[00:00:04]
[I. ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS]
GOOD MORNING. I CALL THE MARCH MEETING OF THE FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER AT 9:00.UP HERE WE ARE ALL WEARING PURPLE BECAUSE THIS IS GENDER ABUSE AWARENESS.
IT HAPPENS TO HAVE A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO ME IN THAT I'M OLD AND IT'S WE NEED TO BE VERY AWARE OF THE ELDERLY PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND TAKING GOOD CARE OF THEM, AND THAT'S PART OF OUR FUNCTION WITH DFPS AND I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT.
THANK YOU, DEE DEE FOR COORDINATING US WITH WEARING PURPLE, AND I EVEN GOT MY HUSBAND TO WEAR PURPLE, SO IT CAN BE MOVED ON BEYOND THE GROUP HERE.
IF EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD START.
MR. KOURI, IF YOU WOULD START DOWN THERE AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND THE CITY YOU COME FROM, PLEASE.
I'M MATT KOURI FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS.
YOU CAN CALL ME DEE DEE, AND I'M FROM DALLAS, TEXAS.
GOOD MORNING. I'M ENRIQUE MATA AND I'M FROM EL PASO.
GOOD MORNING. I'M GREG HAMILTON FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS.
[INAUDIBLE] TURN THE MIC BACK ON.
MY HUSBAND IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MUTE ME AND THIS IS ONE WAY HE CAN JUST PUSH.
ANYWAY, WE JUST WOULD LIKE TO THANK DEPUTY COMMISSIONER JENNIFER SIMS, WHO HAS JOINED US TODAY, AND VICKI KOZIKOUJEKIAN.
VICKY K IS THE GENERAL COUNSEL AND WE'RE JUST SO GLAD THAT SHE'S HERE WITH US, AND OF COURSE, OUR EVER LOVELY CHERYL GOMEZ, WHO IS OUR COUNCIL LIAISON. THE OTHER FOLKS THAT WE ARE MISSING THIS TIME, DR.
CONNIE ALMEIDA. I HAPPEN TO KNOW IS IN PORTUGAL AND HAVING A VERY GOOD TIME WITH HER FATHER, WHO LIVES THERE, AND LISA HACKETT, WHO IS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND WITH US TODAY, AND NEITHER IS JULIE KRAWCZYK.
AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY? ANYWAY, THAT'S CLOSE ENOUGH FOR GOVERNMENT WORK AND CORTNEY JONES ALSO IS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY.
OKAY. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, CHERYL? NO. OKAY.
OH, I'M BONNIE HELMS. I'M THE CHAIR. I FORGOT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.
WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT, SO WE DO HAVE QUORUM.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME DEPUTY COMMISSIONER JENNIFER AND HER TEAM.
THE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM MEMBERS HERE WITH US TODAY, INCLUDING MARTA...
I DON'T KNOW WHY I JUST BLANKED ON YOUR LAST NAME, MARTA.
ISN'T THAT SAD? TALBERT. WHAT HAPPENED TO ME? MARTA TALBERT WHO'S OUR INTERIM FOR CPS INVESTIGATIONS.
LISA KANNE WHO IS OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.
SASHA ROSCO, OUR CHIEF PREVENTION AND CHILD WELFARE OFFICER.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME TODAY, Y'ALL? IT'S FRIDAY. IS THAT THE EXCUSE? LEE ANN, WHO'S OUR ACTING CFO, AND IS THAT KEZ HIDING BEHIND? THERE'S KEZ HEAD OF APS, AND WE'RE ALL HONORING HIM TODAY WITH OUR PURPLE, ALONG WITH STEPHEN BLACK, WHO'S THE HEAD OF STATEWIDE INTAKE AND CHANCE WATSON, WHO'S OUR INTERNAL AUDITOR.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE TO JOIN US TODAY.
WITH THAT, TURN IT BACK TO THE JUDGE, I BELIEVE.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE THAT COULD MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT OUR MINUTES FROM MARCH 10TH? SO MOVED. SECOND.
[00:05:03]
OKAY, WE'VE GOT IT.[II. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
OKAY. OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE SEPTEMBER THE 8TH.THEY'RE DOING THE APS CONFERENCE OCTOBER THE 10TH THROUGH THE 13TH HERE IN AUSTIN, AND THE PARTNERS IN PREVENTION CONFERENCE IS GOING TO BE NOVEMBER 14TH THROUGH 16TH HERE IN AUSTIN.
SO LOTS OF GOOD TIMES TO COME UP HERE AND GET SOME BARBECUE.
[III. COUNCIL ACTIONS/INITIATIVES]
OKAY. IF YOU WOULD START WITH YOU, MR. KOURI, IF YOU COULD TELL US WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS YOU'VE BEEN GOING AND DOING WORK WITH.SURE. MY WIFE AND I WORK HERE IN AUSTIN ACTIVELY IN THE FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION COMMUNITIES, AND WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT CONTINUED INTEREST IN TWO FRONTS.
ONE, FAMILIES CONTINUING TO WANT TO STEP UP AND SERVE AS FOSTER PARENTS.
WE WORK A LOT ON BOTH THE RECRUITMENT SIDE AND ON TRAINING AND EQUIPPING AND TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, AND SO THAT'S A BLESSING FOR US TO DO A LOT OF WORK WITH WITH CHURCHES AND WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE'VE ALSO SEEN A HUGE NEED FOR BABYSITTING, AND SO WE'VE GOTTEN INVOLVED IN A PROGRAM WHEREBY INDIVIDUALS ARE GETTING CERTIFIED TO BE FOSTER CARE BABYSITTERS ACROSS MULTIPLE AGENCIES, TO BE ABLE TO SERVE MULTIPLE FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED OF SEVERAL HOURS A DAY OR TWO OF RESPITE, ESSENTIALLY, AND THE DATA THAT WE HAVE SEEN HAS SHOWN THAT THAT HELPS FOSTER FAMILIES STAY IN THE GAME LONGER AND THEY CAN HAVE A BREAK EVERY NOW AND THEN.
GOOD MORNING. I'VE BEEN VERY BUSY.
I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT IN THE MARCH MEETING.
SO WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING, ALONG WITH MY HUSBAND, BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE A CHOICE.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE I'M DOING IT.
YOU'RE DOING IT. SO WE'VE HAD SOME ELDERLY FOLKS REACH OUT TO US AFTER RECEIVING LETTERS FROM THE CITY THAT THEIR YARD NEEDS TO BE CUT OR ELSE THEY WOULD BE FINED BETWEEN $200 OR $500, WHICH IS A LOT FOR THEM, AND SO WE'VE GONE OUT AND CUT THEIR GRASS.
IT'S HOT. IT'S VERY HOT OUT THERE, AND JUST TRYING TO BE A RESOURCE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND DIRECT THEM TO RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT CAN REALLY HELP THEM.
GOOD MORNING. WE'VE BEEN BUSY OUT IN EL PASO.
ONE OF THEM IS A VAPE FREE TASK FORCE THAT WE'VE GOT GOING.
WE HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THC VAPING, AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW THAT IT'S A FELONY TO HAVE THAT, TO HAVE THC VAPE TOOLS, AND SO WE'VE GOT SOME CHILDREN WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, BEING CHARGED WITH A FELONY BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS AND THEY'RE NOT REALLY AWARE OF THE DEGREE TO WHICH THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF NEW MEXICO, AND WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, DIRECTLY RELATE THAT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY DATA TO SAY THAT, BUT NEW MEXICO NOW HAS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
SO IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR US TO TRY AND EDUCATE FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE THESE PRODUCTS AND THAT THEY'RE NOT USING THOSE PRODUCTS, TAKING THEM TO SCHOOL IN ANY WAY, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO TRYING TO WORK ON WAYS TO EDUCATE AND PREVENT THAT KIND OF SITUATION FROM HAPPENING.
