SEATS FILLED.

LIKE I SAID, WE HAD A CLASS START THIS WEEK AND AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH TRAINING, MY LEADERSHIP TEAM MEETS WITH THESE NEW HIRES TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES TO EACH OTHER AND JUST HEARING SOME OF THEIR STORIES AND THE AMAZING BACKGROUNDS THAT THEY CAME FROM BEFORE THEY TOOK THIS JOB AT STATEWIDE INTAKE.

I THINK WE'RE GETTING SOME REALLY, REALLY QUALITY CANDIDATES TAKING THIS APPROACH TO LOOKING ALL OVER THE STATE OF TEXAS AND LOOKING FOR THAT HELP THAT WE NEED.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN JUST A QUICK UPDATE FOR THE HELPLINES.

OUR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS APPEAR TO BE WORKING A LITTLE BIT TOO WELL.

WE KNOW YEAR TO YEAR WE'RE UP ABOUT 30 TO 40% IN CALL VOLUME FOR THOSE TWO HELPLINES.

AND YET SOMEHOW THEY MANAGED TO LOWER THEIR HOLD TIME.

IT STAYS UNDER A MINUTE.

THEY GET THOSE CALLS ANSWERED.

SO THEY'RE DOING A REALLY GREAT JOB WITH THAT.

SUCH A SMALL TEAM WE HAVE IN THOSE AREAS.

THAT'S THE UPDATE.

UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

IT'S QUICK. SO, YES, YOU DID TALK A LOT BEFORE ABOUT YOUR RESPONSE TIME.

AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, PRETTY REMARKABLE.

YOU ALLUDED TO THE THE ONLINE REPORTS.

RIGHT? SO THE INTERNET.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT? AND DO YOU HAVE THE SAME METRIC FOR THE RESPONSE TIME WITH YOUR ONLINE REPORTS AS YOU DO AS YOUR PHONE CALLS.

[00:35:03]

SO THE ONLINE REPORTING IS NOT MEANT FOR, I WOULD SAY, EMERGENCY SITUATIONS OR WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED PRIORITY ONE.

ON THE REPORTING PAGE IT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT COULD BE 48 HOURS BEFORE IT GETS PROCESSED.

WE DON'T TYPICALLY TAKE THAT LONG.

YOU KNOW, ON AVERAGE, WE PROCESS A NEW REPORT UNDER 24 HOURS.

IT'S USUALLY IN THE TEENS SOMEWHERE.

BUT WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BECAUSE FRIDAY AFTERNOONS WE TEND TO GET A LOT THAT GET WORKED THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE REPORTERS ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A LAG AND THEY NEED TO CALL IN ANY HIGH PRIORITY CASES.

I DID WANT TO JUST MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

ALSO, APPARENTLY THE ONLINE STREAMING IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SO THAT PROBABLY DOESN'T REALLY IMPACT PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AS MUCH AS IT WOULD THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET ONLINE. BUT IF YOU HEAR FROM ANYONE, WE ARE AWARE AND WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO GET THAT FIXED.

NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL CLINT COX TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CLINT COX.

I'M DEPUTY ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY AND EVERYTHING YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING.

PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON [INAUDIBLE] CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS CURRENTLY.

CURRENTLY, AS FAR AS THE POSITIONS FOR OUR TRADITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS, WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER 3600 POSITIONS, HAVE AN ACTIVE FILL RATE OF 88% APPROXIMATELY . WITH CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS THERE'S MULTIPLE DIVISIONS ALL INSIDE THAT.

SO THERE'S THE TRADITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS AS WELL AS CHILD CARE INVESTIGATIONS, WHICH DO INVESTIGATIONS IN RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS AND DAYCARE INVESTIGATIONS.

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 90% WITH THEIR FILL RATE.

THERE'S A SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS TEAM, WHICH IS 91% FILL RATE.

AND THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING TEAM, WHICH IS WHAT MR. HAMILTON WAS REFERENCING AS WELL, HELPING PUT ON EDUCATIONAL THINGS, ALL KINDS OF PROGRAMS LIKE THAT WITH THE WEBINARS.

AS FAR AS FOR FISCAL YEAR 22, COMPLETED INVESTIGATIONS FOR TRADITIONAL FAMILY SETTINGS ARE JUST A LITTLE OVER 166,000 COMPLETED INVESTIGATIONS.

COMPLETED BY LIKE I SAID IN FAMILY SETTINGS.

OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE KIND OF BEEN GOING ON.

CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN TAKING A STRONG APPROACH ON THE TEXAS FAMILY FIRST PILOT PROGRAM.

THAT'S IN FOUR DIFFERENT REGIONS.

THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER 40 REFERRALS SINCE OCTOBER OF 22, WORKING TO PREVENT REMOVALS AND ENGAGE FAMILIES WITH SERVICES AND EVERYTHING TO PREVENT PEOPLE ENTERING THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.

IN ADDITION, THE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE PROGRAM HAS BEEN CONTINUED TO BE EVALUATED FOR ADDITIONAL ROLLOUT ACROSS THE STATE IN REGION 6 A AND 6 B.

TRAININGS BEGAN IN FEBRUARY OF 23 TO BEGIN THE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE PROGRAM THERE AS WELL.

WE CONTINUE TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS WITH LEADERSHIP STAFF DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE STATE, DOING INTERNAL TRAININGS AS WELL AS EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS.

THE PROGRAM AND THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAM, AS WELL AS BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO REDUCE THE CASE CARRYING WORKLOAD FOR TRADITIONAL FAMILY SETTINGS.

YES, SORRY.

ON MASTER INVESTIGATIONS AND SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS HAS BEEN WORKING TO REDUCE THE AVERAGE DAILY CASELOAD RIGHT NOW FOR TRADITIONAL FAMILY SETTINGS, WHICH HAS BEEN SITTING AT 14 ACROSS THE STATE.

AND THEY'VE CLOSED SINCE LAST FALL, APPROXIMATELY 4,700 INVESTIGATIONS ACROSS THE STATE TO WORK TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVED AS WELL AS FOR THEIR PEERS AND EVERYBODY ELSE THROUGHOUT THE AGENCY.

OTHER THAN THAT, JUST CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND WORKING ON IMPROVING OUR QUALITY AND EVERYTHING ELSE WITH FAMILY SETTINGS.

OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

RUN WHILE YOU CAN.

[LAUGHTER] ERICA, CAN YOU JOIN US TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES? GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.

SO I WILL START WITH THE TOPIC THAT WE TYPICALLY START WITH AT THESE MEETINGS, WHICH IS JUST AN UPDATE ON OUR CHILDREN WITHOUT PLACEMENT.

SO WE CONTINUE TO SEE ABOUT 70 CHILDREN WITHOUT PLACEMENT.

I THINK THE HIGHEST WE'VE BEEN HAS BEEN ABOUT 82.

SO WE CONTINUE TO DO A LOT OF EFFORTS AROUND TRYING TO REDUCE THAT NUMBER TO OUR HOPE IS ALWAYS ZERO.

[00:40:02]

AND SO WE CONTINUE TO PUT A LOT OF EFFORTS INTO THAT.

WE CONTINUE TO SEE ABOUT 34% OF OUR CHILDREN THAT ARE CURRENTLY WITHOUT PLACEMENT.

THEY INITIALLY OR COME FROM HOMES WHAT WE CALL REFUSAL TO ACCEPT PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, OUR NEXT POPULATION THAT WE SEE IS CHILDREN WHO ARE COMING FROM PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS AS WELL AS CHILDREN WHO ARE COMING FROM JUVENILE. SO WE CONTINUE TO SEE THOSE.

AND OF COURSE, THERE'S ALSO A PERCENTAGE THAT CONTINUES TO COME FROM KINSHIP HOMES, FROM RELATIVES OR [INAUDIBLE].

SO I KNOW IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT CAPACITY, CAPACITY, AND IT JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WE'RE WORKING ON IT, WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CAPACITY THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON IS CAPACITY FOR THOSE YOUTH OR CHILDREN THAT HAVE THOSE COMPLEX NEEDS.

AND SO I CAN FINALLY SAY THAT I'M STARTING TO SEE WHERE THAT TYPE OF CAPACITY IS HOPEFULLY COMING ON BOARD.

SO I'D LIKE TO RUN YOU THROUGH WHAT SOME OF THAT CAPACITY IS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT HOMES OR FACILITIES AND WHAT THAT MEANS.

AND WE ACTUALLY, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE PUT THE RFA OR THE REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS BACK IN AUGUST OF 22 AND WE ARE FINALLY STARTING TO SEE SOME OF OUR PROVIDERS SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR THAT.

AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE WE ARE VERY HOPEFUL THAT BY THIS SUMMER THEY'LL BE ABLE TO START TAKING SOME OF OUR CHILDREN.

AND SO THAT IS GREAT, GREAT NEWS FOR US BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING, MY TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT DILIGENTLY.

OUR PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY, THE SINGLE SOURCE CONTINUUM CONTRACTORS HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON THAT TYPE OF CAPACITY.

AND OF COURSE, THERE'S OUR PROVIDERS WHO ARE STEPPING UP TO GROW THAT TYPE OF CAPACITY.

SO IT'S BEEN AN ALL HANDS APPROACH AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOME OF THAT CAPACITY COME ON BOARD AND THAT WILL BE A GREAT BENEFIT TO SOME OF OUR YOUTH AND CHILDREN.

ALSO, WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON INCREASING THE NUMBERS OF HOMES UNDER TREATMENT, FAMILY FOSTER CARE.

AND THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE FOSTER PARENT THAT STAYS HOME FULL TIME WITH ONE OF OUR CHILDREN TO REALLY DO INTENSIVE SERVICES WITH THEM.

AND SO WE HAVE WE CURRENTLY HAVE 113 ACTIVE HOMES THAT ARE WORKING WITH OUR CHILDREN, AND MOST OF THEM HAVE CHILDREN IN THEM.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT THAT HAS INCREASED.

AND THOSE ARE JUST HOMES ON WHAT WE CALL THE LEGACY SYSTEM.

BUT I KNOW THAT OUR PARTNERS, THE SINGLE SOURCE CONTINUUM CONTRACTORS, HAVE ALSO GROWN THAT CAPACITY AS WELL.

SO WE'RE SEEING GREAT STRIDES IN TERMS OF THAT PARTICULAR CAPACITY.

AND THAT CAPACITY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES PROVIDE SOME OF OUR CHILDREN OR YOUTH WITH HIGH COMPLEX NEEDS TO BE PLACED IN ONE OF THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE PLACEMENTS, WHICH IS A FOSTER HOME.

AND THEN I WANTED TO JUST SO IN TERMS OF BUILDING THE CAPACITY, THE LEGISLATURES WERE VERY GENEROUS WITH US AND WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE OUT SOME GRANTS TO PROVIDERS UNDER HOUSE BILL 5.

AND SO THESE WERE CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS.

AND SO THESE TYPE OF GRANTS WERE REALLY TARGETED TOWARDS THREE THINGS.

ONE WAS TO SERVE CHILDREN WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF NEEDS, EXPANDING PLACEMENTS, AND BRINGING NEW PROVIDER CAPACITY AND PROMOTING LONG TERM VIABILITY OF CHILD PLACEMENTS.

SO WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO AWARD.

SO FAR WE'VE AWARDED 21 CONTRACTS AND WE HAVE TWO THAT ARE CURRENTLY STILL PENDING, BUT WE DO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING ALL THE CONTRACTS SIGNED.

SO THIS PARTICULAR CAPACITY THAT IS BEING GROWN TOWARDS THIS POPULATION IS REALLY EXCITING FOR US.

SO PART OF IT IS THESE GRANTS DO HELP SOME OF OUR PROVIDERS REALLY STAND UP THE QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM BECAUSE THAT DOES REQUIRE ACCREDITATION.

IT DOES REQUIRE SIX MONTHS OF AFTERCARE.

IT'S AN ENTIRE NEW MODEL PER SE.

AND SO SOME OF THESE GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO SOME PEOPLE WHERE IT WILL HELP THEM WITH THAT.

WE ALSO PART OF THE GRANTS THAT WE'RE GIVING, IT'LL HELP US INCREASE TREATMENT, FAMILY FOSTER CARE, AS I MENTIONED, WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US.

AND WE EXPECT TO SEE AN INCREASE OF 90 TREATMENT FOSTER FAMILY HOMES.

[00:45:04]

IT WILL ALSO INCREASE OR WE'RE HOPING THAT IT WILL INCREASE 362 BEDS AT ANY GENERAL RESIDENTIAL OPERATION, AND THOSE WILL BE TARGETED TOWARDS OUR CHILDREN OR YOUTH WHO HAVE A LEVEL OF CARE OF MODERATE, SPECIALIZED OR INTENSIVE LEVEL, WHICH THAT REALLY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CAPACITIES THAT WE CAN INCREASE ON.

WE ALSO IN THOSE GRANTS, WE GAVE OUT GRANTS TO INCREASE SPECIALIZED ADOPTIONS, AND WE ARE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO VERIFY FOR THOSE ABOUT 35 FAMILIES.

WE ALSO HAVE THROUGH THOSE GRANTS, WE ALSO ARE HOPING TO INCREASE 185 VERIFIED TRADITIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC FOSTER FAMILIES SERVING CHILDREN WITH MODERATE, SPECIALIZED OR INTENSIVE.

FOR KINSHIP FAMILIES WE'VE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO WE DO WELL PLACING CHILDREN WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

WE TYPICALLY ON ANY FISCAL YEAR, WE AVERAGE ABOUT 50% OR A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.

BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE'S MORE THAT WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF GETTING FAMILIES VERIFIED AND VERIFYING FAMILIES IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT DOES ALLOW THEM TO BE PAID AS A FOSTER PARENT. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY ALSO GET SOME SUPPORT BEING VERIFIED.

SO PART OF THIS GRANT, WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE 20 VERIFIED KINSHIP FAMILIES.

AND WHILE THAT SOUNDS VERY YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT 100 FAMILIES, WE DO KNOW THAT WHEN WE WORK WITH KINSHIP FAMILIES AND WE TRY TO GET THEM VERIFIED, IT'S A WRAP AROUND THING THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

WHEN A REGULAR FOSTER PARENT SAYS, I'M READY, I WANT TO FOSTER, YOU KNOW, THEY COME TO US .

WITH KINSHIP IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT AS YOU ALL KNOW, RIGHT? BECAUSE ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT, THEY MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE IN 3 OR 4 KIDS.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF HANDS ON SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO FULLY COMPLETE THE PROCESS OF BEING VERIFIED.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE ALSO HAVE THE THERAPEUTIC EXTENDED CARE FOSTER FAMILIES.