ANOTHER THING THAT'S COMING UP ON JUNE 19TH FOR US IS THAT THERE'S A TEXAS ALLIANCE--I DON'T WANT TO--IT'S TACFS, TEXAS ALLIANCE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES MEETING THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN OUR TOWN, AND SO WE'RE CONVENING FOLKS TO HEAD OUT TO THAT MEETING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW DO WE IMPROVE OUR SYSTEMS OF CARE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AT THIS TIME, I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT.
I JUST FINISHED WITH THE NATIONAL FAMILY LAW TRIAL INSTITUTE.
MY HUSBAND I ARE BOTH ON THE FACULTY THERE AND HAD AN INTERESTING.
[00:10:01]
CASE COME UP WITH ONE OF THE LAWYERS WHO WAS THERE PARTICIPATING, WHO BECAME SUICIDAL, AND I WAS ABLE TO BRING IN SOME OF THE OTHER WORK THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING FOR A WHILE, WHICH IS WORKING ON WITH THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD IN HOUSTON, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE MOBILE CRISIS TEAM TO COME AND HELP, AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO WATCH THE SMOOTHNESS WITH WHICH ALL OF THAT TOOK PLACE, AND THE GENTLEMAN IS NOW DOING REALLY WELL. SO I'M JUST VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.IN ADDITION, THE HARRIS CENTER IS ALSO BEEN TRAINED NOW AND IS DOING THE TRAUMA CARE FOR SOME OF OUR CPS KIDS THAT WE WERE NOT HAVING ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR BEFORE WHEN WE'D BEEN LOOKING FOR TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPISTS WHO COULD WORK WITH THEM, AND WE ARE NOW ABLE TO OFFER THAT THROUGH THE HARRIS CENTER.
SO I WAS SUPPOSED TO COME FOR THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF MAY.
WELL, I'M STILL DOING IT AND I'LL DO IT THROUGH THE END OF JUNE.
SO IT'S PROLONGED ITSELF, BUT IT'S BEEN FASCINATING TO SEE AGAIN FROM THE BENCH THE DIFFERENT THINGS AND DEAL WITH SOME OF THE CPS CASES AND WATCH SOME OF THE GOOD WORK THAT'S BEING DONE BY THE FOLKS IN HELPING TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
THE PART OF THE GROUP THAT MY HUSBAND I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS IS THE NTC, THE NO TRAFFICKING ZONE, AND JUST YESTERDAY, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED OFF ON THE SUPPORTED BILLS ON SEX TRAFFICKING THAT WERE PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE THAT ARE NTC, NO TRAFFICKING ZONE LEGISLATION THAT WILL CERTAINLY HELP THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE ABLE TO HELP PROTECT OUR KIDS.
SO, IT'S BEEN BUSY, BUT I THINK WE'RE ALL KIND OF DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO TRY AND BETTER EVERYTHING.
SO WE'RE APPRECIATE YOU'RE HERE TO LISTEN TO US TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE NOT HERE, WE'RE NOT JUST SITTING THERE SIPPING COFFEE SOMEWHERE.
WE'RE OUT THERE ACTUALLY WORKING.
[IV. Agency Update]
COMMISSIONER, IF YOU'RE READY TO PROCEED.ABSOLUTELY. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE WORK YOU DO IN YOUR COMMUNITIES.
IT REALLY DOES TAKE A VILLAGE AND WE APPRECIATE WE KNOW WE CAN'T DO OUR PART ALONE AND YOUR COMMUNITIES CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT FOLKS LIKE YOU THAT ARE OUT THERE MAKING A DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
AS YOU MAY NOTICE, I'M NOT COMMISSIONER MUTH.
WE DO HAVE A HEARING COMING UP ON JUNE 27TH.
BASED ON THAT REPORT, THE COURT WILL THEN REVIEW OUR COMPLIANCE WITH A VARIETY OF REMEDIAL ORDERS RELATED TO PREVENTING CHILD ON CHILD SEXUAL AGGRESSION, REGULATORY MONITORING AND OVERSIGHT OF LICENSE PLACEMENTS.
HOUSE BILL ONE THE BIG BILL, THE ONE THE BUDGET INCLUDED A LOT OF FUNDING FOR THIS AGENCY, AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE GENEROSITY OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THEIR THE IMPORTANCE THAT THEY PLACE ON THE PROGRAMS OF THIS AGENCY, AND PARTICULARLY THE VALUE THAT THEY SHOW DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON FOR OUR STAFF.
IT COULD NOT HAVE GONE BETTER FOR US.
WE'LL START WITH AN UPDATE FROM JASON AND LEE ANN.
DO YOU WANT TO COME ON UP AND TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE BILLS? ALL RIGHT. HI, I'M LEE ANN BIGGAR.
[00:15:01]
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE RECEIVED IN OUR BUDGET.SO COMPARED TO THE CURRENT BIENNIUM GOING INTO THE NEXT BIENNIUM, WE DID GROW OUR GR BY ABOUT 22%.
WE GOT ABOUT $209 MILLION FOR STABILIZING AND EXPANDING FOSTER CARE CAPACITY.
WE ALSO GOT FUNDING TO SUSTAIN OUR CLINICAL COORDINATOR TEAM.
WE GOT ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AS WELL.
WE GOT A TEAM TO FOCUS ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN IN CARE SO THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WORK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO.
WE ALSO GOT SOME FUNDS OR HSC RECEIVED SOME FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN IN CARE AS WELL.
SO THIS INCLUDES FUNDING FOR HIGHER RATES.
IT INCLUDES FUNDING FOR INCREASING THE KINSHIP RATE TO THE NEW 50% OF THE NEW RATE, AND THAT ALL STARTS IN JANUARY OF 2025.
IT ALSO INCLUDES ALL THE IT SYSTEM UPDATES THAT WE'LL NEED AND AN IMPLEMENTATION TEAM.
THERE'S ALSO--JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE--THERE'S ALSO FUNDING AVAILABLE IN THERE FOR TRANSITION GRANTS FOR PROVIDERS SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE TO THAT NEW MODEL OF SERVING OUR CHILDREN. WE ALSO RECEIVED 86.6 MILLION FOR ENSURING CLIENT SAFETY THROUGH OUR SERVICES.
SO THIS INCLUDES SUSTAINING OUR STATEWIDE INTAKE [INAUDIBLE] TIME, NEW STATEWIDE INTAKE SCREENERS.
WE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL FTES FOR SUPPORT FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS.
WE ALSO RECEIVED FUNDING FOR KINSHIP SUPPORT.
SO THIS IS GOING TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR OUR KINSHIP CAREGIVERS FOR NEEDS BASED SO THEY GET THE KID, THEY DON'T HAVE A CAR SEAT, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REQUEST FUNDS TO PURCHASE A CAR SEAT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AS WELL AS ASSISTANCE FOR VERIFICATION FOR THEIR HOMES.
SO IF THEY NEED TO BUY SMOKE ALARMS OR SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR PLACEMENT VERIFIED, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO ASSIST THERE.
WE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING ALSO FOR ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
SO THIS IS REALLY EXCITING FOR THAT PROGRAM, AND THEN IN ADDITION TO APS, OUR PREVENTION SERVICES ALSO RECEIVED ABOUT $65.2 MILLION WITH THE CONTINGENCY OF THE PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL 24.
SO THAT MEANS THAT A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS GOT DOUBLED THEIR FUNDING, BUT AN EFFECTIVE FY 25 THAT ALL THE PROGRAMS WILL BE TRANSFERRING OVER TO HSC THAT'S THE SB 24 LINE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE OUR EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING COMMUNITY BASED CARE FOR 21.2 MILLION.
WE ALSO RECEIVED FUNDING FOR A PROJECT TEAM FOR AT DFPS TO REALLY FOCUS ON THE WHAT OUR SYSTEM IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE NEW WORLD, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE HALF AND HALF BETWEEN LEGACY AND [INAUDIBLE].
SO NOW WE HAVE A TEAM TO REALLY GET US INTO THAT, TO THAT PLACE WHERE WE CAN FULLY IMPLEMENT AND SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT ALL OF THESE ROLLOUTS INTO THE NEW WORLD THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LIVING IN OR HALFWAY LIVING IN.
LET'S SEE, WE ALSO RECEIVED 56.6 MILLION FOR STABILIZING AND RETAINING WORKFORCE.
WE'RE CURRENTLY REFUNDING STAFF $27 FOR FIRST AND LAST DAY OF TRAVEL AND $36 WHICH CAN BARELY BUY YOU A MEAL AT THE AT THE PRICES THESE DAYS. SO NOW WE'RE GOING UP TO $53 PER DAY FOR ALL DAYS OF TRAVEL.
SO THAT WILL TAKE EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 1ST.
WE ALSO GOT 50 FTES TO ENHANCE STAFFING IN OUR SUPPORT STRUCTURE.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME BETTER ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR OUR STAFF THAT ARE OUT IN THE FIELD, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE CONTRACT STAFF OR DATA STAFF AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FULLY.
[00:20:06]
I GUESS THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PAYING FOR THINGS OR CONTACTING FOR BILLING.SO THAT'LL BE REALLY EXCELLENT FOR OUR AGENCY, AND LET'S SEE, ONE OF THE LAST ITEMS WE RECEIVED WAS OUR EXPANDED PROTECT INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY DATA RESOURCES AT 62.5 MILLION.
SO WE'RE SUSTAINING OUR DATA CENTER SERVICES.
WE ARE COMPLETING OUR IMPACT UPDATES AND MODERNIZING OUR CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
WE'RE STRENGTHENING OUR IT SYSTEMS. SO THAT'S OUR NON IMPACT SYSTEMS THAT RUN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS DAILY.
WE'RE ALSO INCREASING OUR ENHANCING OUR CYBERSECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
A FEW OF THE KEY WRITERS OUTSIDE OF THE EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS THAT WE RECEIVED.
I WANTED TO NOTE WE HAVE OUR BUSINESS PROCESS REDESIGN, WHICH WE RECEIVED FUNDING TO CONTRACT WITH A THIRD PARTY TO EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND HOW THEIR AGENCY CAN IMPROVE OUR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS PROCESS.
WE ALSO RECEIVED FUNDING FOR LONG TERM YOUTH AND FAMILY SUPPORT, WHICH IS TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM AIMED AT IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AT HIGH RISK OF REENTERING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES SYSTEM, AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE CONTINGENCY RIDER FOR SENATE BILL 24, WHICH IS THE PEI WRITER.
ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.
YOU TALKED ABOUT CHILD SAFETY SEATS.
ARE YOU PARTNERING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT? BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CHILD SAFETY SEAT PROGRAMS AND JAMBOREES OR WHATEVER THEY CALL THAT.
I'LL LET JENNIFER. OH, ACTUALLY, WE DO PARTNER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES WHO DOES WORK WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, ON THE CHILD SEAT DISTRIBUTION AND INSTALLATION TO MAKE SURE THEY GO IN RIGHT.
I BELIEVE THAT'S THROUGH OUR PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. JUDGE, I HAVE A QUESTION. GREAT REPORT.
I'M CURIOUS IF YOU WOULD CHARACTERIZE ANY INCREASE AS BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT EXISTING CONTRACTORS WHO MAY BE FINANCIALLY STRUGGLING WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDS. WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE OVERALL THE FUNDING LEVEL FOR EXISTING CONTRACTORS IS HIGHER IN THE NEXT BIENNIUM? ARE YOU TALKING FOR OUR SINGLE SOURCE CONTINUUM CONTRACTORS? THAT'S REALLY BASED ON OUR RESOURCE TRANSFERS, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF KIDS IN CARE.
IS IT ANTICIPATED THAT THE SAME FORMULA WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY? YES. SAME FORMULAS.
OKAY. JASON, DO YOU WANT TO JOIN US? THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JASON STEELE.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS HERE.
SO MY TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS AND BILL TRACKING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BEFORE I DO THAT, I DO WANT TO GIVE A BIG RECOGNITION TO THE CORE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THIS SESSION SUCCESSFUL FOR US AND THAT DEALT WITH ANYTHING, DEALING WITH READING EVERY BILL THAT WAS FILED, DECIDING DOES THAT AFFECT THE AGENCY, DOING LEGAL ANALYSIS, PROGRAM ANALYSIS, COST ANALYSIS AT EVERY STEP IN THE PROCESS.
SO EVERY TIME IT LEAVES A COMMITTEE, THERE'S A NEW ANALYSIS THAT'S DONE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAUGHT EVERYTHING, AND SO WE DO THAT THROUGH A NETWORK OF EACH PROGRAM, HAS A LEGISLATIVE COORDINATOR, EACH COORDINATOR HAS A BACKUP, AND THESE ARE THESE ARE ADDITIONAL DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.
I THINK WE DID SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 55 AND 60 HEARINGS THIS SESSION, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE THERE TO PROVIDE THE MOST ACCURATE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN FOR FOR BILLS. SO THEY HAD THE INFORMATION.
[00:25:01]
AS JENNIFER MENTIONED, THE LEGISLATURE DID FILE A LITTLE OVER 8000 BILLS THIS SESSION.WE TRACKED 825 OF THOSE, 115 OF THOSE WHICH WE DID DID MAKE IT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.
WE WILL HAVE SOME ROLE IN ABOUT 65 OF THOSE, AND THAT'S ANYWHERE BETWEEN.
IMPLEMENTING DIRECTLY THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS. BEING ON AN ADVISORY COUNCIL AS WELL AS JUST THINGS THAT AFFECT ALL STATE AGENCIES.
SO I'LL GO THROUGH A HANDFUL OF THOSE HERE FOR YOU TODAY.
SO STARTING AT OUR, OF COURSE, OUR FRONT DOOR STATEWIDE INTAKE.
THE BIGGEST CHANGE FOR THEM AND FOR THE AGENCY FOR HOUSE BILL 63.
SO, CURRENTLY STATEWIDE INTAKE.
LAST YEAR, ABOUT 4% OF OUR PHONE CALLS WERE TAKEN ANONYMOUSLY.
HOWEVER, IT'S STILL UP TO THEM.
THEY WOULD DO THOSE EVALUATIONS AND.
REFER IT BACK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR REFER IT BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT.
IF THEY FOUND THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE AND WE WOULD CONDUCT A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION.
SO FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS, CPI ACTUALLY HAD A NUMBER OF BILLS, A BUNCH OF WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER SINGLE TOPIC OR SMALL BILLS.
SO HOUSE BILL 730 INTRODUCES A FEW CONCEPTS WHICH WE OFTEN SEE IN SORT OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, AND THOSE ARE REALLY MEANT TO ENSURE THAT THE RIGHTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ARE COMMUNICATED TO THEM AT THE START OF THE INVESTIGATION.
SO THESE WOULD REQUIRE AT THE BEGINNING OF AN INVESTIGATION WHEN AN INVESTIGATOR MAKES CONTACT FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH AN ALLEGED PERPETRATOR OR A PARENT.
CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, WE DO GIVE WHAT WE CALL THE PARENTS' GUIDE TO THE INVESTIGATION, AND IT DOES LIST CERTAIN INFORMATION RELATED TO OUR PROCEDURES AND OUR AUTHORITIES OF OF CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION, RIGHT TO REVIEW INFORMATION, RIGHT TO SEEK COUNSEL, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THOSE ARE IN THAT WRITTEN DOCUMENT THAT WE DELIVER.
THIS BILL WOULD ADD THAT NOTICE BY ADDING EXPLANATIONS THAT ANY STATEMENT THAT THE PERSON OR ADMISSION THAT THEY MAKE CAN BE USED AGAINST THEM, EITHER IN A CRIMINAL CASE OR AS A BASIS TO REMOVE A CHILD AND THEN ALSO ADDING THE ALLEGATIONS, THE KNOWN ALLEGATIONS THAT THE DEPARTMENT AS THEY'RE INVESTIGATING.