AND THIS IS WE HOPE TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF EIGHT THERAPEUTIC EXTENDED FOSTER HOMES.

BUT THESE WILL FOCUS ON PREPARATION FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR YOUTH AGES 16 TO 21.

SO AGAIN, WE HAVE A POPULATION OF FOSTER CARE YOUTH WHO SOMETIMES DON'T ACHIEVE POSITIVE PERMANENCY, AND SO THEY DO AGE OUT OF FOSTER CARE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE READY FOR WHEN THEY AGE OUT OF FOSTER CARE.

SO THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SPECIALIZED HOMES THAT ARE JUST GOING TO INTENSIVELY WORK WITH THIS POPULATION IS VERY MUCH NEEDED AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE GREAT OUTCOMES FROM A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.

SO THOSE ARE MY MAIN UPDATES FOR YOU TODAY.

SO I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

THERE WE GO. MINE IS JUST TO GIVE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT YOU GUYS MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN.

I'M PROGRAM CHAIR FOR THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD AND WHICH IS THE LARGEST LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY IN THE STATE.

THEY HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH A JAIL DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT THEY'VE HAD FOR GROWN UPS, AND THEY HAVE NOW STARTED A JUVENILE DIVERSION SYSTEM.

AND INSTEAD OF THESE KIDS BEING INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE COURTS, THEY'RE GETTING DIVERTED TO GET MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND GETTING A BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF GOING.

AND IF THERE'S ANY PLACE IN THE STATE THAT YOU COULD EXPAND THAT WHOLE IDEA, THEY'RE MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP GIVE YOU THE BLUEPRINT IN WHAT WE'VE DONE AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT TO BE ABLE TO HELP KEEP THE KIDS OUT OF COURT BECAUSE OF BAD BEHAVIOR OR WHATEVER THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND WE ARE HAPPY TO GET ANY ASSISTANCE OR HELP THAT'S ALREADY OUT THERE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE WILL DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THAT.

THANK YOU. HI.

SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

REALLY I'M PLEASED TO SEE THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEING MADE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, BUILDING THIS CAPACITY.

[00:50:03]

SO ON THE QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM, I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN IT.

I KNOW THAT WHEN WE FIRST SENT OUT THE RFA, WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY MUCH OF A RESPONSE, SO THAT'S GOOD.

I'M ASSUMING MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION THAT IS ONLY UP TO THE AGE OF 18, NOT BEYOND 18.

RIGHT? OKAY.

SO AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M GOING.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL CHILDREN AGING OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW SO MANY OF THEM ARE THEN AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND BEING INVOLVED IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. I SEE THEM A LOT IN OUR JAIL.

SO MAYBE THAT'S A QUESTION IN TERMS OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, AGING OUT SERVICES, I SEE THAT THE THERAPEUTIC EXTENDED CARE, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT KIND OF MINIMAL CAPACITY THERE.

MAYBE IF YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT OR KIND OF WHAT WOULD BE YOUR GOALS FOR THAT OR SOME OTHER SERVICES THAT THERE ARE FOR CHILDREN AGING OUT OF THE SYSTEM? BECAUSE THAT'S ALWAYS A CONCERN.

I JUST HAVE, MAYBE EVERYBODY ELSE KNOWS WHAT THIS IS, BUT WHAT IS THE LEGACY SYSTEM? AND MY LAST QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR CHILDREN WITHOUT PLACEMENT, MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE THE DATA ON THIS, BUT HOW MANY CHILDREN DO YOU ACTUALLY SEE THAT ARE COMING BACK TO THAT STATUS? LIKE YOU KNOW, WE PLACE THEM, BUT THEN THEY COME BACK.

I KNOW THOSE ARE SEVERAL THINGS, BUT.

MAYBE START WITH THE LEGACY SYSTEM.

WHAT IS THAT? OKAY.

THANK YOU. IF I MISS ONE QUESTION, JUST TELL ME YOU MISSED ONE AND I'LL COME BACK TO IT.

SO THE LEGACY WE CALLED OUR SYSTEM LEGACY WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN A CONTRACTED AREA WITH A SINGLE SOURCE CONTINUUM CONTRACTOR. SO THAT'S WHAT THE LEGACY SYSTEM IS AS FAR AS OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE, THEY ARE OUR PRIORITY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALREADY STANDING UP SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY ALREADY DO INDEPENDENT LIVING.

AND SO WE HAVE SEVERAL PROVIDERS THAT ALREADY HELP US WITH THAT, WHERE THEY TRAIN THEM TO, YOU KNOW, GET READY FOR ADULTHOOD AFTER THEY TURN 18. SO WE DO HAVE THAT THAT TYPE OF CAPACITY ALREADY.

WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND IT BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR YOUTH TO HAVE THOSE SKILLS.

SO I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THROUGH OUR INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMS, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE FOR THEM.

SO WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE DO FOR OUR YOUTH WHO ARE REACHING THAT AGE SO THAT WE CAN HELP THEM TO BE BEST SUCCESSFUL.

SO WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL CIRCLES OF SUPPORT WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT ARE THEIR OPTIONS AS THEY GET CLOSER TO AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE, WHO IS THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT WE CAN ENGAGE SO THAT WHEN THEY LEAVE FOSTER CARE, THEY HAVE SOME SUPPORT SYSTEM.

AND THEN OF COURSE, WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF YOUTH ADVOCATES THAT WORK WITH US AS WELL.

AND SO OUR YOUTH WHO ARE OLDER, WHO ARE 16, 17, 18 THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, THEY HOLD DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEETINGS, THEY HOLD DIFFERENT WEBINARS, THEY HOLD DIFFERENT SEMINARS WHERE THEY ATTEND AND THEY LEARN ABOUT LIFE AFTER FOSTER CARE. AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR TUITION WAIVER THAT WE START WORKING WITH THEM VERY EARLY ON SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY WHAT IT IS, BUT HOW DO YOU APPLY FOR IT. AND I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE SEEN THE USE OF TUITION WAIVERS GO UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

SO WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS THAT THE STEPS THAT WE'RE TAKING IN TERMS OF EDUCATING AND MEETING WITH THEM AND TAKING THEM TO UNIVERSITIES TO TOUR THEM AND WORKING. SO RIGHT NOW AND RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE I BELIEVE IT'S 16 COLLEGES.

DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? 16. SORRY.

SO WE HAVE WE'RE WORKING WITH 16 UNIVERSITIES WHO HAVE ACTUALLY EXPANDED OUT TO PROVIDING INDEPENDENT LIVING.

SO THAT MEANS THAT THESE YOUTH GET TO GO TO COLLEGE, LIVE IN THE DORM ROOM.

AND SO THAT TYPE OF CAPACITY HAS REALLY GROWN.

WE USED TO NOT HAVE THAT MANY UNIVERSITIES, BUT NOW WE'RE UP TO 16.

SO WE REALLY DO A LOT OF TARGETED EFFORT FOR THAT POPULATION BECAUSE AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL.

[00:55:04]

IT'S ABOUT 92% OF OUR KIDS ACTUALLY EXIT OUT TO POSITIVE PERMANENCY.

SO THAT MEANS THAT THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, EITHER A KINSHIP RELATIVE ADOPTED THEM OR THEY'RE PLACED WITH KINSHIP OR WE FOUND THEM A FOREVER HOME OR WE REUNIFIED THEM SUCCESSFULLY BACK TO ONE PARENT.

SO THE MAJORITY OF OUR KIDS DO HAVE POSITIVE PERMANENCY.

AND BUT WE DO HAVE THIS POPULATION THAT WE CARE FOR AND WE WANT THE BEST FOR THEM AFTER THEY AGE OUT.

DID I MISS ONE MORE? I KNOW THERE'S ONE MORE.

OH, THE RECIDIVISM FOR CHILD WATCH.

I THINK YOU ASKED.

AND I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME.

I KNOW IT'S REALLY HARD TO.

I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING OUT THERE.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS RIGHT NOW.

HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP.

OH. SO JUST FOR CLARIFICATION FOR MY UNDERSTANDING, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT 113 ACTIVE TREATMENT FOSTER HOMES IN THE LEGACY SYSTEM, THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE OTHER TREATMENT, FOSTER HOMES THROUGH ALL THOSE CONTRACT PROVIDERS.

RIGHT. SO THERE'S MORE CAPACITY THAN THAT.

THANK YOU. YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

THERE WE GO. I JUST WANTED TO THROW IN THAT FROM A JUDICIAL STANDPOINT, WHEN I'M SITTING ON THE BENCH AND HAVE THE CPS CASES IN FRONT OF ME, I ASK THE QUESTIONS ABOUT HAVE THEY DONE THE PREPARATION FOR ADULT LIVING? HAVE YOU GOTTEN THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE? HAVE THEY? YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S A REAL CONCENTRATION FROM THE BENCH ON MAKING SURE THAT THESE KIDS HAVE DONE THE BEST POSSIBLE PLUS, IF THEY MAKE A COMMITMENT TO STAY WITHIN THE PROGRAM, THEN WE WORK ON THE TUITION WAIVERS AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF TO SEE IF WE CAN'T HELP MAKE AN ADULT PATH FOR THEM TO EXIT THE PROGRAM IN A POSITIVE WAY.

SO JUST THAT'S ANOTHER SET OF LENSES HERE FROM FROM LOOKING AT IT.

BUT FROM THE JUDICIAL STANDPOINT, THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THAT.

AND THE JUDGES DO KNOW TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.

I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

YOU TALKED ABOUT VERIFIED KINSHIP FAMILIES.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THAT VERIFICATION PROCESS LOOKS LIKE? SO IN ORDER FOR A KINSHIP FAMILY TO BE VERIFIED, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE LICENSING PROCESS THROUGH HHSC, WHICH IS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. SO THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MEET ALL THE STANDARDS THAT A REGULAR FOSTER PARENT WOULD.

RIGHT. SO THAT GOES WITH FIRE INSPECTION THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR THE FAMILY.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL THE LITTLE THINGS THAT A FOSTER PARENT HAS TO DO.

SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE TRAINING.

THERE'S CERTAIN TRAININGS THAT THEY HAVE TO ATTEND TO IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM.

THEY HAVE TO THERE IT'S A LONG PROCESS BECAUSE OF WHAT IS REQUIRED.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF VERIFIED KINSHIP FAMILIES, IT IS A LOT IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN OUR REGULAR CAPACITY FOR JUST A FOSTER PARENT WHO SAYS, I WANT TO BE A FOSTER PARENT.

SO IT'S GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS THAT A REGULAR FOSTER PARENT WOULD GO THROUGH.

WHEN YOU SAY A LONG PROCESS, CAN YOU GIVE ME AN AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TIME? OKAY. SO IT TYPICALLY I WOULD THIS IS JUST ME ESTIMATING WHAT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE FOR A KINSHIP FAMILY.

I WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE UP TO FOUR MONTHS POSSIBLY BEFORE THEY BECOME VERIFIED AND GET EVERYTHING IN PLACE THAT IS NEEDED BECAUSE MOST OF OUR KINSHIP FAMILIES AREN'T GOING TO HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN THEIR HOME OR THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE A SMOKE DETECTOR IN THEIR HOME.

THEY MAY NOT. YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THINGS THAT THEY NORMALLY FOR SOME OF OUR KINSHIP FAMILIES, THAT'S NOT WHAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE PREPARING TO DO.

SO I ALWAYS SAY, LIKE MY GRANDMA COULD HAVE PROBABLY TAKEN CARE OF ME.

I DON'T KNOW THAT SHE COULD GET VERIFIED, BUT I WOULD BE SAFE THERE.

SO. AND JUST ONE THING TO ADD ON THAT IS THE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST ISSUED SOME A NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DO RULEMAKING AROUND THIS.

SO RIGHT NOW, STATES HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR KINSHIP HOMES FOR GETTING LICENSED AS THEY DO FOR THEIR REGULAR FOSTER HOMES.

BUT THEY'RE INTENDING TO ISSUE SOME RULES THAT GIVE MORE FLEXIBILITY THERE, MOSTLY AROUND THINGS LIKE THE PHYSICAL SPACE AND SOME OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE FOSTER HOMES.

SO WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

[01:00:04]

I'LL MAKE THIS QUICK BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE HOLDING YOU UP QUITE A LONG TIME.

BUT YOU MENTIONED GRANTS.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHERE WHAT'S THE SOURCE OF THOSE GRANTS, WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM? AND ACTUALLY KIND OF A DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT'S ACTUALLY FUNDING SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS. SO WE WERE ABLE TO WE HAD 19 MILLION TO GIVE OUT FOR GRANTS FOR THESE CAPACITIES.

AND SO THAT IS HOW WE WE KIND OF DISTRIBUTED THEM OUT BETWEEN THESE 23 GRANTEES.

AND AGAIN, IT'S VERY FOCUSED ON GROWING THE CAPACITY AROUND THIS VERY SPECIFIC POPULATION.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT THE CAPACITY AND THE GROWTH IS SO EXCITING FOR US BECAUSE AGAIN, WE HAVE A LOT OF CHILDREN THAT NEED IT. TALKING ABOUT RATE MODERNIZATION AND WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE.

AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DON'T SAY A THANK YOU TO THE PROVIDERS WHO HAVE REALLY BEEN ALONG OUR SIDE TO REALLY, REALLY WORK ON, YOU KNOW, SERVICING OUR CHILDREN AND THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, AND ALSO OUR PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY BASED CARE.

IT HAS BEEN AN ALL HANDS APPROACH.

AND JUST TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION ABOUT THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDS, THE LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATED THOSE FUNDS TO THE AGENCY TO DISTRIBUTE.

AND NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP HOLLY MIMS WITH THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY BASED CARE TRANSITION.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS HOLLY MIMS AND I AM A DIRECTOR IN THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY BASED CARE TRANSITION.

I AM HERE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TODAY.

I HAVE VERY BIG SHOES TO FILL AND GEORGE WISHES HE COULD BE HERE.

WE HAVE A NEW STATEWIDE COMMUNITY BASED CARE DIRECTOR, GEORGE CANNATA.

HE IS FORMERLY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE NORTH TEXAS AREA.

HE BRINGS 26 YEARS OF SERVICE.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEW LEADERSHIP IN OUR OFFICE.

SO REGARDING SOME IMPLEMENTATION UPDATES, RECENTLY WE HAVE SIGNED CONTRACTS WITH OUR NEW PARTNERS IN REGION 3E, WHICH IS THE DALLAS SIDE OF REGION 3.

OUR SSCC PARTNER THERE IS CALLED EMPOWER, AND IT'S A COLLABORATION OF TEXAS FAMILY INITIATIVE, JOHNATHAN'S PLACE, CK FAMILY SERVICES, THE BEAR FOUNDATION AND PATHWAYS.

ADDITIONALLY, OUR NEW PARTNER, SSCC PARTNER SINGLE SOURCE CONTINUUM CONTRACTOR PARTNER IN REGION FOUR IS FOR KIDS FOR FAMILIES. THEY ARE A DIVISION OF ARROW CHILD AND FAMILY MINISTRIES.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM AND THEY WILL BEGIN.

WE'RE ALREADY STARTING THE READINESS PROCESS.

THEY WILL BEGIN SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AROUND FALL OF THIS YEAR IN STAGE ONE.

SO THOSE ARE PLACEMENT SERVICES.

ADDITIONALLY, WE LOOK SOON TO RE PROCURE THE THREE WEST AREA, WHICH IS THE FORT WORTH SIDE OF THE METROPLEX WEST TO INCLUDE ALL TEN COUNTIES IN THAT REGION.

WE HOPE TO HAVE AN SSCC PARTNER ONLINE AROUND SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR.

SO LATER THIS YEAR.

SOME OUTREACH EFFORTS I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.

MY TEAM SPECIFICALLY IS IN CHARGE OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

AND SO WE JUST THIS WEEK HAD A COUPLE OF TOWN HALLS IN THE REGION, 11 AREA, SO CORPUS CHRISTI AND MCALLEN TO TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY BASED CARE, WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT MEANS FOR FAMILIES, WHAT IT MEANS FOR PROVIDERS, JUST HAVE AN OPEN FORUM DISCUSSION.

IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS WE'LL BE IN THE REGION SIX AREA TALKING WITH DFPS STAFF.

REGION 6 IS NOT UNDER A COMMUNITY BASED CARE CONTRACT, BUT THERE'S STILL SPACE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE AS COMMUNITY BASED CARE MOVES FORWARD IN THAT AREA.

AND THEN IN AROUND MAY, WE'LL BE DISCUSSING CBC IN REGION 9, IN TOWN HALLS AND ALSO REGION 10.

SO THE EL PASO AREA.

ADDITIONALLY, I WANTED TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO OUR DFPS EXTERNAL FACING WEB PAGE, OUR COMMUNITY BASED CARE WEB PAGE.

WE HAVE REALLY WORKED HARD TO KEEP THAT WEB PAGE RELEVANT AND UP TO DATE.

SO YOU'LL SEE NEWS THERE ABOUT COMMUNITY BASED CARE.

YOU'LL SEE TOWN HALLS LIKE I JUST TALKED ABOUT.

YOU'LL SEE LOCATIONS AND TIMES WHEN THOSE TOWN HALLS WILL BE AND WE HAVE A NEW FORM TO FILL OUT.

[01:05:04]

SO IF YOURSELVES, IF ENTITIES YOU WORK WITH, ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY WANTS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY BASED CARE, WE CAN TAILOR PRESENTATIONS, WE CAN COME AND DISCUSS, WE CAN DO VIRTUAL MEETINGS, INFORMATION PACKETS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO HELP SPREAD EDUCATION ABOUT COMMUNITY BASED CARE.

LASTLY, OUR WE WILL HAVE TWO REPORTS RELEASED AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, OUR RIDER 15 REPORT WHICH COMPARES LEGACY SO NON SSCC AREAS PERFORMANCE TO COMMUNITY BASED CARE.

SO SSCC PERFORMANCE FOR OUR CURRENT PROVIDERS AND OUR QUARTERLY IMPLEMENTATION REPORT WILL BE RELEASED.

SO THE QUARTERLY IMPLEMENTATION REPORT GIVES YOU A GLANCE AT WHERE COMMUNITY BASED CARE IS RIGHT NOW IN TEXAS AND SOME UNIQUE INNOVATIONS THAT EACH OF OUR PROVIDERS HAVE AND THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

COUNCILMEMBERS I ALSO JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE TRINA ITA.

SHE WAS ABLE TO JOIN US.

TRINA, COULD YOU STAND JUST SO? SO I'VE TALKED ABOUT YOU BEFORE YOU GOT HERE, SO [LAUGHTER] I JUST WANTED THEM TO HAVE THE FACE WITH THE NAME, SO.

THANK YOU, TRINA.

YOU DIDN'T TELL US HOW PRETTY SHE WAS, THOUGH.

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

[V. Public Comment]

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COUNCIL, COMMISSIONER MUTH, VICKI K.

ARE, I'M CHEATING BECAUSE I CAN'T SAY THAT LONG NAME.

OUR GENERAL COUNSEL.

WE'RE ALL UNABLE TO COMMENT OR RESPOND TO STATEMENTS OR QUESTIONS DURING THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY.

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR INFORMATION WITH US.

IF YOU PLAN TO TALK ABOUT A SPECIFIC CASE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS CALL, PLEASE SIGN UP AT THE REGISTRATION DESK. WE WILL OBSERVE A TWO MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR ALL SPEAKERS.

OUR TIMEKEEPER WILL KEEP TRACK OF THE TIME FOR YOU AND INDICATE WHEN YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT BY A FLASHING THAT SHOWS UP ON YOUR MICROPHONE OVER THERE.

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

HOPEFULLY YOU WILL RESPECT THE CLOSING TIME WHEN THE RED LIGHT COMES ON.

IF YOU DON'T.

I KNOW HOW TO USE THIS AND I WILL GAVEL YOU.

SO LET'S NOT GO THERE.

I BET YOU CAN JUST QUIT TALKING WHEN THE RED LIGHT COMES ON.

OKAY, SO LET'S GET STARTED.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS CASS CRAWFORD.

HI, MY NAME IS CASS CRAWFORD.

MY PRONOUNS ARE HE HIM? I USED TO LIVE HERE.

IN THE TV SHOW 13 REASONS WHY THERE'S AN EPISODE FOCUSED ON SCHOOL SHOOTING DRILLS.

IN THE SHOW STUDENTS DON'T KNOW IF IT'S REAL OR IF IT'S JUST A DRILL.

THEY HIDE UNDER THEIR DESKS AS THEY HEAR BULLETS GO OFF AND DOOR HANDLES RATTLING, THEY FIND OUT SOON AFTER THAT THE POLICE WERE IN THE SCHOOL, RATTLING THE DOOR HANDLES AND SHOOTING BLANKS FROM THEIR GUNS TO SIMULATE GUNSHOTS.

AFTERWARDS, THE MAIN CHARACTER, CLAY, ASKS THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, YOU THINK THIS IS THE WAY TO MAKE US SAFE? THE POINT OF THE EPISODE IS THAT THE ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS DON'T MAKE ANYONE FEEL SAFE AND THEY DON'T ACTUALLY KEEP ANYONE SAFE.

WHAT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL SAFE IS IF I COULD LIVE IN MY HOME WITH MY PARENTS WHO LOVE ME AND NOT HAVE ANY FEAR OF BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM WHEN THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG, WHEN I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG, THAT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL SAFE.

THAT WOULD MAKE ALL TRANS KIDS WHO HAVE AFFIRMING PARENTS FEEL SAFE.

INSTEAD, YOU ARE KILLING US.

YOU ARE KILLING TRANS KIDS WITH THESE INVESTIGATIONS.

WHEN I FIRST FOUND OUT WE HAD TO MOVE, I DIDN'T PROCESS IT.

I DIDN'T PROCESS IT UNTIL WE STARTED PACKING.

AND AT THAT POINT, I COULDN'T BREATHE.

WE DID A BUNCH OF THE THINGS WE USED TO DO OFTEN.

WE WENT TO THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO.

WE WENT TO THE BEACH.

I STILL COULDN'T BREATHE.

THESE ARE NOT THINGS I GET TO DO ANYMORE.

I CAN BREATHE NOW.

IT HURTS. IT BURNS MY HEART AND IT BURNS MY LUNGS.

[01:10:02]

OTHER THAN MY PARENTS, I AM ALONE.

I HAVE NO FRIENDS MY AGE IN MINNESOTA.

I HAVE MY PARENTS AND MY DOGS.

AND MY THERAPIST AND MY PSYCHIATRIST.

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I WOULD RATHER SUFFOCATE.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY I DON'T WANT FRIENDS.

I WANT FRIENDS IN MINNESOTA.

I WANT TO LIKE MINNESOTA.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STATE THAT DOES A LOT TO PROTECT TRANS CHILDREN.

BUT I CANNOT FORGET WHAT TEXAS DID TO ME, WHAT YOU DID TO ME AND WHY.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

DID I HURT SOMEONE? AM I THAT SCARY? ARE WE REALLY SO MEANINGLESS TO YOU, SO DISPOSABLE THAT YOU'RE OKAY WITH US DYING? CLAY FROM 13 REASONS WHY I SAID WE ARE CHILDREN.

WE'RE KIDS.

WE SHOULD BE LIVING OUR [EXPLETIVE] LIVES.

TRANS KIDS DESERVE THE SAME THING.

WE SHOULD BE LIVING OUR LIVES INSTEAD OF FEARING THAT WE WILL.

INSTEAD OF FEARING THAT WE WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM OUR FAMILIES.

PLEASE, PLEASE, LET US LIVE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. HEATHER CRAWFORD.

IS THAT BETTER? OKAY.

MY NAME IS HEATHER CRAWFORD.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER? I AM THE MOTHER OF CASS CRAWFORD WHO JUST SPOKE TO YOU, AND I AM HERE SPEAKING IN HIS HONOR.

TRANS CHILDREN ARE A JOY.

TRANS CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING.

THEY DESERVE CARE AND LOVE AND RESPECT AND THE CHANCE TO GROW INTO ADULTHOOD WITH CONFIDENCE AND IN SAFETY.

TRANS CHILDREN ARE A GIFT TO THE WORLD, AND YOU WILL NEVER FIND ANY PARENTS MORE FIERCELY LOVING THAN THE AFFIRMING PARENTS OF A TRANS KID.

WE WANT THE SAME THINGS FOR OUR CHILDREN THAT EVERY PARENT WANTS.

WE WANT THEM TO BE HEALTHY.

WE WANT THEM TO SHARE IN THE THINGS THAT EXCITE THEM.

WE WANT THEM TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL.

WE WANT THEM TO CLEAN THEIR ROOMS. BUT THE PARENTS OF TRANS KIDS WANT ONE THING MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE THAT THANKFULLY, MOST PARENTS DON'T EVER HAVE TO WISH FOR.

WE JUST WANT OUR KIDS TO SURVIVE.

I STOOD IN FRONT OF YOU A YEAR AGO, COUNCIL ALMOST A YEAR TO THE DAY, AND PLEADED WITH YOU NOT TO PERSECUTE THE PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

AND AT THAT TIME I READ YOU THE NOTE THAT CASS WROTE JUST BEFORE HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE BECAUSE HE COULD NO LONGER LIVE WITH THE PAIN OF MY FAILURE TO AFFIRM HIM AS THE BEAUTIFUL PERSON THAT HE TRULY IS.

I EXPLAINED TO YOU THAT ONCE I REALIZED THE SEVERITY OF MY FAILING, I MADE SURE THAT CASS RECEIVED THE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE THAT HE DESERVES.

AND I BEGGED YOU NOT TO TAKE THAT OPTION AWAY FROM OTHER TEXAS PARENTS.

YOU DID NOT HEAR ME.

YOU DIDN'T HEAR THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PARENTS BEGGING YOU TO LET US LOVE AND RAISE OUR CHILDREN AS THEIR MARVELOUS AUTHENTIC SELVES.

AND SO I MADE THE HARDEST DECISION OF MY LIFE.

AND WE LEFT TEXAS.

I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY FOR HAVING SUFFICIENT PRIVILEGE TO BECOME A POLITICAL REFUGEE, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

CASS AND I CAME HERE FROM MINNESOTA TODAY SO THAT YOU COULD HEAR IN CASS' WORDS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HIM AS A RESULT OF YOUR MONSTROUS BETRAYAL OF HIS RIGHT TO EXIST. AND HE DOESN'T WANT ANY OTHER TRANS KID TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT.

SO WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU TO PLEASE DO YOUR JOBS.

THANK YOU.

ALLISON THOMPSON.

GOOD MORNING. ALLISON THOMPSON FROM PFLUGERVILLE, TEXAS.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE AND HER.

THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

AS A PARENT, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE AND DUTY TO RAISE MY CHILDREN TO BE HEALTHY, WELL-ADJUSTED, CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED LIVING AND WORKING IN TEXAS.

NOW WE HAVE TO CONSIDER MOVING BECAUSE THE STATE IS TARGETING SOME OF OUR CHILDREN MERELY FOR OUR SEEKING OUT AND PROVIDING NECESSARY CARE FOR THEM.

NOW WE HAVE TO PREPARE OUR CHILDREN FOR POSSIBLE INVESTIGATIONS AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY COULD BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR LOVING FAMILY, FRIENDS AND STABLE HOME BECAUSE OF THE

[01:15:02]

MY CHILDREN HAVE TO WATCH THEIR BACKS, WORRY ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL, GUARD WHAT THEY SAY AND TO WHOM.

THEIR STRESS AND ANXIETY LEVELS HAVE RISEN BECAUSE OF THE INVESTIGATIONS BY DFPS.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID BY CREATING A LOVING AND AFFIRMING HOME WHERE THEY COULD FOCUS ON FAMILY SCHOOL AND JUST BEING THEMSELVES.

PLEASE STOP THESE ATTACKS.

TRUST PARENTS TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR THEIR KIDS.

INVESTIGATE ACTUAL AND TRUE CASES OF ABUSE AND ENDANGERMENT AND STOP HARASSING INNOCENT FAMILIES AS PART OF A POLITICAL AGENDA. THANK YOU.

MARTY BEYER.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARTY BEYER.

I USE THEY/THEM PRONOUNS AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS FOR TEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK.

WE ARE A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION OF RELIGIOUS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AND YOUNG TEXANS, BUILDING AN INFORMED AND EFFECTIVE MOVEMENT FOR EQUALITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

TFN IS ALSO A PROUD SUPPORTER OF LGBTQ PLUS EQUALITY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMENTS TODAY AS WELL AS EXTEND A WELCOME TO COMMISSIONER.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK AGAINST THE DIRECTIVE OF GOVERNOR ABBOTT ORDERING THE DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE ANY REPORTED INSTANCES OF TEXAS CHILDREN RECEIVING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE AS CHILD ABUSE.

I URGE YOU DO NOT COMPLY WITH THIS DIRECTIVE.

DO NOT DIVERT YOUR RESOURCES TO INVESTIGATE LOVING PARENTS WHO ARE PROVIDING LIFE SAVING, EVIDENCE BASED, MEDICALLY NECESSARY CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

SUPPORTING TRANSGENDER AND GENDER DIVERSE CHILDREN IS NOT ABUSE, IT IS LOVE.