SO THAT'LL BE IN A WRITTEN DOCUMENT.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM AN ATTORNEY, HAVE A COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY IF THERE'S A REMOVAL OR AN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE, RIGHTS TO RECORD INTERACTIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I WILL NOTE THAT THESE ARE THESE ARE NOT NEW RIGHTS.
THESE ARE RIGHTS THAT ALREADY EXIST.
THIS BILL IS DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PERSON WHO'S THE SUBJECT OF THE INVESTIGATION IS FAMILIAR WITH THOSE RIGHTS AT THE VERY START OF THE INVESTIGATION , BUT ONE OTHER THING IT DOES ADD CONCERNING THAT NOTICE THAT IS GIVEN.
SO IF FOR SOME REASON THE NOTICE IS NOT GIVEN SIMILAR TO THE CRIMINAL WORLD, THE CONCEPT OF THE EXCLUSIONARY RULE TO WHERE IF THOSE ARE NOT PROVIDED AT THE START OF THE INVESTIGATION, ANY INFORMATION THAT IS LEARNED AFTER THAT WOULD BE EXCLUDED IN SOME SORT OF TRIAL IF IT EVER GETS THAT FAR.
SO THERE'S A NEW REQUIREMENT THAT ALL EX PARTE HEARINGS WILL BE RECORDED IN SOME MANNER.
[00:30:06]
SO IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WHERE WE WOULD JUST APPROACH THE COURT FOR SOME SORT OF REMOVAL, WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THOSE HAVE THOSE RECORDED.I'M CONCERNING INVESTIGATION REPORTS.
SO ANYTHING MORE THAN JUST A GRAMMATICAL CHANGE OR THINGS LIKE THAT, WHETHER IT BE SOMETHING THAT IS HARMFUL OR DETRIMENTAL OR GOOD FOR THE CASE OR WHATEVER IT IS, NOTIFYING ALL THE PARTIES AND THE ATTORNEYS.
ONE SECTION WILL PROHIBIT DFPS FROM REOPENING AN INVESTIGATION AFTER THE 60TH DAY THAT WE CLOSE IT.
SO FOR FROM DAY ONE TO DAY 60, WE CAN GO BACK AND REOPEN IF THERE IS GOOD CAUSE THAT'LL BE KIND OF FLESHED OUT LATER IN RULE AND WHAT GOOD CAUSE MEANS, BUT I THINK THE LEGISLATURE AND THE WAY THAT THEY LAID IT OUT IS THEY WANT TO GIVE PARENTS AND FAMILIES A LITTLE BIT OF A SENSE OF FINALITY IN OUR INVESTIGATIONS, AND SO IF WE DON'T MAKE A FINDING, WE WOULDN'T GO BACK, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS, HOWEVER LONG, AND REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION.
WE CAN ALWAYS OPEN AN INVESTIGATION SO WE CAN CONDUCT A NEW ONE.
IT'S JUST NOT GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT THOSE THOSE OLD FACTS.
THE LAST SECTION OF THAT BILL.
LIKE I SAID, IT WAS A BIG BILL.
SO LAST SECTION THAT BILL DEALS WITH OUR PARENTAL CHILD SAFETY PLACEMENTS, AS WE KNOW AS PCSPS.
SO THIS BILL PUT A LITTLE BIT OF SOME GUARDRAILS AND PARAMETERS ON PCSP USAGE.
THEY'RE AUTHORIZED BY STATUTE, RIGHT, AND IF WE'RE DOING AN INVESTIGATION AND THERE'S A DANGER INDICATOR THAT NEEDS TO BE MITIGATED AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THE CHILD CAN LEAVE THE HOME. JUST BECAUSE THEY LEAVE THE HOME DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT, BUT IT IS A VOLUNTARY SORT OF OUT OF HOME MITIGATION THAT THEY CAN USE.
THIS BILL WOULD LIMIT THE USE OF PCSPS TO REALLY A 90 DAY MAXIMUM INITIALLY FOR 30 DAYS, AND THEN WE WOULD GO BACK TO THE PARENT, KIND OF REASSESS WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THEN WE CAN SEEK TWO ADDITIONAL EXTENSIONS.
OF COURSE, THESE ARE VOLUNTARY.
THESE ARE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND THE FAMILY.
SO THIS ISN'T COURT INVOLVEMENT IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE.
THERE WAS A COUPLE OF WHAT I WOULD CALL TRAINING BILLS THAT HAPPENED THIS SESSION.
SO THIS IS A TRAINING BILL THAT REALLY LISTS OUT WHAT OUR INVESTIGATORS HAVE TO TRAIN ON, WHAT OUR SUPERVISORS NEED TO KNOW, AND THAT'S REALLY ANYTHING BETWEEN FROM DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT, INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES, BURDENS OF PROOF, AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES, THINGS THAT I WOULD SAY THAT ARE CURRENTLY PRESENT IN OUR BASIC SKILL DEVELOPMENT.
THIS DOES JUST PUT IT INTO STATUTE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL SAY FOR THIS BILL THAT IT ADDED IS A SORT OF A RETEST OF ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, ALL OF OUR CASEWORKERS, INVESTIGATORS AND SUPERVISOR INVESTIGATORS.
SO BY JANUARY OF 2025, ALL OF THOSE WILL HAVE TO TAKE A RETEST.
THEY'LL HAVE TO BE COMING UP WITH SOME SORT OF EXAMINATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE COMFORTABLE, REGARDLESS IF THEY'VE BEEN IN THE POSITION FOR 20 YEARS, 15 YEARS, FIVE YEARS. WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE OF WHAT'S OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
SO OUR [INAUDIBLE] DIVISION WILL BE SORT OF DEVELOPING THAT TRAINING AND MAKING SURE EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO THOSE STUDY GUIDES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE AN EXAMINATION BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO WORK ON AN INVESTIGATION AFTER JANUARY OF 2025.
FOR APS IN PARTICULAR, THERE WAS A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT WE HAD FOR THEM.
[00:35:02]
SO THIS NEW DESIGN WILL BE MORE OF A FIELD AND EXPERIENCE BASED, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S INTERACTION WITH ACTUAL CLIENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CASEWORKERS ARE UP TO DATE ON AND THEIR SKILLS OR ABLE TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN A REAL WORLD SETTING.SO APS DID IDENTIFY A STATUTORY BARRIER.
THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE STATUTE THAT JUST DIDN'T ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT, AND SO WE APPROACHED SENATOR MENENDEZ AND REPRESENTATIVE NOBLE AND THEY HELPED US ALTER THAT STATUTE, AND APS SHOULD BE ABLE TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THAT, AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE READY BY BY SEPTEMBER 1ST.
SO WHEN APS HAS MORE THAN MULTIPLE INTAKES OVER REALLY ANY POINT IN TIME, IF THERE'S EVER A RECIDIVIST CASE CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW OUR APS SUPERVISORS ARE REQUIRED TO GO IN AND IDENTIFY ALL OF THOSE AND MARK THOSE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CASEWORKERS UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE CASES, WHETHER IT BE A CASE THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR OR TEN YEARS AGO OR 20 YEARS AGO, THAT'S SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO GO GO IN, AND OUR CASEWORK, OUR SUPERVISORS, IT WASN'T STATUTE THAT THEY HAD TO GO IN AND READ THOSE, WHETHER IT WAS A 20 YEAR OLD CASE RELATED TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION.
THIS WAS A STATUTE THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 2005, AND SINCE THEN THERE HAVE BEEN SOME TECHNOLOGY, SOME TOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO HELP RECOGNIZE THOSE RECIDIVIST CASES, AND SO WE FELT THAT THIS SORT OF STATUTORY REQUIREMENT THAT SUPERVISORS GO IN AND READ EVERYTHING, IT JUST TAKES A LOT OF THEIR TIME, AND SO THEY COULD REPURPOSE THAT TIME IN HELPING THEIR CASEWORKERS WORK ON THOSE SORT OF MORE URGENT CASES FOR APS.