EVERY MAJOR MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

FURTHERMORE, ACCORDING TO IN-DEPTH RESEARCH FROM THE FAMILY ACCEPTANCE PROJECT, YOUNG PEOPLE WHOSE PARENTS AND FOSTER PARENTS SUPPORT THEM HAVE BETTER OVERALL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH. THEY ALSO HAVE HIGHER SELF ESTEEM AND THEY ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO BE DEPRESSED TO USE ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES OR TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE.

AS A PARENT MYSELF, I HAVE PERSONALLY HAD SEVERAL FRIENDS WHO HAVE FELT SO TERRORIZED BY THIS DIRECTIVE THAT THEY HAVE MOVED OUT OF TEXAS, AWAY FROM THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILIES, BUSINESSES THAT THEY STARTED, AND SCHOOLS WHERE THEIR CHILDREN HAVE GROWN UP AND FELT LOVED AND SUPPORTED.

THEY LEFT THEIR HOME STATE BECAUSE THEY LOVED THEIR CHILDREN TOO MUCH TO RISK BEING TORN APART.

IS THAT THE TEXAS YOU WANT TO BE LIVING IN? IS THAT THE AGENCY YOU WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR? AN AGENCY WHERE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN LIVE IN FEAR THAT LOVE AND SUPPORT IS WHAT MIGHT RIP THEM APART? TALK ABOUT STATE SUPPORTED TRAUMA, JUDGE HELLUMS. I'M SURE YOU CAN DEEPLY UNDERSTAND OUR PLIGHT.

AT A TIME WHEN THERE ARE RECORD NUMBER OF ANTI LGBTQ PLUS BILLS BEING FILED AT THE LEGISLATURE, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM MOVING THE GOVERNOR'S HATEFUL AGENDA FORWARD.

INSTEAD, CONTINUE YOUR IMPORTANT WORK OF PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM ACTUAL HARM, KEEPING FAMILIES SAFELY TOGETHER AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE, AND SUPPORTING THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR STATE.

THANK YOU.

NANCY MOSSMAN.

[INAUDIBLE]. MY NAME IS NANCY MOSSMAN.

I'M A RETIRED UNITED METHODIST CLERGY PERSON, AND I'M SHARING WITH YOU AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

SHE WRITES, ONCE THE INVESTIGATIONS WERE ANNOUNCED, I BECAME FEARFUL EVERY TIME SOMEONE UNEXPECTEDLY KNOCKED ON MY DOOR.

I FEEL TERRORIZED BY THE ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL.

AS A FIFTH GENERATION TEXAN ON BOTH SIDES, I HAVE A RIGHT TO LIVE IN MY STATE AND GET THE HEALTH CARE FOR MY CHILD THAT THEY NEED.

BECAUSE OF THESE POTENTIAL BANS, WE MIGHT HAVE TO FLEE OUR STATE SO WE CAN FEEL SAFE.

I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD FACE BECOMING A REFUGEE IN MY OWN COUNTRY.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.

EVERY STORY I HAVE READ OR HEARD ABOUT CHILDREN AND FROM CHILDREN WHO ARE ALLOWED

[01:20:05]

CHILDREN KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

MOTHERS AND FATHERS WHO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN AND HELP THEIR CHILDREN BECOME THE PERSON THEY WANT TO BE ARE PARENTS WHO ARE PROVIDING THEIR CHILDREN WITH A SAFE AND LOVING HOME.

THESE PARENTS ARE NOT ABUSING THEIR CHILDREN.

MOST OF THE TRANS.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE TIME LIMIT.

BELINDA MONTGOMERY.

GOOD MORNING. DID THAT DO IT? OKAY. GOOD MORNING. I'M BELINDA MONTGOMERY.

I'M A PATIENT ADVOCATE WITH BBM ADVOCATE HERE TO READ AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW TO DFPS FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

PROTECT THE UNPROTECTED THAT'S ON YOUR WEBSITE.

PROTECTIONS MEANS THAT YOU WILL PROTECT SOMEONE FROM SUFFERING HARM OR INJURY OR IS IT LEGAL OR IT IS A LEGAL OR FORMAL MEASURE INTENDED TO PRESERVE CIVIL LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS.

OUR FAMILY IS HERE TODAY TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM THE HARM AND INJURY CAUSED BY THE DANGEROUS TRANSPHOBIC DIRECTIVE BY THE GOVERNOR AND NON-BINDING LEGAL OPINION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL EARLIER THIS YEAR.

IT SHOULD BE CRYSTAL CLEAR TO THIS AGENCY THAT THIS DIRECTIVE IS ABUSIVE TO THE TEXAS FAMILIES AND THEIR PHYSICIANS.

THE GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL ARE NOT PHYSICIANS.

THEY DO NOT HOLD A MEDICAL LICENSE OF ANY KIND.

WE TRUST OUR PHYSICIANS AND THE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE BUILT WITH THEM.

MATEL WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY IF HE WAS DENIED, APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY MEDICAL CARE.

HOW DARE THIS AGENCY THINK EVEN FOR A SECOND THAT THIS DIRECTIVE IS IN ANY WAY PROTECTING CHILDREN? YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ACT ON THIS DIRECTIVE.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO INVESTIGATE A FAMILY BASED ON GENDER IDENTITY OF THEIR CHILD.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO INVESTIGATE A FAMILY BASED ON THEIR MEDICAL CARE A LICENSED PHYSICIAN IS PROVIDING.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO ACT ON THIS DIRECTIVE, YOU WILL BE CAUSING HARM AND INFRINGING ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, RECOGNIZE OUR SUFFERING, RECOGNIZE THE HARM THIS UNCERTAINTY IS CAUSING.

DO THE RIGHT THING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

ANNE GLENN.

HI, MY NAME IS ANNE GLENN, RETIRED FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION.

THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DFPS FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

HI, MY NAME IS KATIE.

I'M A FIFTH GENERATION TEXAN, MATERNAL AND PATERNAL DEEP ROOTS HERE.

AT 12 YEARS OLD MY FIRST BORN TOLD HIS DAD AND I THAT HE WAS IN THE WRONG BODY.

THAT HE WAS REALLY A BOY AND NOT A GIRL.

YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE FEELINGS, FEARS, ANXIETY AND MORE THAT THIS CREATED IN ME.

WE TOLD THEM THAT WE LOVED HIM AND THAT NO MATTER WHAT, WE WOULD SUPPORT HIM AND HELP HIM FIGURE THIS OUT.

I SAW HIS MENTAL HEALTH REALLY DECLINE OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL TO THE SOPHOMORE YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL.

WE HAD COUNTLESS SCARY TIMES WHEN HE DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE IN HIS FEMALE BODY.

SELF-HARMING, CUTTING SO MUCH BULLYING AT DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL, SO ILL EQUIPPED SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND ON THE SITE SHERIFFS ALSO HARMED HIS MENTAL HEALTH.

TO SAVE HIS LIFE, WE LEFT PUBLIC SCHOOL.

WE PAID OUT OF POCKET.

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THERAPISTS, COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS.

A PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGIST WITH APPROVAL OF ALL THE PROFESSIONALS WE SOUGHT AND FOUR YEARS OF LAMENTING WE DECIDED TO ALLOW HIM TO GET THE GENDER AFFIRMING HORMONE AT AGE 16.

WE CHOSE TO HAVE A LIVING SON INSTEAD OF A DEAD DAUGHTER.

[01:25:02]

HE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL ON TIME AT 17, AND I HAD A JOY FILLED HEART.

HE IS NOW 21, IN COLLEGE IN AUSTIN, WORKING PART TIME AND ENGAGED.

I HAVE READ THAT HORMONES ARE THE ONLY ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUG THAT WILL.

NANCY MCLAIN.

MY NAME IS NANCY MCLAIN.

I LIVE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND I'M A CONCERNED CITIZEN.

THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

MY SON CAME OUT TO ME AT TEN YEARS OLD, SUMMER OF 2021 VERSUS GAY.

THEN TWO WEEKS LATER TOLD ME HE WAS A BOY.

I WAS SHOCKED AT FIRST AND DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SUPPORT HIM OTHER THAN TELLING HIM THAT I LOVED HIM UNCONDITIONALLY.

I ASKED HIM WHAT HE NEEDED FROM ME, AND AT THE TIME HE DIDN'T KNOW.

AT SCHOOL THE FOLLOWING FALL, HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF AGAIN WITH HIS NEW NAME AND IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED INTENSE BULLYING AND DENIAL FROM OTHER KIDS ABOUT WHO HE SAID HE WAS. WE STARTED COUNSELING AND MEDICATION TO HELP WITH DEPRESSION A FEW MONTHS LATER, MY SON IS UNHAPPY IN HIS BODY SINCE HE ALREADY WENT THROUGH WHAT HE FEELS IS THE WRONG PUBERTY.

BUT I HAVE INTENSE FEAR OF SEEKING FURTHER GENDER AFFIRMING HELP FOR HIM BECAUSE THE STATE IS SAYING IT MEANS I'M ABUSING MY CHILD.

I'M LITERALLY AFRAID TO GET MY KID THE MEDICAL HELP HE MAY NEED BECAUSE I DON'T WANT HIM TAKEN FROM ME.

SO HE WEARS A BINDER.

AND WE TAKE DEPRESSION MEDS AND WE GO TO COUNSELING AND WE DEAL WITH THE HEAVINESS OF BEING A TRANS PRETEEN IN A STATE THAT DOESN'T WANT HIM TO EXIST.

AND WE TALK ABOUT HIS FEELINGS IN HOPES THAT HE WON'T BE ONE OF THE ONES KIDS THAT COMMIT SUICIDE BECAUSE OUR WORLD DOESN'T SUPPORT OR ACCEPT HIM. AND I PRAY FOR HIS FUTURE.

THANK YOU.

CATHERINE ENYART.

HOPE I SAID THAT RIGHT? GOOD.

IS THAT ON? GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS CATHERINE ENYART.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE/HER AND I LIVE IN AUSTIN.

THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO'S BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

LAST YEAR WHEN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE FILED MORE THAN 70 BILLS ATTACKING LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE, I WAS ONE OF 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 PLUS 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 FOR TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.

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 AS CHILD ABUSERS, I WAS DISHEARTENED, BUT I WASN'T SURPRISED.

I WAS SURPRISED AT HOW AN AGENCY TASKED WITH PROTECTING CHILDREN WOULD ALLOW ITSELF TO BE WEAPONIZED AGAINST FAMILIES WITH LOVING, AFFIRMING HOMES.

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

I WAS SURPRISED THAT AFTER THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT DECLARED THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT DID NOT HAVE THE POWER TO ORDER DFPS TO PURSUE THESE INVESTIGATIONS, THAT YOU CHOSE TO CONTINUE WITH THEM, CLEARLY JEOPARDIZING THE SAFETY NOT JUST OF MY CHILDREN, BUT OF ALL OF THE CHILDREN IN NEED OF HELP WHO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THE SYSTEM.

[01:30:11]

I'M NOT ABLE TO EVEN DO THAT FOR MYSELF.

I DON'T FEEL SAFE. [APPLAUSE] . GRACE PANKY.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GRACE PINKEL.

I'VE BEEN LIVING IN AUSTIN FOR OVER 13 YEARS, AND I'M HERE TO RECITE AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

MY FAMILY HAD TO LEAVE TEXAS IN FEBRUARY TO PROTECT ITSELF.

MY YOUNGEST SIBLING RECENTLY CAME OUT AS NON-BINARY, AND WHILE THEY DON'T PLAN ON SEEKING MEDICAL AT THIS POINT IN TIME, MY FAMILY ALL FELT IT WAS UNSAFE FOR THEM AND MYSELF AND MY SPOUSE, WHO ARE ALSO TRANS TO CONTINUE LIVING IN TEXAS.

WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLEE, BUT NOT EVERY FAMILY HAS THAT PRIVILEGE.

AND NOW WITH TEXAS THREATENING ACTION IF YOU DO.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO DO? THESE ACTIONS ARE PUTTING CHILDREN'S LIVES IN DANGER, NOT JUST FROM HATEFUL MINDED PEOPLE, BUT THEMSELVES.

MANY KIDS WOULD RATHER BE DEAD THAN HAVE TO HIDE WHO THEY ARE.

THIS DISCRIMINATION AND HATE HAS TO STOP.

AND THEN JUST SPEAKING AS MYSELF, JUST HEARING YOU ALL TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAUMA CARE FOR KIDS WHO GO INTO THE FOSTER SYSTEM, WHO ARE AND SPEAKING ABOUT THE THE LACK OF CAPACITY OR HOW WE'RE GROWING, TRYING TO GET MORE CAPACITY FOR THESE KIDS, I REALLY IMPLORE YOU TO NOT LET ABBOTT BOSS YOU AROUND AND MAKE YOU AFRAID TO RIP CHILDREN FROM LOVING FAMILIES ESPECIALLY THAT WILL JUST CAUSE THEM MORE TRAUMA THAN LIKE, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M JUST. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THIS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. AND I REALLY IMPLORE YOU TO USE YOUR POWER TO PLEASE KEEP THESE FAMILIES.

PLEASE KEEP THESE KIDS IN THEIR LOVING FAMILIES AND NOT MAKE THEM GO THROUGH MORE TRAUMA AND NOT MAKE THEM GO INTO A SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE FULL CAPACITY TO CARE FOR THEM. SO THANK YOU.

DENNIS WOODWARD.

I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE PREAMBLE.

I'M NOT A GRANDPARENT YET.

I MIGHT BE SOON.

SOMETIME I HOPE TO BE.

I DON'T KNOW.

AS A GRANDPARENT TO A TRANS SON, I URGE YOU TO ALLOW MY GRANDSON TO LIVE HIS LIFE AS HE CHOOSES AND TO GIVE HIM HIS RIGHTS AS A US CITIZEN AND HUMAN BEING.

DO NOT STIGMATIZE OR CRIMINALIZE HIM, HIS PARENTS, HIS FAMILY, HIS SCHOOL OR HIS MEDICAL SUPPORTERS.

MY GRANDSON DOES NOT NEED ANY ATTACKS FROM HIS PEERS OR MUCH LESS FROM THE STATE IN ACTUALIZING HIS OWN BEING. THESE ATTACKS ONLY AGGRAVATE AND ENCOURAGE HURT TO HIM AND OTHERS.

MY WORDS ON THIS TOPIC ARE I ROLLED OUT OF BED AT 5:30 A.M.

TO COME HERE, NOT BECAUSE I WANTED TO, BUT BECAUSE I COULDN'T HELP IT.

LOOK AT THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.

THEY LOVE TRANS PEOPLE SO MUCH THAT THEY DROVE ACROSS THE STATE TO SPEAK UP FOR THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS THAT THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW.

IF GENDER AFFIRMING CARE WAS HARMFUL, THIS ROOM WOULD BE FULL OF PEOPLE SPEAKING AGAINST IT.

I HOPE MY WORDS WERE SOME VALUE TODAY.

MY SON MOVED TO [INAUDIBLE].

SO HE'S NO CONCERN OF THE STATE ANYMORE.

AND I'M GLAD THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN I WAS TREATING MY CHILD IN A LOVING WAY.

HEATHER VAN DRESSED.

I'M NOT SURE I'VE SAID THAT RIGHT.

[01:35:02]

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE/HER.

I'M HERE TODAY AS A PARENT, A CONCERNED CITIZEN, A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER, AND A FORMER CHILD ABUSE SOCIAL WORKER.

THE ORDER CURRENTLY IN PLACE IS MORE HARMFUL TO TEXAS CHILDREN'S THAN REALLY I CAN EVER EXPRESS IN WORDS.

BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THIS THE LIVES OF TEXAS FAMILIES HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE RUINED BY THIS DANGEROUS AND HATEFUL ORDER.

LOVING FAMILIES HAVE BEEN UNNECESSARILY TORN APART.

THEY CONTINUE TO FLEE TEXAS FOR FEAR OF THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES.

THE LIVES OF TRANS KIDS HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE LOST TO SUICIDE AND BULLYING DUE TO CONTINUED HATE AND DISCRIMINATION PERPETUATED BY THE ADULTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING THEM. THE BLOOD OF OUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN WILL BE ON THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING AND ENFORCING THIS HEINOUS ORDER.

I FIND IT IRONIC THAT GREG ABBOTT AND OTHER LEADERS IN THE STATE WHO ARE PART OF THE PARTY OF FREEDOM AND LESS GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE SPENT ALL OF THEIR TIME, EFFORT AND POWER CONTROLLING OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES AND BODIES, THE HEALTH CARE DECISIONS THEY MAKE, WHAT SPORTS TEAMS THEY PLAY ON, WHAT WORDS THEY'RE ALLOWED TO SAY.

AND AS A MANDATED REPORTER, I FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD ACTUALLY BE REPORTING GREG ABBOTT AND KEN PAXTON FOR THEIR DISGUSTING OBSESSION WITH THE GENITALIA OF TEXAS CHILDREN.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY MORE THAN 80 ANTI-LGBTQ BILLS ON TAP FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND I'M EMBARRASSED FOR THIS STATE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS.

HEALTH CARE IS NOT CHILD ABUSE.

THERE'S ACTUALLY ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO JUNK UP OUR ALREADY STRESSED SYSTEM WITH THIS NONSENSE.

I KNOW THE TEXAS CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM QUITE WELL, AND I KNOW IT'S IN CRISIS.

LET ME BE CLEAR. I'M ALSO FULLY AWARE THESE ANTICS ARE USED TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM THINGS OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD ACTUALLY BE DOING AND FOR OTHER POLITICAL GAIN.

THIS ORDER CAME SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THE GOP PRIMARIES.

OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT PAWNS.

THEIR SAFETY AND WELL-BEING ARE NOT A GAME.

AND I HOPE MS. MUTH AND COUNCIL THAT YOU'LL FEEL CALLED TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND JUST FOR THE CHILDREN OF TEXAS.

I HOPE YOU CHOOSE TO STAND UP AND FIGHT BACK.

THANK YOU.

GRAHAM PRITCHARD.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GRAHAM PRITCHARD AND I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO STAND IN SUPPORT OF ALL TEXAS TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND ALL TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

AND I URGE YOU TO RESCIND YOUR POLICY CONCERNING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE PUBLICLY.

AND I URGE YOU TO SPEAK TO OUR GOVERNOR AND COMMUNICATE THAT IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CHILDREN TO CONTINUE THIS POLICY AND TO RESCIND IT.

I AM A FORMER GUARDIAN AD LITEM, AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT CHILDHOOD TRAUMA.

AND I CAN SAY THAT THE CURRENT POLICY, IS INFLICTING DEVASTATING TRAUMA ON THOUSANDS OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AND THEIR SIBLINGS IN TEXAS. AND I WILL ALSO READ AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN. AS A TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUAL, I'M AFRAID THAT MY SAFETY AND LIVELIHOOD ARE ENDANGERED.

BY DECREEING THAT TRANSGENDER CHILDREN ARE ESSENTIALLY ILLEGAL BY STIFLING OUR EXISTENCE AND PUNISHING OUR SUPPORTERS, YOU CONDEMN OUR LIVELIHOOD IN PIECE YOU CONDEMN US TO SHAME, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION.

THE LIST GOES ON.

WE GROW UP FEELING INSECURE AND UNTRUSTING OF OUR HOMES.

WE HAVE NO FAITH IN OUR POLITICAL LEADERS.

YOU SEND US A DEATH WISH FOR THE SAFETY AND CARE OF OUR YOUTH, CHILDREN AND ADULTS I URGE YOU TO ALLOW US THE RIGHTS TO AUTONOMY AND IDENTITY, WHICH ALL PEOPLE OUGHT TO HAVE NATURALLY. YOU WOULDN'T WANT SOMEONE FORCING YOU TO BE SOMEONE YOU'RE NOT ALL YOUR LIFE AT THE THREAT OF SEVERE LEGAL PERSECUTION, AT THE THREAT OF LOSING YOUR LOVED ONES, AT THE HANDS OF AN ORGANIZATION, AN INSTITUTION ORDERED TO PROTECT ITS PEOPLE.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] MIA HAUSER.

MY NAME IS MIA HAUSER. THIS IS MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE/HER.

AND THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

MY FAMILY HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE HURT BY ABBOTT'S ORDER TO WRONGFULLY, UNJUSTLY, INVESTIGATE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER YOUTH.

MY CHILD AND FAMILY HAVE THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND THIS ORDER INFRINGES ON THAT RIGHT.

[01:40:04]

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IS NOT NEEDED HERE.

YOU ARE FEAR MONGERING AND CREATING A PROBLEM WHERE THERE IS NONE.

WE DO NOT DESERVE THE FEAR OF DFPS HANGING OVER OUR HEADS FOR DOING THE MOST BASELINE OF RESPONSIBILITIES AS PARENTS, WHICH IS TO UNCONDITIONALLY LOVE AND SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN. YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND THE DEPTH OF PAIN AND FEAR THAT YOU WERE INFLICTING ON THESE FAMILIES. FOR IF YOU DID, YOU WOULD NOT ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE.

THANKS . [APPLAUSE] BLANCA SANCHEZ NAVARRO.

MY NAME IS BLANCA SANCHEZ NAVARRO.

PRONOUNS SHE/AYA.

THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

I AM SEEING IN 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.

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, SUICIDALITY.

THE MEDICAL LITERATURE AND OUR OWN EXPERIENCE CONFIRMED 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? AN OLDER ADOLESCENT PATIENT? 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 HAD ENDURED AS NEVER FEELING COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN BODY.

IMAGINE ALL OF YOU.

WHAT WOULD IT 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 FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED, 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 WHO SHOULD BE PENALIZED, AND I APPRECIATE THE HEAVY BURDENS THAT..

IT'S SAD TO LOOK AND KNOW.

I WONDER IF THIS IS FALLING ON EMPTY HEARTS.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU HEAR YOU ARE IMPORTANT AND WHAT YOU DO MATTERS.

LAURA OGLESBY.

GOOD MORNING, I'M LAURA OGLESBY.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE AND HER.

I LIVE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 25 YEARS.

THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DFPS FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

MY BROTHER HAS A BEAUTIFUL, VIBRANT TRANSGENDER CHILD.

I'M A 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.

WHEN THESE DFPS INVESTIGATIONS STARTED, WE HAD A LONG CONVO ABOUT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR THEIR CHILD.

THE FACT IS, WHAT THE AG IS CALLING CHILD ABUSE IS REALLY 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 DISHEARTENED BY HOW OUR GOVERNMENT IS TREATING VULNERABLE CHILDREN, NOT JUST MY NEPHEW, BUT ALL OF 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 IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS BECAUSE WE TOO WOULD AFFIRM HIS GENDER IDENTITY.

[01:45:05]

SO YOU HAVE TO ASSUME WE'D BE INVESTIGATED, TOO.

THE ONLY PLACE THESE KIDS CAN END UP IS IN FOSTER CARE, WHERE THEY ARE TOLD THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

THAT'S TWISTED AND IT ISN'T RIGHT.

PROTECT KIDS.

SARAH STONE.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SARAH STONE.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HERS? I'M A PARENT, EDUCATOR AND LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND I'LL BE READING AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

I'M WRITING THIS WITH THE HOPES THAT I CAN BE THE VOICE FOR MY TRANSGENDER, NON-BINARY CHILD.

I FEEL THAT PEOPLE OFTEN DON'T UNDERSTAND THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF LAWS AGAINST TRANSGENDER YOUTH AND HOW TRULY DEVASTATING IT IS.

I LOVE BEING BORN AND RAISED TEXAN.

BUT LATELY, SINCE THESE ATTACKS ON TRANS YOUTH, I HAVE CONTEMPLATED LEAVING MY BELOVED STATE TO A SAFER PLACE FOR MY CHILD.

IF TEXANS ARE SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, THEN WHY IS IT THAT SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND LAWMAKERS SEE FIT FOR IT TO BE OKAY WITH SUBJECTING YOUTH TO TRAUMA? MY CHILD IS NOW AFRAID TO BE THEMSELVES AROUND PEOPLE FOR FEAR THAT THEY CAN RISK THE ONLY SAFE PLACE THEY'VE ONLY KNOWN OUR HOME.

SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY'RE TRANS.

IT HAS BEEN PROVEN BY DOCTORS AND PSYCHIATRISTS THAT BEING SUPPORTIVE AND ENSURING YOUR CHILD HAS GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IS LIFE SAVING.

LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.

IT IS LIFE SAVING.

THE HIGH RATES OF SUICIDE AMONG TEEN YOUTH WHO DO NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT, WHO CANNOT BE THEIR TRUE SELVES, IS AT AN ALARMING RATE.

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT AS A PARENT? WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD? WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY, TO SEE THEM THRIVE AND BE THE BEST VERSIONS OF THEMSELVES? BECAUSE I MOST CERTAINLY WANT ALL OF THOSE THINGS FROM MY CHILD AND ALL TRANS YOUTH.

WE MUST STOP TRYING TO HARM THE TRANS YOUTH OF TEXAS.

RACHEL SPERLING.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS RACHEL SPERLING.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER? I'M NOT YET A PARENT, BUT MY PARTNER AND I HAVE DISCUSSED LEAVING TEXAS ALREADY BECAUSE OF THESE KIND OF DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES, AMONG OTHER POLITICAL ATTACKS HAPPENING IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

BECAUSE OF THE THREAT OF AN UNWARRANTED INVESTIGATION BY DFPS.

OUR FAMILY HAS LIVED WITH CONSTANT ANXIETY AND FEAR FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

EVERY KNOCK ON THE DOOR WE AREN'T EXPECTING.

WE SHARE WORRIED GLANCES.

WE CHECK OUR RING DOORBELL ANXIOUS THAT IT'S SOMEONE FROM DFPS TO QUESTION US ABOUT OUR TEENAGE TRANSGENDER DAUGHTER.

WE WERE FORCED TO SEEK LEGAL COUNSEL TO BE PREPARED IN CASE THAT HORRIBLE DAY COMES WHEN IT'S NOT JUST SOMEONE DELIVERING A PACKAGE, BUT SOMEONE DELIVERING THE DREADED NEWS THAT WE ARE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR SIMPLY LOVING OUR DAUGHTER AND PROVIDING NECESSARY MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE.

WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS.

NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR.

MY DAUGHTER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE MADE TO FEEL THAT SHE IS A BURDEN AND THE CAUSE OF OUR FAMILY'S WORRY.

SHE LOVES US AND DOESN'T WANT TO SEE US SUFFER.

AND WE FEAR THAT HER SUICIDAL IDEATIONS WOULD EXCUSE ME, WILL RETURN AS THEY DID BEFORE SHE TRANSITIONED.

PLEASE, WE ARE BEGGING YOU, STOP INVESTIGATING FAMILIES WHO ARE PROVIDING THEIR TRANSGENDER CHILDREN WITH LIFE SAVING MEDICAL CARE.

THANK YOU.

MILO GRANT.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS REVEREND MILO GRANT.

[01:50:02]

A COUPLE OF THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BEFORE READING THE ANONYMOUS LETTER THAT I AM ALSO HERE TO READ.

WHEN WE DESCRIBE WANTING TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE, ARE WE INCLUDING THE 650,000 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 THAT ARE IN MIGRANT DETENTION CENTERS RIGHT NOW? ARE WE INCLUDING THE STATISTICS OR 38% OF TRANS GIRLS ARE WOMEN OR 39% OF TRANS MEN OR BOYS ARE BEING RECEIVING HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE THEIR FAMILIES KICKED THEM OUT.

AND WHAT WE DO IN THAT SITUATION ARISES IS UNDERSTAND THAT TRAFFICKING IS MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE THEIR REALITY.

ARE WE KEEPING IN MIND THAT 94% OF LGBTQ PEOPLE EXPERIENCE SEVERE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEMS EXPLICITLY BECAUSE OF THE POLITICS CREATED AND THE DIALOGS THAT OUR STATES AND OUR LEGISLATION CREATE? MORE IMPORTANTLY, I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE WORK DONE HERE, DESPITE THE ACTIVISM AND EDUCATION PROVIDED TO THIS COMMITTEE FOR THE PAST YEAR, HAS LED TO ISSUES WHERE STATES LIKE OKLAHOMA AND TENNESSEE ARE ABLE TO CREATE HATE LEGISLATION.

THIS IS A BREEDING GROUND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO FLOURISH IN OUR NATION UNLESS WE ARE ABLE TO RECANT AND SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN WRONG.

I AM NOW READING A LETTER THAT WAS WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF THIS COMMITTEE BY A PARENT WHO WAS TOO AFRAID TO COME FORWARD AND SHARE THEIR STORY.

I AM THE PARENT OF A TEN YEAR OLD TRANSGENDER DAUGHTER.

I ALSO HAVE A DEGREE IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SCIENCES FROM UT, AND I'VE WORKED WITH CHILDREN FROM AGES 3 TO 18 FOR 20 YEARS.

IN OTHER WORDS, I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO KIDS HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND SAFETY.

IN MY CAREER, I MYSELF HAVE HAD TO MAKE DFPS REPORTS WHEN I FELT THAT A CHILD WAS IN DANGER BECAUSE IT WAS MY DUTY AS A MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT MY CHILD IS NOT BEING ABUSED NOR FORCED INTO BEING TRANSGENDER.