APS, I MENTIONED SOME COORDINATING COUNCIL.
APS WILL PROBABLY BE THAT LEAD AAD THEN THERE'S ALSO A NEW STATEWIDE INTERAGENCY INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COORDINATING COUNCIL WHICH WILL BE A PART OF.
FOR CPS IN PARTICULAR THERE'S A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT WERE FILED IN RESPONSE TO THE REFUGE, MAKING SURE THAT OUR CONTRACTORS AND OUR EMPLOYEES THAT DEAL WITH CHILDREN ARE HELD TO WHAT I WOULD CALL A HIGHER STANDARD AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CATCH THOSE ISSUES, WHETHER IT BE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND A PAST EMPLOYMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO SENATE BILL 1849 ESTABLISHES THE NEW INTERAGENCY CHILD PROTECTION DATABASE.
SO THIS IS A DATABASE THAT DIR, DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES WILL BE COMING UP WITH, AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT PULLS IN ALL OF THE WHAT WE CALL REPORTABLE CONDUCT, WHICH FOR US WOULD BE RTBS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S US, DFPS, HHS, TJJD AND TEA.
SO IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES THAT TEA MAY HAVE WITH A TEACHER IN LICENSING FOR A PARTICULAR CHILD ABUSE INCIDENT, THOSE WILL ALL BE PULLED IN, AND SO BEFORE YOU'RE ABLE TO GO GET A JOB AT A PLACE LIKE THE REFUGE, YOU WOULD BE PULLING AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL THAT INFORMATION IS RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU.
SENATE BILL 182 IS ANOTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY REPORTING, AND THIS REALLY GETS ON OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR CONTRACTORS TO MAKE SURE IF THEY SEE SOMETHING, THEY SAY SOMETHING, IF THEY OBSERVE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO REPORT THAT AND THEN IT MAKES IT A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR IF THEY DO NOT, AND THEN IT ALSO MAKES IT A STATE JAIL FELONY IF THEY SORT OF THEIR OMISSIONS OR THEY TRY TO CONCEAL THE ACTIVITY THAT THEY OBSERVE FOR WHATEVER REASON.
SOME OTHER CPS BILLS NOT RELATED REALLY TO THE REFUGE OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, BUT SO FOR OUR PARENTS WHO ARE UNDER A SERVICE PLAN WITH THE DEPARTMENT, SO CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, OUR PARENTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO THEY GET COUNSELING OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY WOULD GO TO A CONTRACTED PROVIDER.
SO PROVIDERS THAT WE PROACTIVELY HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED A CONTRACT, THIS IS GOING TO BE A RATE WE'RE GOING TO USE YOU TYPE OF THING, BUT THAT COULD ALSO BE A PARENT WHO LIVES AN HOUR FROM THAT CONTRACTOR.
[00:40:01]
SO HOUSE BILL 793 WILL ALLOW PARENTS TO CHOOSE ANY SERVICE PROVIDER AS LONG AS YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THE SERVICE PROVIDER AGREES TO DO IT, AND THERE'S SOME SOME REPORTING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT TO THE COURT, BUT IF A PARENT IS ORDERED FOR SERVICES, THEY COULD GO TO THEIR OWN COUNSELOR AND THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO SOME REIMBURSEMENT THROUGH THAT OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL CONTRACTING WAY.SO IT REALLY GIVES A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY TO PARENTS, AND THEN HOUSE BILL 3765, WHAT WE'VE COME TO KNOW AS THE LUGGAGE BILL.
SO THIS IS, DFPS IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPING REALLY AN INVENTORY NETWORK OF OF LUGGAGE, OF BAGS, OF THINGS LIKE THAT FOR CHILDREN TO USE WHEN THEY ARE REMOVED OR WHEN THEY ARE MOVED FROM PLACE TO PLACE.
SO NETWORK ALL AROUND THE STATE.
THAT WILL BE AN INTERESTING SORT OF COMING UP WITH THAT SYSTEM AND SECURING THOSE.
WE DID RECEIVE SOME FUNDING FOR THAT TOO.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT, AND THEN LASTLY IS JUST THE PEI AS SASHA WILL PROBABLY TALK ABOUT, BUT ALSO LEE ANN MENTIONED.
SO SENATE BILL 24 TRANSFERS OUR PEI DIVISION HERE AT DFPS OVER TO HHSC.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE ONE BIG FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES.
EFFORT, RIGHT? SO OVER THE NEXT YEAR THEY'LL DO THAT, THAT TRANSITION, CONSOLIDATING THE PARENTING AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE AT HHSC WITH OUR PROGRAMING JUST TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT FAMILIES FACE, THAT WE DEAL WITH, RANGING ANYWHERE FROM POVERTY TO MENTAL HEALTH, GENERAL PARENTING, EDUCATION AND MORE, AND SO WITH THAT TRANSFER DID COME THAT FUNDING, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS ALMOST $65 MILLION MORE FUNDING FOR OUR CHILD ABUSE PROGRAMS. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT HAPPENED, BUT I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? SURE. HOW DID WE DO ON RAISING MORE MONEY FOR IDD? BECAUSE WHEN I WENT AROUND AND EDUCATED SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS ON IT, THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IDD MEANT AND THAT WAS JUST VERY DISTRESSING FOR ME TO KNOW.
I MEAN, I REALIZED WHEN I TOLD THEM THE PREVIOUS DEFINITION, THEY DID UNDERSTAND, BUT DID WE COME UP WITH ANY MORE MONEY FOR IDD? I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS SPECIFIC TO IDD.
I MEAN, THROUGH OUR RATE MODERNIZATION AND RATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE, MORE FUNDING FOR OUR PROVIDERS THAT DO PROVIDE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE IDD.
I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM [INAUDIBLE].
TRUE. I THINK THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT THEY ALSO [INAUDIBLE].
[INAUDIBLE] TARGETED, AND WHAT THE [INAUDIBLE].
RIGHT NOW. [INAUDIBLE] I JUST THINK THAT'S THE TRANSFORMATIVE PART OF THIS IS.
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WHEN I WAS ON THE BENCH ALL THE TIME, I HEARD CASES WITH CPS KIDS WHO SAID I WAS GOING DOWN THE STAIRS TO GO TO SCHOOL, AND I SAW A TRASH BAG SITTING AT THE FRONT DOOR, AND I KNEW THAT MEANT THAT I WAS GOING TO BE MOVED TO ANOTHER PLACE, AND THEN FINDING OUT THAT'S HOW THEY MOVED ALL OF THEIR BELONGINGS WAS IN TRASH BAGS.
SO WE STARTED GOING THROUGH OUR CHURCH AND SAYING, IF YOU HAVE LUGGAGE THAT YOU WANT TO GET RID OF, PLEASE LET US KNOW, AND WE WERE TAKING IT OVER TO THE CPS OFFICE FOR THEM OR DFPS OFFICE OVER THERE IN HOUSTON TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT TO HELP THE KIDS BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER, WHICH FOR ME WAS JUST A FORM OF DIGNITY.
YEAH, AND I WILL SAY A PART OF THAT BILL, IT DOESN'T MAKE US IT'S NOT JUST SUBJECT TO THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE.
[00:45:09]
A PIECE OF THAT DOES ALSO HAVE BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT DID COME FROM THE FEAR OF NOT WANTING TO HAVE TRASH BAGS USED IN MOVING CHILDREN.SO OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WE WILL ALSO BE REPORTING IN INSTANCES WHERE A TRASH BAG IS USED.
ONE, SET UP THIS INVENTORY, BUT TWO, LET'S SEE HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM THIS THIS REALLY IS.
SO WE'LL BE SETTING UP THAT TRACKING AS WELL.
THEY BOTH WERE REALLY MASTERFUL AT THEIR CRAFT AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEM.