THESE INVESTIGATIONS AND LETTERS PUT OUT BY PAXTON AND ABBOTT HAVE PUT OUR FAMILIES IN DANGERS.

INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB PROTECTING US.

THEY HAVE LITERALLY CAUSED THIS FAMILY TRAUMA.

THEY ARE SPENDING OVER $800 A MONTH OUTSIDE OF INSURANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT BASIC CARE IS PROVIDED.

MEGAN BYHON.

BOONE. OKAY.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MEGAN BOONE.

THEY, THEM. AND I AM HERE TO READ AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

DFPS RESOURCES ARE ALREADY STRETCHED AND SHOULD BE USED TO PROTECT CHILDREN, NOT WEAPONIZED, FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.

PLEASE DO NOT INVESTIGATE FAMILIES WHO ARE PROVIDING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE TO THEIR TRANSGENDER KIDS.

FAMILIES ACROSS TEXAS ARE LIVING IN FEAR THAT THEY WILL BE NEXT FOR A VISIT.

NO PARENT WHO IS SIMPLY GIVING THEIR CHILD ACCESS TO BEST PRACTICE CARE DESERVES TO BE TARGETED IN A CYNICAL POLITICAL ATTACK.

ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, ACCESS TO AFFIRMING CARE IS MEDICALLY NECESSARY AND OFTEN LIFESAVING FOR MANY TRANS YOUTH. AS THE COUNCIL HAS GRACIOUSLY PROVIDED US MORE TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A PERSONAL STATEMENT.

AS A CHILD, I WAS MISSED BY A RESOURCE STARVED DFPS ALONG WITH MY FOUR SIBLINGS.

I LEFT TEXAS THINKING THAT NO ONE WAS HERE TO CARE FOR ME AND I RETURNED TO CARE FOR MY FAMILY OF ORIGIN.

I ASSURED MY OWN GENDER NON-CONFORMING AND TRANS CHILD THAT TEXAS DID CARE AND THAT WE WOULD BE PROTECTED HERE.

THE FEAR UPSET AND INVALIDATIONS OF THESE SPURIOUS INVESTIGATIONS INTO BEST PRACTICE CARE AND PARENTING IS UNSPEAKABLE.

PLEASE DIRECT YOUR RESOURCES WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED, ACTUALLY PROTECTING ALL TEXAS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

THANK YOU. JOY BUTLER.

GOOD MORNING. I'M JOY BUTLER.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE AND HER.

I'VE BEEN IN TEXAS FOR 22 YEARS AND I'VE RAISED MY FAMILY HERE.

THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

I AM AN EIGHT YEAR OLD TRANS KID AND LIVE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

I LIKE TO DANCE AND SING.

I DO LOTS OF CRAFTS.

[01:55:02]

I LOVE MY SCHOOL.

MY FAVORITE DAY AT SCHOOL THIS PAST YEAR WAS TUESDAYS BECAUSE I GOT TO GO TO MY GT GIFTED AND TALENTED CLASS.

I HAVE BEEN IN GT SINCE KINDERGARTEN.

I MAKE ALL A'S AND E'S.

I GOT STUDENT OF THE MONTH LAST YEAR.

I TRIED TO TAKE MY GLOBE EVERYWHERE BECAUSE I LOVE GEOGRAPHY.

I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS AND I LIKE TO PLAY WITH THEM.

I JUST HAD MY HIP HOP RECITAL.

I ALSO DO GIRL SCOUTS.

I'VE GOT TONS OF BADGES THIS YEAR.

I LIKE TO GO TO RALLIES AND PROTESTS BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN TEXAS IS WRONG.

BUT I WOULD PREFER TO BE AT HOME PLAYING WITH MY FRIENDS.

IT MAKES ME SAD THAT SOME JUST DON'T WANT TO LEARN ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE ME.

WE DID A MUSICAL PROGRAM AT SCHOOL WHERE WE HAD TO SING ALL THE SONGS ABOUT TEXAS.

I LIKED THE ONE CALLED GOODBYE OLD TEXAS.

BUT SINGING TEXAS, OUR TEXAS WAS HARD WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ACT LIKE IT'S TEXAS YOUR TEXAS.

I AM JUST A NORMAL KID.

AND WE ARE A NORMAL FAMILY.

SARA ORMAN.

HELLO. I AM A NATIVE OF AUSTIN AND A CASA VOLUNTEER, AND I'M HERE TO READ ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY.

13 KIDS, WHEN PEOPLE HEAR NUMBERS AND STATS, I FEEL LIKE THE PERSONALIZATION OF THEIR STORIES AND LIVES ARE LOST IN THE MIX.

OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, I HAVE REFERRED OUT 13 KIDS THAT WERE ON MY CASELOAD.

THESE NUMBERS ARE UPSETTING.

THESE 13 KIDS HAVE A STORY.

THEY HAVE NAMES AND THEY'VE HAD TRAUMA.

OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, I HAVE PROVIDED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO KIDS IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.

THIS YEAR, I ETHICALLY HAD TO REFER THEM OUT BASED OFF OF DFPS, NOT USING THEIR VOICE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS EVIDENCE BASED BEST TREATMENT FOR TRANS YOUTH. IN THE PAST, I WAS ABLE TO TELL FOSTER FAMILIES, FAMILIES GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM THAT CPS WORKS REALLY HARD FOR THE KIDS AS WELL AS THE FAMILIES.

I WOULD SAY THIS THROUGH GRITTING TEETH AT TIMES.

IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR A CASEWORKER TO NOT CALL ME BACK FOR ONE MONTH, TWO MONTHS, AND SOMETIMES THREE.

THROUGH WORKING WITH CASA AND ATTORNEYS, I WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO GET THE NEEDED SUPPORT FOR THE KID.

THANK GOD THESE KIDS HAD A BULLDOG OF A THERAPIST THAT WOULD ADVOCATE, BUT THEY NEEDED THAT IN A CASEWORKER.

THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HELP, BUT I WAS WILLING TO GO THE EXTRA MILE IF IT MEANT A KID'S LIFE WAS A BIT BETTER.

MY FAMILY HAS OPENED OUR HOUSE TO BE A KINSHIP PLACEMENT FOR A BABY.

MY HUSBAND AND I ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT OPENING OUR HOME TO OLDER TEENS.

I WAS PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM.

LEADERSHIP CONTINUED TO REMAIN SILENT DURING MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS BY PROFESSIONALS TO EXPRESS HOW IMPORTANT HER VOICE WAS FOR TRANS YOUTH.

IT DISGUSTED ME AS TIME PASSED AND MY FRIENDS WERE BEING INVESTIGATED WITH NO END IN SIGHT, IT INFURIATED ME.

I CAN NO LONGER BEAR MY SILENCE.

IT HAS CREATED A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

I CAN NO LONGER ENSURE THAT DFPS IS DOING WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THESE CHILDREN OR THEIR FAMILIES.

I AM THE PARENT OF A TRANS KID.

IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE 13 PRECIOUS CHILDREN ON MY CASELOAD FROM MORE SUDDEN TRAUMA, I REFERRED THEM OUT.

KIDS WILL LOOK BACK ONE DAY AND FIGURE OUT WHO THE HELPERS WERE.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE? TAYLOR TREVINO.

HI, MY NAME IS TAYLOR TREVINO.

PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER, AND I'M FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS.

THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DFPS FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

I'M A TEACHER IN TEXAS ON A CAMPUS WITH AT LEAST TWO TRANS STUDENTS.

THESE STUDENTS ARE WELL CARED FOR, WELL-ADJUSTED, SUCCESSFUL IN BOTH THEIR ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL LIVES.

THEIR AVERAGE MIDDLE CLASS STUDENTS LIVING A LIFE OF PRIVILEGE TO HAVE PARENTS THAT CARE ABOUT THEIR WELL-BEING AND FRIENDS WHO LOVE THEM.

THE IDEA OF MY BEING PUNISHED FOR REFUSING TO REPORT THEIR SUPPORTIVE AND LOVING PARENTS FOR HELPING THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN SKIN IS LUDICROUS, HATEFUL AND

[02:00:05]

ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN A MYRIAD OF WAYS INFLICTED BY PARENTS WITH LITTLE CAPABILITY FOR OR INTEREST IN HELPING THEIR CHILD TO BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES THAT THEY CAN.

THE LIMITED RESOURCES OF DFPS SHOULD BE SPENT ON THESE CHILDREN AND THESE CASES, NOT ON TEACHERS WHO REFUSE TO REPORT FAMILIES WHO LOVE AND SUPPORT THEIR TRANS CHILDREN AND CARE ABOUT THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING.

THESE DIRECTIVES ARE HATEFUL, SCARY AND DRACONIAN, AND HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR LAWS OR CLASSROOMS. SO THAT'S THE END OF THE ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY.

BUT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF FOR A MOMENT, I'M ALSO A FORMER EDUCATOR.

I HAD TRANS AND NON-BINARY KIDS IN MY CLASSROOM.

AND WHAT'S AT THE BASIS OF ALL OF THIS IS THAT WE ALL WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR KIDS, RIGHT? AND SO IN EDUCATION, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S KNOWN AS THE EFFECTIVE FILTER, WHICH IS THE EMOTIONAL WALLS YOU HAVE UP, WHETHER IT'S STUFF GOING ON IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE OR IF YOU'RE JUST SCARED TO ANSWER A QUESTION WRONG IN FRONT OF THE CLASS.

SO WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS.

KIDS WHO WILL BE STRESSED OUT, WORRIED ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES BEING INVESTIGATED, AND THE LACK OF TRUST THAT THAT WOULD CREATE BETWEEN TEACHERS OR BETWEEN STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHERS OR OTHER SCHOOL STAFF.

STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LEARN UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S ALREADY ENOUGH BARRIERS UP FOR THEM RECEIVING A QUALITY EDUCATION.

AND WE HEARD THE CPS REPORT EARLIER.

UNTIL THAT NUMBER IS ZERO, THE STATE AND ITS EMPLOYEES HAVE NO BUSINESS INVESTIGATING PARENTS OF TRANS CHILDREN.

THANK YOU. KRISTA NARON. HELLO, MY NAME IS KRISTEN NARON. MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER? I'M AN EDUCATOR AND I'M SO TEXAS, I'M A DESCENDANT OF THE ORIGINAL 300 SO.

THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED IN THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

AS AN LGBTQ PERSON WHO HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION DIVISION OF DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTIVE SERVICES, I WAS APPALLED NOT ONLY AT THE UNJUST DFPS INVESTIGATIONS INTO FAMILIES CARING FOR THEIR CHILDREN, BUT AT THE SILENT COMPLICITY OF THE DFPS STAFF, MANY OF WHOM I KNOW PERSONALLY.

THAT PEI DIVISION HAS COMMITTED IN THEIR STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN TO PROMOTE EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR ALL TEXAS CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS HOW TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF FAMILY VULNERABILITY.

HOWEVER, THESE SEEM TO BE HOLLOW COMMITMENTS, OR AT LEAST EXCLUDE OR ERASE LGBTQ PLUS IDENTITIES FROM THE EQUATION.

NOT ONCE IN THE FOUR MONTHS SINCE THE PAXTON OPINION AND ABBOTT MEMO HAVE WE RECEIVED COMMUNICATION FROM PEI REGARDING WHAT ACTIONS MANDATED REPORTERS SHOULD TAKE.

DESPITE NEARLY ALL STAFF FUNDED BY PEI BEING MANDATED REPORTERS, NOT ONLY ONCE IN THESE FOUR MONTHS DID WE RECEIVE RESOURCES, SUPPORT OR ENCOURAGEMENT ON HOW PROGRAMS SHOULD SUPPORT LGBTQ PLUS CAREGIVERS, YOUTH AND CHILDREN, DESPITE THE HIGH PREVALENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, HOMELESSNESS AND TRUANCY AMONG LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH, THE VERY ISSUES TACKLED BY PEI FUNDED PROGRAMS. DURING THESE MONTHS. PEI HIRED A DISPROPORTIONALITY MANAGER.

HOWEVER, THE FRAMING OF THAT JOB DOES NOT ADDRESS LGBTQ PLUS DISPROPORTIONALITY IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, WHICH WE KNOW FROM NATIONAL STUDIES, ESPECIALLY AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH RACE. FURTHERMORE, THE PERSON HIRED RECEIVED EDUCATION FROM AN INSTITUTION WITH NOTORIOUS ANTI LGBTQ PLUS STANCES AND WHO WORKS AS A PASTOR IN A CONGREGATION.

EXCUSE ME WHOSE OFFICIAL STANCE REJECTS LGBTQ PLUS IDENTITIES.

SO THIS IS ALL IN ADDITION TO THE REMOVAL OF LGBTQ PLUS RESOURCES FROM THE DPS WEBSITE DUE TO PRESSURE DURING THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION.

I PUT IN MY RESIGNATION DURING ALL OF THIS BECAUSE I COULD NOT CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH AN AGENCY WHOSE WORDS ARE HOLLOW, WHOSE ACTIONS ARE HARMFUL.

THANK YOU. NICOLE HAZARA.

HAZARA. AZARI.

HELLO. I'M READING A TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

I AM THE PARENT OF A TRANS TEEN, AND IN THE INVESTIGATIONS OF TRANS KIDS FAMILIES BY DFPS HAVE BEEN SO UPSETTING AND SCARY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. FOR YEARS, I HAVE 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 LIFE.

THIS ADVICE CONSISTENTLY INCLUDES AFFIRMING MY CHILD'S GENDER IDENTITY AND PROVIDING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

FOR DFPS TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE IS LIKE A SLAP IN THE FACE FOR PARENTS WHO HAVE DONE EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW BEST PRACTICES, EVIDENCE BASED CARE FOR THEIR

[02:05:06]

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 IS 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 AND 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. STACEY.

STACEY FRAZIER.

OH, OKAY. FRAZIER.

BRING IT ON.

AM I ON? GOOD MORNING.

THIS IS MY FIRST TESTIMONY EVER, SO BEAR WITH ME.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR OPENING YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR EARS TO THIS TESTIMONY.

MY NAME IS STACY FRAZIER.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE, THEY.

I AM AN AUSTIN RESIDENT, AND WE MOVED BACK TO AUSTIN TO RAISE OUR FOUR YEAR OLD BOY HERE IN THIS WONDERFUL CITY.

THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO'S BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

BECAUSE OF THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CLIMATE OF THIS STATE, MY SON FEELS UNSAFE.

HE EVEN FEARS HIS TRANS COMMUNITY AND DOES NOT WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM FOR FEAR OF RETRIBUTION.

THIS STATE OF HATE HAS SILENCED MANY VOICES OUT OF FEAR.