JASON THANK THE LARGER GROUP, WHICH I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE, PARTICULARLY THE GRT TEAM AND THE BUDGET TEAM, BECAUSE THEY REALLY HAVE TO DIG IN, BUT IT IS AN ALL HANDS ON DECK EFFORT. EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND ALL THE THERE WERE MANY, MANY NIGHTS THAT MARTA AND ERICA SPENT DOWN AT THE CAPITOL.
OH, AND LISA UNTIL MIDNIGHT OR LATER AT HEARINGS, AND SO IT IS DEFINITELY A CONSUMING ACTIVITY WHEN WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN TOWN , AND NOW WE HAVE THE FUN OF IMPLEMENTING ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DIRECTED OR FUNDED US TO DO.
CAN WE FIND THESE BILLS ON OUR WEBSITE IF I WERE TO GO AND SEARCH FOR THEM? JASON, ARE WE GOING TO PUT SOMETHING ON OUR WEBSITE ABOUT KEY BILLS OR COULD WE PROVIDE SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO THEM? YEAH, SO WE'RE DEVELOPING WHAT WE'LL CALL, OUR TOOL KIT, WHICH IS ALL THE BILLS, THE 115 BILLS THAT WE TRACKED AND PASSED, AND SO THOSE WILL BE SORT OF JUST A PARAGRAPH REVIEW OF EACH AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEND THOSE TO YOU, AND I THINK WE'LL BE ALSO PUTTING IN OUR INTRANET, AND THAT'LL COME WITH ALL THE EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS AS WELL.
SO WE'LL HAVE THAT. ALL RIGHT.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU ALL FOR WEARING PURPLE.
HOW EXCITING TO RECOGNIZE A WORLD ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION.
I THINK IF YOU'RE CAREFUL AT LUNCH TODAY AND YOU DON'T SPILL, YOU CAN RECYCLE YOUR SHIRT AND WEAR IT AGAIN ON THURSDAY OF NEXT WEEK, JUNE 15TH, WHICH IS WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY.
SO, WEAAD, I THINK IS HOW IT'S REFERRED TO.
IT'S AN EXCITING TIME FOR APS.
JUST SOME SOME QUICK UPDATES FOR YOU.
THE LEGISLATURE DID PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THOSE THREE UNITS, BEGINNING FISCAL 25.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
SIX CASEWORKERS OR INVESTIGATORS, A SUPPORT PERSON FOR EACH UNIT, A SPECIALIZED SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN EACH UNIT AND A SUPERVISOR , AND SO WE'RE THRILLED ABOUT THAT.
QUICK NOTE, WE PARTNERED WITH OUR FRIENDS CHANCE AND OUR FRIENDS IN INTERNAL AUDIT AND HAS ASKED TO JOIN THE ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFIED FRAUD EXAMINERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE, OR LEGA.
THIS IS A MEMBERSHIP GROUP THAT PROVIDES TRAINING AND EVENTUALLY CERTIFICATION AS CERTIFIED FRAUD EXAMINERS, AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING STAFF SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THOSE SPECIALIZED UNITS, AS WELL AS OTHER STAFF ACROSS THE STATE THAT WANT TO PURSUE THAT CERTIFICATION; IT WOULD BE A GREAT HELP AS THEY DO EXPLOITATION INVESTIGATIONS AND BIG SHOUT OUT TO CHANCE AND HIS TEAM FOR HELPING US DO THAT.
WE HAVE FULLY PUT TOGETHER OUR 17 APS TRAINING SUPERVISORS.
JASON MENTIONED THE TRAINING LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED FOR APS.
SO WE HAVE HIRED AND PUT TOGETHER THAT TEAM.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE WERE ABLE WE ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT FULLY THE NEW MODEL ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, BUT WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ABLE TO PILOT THE INITIAL PART OF THE TRAINING, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON THE CASE INITIATION.
SO WE'RE TEACHING THE NEW STAFF SPECIFICALLY HERE IS HOW YOU INITIATE A CASE.
HERE ARE THE THINGS YOU NEED TO ASK.
HERE ARE THE THINGS YOU NEED TO FIND OUT.
[00:50:09]
THE MESSAGE THAT WE GOT BACK FROM THE NEW TRAINEES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PILOT WAS THAT IT WAS VERY HELPFUL.WE HAVE ALSO JUST WANTED TO KIND OF UPDATE YOU GUYS.
I KNOW THAT I HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER, BUT THROUGH A FEDERAL GRANT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH UT HEALTH AND A FORENSIC ACCOUNTING SERVICE CALLED EIDE BAILLY.
THEY HAPPEN TO BE OUT OF MINNESOTA.
THEY CAN SHIP OFF ALL THE MATERIALS WE'LL SHIP OFF.
THEY PUT THEM ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH A PORTAL, GIVE THEM TO THESE FRAUD EXAMINERS OR FORENSIC ACCOUNTANTS, AND THEY GO THROUGH AND IDENTIFY POTENTIAL ISSUES THAT THEY FIND.
THEY WERE ABLE TO REPORT BACK TO US RECENTLY, AND I FIND THESE NUMBERS FASCINATING.
IN TWO IN DECEMBER 21ST THROUGH JULY 22ND.
THEY REVIEWED CASES AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY REVIEWED WAS $209,929,000.
THE FIRST TIME IN TEN YEARS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN AN INCREASE.
SO WE'RE REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, AND THEN JUST A QUICK PLUG.
I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
I DO NOT, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANTED TO TELL THE COUNCIL HERE THAT WE MET YESTERDAY AS A COMMITTEE MEETING WITH KEZ AND SO IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR TAKING TIME FROM HIS BUSY SCHEDULE TO VISIT WITH MYSELF AND GREAT JOB AND PLEASE FORWARD THAT TO ALL YOUR TEAM MEMBERS.
THANK YOU, DEE DEE. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN I'VE HAD TO CALL AND ASK FOR SOME ASSISTANCE, AND HE HAS BEEN WONDERFUL IN HELPING ME OUT WITH A COUPLE OF CASES, AND IT'S A REAL BLESSING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A NAME THAT I CAN CALL, AND YOU GUYS, YOU DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WHAT YOU DO AND TELL YOUR GROUP.
WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM AT APS.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I THINK THE BIGGEST UPDATES ARE PEI YOU ALREADY HEARD ABOUT IN OUR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.
WE'LL BE SPENDING THE NEXT YEAR STILL AT DFPS BUT WITH THOUGHTFULLY TRANSITIONING TO HHSC.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD INITIAL MEETINGS AND WE'VE DONE THIS, SOME VERSION OF THIS BEFORE.
SO WE REMEMBER WE BROUGHT THE TEXAS HOME VISITING PROGRAM FROM HHSC.
SO SARAH ABRAHAM'S, THE DEPUTY, AND I ARE OLD HATS.
WE KIND OF KNOW HOW TO REVERSE COURSE AND ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF WORKING WITH OUR COLLEAGUES OVER THERE AND THEN LEE ANN MENTIONED THE CONTINGENCY FUNDING, THE THIRD ROUND, A LITTLE OVER 30 MILLION A YEAR, AND I CAN JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL.
SO THAT IS AN ADDITIONAL 4 MILLION FOR OUR COMMUNITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS OUR KIND OF COMMUNITY BASED POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN HIGH RISK ZIP CODE AREAS AROUND THE STATE.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADD A FEW MORE COMMUNITIES.
WE RECEIVED 14 MILLION FOR OUR FAMILY AND YOUTH SUCCESS PROGRAM, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE STAR PROGRAM.
[00:55:01]
FAMILIES IN THE COMING TWO YEARS.THERE'S BEEN A HUGE DEMAND AND NEED FOR FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH ALL KINDS OF CRISES, WHETHER IT'S A NEW MOVE OR A PARENT WHO MAYBE HAS BEEN INCARCERATED OR A LOSS OF A JOB OR ANY OF THE NUMBERS OF THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN TO ANY OF US AND KIDDOS START HAVING A TOUGH TIME AT SCHOOL OR AND FAMILIES JUST NEED SOMEWHERE TO GO TO GET HELP WITH PARTICULARLY THE PARENTING PIECE OF THAT STRUGGLE AND HOW TO PARENT THROUGH THAT.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE MORE FAMILIES THROUGH PHASE.