HOW DO YOU SILENCE THE VOICES OF THE NEXT GENERATION WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE? YOU DON'T.

THEY LIVE IN ISOLATION.

TURN TO SUICIDE, HIDE FROM HELP AND FEAR CONDEMNATION.

THEY TRUST NO ONE.

AS A PARENT, ALL I WANT TO DO IS KEEP MY CHILDREN SAFE AND HAPPY.

BOTH HAVE PROVEN TO BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THE DANGEROUS LEGISLATION PROPOSED AND THE THREAT OF SEPARATION HANGING LIKE A DARK CLOUD OVER OUR HEADS.

WE HAVE SPENT THE LAST FOUR YEARS BUILDING A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR OUR SON THAT INCLUDES A FAMILY OF ALLIES, TRUSTED DONORS AND THERAPISTS, AND ACCEPTING COMMUNITY LOVING FRIENDS AND A SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL SYSTEM AFTER A SUICIDE ATTEMPT IN 2019.

HE IS FINALLY LEARNING TO TRUST THE SYSTEM HE'S A PART OF.

PLEASE DON'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM HIM AND OUR FAMILY.

WE CANNOT GO BACKWARDS.

IT WILL ONLY LEAD TO DARKNESS.

BRAD PRITCHETT.

ON. GOOD.

GOOD MORNING. I'M BRAD PRITCHETT.

YOU SEE HIM? PRONOUNS. I'M THE FIELD DIRECTOR FOR EQUALITY TEXAS, WHERE THE STATE'S LGBTQ ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION.

AND FIRST, WE WANT TO WELCOME COMMISSIONER MUTH.

WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THIS CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP WILL BE THE TURNING OF THE PAGE AND WHAT WE CONSIDER A DARK CHAPTER IN DFPS HISTORY.

FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, WE'VE BEEN ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.

AND EVEN A YEAR LATER, YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS IS STILL EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE KEEP SHOWING UP EVERY TIME.

EQUALITY TEXAS IS COMMITTED TO OFFERING OURSELVES AS A RESOURCE TO THIS AGENCY.

WITH THAT IN MIND, WE'VE ASSEMBLED A RESOURCE PACKET FOR YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND YOUR STAFF THAT GIVES YOU SOME INFORMATION ON MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH THAT COVERS SOME OF THE NEWS STORIES THAT HAVE COME OUT THAT PERTAIN TO HOW FAMILIES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS DIRECTIVE, AND THAT GIVE YOU SOME OF THE TESTIMONY THAT YOU'VE HEARD HERE TODAY. THERE ARE A LOT MORE TESTIMONIES THAN YOU'VE HEARD HERE TODAY, AND THERE ARE PROBABLY A LOT MORE IN HERE THAN YOU'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH.

BUT YOU KEEP COMING IN AND WE'LL KEEP SENDING THEM WHEN WE CAN.

WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE GENUINELY WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR NEW ROLE.

[02:10:02]

AND WE WANT YOU AND I REALLY WANT YOU TO HEAR THIS.

WE WANT YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS JOB BECAUSE YOUR SUCCESS IS THE SUCCESS OF TEXAS KIDS WHO ARE IN NEED.

AND THAT IS A GOAL I THINK WE ALL SHARE.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THIS RESOURCE PACKET AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL THE DFPS STAFF FOR ALWAYS TREATING US SO KINDLY AND MAKING THIS PROCESS ONE OF THE EASIER HEARINGS THAT WE GET TO GO TO BECAUSE YOU'RE SO CONSIDERATE TO OUR FOLKS, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR GRACE.

THANK YOU.

ETHAN GANZ.

SO. HEY, Y'ALL.

MY NAME IS ETHAN, MICHELLE GANS, AND I'M FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS.

AND I WANT TO SAY, I FEEL LIKE I'M LOOKING AT TEXAS RIGHT HERE WITH THE DIVERSITY ON THIS PANEL, ON THIS COMMITTEE.

YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT MAYBE Y'ALL SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT DIVERSITY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON MY LIVED EXPERIENCE.

I'M A TRANS, NON-BINARY PERSON.

I'M 47 YEARS OLD.

I CHOSE MY NAME ETHAN, WHEN I WAS SIX.

NOW WHEN I WAS 46, I CHANGED IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN WHO I WAS, BUT PEOPLE TRIED TO FORCE GENDER ROLES, GENDER, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST TRIED TO FORCE ME TO BE WHAT THEY EXPECTED ME TO BE.

AND THAT CAUSED ALL KINDS OF TRAUMA IN MY LIFE.

IF I HAD BEEN ABLE TO JUST BE MYSELF, WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN MY LIFE? BUT INSTEAD I FEEL LIKE HALF MY LIFE WAS STOLEN FROM ME.

UM, NOW I'M ABLE TO LIVE AS MYSELF.

I'M ABLE TO BE FREE.

I'M NOT SCARED OF THE GOVERNMENT.

I'LL BE MYSELF IN THE STREETS, EVEN IF THEY MAKE ME ILLEGAL.

I'LL BE OUT THERE IN THE STREET BECAUSE ESPECIALLY THIS GROUP THAT I'M LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW.

THIS IDEA IS CONNECTED TO WHITE SUPREMACY.

BEFORE THE EUROPEANS CAME HERE, THERE WERE 155 INDIGENOUS NATIONS THAT RECOGNIZED BETWEEN 3 AND 5 GENDERS. IT WAS THE WHITE SUPREMACY OF THE EUROPEANS THAT BROUGHT THE GENDER BINARY TO THIS LAND.

WHY ARE WE UPHOLDING THAT? WHY IS A GROUP THIS DIVERSE UPHOLDING THAT WHITE SUPREMACY OF OLD? TEXAS DESERVES BETTER.

WE DESERVE BETTER.

Y'ALL CAN DO BETTER.

THANK YOU.

MEGAN FAIRBANKS.

YOU'D THINK I'D KNOW THIS BY NOW BECAUSE I'VE DONE THIS.

WELL, THIS IS MY FOURTH TIME.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS MEGAN FAIRBANKS.

I USE SHE HER PRONOUNS, AND I'M A PROUD TRANSGENDER WOMAN.

I AM ALSO WITH A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION CALLED TRANS AND GENDER QUEER HOUSTON.

BUT TODAY I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF.

I HAVE ONCE AGAIN MADE THE DRIVE FROM HOUSTON TO BE HERE BECAUSE THIS IS JUST THAT IMPORTANT TO ME.

JUDGE, WE NEED TO START COMMUTING.

I'M SERIOUS. JOKE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE TRANSGENDER.

WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT GENDER DYSPHORIA, WHICH IS THE DISTRESS A PERSON EXPERIENCES, EXPERIENCES DUE TO A MISMATCH BETWEEN THEIR GENDER IDENTITY, THE PERSONAL SENSE OF THEIR OWN GENDER AND THEIR SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH.

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN CHILDREN ARE IN DISTRESS OR WHEN ANYONE IS IN DISTRESS, FOR THAT MATTER? WE HELP THEM.

WE OFFER THEM COMFORT.

WE OFFER THEM AID.

WE SUPPORT THEM.

AND WE DO NOT GO AFTER THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDING THAT COMFORT AND AID.

THERE'S ANOTHER TERM THAT WE DON'T HEAR AS MUCH AND PERHAPS AN EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TERM.

GENDER EUPHORIA.

GENDER EUPHORIA IS THE SATISFACTION OR ENJOYMENT FELT BY A PERSON DUE TO THE CONSISTENCY BETWEEN THEIR GENDER IDENTITY AND THEIR GENDER PRESENTATION.

[02:15:04]

INCREASED WELL-BEING.

LET THAT SINK IN FOR A MINUTE.

LET ME SPEAK FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE.

I WAS 13 WHEN I FIRST FELT GENDER DYSPHORIA.

I CARRIED AROUND THE DEPRESSION AND SHAME ASSOCIATED WITH IT FOR 30 PLUS YEARS BEFORE I FOUND THE PATH TO TRANSITION.

I CARRY THAT HIDDEN BURDEN WITH ME LIKE A LEAD WEIGHT AROUND MY NECK.

ONCE I STARTED TRANSITION AND FOUND THE STRENGTH TO LIVE THE LIFE THAT I HAD ALWAYS DREAMED OF, THAT WEIGHT FELL AWAY.

WORDS CAN'T DESCRIBE WHAT THAT FELT LIKE.

THE BEST ANALOGY I CAN COME UP WITH IS THAT IT MUST FEEL LIKE BEING IMPRISONED FOR A CRIME I DIDN'T COMMIT AND SUDDENLY BEING SET FREE.

IT WAS TRULY GENDER EUPHORIA.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MY LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.

HAD I BEEN AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSITION AT A YOUNG AGE.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT FOR TRANS YOUTH COMING UP BEHIND ME.

GENDER EUPHORIA.

THANK YOU.

NORRIE MEYER GOLDFINCH.

HI. UM, MY NAME IS NORI.

I'M TEN YEARS OLD, AND MY PRONOUNS ARE THEY THEM? AND I'M HERE TODAY TO READ AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

I HAVE BEEN CALLED MANY TITLES IN MY ADULT LIFE, SOLDIER, POLICE OFFICER, VETERAN, SON, UNCLE, HUSBAND.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT TITLE I HAVE EVER HELD IS THAT BEEN OF 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.

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.

BILL 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 ALL LUCKY, LUCKY, WE'LL 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 THAT WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS DOING TO THE 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 KIDS.

MY TRANSGENDER SON, WHO FOR THE MOST PART OF HIS YOUNG LIFE DIDN'T EVEN 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 FROM 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 THEM THAT HE ISN'T.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

JASMINE PALMER.

IS THE MICROPHONE ON? MY NAME IS JASMINE PALMER.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER? THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS, AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

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.

THIS CANNOT HAPPEN IN TEXAS AS LONG AS DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE BASED ON BIASED AND UNEDUCATED OPINIONS.

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.

[02:20:03]

MY SON WAS A HAPPY GO LUCKY KID UNTIL TEXAS STARTED REGRESSING AND ALIENATED THE RIGHTS OF 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 DPS COULD BE WEAPONIZED BY IGNORANT BIGOTS.

THE ORDER TO INVESTIGATE FAMILIES SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ISSUED.

IT HAS NO LEGAL STANDING.

AS HAS BECOME EVIDENT WITH THE INJUNCTION NOW IN PLACE, IT HAS NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS, AS EVIDENCED BY ALL THE STATEMENTS ISSUED BY AMERICAN AND WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS. WE NEED YOU TO RISE TO YOUR MISSION AND REALLY, REALLY PROTECT TRANS YOUTH.

SUZANNE KEARNS.

GOD BLESS YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS SUZANNE KEARNS AND MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER? I RUN THE INFORMED PARENTS OF AUSTIN ADVOCATING FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS IN AUSTIN.

I ALSO HAVE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF CARING HOPE FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

WE PROVIDE HOPE PACKS FULL OF NECESSITY AND COMFORT ITEMS FOR KIDS WHO ARE ENTERING FOSTER CARE, WHO OFTEN HAVE NO BELONGINGS OR ONLY A FEW ITEMS SHOVED IN A TRASH BAG.

THESE ARE THE KIDS WHO NEED YOUR SERVICES, NOT TRANSGENDER KIDS WHOSE LOVING PARENTS ARE ALREADY PROVIDING THE PROTECTIVE SERVICES OF GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

I AM HONORED TO READ THIS ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY FROM THE PARENT OF A TRANSGENDER DAUGHTER.

MY HUSBAND AND I ARE BOTH PHYSICIANS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

WE KNOW THE VALUE OF PROTECTING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THIS STATE'S YOUNGEST CITIZENS.

WHEN OUR OLDEST CHILD REVEALED HER TRUTH TO US IN 2021 THAT SHE WAS TRANSGENDER, WE IMMEDIATELY ACCEPTED HER AND BEGAN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT WITH HER TRANSITION AND HOW BEST TO HELP HER.

WE WERE INCREDIBLY SADDENED TO LEARN ABOUT PENDING BILLS TARGETING TRANS YOUTH IN TEXAS AND THE ATTEMPTS TO LIMIT THEIR ABILITY TO PLAY SPORTS AND LIVE THEIR LIVES.

NOW, POLITICIANS HAVE MADE MORE ATTEMPTS TO SAY THAT OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR OUR TEENAGER IS TANTAMOUNT TO CHILD ABUSE.

NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

NUMEROUS HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AGREE THAT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE SAVES LIVES.

PLEASE DO NOT CRIMINALIZE PARENTS FOR TRYING TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN NEGOTIATE THEIR OWN IDENTITY SAFELY.

SARAH KAUFMAN.

HI. I'M READING A LETTER THAT WAS SENT BY SOMEBODY WHO COULD NOT BE HERE.

UH, IT'S A PARENT OF A TRANSGENDER CHILD.

I'M 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 GENDER AFFIRMING CARE SHE RECEIVED FROM COUNSELORS AND DOCTORS.

OUR DAUGHTERS, 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 WEEK 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'S A PROTOCOL FOR DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

THAT'S 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 RETURNED TO US.

SHE WAS NO LONGER DEPRESSED AND ANXIETY RIDDEN.

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

[02:25:03]

SHE'S MAKING GOOD GRADES, HAS A JOB, LIVES IN AN APARTMENT AND HAS A SIGNIFICANT OTHER.

SHE'S 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'S BEST FOR THEIR CHILD.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] LISA DAWSON.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LISA DAWSON.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER? I'M A FORMER FOSTER PARENT WHO SUPPORTS TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN TEXAS.

THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

HELLO, MY NAME IS JORDAN.

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

I WORK WITH TRANS TRANSGENDER YOUTH AND ADULTS.

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

I'M A TRANSGENDER PERSON.

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

THAT SUPPORT CAME FROM EDUCATION THAT WAS RESEARCHED, 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 ARE SCARED.

YOUTH ARE SCARED AND ADULT TRANS PEOPLE ARE SCARED OF THE RECENT PATH THE STATE OF TEXAS AND DFPS IS TAKING.

VIOLATING THE CODE OF ETHICS SET FORTH BY MEDICAL AND THERAPEUTIC BOARDS ARE BEING DISMISSED AS IF THERE ISN'T RESEARCH SHOWING THAT SUPPORTING TRANSGENDER AND GENDER DIVERSE PEOPLE SAVE LIVES.

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

SCARING AND SCARRING YOUTH AND THEIR SUPPORTIVE PARENTS IS NOT THE WAY OF THE ETHICS OF SOCIAL WORKERS.

IT IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT DFPS SHOULD BE DOING.

TAKING DIRECTION FROM POLITICAL LEADERS WITH AN AGENDA AND NO FORMAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE CARE FOR YOUTH EXPERIENCING GENDER DYSPHORIA IS DANGEROUS AND A VIOLATION TO CLIENT PATIENT CARE.

DFPS CURRENT LEADERS HAVE HARMED CHILDREN, CAREGIVERS AND ALL THE PROFESSIONALS THAT PRACTICE ETHICALLY IN CARING FOR CHILDREN WITH PROVEN GUIDANCE FROM MULTIPLE PROFESSIONAL BOARDS. DFPS HAS ALLOWED CHILDREN TO BE THE TARGETS OF CRUEL POLITICIANS THAT NOT ONLY WANT TO INCREASE THEIR POWER AND NATIONAL SPOTLIGHTS, PLEASE DO NOT BOW TO THE PRESSURE THAT ONLY HARM AND PERSONALLY HARM THE MOST VULNERABLE.

PLEASE FOLLOW THE SCIENCE, THE FACTS, THE RESEARCH, NOT THE POLITICS.

PLEASE LISTEN TO CAREGIVERS OF TRANS.

CHLOE GOODMAN.

GOOD MORNING. AM I ON? OKAY. MY NAME IS CHLOE GOODMAN.

I AM AN LMSW, AND I HAVE ANOTHER MASTER'S IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

AND I ALSO SERVE AS THE CONSTITUENT SERVICES MANAGER FOR EQUALITY TEXAS.

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING A MENTAL HEALTH TOOLKIT TO HELP THE PARENTS AND CARETAKERS OF LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH, ESPECIALLY TRANS YOUTH CARE FOR THE CHILDREN IN THEIR LIVES.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE QUEER KIDS ARE STRUGGLING.

IN TEXAS IN 2022, 56, 56% OF TRANS AND NON-BINARY YOUTH SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED SUICIDE.

IN THAT SAME YEAR, 86% OF LGBTQ PLUS KIDS IN TEXAS REPORTED THAT RECENT POLITICS, INCLUDING THIS VERY PUBLIC, VERY POLITICAL DISCOURSE ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND THEIR PERSONHOOD, HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THEM.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE CHILDREN CAN TELL WHEN YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEM, THEY CAN TELL WHEN YOU HATE THEM.

DFPS HAS POSED THE GREATEST THREAT TO TRANS CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.

THIS AGENCY IS WHAT HAUNTS CHILDREN'S NIGHTMARES, AND IT IS WHAT KEEPS PARENTS UP AT NIGHT.

[02:30:08]

YOU HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT UPHILL BATTLE AHEAD OF YOU AND YOU ALSO HAVE A VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO END THESE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ATTACKS ON CHILDREN.

YOU HAVE THE ONLY AUTHORITY, AS THE SUPREME COURT HAS TOLD US, TO END THESE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE FAMILIES OF TRANS KIDS.

AND IT IS AT YOUR SOLE DISCRETION THAT THEY CONTINUE.

THANK YOU.

MARY WILSON.

HI, I'M THE REVEREND DR.

MARY WILSON, AND I AM HERE AGAIN TO ONCE AGAIN READ AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY FROM SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T FEEL SAFE COMING HERE IN PERSON.

PARENT SAYS MY CHILD HAS RECENTLY COME OUT TO US AS HAVING GENDER DYSPHORIA AND THOUGHTS OF WANTING TO CHANGE THEIR BODY AND NAME TO ACCURATELY REPRESENT HOW THEY FEEL INSIDE.

WE HAVE JUST STARTED TO LOOK INTO AND RESEARCH WHAT WE COULD DO IN ORDER TO HELP OUR CHILD BE THE HAPPIEST THEY CAN BE.

ALL OF THAT HAS COME TO A SCREECHING HALT AND WE ALL FEEL SO HELPLESS AND ATTACKED.

HOW COULD SOMEONE NOT WANT A CHILD TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN SKIN? IF YOUR CHILD CAME TO YOU AND SAID THEY DIDN'T LIKE THEIR HAIRCUT OR CLOTHES AND WANTED TO CHANGE, WOULD YOU NOT DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO MAKE THEM FEEL BEAUTIFUL AND HANDSOME AGAIN? WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR OUR CHILD.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO MAKE THEM THE BEST VERSIONS OF THEMSELVES WITHOUT THE FEAR OF OUR CHILD BEING RIPPED FROM OUR LOVING HOME.

AND NOW JUST A QUICK THEOLOGICAL WORD.

I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT IN GENESIS, GOD CREATED MALE AND FEMALE AND THAT'S IT.

GENESIS ALSO SAYS GOD CREATED THE LIGHT AND THE DARK AND SEPARATED THEM.

YOU KNOW WHAT'S NOT THERE? SUNRISE AND SUNSET.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY ARE? WE ARE THE COLOR IN THE SKY OF THE SUNRISE AND SUNSET.

WE ARE THE COLOR OF GENDER AND SEXUAL DIVERSITY.

WE ARE THE BEAUTY OF GOD'S CREATION.

THANK YOU.

TOLLEY MOSELEY.

MOSTLY.

GREAT. THANKS.

MY NAME'S TOLLEY MOSLEY.

I'M A PARENT.

I'M A PROFESSIONAL AND A LIFELONG TEXAN.

THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KAREN AND I AM THE PARENT OF TWO ELEMENTARY AGED CHILDREN, ONE OF WHOM HAPPENS TO BE TRANSGENDER.

I'VE ASKED SOMEONE ELSE TO READ MY TESTIMONY FOR TWO REASONS.

ONE, YOUR ACTIONS HAVE TURNED TEXAS INTO A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES CHILDREN LESS SAFE.

AND TWO, BY THE TIME YOU HEAR THESE WORDS, MY FAMILY WILL NO LONGER BE RESIDENTS OF TEXAS, THE STATE WHERE MY HUSBAND AND I WERE BORN AND RAISED.

LIKE MANY OTHER FAMILIES OF TRANS KIDS, WE HAVE LEFT TEXAS TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.

I IMAGINE THAT YOU JOINED THE DFPS COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO HELP THE CHILDREN OF TEXAS.

I THINK WE ALSO WANT THIS.

SO LET ME TELL YOU HOW IT'S GOING.

MY CHILDREN ARE NINE AND TEN YEARS OLD.

SINCE DFPS BEGAN THESE INVESTIGATIONS, MY CHILDREN, FOR THE FIRST TIME HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ANXIETY OF LIVING IN AN INSECURE HOME, WONDERING WHAT TO DO IF A CPS AGENT SHOWS UP AT THEIR SCHOOL, MISSING CLASS EVENTS TO MEET WITH LAWYERS.

ON OUR WAY TO GET A DONUT, MY DAUGHTER, WHO IS NOT PRONE TO EXAGGERATION, ASKED ME IF SHE WAS GOING TO DIE.

NO, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DIE, I TOLD HER.

WHY WOULD YOU ASK ME THAT? HER ANSWER? BECAUSE EVERYBODY HATES ME.

WE ARE HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE WELL BEING OF CHILDREN.

WE SHARE THIS VALUE.

AND SO IT'S EASY TO EXPECT THAT POLITICIANS WHO PUSH THESE POLICIES ARE ACTING IN GOOD FAITH THAT THEY KNOW SOMETHING WE DON'T ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT TRANS KIDS. BUT THESE POLITICIANS HAVE HEARD HOURS OF TESTIMONY FROM DOCTORS, THERAPISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS,

[02:35:04]

THEY'VE HAD FIRSTHAND RESEARCH PRESENTED TO THEM PROVING THAT THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT TRANS CHILDREN IS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH MEDICAL AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THAT AFFIRMS THEIR GENDER IDENTITY.

THANK YOU. SOFIA SEPULVEDA.

MY NAME IS SOFIA SEPULVEDA AND I AM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ADVOCACY MANAGER WITH EQUALITY TEXAS.

AND I WANT TO WELCOME YOU, COMMISSIONER MUTH, AND THANK YOU FOR PAYING ATTENTION TO THE TESTIMONIES TODAY.

THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.

IF A CHILD TELLS YOU THAT THEY ARE IN PAIN, AS A PARENT, YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THEM.

IF MY CHILD HAD BROKEN AN 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 A TRANSGENDER AND CAME TO ME TWO YEARS AGO IN PAIN.

IT WAS A PAIN THAT THEY DESCRIBED TO ME AS BEING TRAMPING ABOUT IT.

THEY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WHO THEY WERE.

THEY PAIN, THEY FELT, WAS PERSISTENT.

THEIR VIEW THAT 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 HELP MY CHILD.

WE SOUGHT TO ADVISE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

WE BUILD A TEAM OF CAREGIVERS TO HELP GUIDE US THROUGH THE JOURNEY OF WHAT MEANT TO HAVE A TRANSGENDER CHILD.

AS A TRANSGENDER PERSON MYSELF, IT IS VERY HEARTBREAKING TO SEE FAMILIES BEING INVESTIGATED.

MY FAMILY WAS LITERALLY ABUSIVE TO ME.

THEY BEAT ME UP.

THEY PUNISHED ME FOR BEING DIFFERENT.

LET'S NOT SEPARATE THE FAMILY, THE CHILDREN FROM THE FAMILIES WHO GENUINELY LOVE THEM AND WANT TO PROTECT THEM.

THANK YOU AGAIN COMMISSIONER MUTH, AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US.

ASH HALL.

AWESOME. THANK YOU.

MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ASH HALL.

I USE THEY THEM PRONOUNS AND I AM THE POLICY AND ADVOCACY STRATEGIST ON LGBTQ+ RIGHTS AT THE ACLU OF TEXAS.

AND SO FIRST, I WANT TO OFFER A STATEMENT FROM THE ACLU OF TEXAS, THAT BEING WE CONTINUE TO OPPOSE THESE INVESTIGATIONS BECAUSE EVEN ONE OPEN INVESTIGATION OF A LOVING FAMILY IS ONE TOO MANY.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS NO BUSINESS INTERFERING WITH LIFESAVING CARE ESSENTIAL FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH.

WE WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS, SAFETY AND DIGNITY OF TRANSGENDER TEXANS.

END STATEMENT.

I ALSO WANTED TO OFFER A PERSONAL STORY.

I AM, AS I MENTIONED, SOMEONE WHO USES THEY THEM PRONOUNS.

A TRANSGENDER TEXAN, MYSELF AND MY LITTLE BROTHER IS ALSO A TRANSGENDER TEXAN.

GROWING UP, WE HAD ONE PARENT WHO WAS LOVING AND SUPPORTIVE OF BOTH OF US, OUR MOM, AND WE ALSO HAD MY FATHER, WHOSE IDEA OF THE IDEAL TRANS PERSON WAS A DEAD TRANS PERSON.

IT WAS A HORRIFYING START TO MY LIFE AND FOR MY BROTHER.

AND THE ONLY REASON THAT WE MADE IT OUT OF THAT SITUATION ALIVE WAS BECAUSE OF THE STRENGTH AND DETERMINATION OF OUR MOM, WHO AS SOON AS WE WERE SAFE, MADE SURE THAT WE HAD EVERYTHING THAT WE NEEDED TO BE EXACTLY WHO WE WERE AND AFFIRMED US AS TRANS TEXANS.

EVEN THOUGH SHE WASN'T EVEN SURE WHAT THAT MEANT INITIALLY.

I WOULD INVITE THIS COMMITTEE TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE OPEN INVESTIGATIONS ON FAMILIES THAT ARE LOVING, JUST LIKE MY MOM WAS, BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING FOR A FAMILY LIKE THAT.

I WANT EVERY SINGLE CHILD IN THIS STATE TO HAVE A MOM LIKE MINE AND LOVING FAMILIES LIKE THE ONES THAT ARE BEING INVESTIGATED.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL USE OF THE STATE'S TIME TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THESE CASES AND TO PURSUE INVESTIGATIONS AND REDIRECTION FOR PARENTS MORE LIKE MY FATHER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR TODAY IS JESSICA RAMIREZ.

[02:40:11]

MY NAME IS JESSICA MARIE RAMIREZ.

I AM A HUMAN.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER.

I WAS CALLED IN TO JOIN MY TRANS FRIENDS, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.

I AM HERE IN FIERCE OPPOSITION OF THIS INVASION OF PRIVACY BEFORE I READ THIS ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY.

SINCE WE ARE ALL HERE TO GAIN INSIGHT INTO VERY INTIMATE AND PERSONAL TIME IN SOMEONE'S LIVES.

I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU.

I STARTED MY PERIOD WHEN I WAS IN THE FIFTH GRADE.

I WAS 13 AND IT WAS HALLOWEEN.

THAT WAS 23 YEARS AGO.

SEEING SPOOKY SEASON IS ALL YEAR ROUND IN TEXAS.

THIS ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY WAS SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY DFPS FROM A TEXAN WHO HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATION AGAINST THE FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

I AM A PARENT OF A TRANSGENDER TEENAGE SON.

I HAVE SEEN HIS STRUGGLE WITH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION CAUSED BY THE DISCONNECT OF THE BODY THAT HE LIVES IN AND DOES NOT IDENTIFY WITH.

HOWEVER, I HAVE RECENTLY WITNESSED HE HAS BECOME MORE COMFORTABLE IN THAT SAME SKIN AND HAS BEEN MORE LIFTED.

ENLIGHTENED BY ENLIGHTENED MOOD SINCE GAINING ACCESS TO GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

NOW THIS PROCESS IS IN PARALLEL AS WE ARE FACED WITH THE TURMOIL AND ANXIETY CAUSED BY OUR GOVERNMENT WANTING TO ENTER OUR HOMES, INVESTIGATE OUR LIVES AND THREATEN THE VERY SECURE AND COMFORT OUR CHILDREN DEPEND ON BY RIPPING THEM AWAY AND OUT OF ACCEPTING AND LOVING HOMES.

HOMES WITH PARENTS WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE OUR CHILDREN FOR LIFE SAVING, AFFIRMING CARE.

PLEASE KNOW I DO NOT USE LIFE THAT PLEASE KNOW I DO NOT USE THE TERM LIFE SAVING LIGHTLY EITHER.

ALL FACETS OF OUR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH AND STABILITY ARE ENDANGERED WHEN YOU SAY THAT A PARENT IS ABUSING THEIR CHILD BY SIMPLY LOVING THEM ENOUGH TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE NECESSARY MEDICAL TREATMENT, THIS IS NOT MY CHILD ABUSE.

THIS IS LOVE AND ACCEPT AND GUARANTEED VALIDATION OF THEIR IDENTITY AS HUMAN DESERVING RESPECT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY.

WE HAVE NOW COMPLETED OUR DOCKET FOR DOCKET, WHICH TELLS YOU MY OTHER WORLD.

WE'VE OUR PROGRAM FOR TODAY AND I AM NOW ADJOURNING THIS MEETING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TRAVEL SAFELY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.