OUR HOPES GRANTS, WHICH ARE I THINK OF AS KIND OF LIKE COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANTS FOR COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS ANY NEEDED GAPS AND SERVICES FOR PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN 0 TO 5 WHERE WE SEE A LOT OF RISK AND A LOT OF OUR FATALITIES.
SO WE RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL $18 MILLION TO BOTH INCREASE CAPACITY OF OUR CURRENT HOPES GRANTEES AND ADD MORE TO MORE PARTS OF THE STATE, WHICH NOW WE HAVE THEM IN ALMOST ALL OF OUR POPULATED COMMUNITIES, HIGH POPULATION COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS.
OUR TEXAS HOME VISITING PROGRAM RECEIVED THE BIGGEST INCREASE, ANOTHER 20 MILLION, AND THAT IS ALONGSIDE A HUGE INCREASE COMING FROM OUR FRIENDS AT THE SAME TIME. SO ALMOST AN 89% INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR HOME VISITING.
THOSE ARE PROGRAMS THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW AS LIKE PARENTS, AS TEACHERS.
THE [INAUDIBLE] PROGRAM NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP IS ANOTHER VERY WELL KNOWN HOME VISITING PROGRAM, BUT ALL INVOLVE PARAPROFESSIONALS OR CLINICIANS WHO VISIT THE HOME OF PARENTS OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN WHO ARE JUST GETTING STARTED PARENTING AND BUILD UP THEIR PARENTING SKILLS, HELP THEM UNDERSTAND CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT TO EXPECT AND CONNECT THEM WITH OTHER RESOURCES AS NEEDED, AND LASTLY, WE RECEIVED $4 MILLION SPECIFICALLY FOR THE NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
I THINK THAT THE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, AFTER COVID, THE DEMAND FOR NURSES IN THE LABOR MARKET FOR NURSES IS PRETTY COMPETITIVE AND THAT PROGRAM DOES RELY ON AN R.N.
SO I THINK A GOOD DEAL OF THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL BE JUST TO PAY FOR INCREASED COSTS , BUT THAT IS ALSO NEEDED BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME OR OUR GRANTEES ARE HAVING A HARD TIME KEEPING THOSE POSITIONS FILLED.
WE WANT PARENTS TO HAVE THOSE SERVICES.
IN ORDER TO HAVE THOSE SERVICES, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO HIRE THE NURSES TO DO THAT.
LASTLY, I HAVE TO BRAG A LITTLE BIT ON OUR OUR FEDERAL MATERNAL INFANT EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING PROGRAM, WHICH WE CALL TEXAS HOME, VISITING OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, HRSA, CAME TO DO A SITE VISIT AND WE HAD ZERO FINDINGS FINANCIAL, PROGRAMMATIC , AND IT WAS AN INTENSE AMOUNT OF WORK ON THE PART OF THE PEI TEAM AND THE FINANCE TEAM AND OUR COMMUNITY GRANTEES WHO PROVIDE THOSE PROGRAMS TO HOST THAT SITE VISIT.
SO THAT WAS VERY GOOD FEEDBACK TO GET AND FELT REALLY GOOD FOR THE TEAM.
SO THAT IS JUST A FEW THINGS GOING ON IN PEI.
SO OR WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO BE BUSY.
THE FAITH BASED AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM SINCE WE LAST MET, HAS AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS LIKE STAFFING RAINBOW ROOMS AND SUPPORTING LOCAL CHILD WORKFORCE BOARDS AND OVERSEEING VOLUNTEERS AND INTERNS, AND ALL NUMBER OF COMMUNITY EVENTS HAVE HELPED THE ALL OF US, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS CELEBRATE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH IN APRIL.
THAT KIND OF THOSE EVENTS RANGE THE GAMUT FROM INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND FAMILIES ABOUT BEING STRONGER AND HEALTHIER TO AWARENESS EVENTS ABOUT THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT AND HOW TO REPORT IT, AND ALSO A CELEBRATION OF ALL THE PROFESSIONALS THAT WORK IN THIS SPACE AND WORK TO PROTECT CHILDREN ALONG THE CONTINUUM.
SO TOO MANY THINGS TO MENTION ALL AT ONCE.
PART OF THAT ALSO IS BLUE SUNDAY.
I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF YOU PARTICIPATED IN THAT, BUT PART OF CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH IS ALSO A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON OUR FAITH COMMUNITY AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN HELPING BOTH PREVENT AND SUPPORT CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED OR NEGLECTED.
SO THAT WAS A BIG LIFT FOR OUR FAITH BASED AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM, AND NOW THEY SWITCH GEARS AND THEY'LL BE SUPPORTING ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH BECAUSE THERE IS A TEAM OF 12 ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STAFF AND THEY GET THE SORT OF SUPPORT OF THEIR, THEIR CHILD ABUSE OR CPS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COLLEAGUES IN THE CONSOLIDATION OF THAT DIVISION TO SORT OF GO OUT AND DO THE SAME FOR ADULT ELDER ABUSE MONTH.
[01:00:09]
SO I'M SURE NEXT TIME WE MEET WE'LL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED STARTING THIS MONTH.ONE OF THE THINGS THE FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DID IN PARTNERSHIP AND HELPED COMMISSIONER MUTH DO WAS MAKE AWARDS FOR DFPS VOLUNTEERS LIKE WHO ARE OUR OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEERS? I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THAT OUR BIGGEST HEART AWARD WENT TO JENNIFER KRAMER-OLIVA OF CORPUS CHRISTI, WHO'S DOING APPARENTLY ABOUT 8000 THINGS IN NUECES COUNTY TO SUPPORT CPS AND THE LOCAL WORKFORCE BOARD.
THEY WON THE HELPING HANDS AWARD, AND HERE OUR LITTLE KNOWN BUT VERY AMAZING YOUTH HELPLINE AND NOW PARENTING HELPLINE THAT IS RUN UNDER STEPHEN BLACK'S STATEWIDE INTAKE IS ALSO VOLUNTEER SUPPORTED AND ON THAT TEAM OUR WORLD CHANGER AWARD WENT TO JULIANNA HOOPER WHO VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE THOSE CALLS AND DOES A VERY FANTASTIC JOB AT THAT, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WELL, THERE'S TWO MORE THINGS.
OUR OFFICE FOR ADDRESSING DISPROPORTIONALITY DISPARITIES IS ALWAYS BUSY SHARING THAT DATA THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO REPORT AND RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT REDUCING BIAS AND MAKING SURE BOTH OUR MANDATORY REPORTERS AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SORT OF APPRECIATE AND THE DIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AND WE RESPOND ACCORDINGLY WHEN WE TRY TO TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN AND SUPPORT FAMILIES AND OUR FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION SERVICES ACT DIVISION IS HELPING TO COORDINATE ACROSS MANY PARTS OF DFPS THE STATE'S APPROACH TO MOVING SOME FOSTER CARE RESOURCES AND FUNDING A LITTLE BIT UPSTREAM TO FAMILIES WHO FIRST COME INTO THE SYSTEM AND COULD KEEP THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME WITH THEM WITH SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OF PARTICULAR EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMING.
SO THE LEGISLATURE, AS LEE ANN MENTIONED, DID CONTINUE FUNDING OF THE TEXAS FAMILY FIRST PILOTS, AND WE WILL BE WORKING TO EXPAND THOSE IN CONCERT WITH THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY-BASED CARE AND CPI AND CPS.
SO THAT'S MY REPORT AND HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
SO WITH THE WITH THE CHANGE IN THAT SB 24 RIDER, DOES THAT INCLUDE FAITH BASED AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT? NO. SO THE PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING DIVISION WILL NOT ALL GO TO HHSC, JUST THE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION DIVISION, FAITH BASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THE OFFICE OF DISPROPORTIONALITY AND THE FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION SERVICES ACT WORK WILL ALL STAY AT DSPS AND THAT HAS WE HAVE ANOTHER 14 MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT PLENTY OF TIME AND LOTS OF OTHER WORK TO DO.
I'M SURE THE COMMISSIONER WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE AT SOME POINT WHAT THE PLANS ARE FOR THOSE AREAS.
SO WHILE IT MAY BE A SHIFT IN REPORTING, IT WILL NOT BE A SHIFT IN RELATIONSHIP.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHERE THAT GOES AS WELL AND WE'RE EXCITED.
AS WE HEAD INTO THE LAST QUARTER OF THE FISCAL YEAR, IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE WE'LL BREAK THE SAME CALL VOLUME RECORDS FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE WE'LL PROBABLY BREAK THE INTERNET REPORTING RECORD AGAIN FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.
SO VOLUME IS STABILIZED, BUT IT STILL STABILIZED AT A FAIRLY HIGH AMOUNT.
AS WE ENTER WHAT WE KIND OF CONSIDER TO BE OUR SLOWER PART OF THE YEAR WHEN IT COMES TO VOLUME.
WE'RE JUST A LITTLE TOO SHORT ON STAFF TO MAKE UP FOR IT, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS OUR STAFFING LEVELS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER, AND IN APRIL AND MAY, WHICH ARE TRADITIONALLY TWO OF OUR BUSIEST MONTHS OF THE YEAR, WE DID REALLY WELL AND ACTUALLY BEAT OUR NUMBERS FOR LAST APRIL AND MAY, AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD MOMENTUM HEADING INTO THE SUMMER THAT WE HOPE TO CARRY OVER INTO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH COINCIDES WITH THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND AS LEE ANN MENTIONED, AND TO HELP WITH THAT EFFORT, WE DID GET FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF, WHICH COMES TO ABOUT THE EQUIVALENT, I THINK, ABOUT TWO NEW INTAKE UNITS WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT INTO ACTION, AS WELL AS A BRAND NEW SCREENING UNIT TO HELP AS WELL.
SO THAT SHOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE HEADING INTO NEXT YEAR.
[01:05:03]
ANOTHER THING THAT WILL AFFECT OUR VOLUME NEXT YEAR AND REALLY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS IS THAT WE STILL TAKE SOME INTAKE FOR ABUSE, NEGLECT FOR SOME HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS, AND SO OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS WE'LL BE TRANSITIONING SOME OF THAT INTAKE AWAY FROM STATEWIDE INTAKE TO HHSC ON INTAKE DEPARTMENT. SO THAT WILL FREE UP OUR STAFF TO REALLY BE ABLE TO FOCUS MORE ON THOSE CPS AND APS CALLS THAT ARE THAT ARE COMING IN.I KNOW I'VE MENTIONED THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, BUT IT'S ALMOST HERE THAT MANDATORY REPORTER TRAINING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND UPDATING IT SHOULD BE READY TO GO JUST IN TIME FOR THIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, AND THEN JUST ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION FROM THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WE'RE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A STATEWIDE INTAKE HOLIDAY COMP BILL.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO ANSWER THE PHONES EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THAT DOES INCLUDE THE HOLIDAYS AND CURRENTLY WHEN THAT HOLIDAY FALLS ON THE WEEKEND AND OUR STAFF HAVE TO WORK, THEY DON'T EARN ANY ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THAT.
SO GOING FORWARD, WHENEVER OUR STAFF ARE THERE WORKING ON CHRISTMAS, WHEN CHRISTMAS FALLS ON A SATURDAY OR A SUNDAY, THEY'LL GET TO EARN EIGHT HOURS OF LEAVE THAT THEY COULD USE AT A LATER DATE. SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT PASSED THIS YEAR, BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE, UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME.
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE NEW REQUIREMENT THAT YOU CANNOT SUBMIT ANONYMOUS REPORTS.
HAVE YOU HAD TIME YET TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT? I HAVEN'T READ THE BILL, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW PARTICULAR IT GOT.
WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WILL BE DONE TO VALIDATE THE IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION THAT'S BEING SHARED WITH HER ON THE PHONE OR THE INTERNET REPORTING TOO, I'M SURE, PRESENTS A DIFFERENT CHALLENGE THERE.
CAN YOU SPEAK AT ALL OR IS IT TOO EARLY TO EVEN? YEAH, FIGURED OUT WE'RE STILL KIND OF TEASING OUT TO HOW IMPLEMENTATION IS GOING TO LOOK, BUT WE HAVE TO GET A NAME, ADDRESS AND A PHONE NUMBER.
SO THERE'S SEVERAL POINTS OF CONTACT INFORMATION WE'LL NEED TO GET TO VALIDATE.
OKAY, BUT [INAUDIBLE] HAVE TO.
OR I MEAN, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT MIGHT WORK? WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT MY STAFF ARE REALLY IN ANY SPOT TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ON WHAT SOMEBODY'S NAME IS, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT WHEN IT COMES TO IMPLEMENTATION. OKAY, JUST CURIOUS.
ONE THING I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON, THOUGH, IT DOES NOT CHANGE REPORTING.
WHETHER YOU HAVE TO GIVE YOUR NAME OR NOT HAVE TO GIVE YOUR NAME LIKE YOU DO NOW.
IT'S STILL A CONFIDENTIAL REPORT.
WE WILL STILL THE NAME WILL BE CONFIDENTIAL.
THAT IS NOT INFORMATION THAT WE SHARE.
WE REALLY TREAT THAT VERY SACROSANCT.
HI, GOOD MORNING. MARTA TALBERT, I'M THE ACTING ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS, AND I WILL PRESENT A FEW UPDATES AROUND CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS. JUST VERY RECENTLY, I SAY RECENTLY, BUT IN THE LAST PROBABLY 4 TO 6 MONTHS, I THINK WE HAVE REALLY TURNED OUR FOCUS ON RETENTION EFFORTS AROUND CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATORS AND ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE CASES.
SO WE'VE HAD A GREAT FOCUS ON RETENTION AND WITH DILIGENT EFFORTS BY FIELD STAFF AND BY FIELD MANAGEMENT AND OUR MASTER INVESTIGATION TEAM, AS WELL AS OUR SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR TEAM AND OUR INTERNAL STAFF OF OUR CHILD SAFETY SPECIALIST AND OUR RISK MANAGERS.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT WE'RE THE HIGHEST CASE ASSIGNABLE THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2021.
SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE RETENTION OF OUR STAFF, AND OF COURSE, THAT MEANS BETTER QUALITY INVESTIGATIONS AND MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH FAMILIES.
WE'VE HAD MANY STRATEGIES AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A FEW OF THOSE WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY IS THAT WE'VE ROLLED OUT NUMEROUS POLICY PROCEDURE AND BEST PRACTICE TO OUR STAFF TO INCLUDE FOCUSING ON WHERE THE ABUSE OR NEGLECT HAS OCCURRED, THAT NEEDS TO BE OUR FOCUS THEN THE ENTIRE FAMILY UNIT TO REALLY DO SOME FOCUS WORK ON THE HOME OF CONCERN OR HOME OF WHERE THE ABUSE OR NEGLECT HAS IS ALLEGED.
[01:10:08]
NEGLECT, AND WE ALSO CHANGED OUR PRACTICE AND POLICY AROUND WHAT SAFETY PLAN IS, AND WHEN WE PUT A SAFETY PLAN IN AND REALLY TRIED TO LOOK AT WORKING WITH FAMILIES MORE INSTEAD OF PUTTING IN SAFETY PLANS THAT WE NEED, BUT MAYBE SAFETY PLANS THAT MEET THE CHILD'S SAFETY AS WELL AS WHAT THE PARENTS NEED. SO REALLY SOME BEST PRACTICE WORK AROUND SAFETY PLANS AND PARENTAL CHILD SAFETY PLACEMENTS.WE'VE ALSO STARTED OUR ENGAGEMENT SERIES.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW STAFF AND SO OUR ENGAGEMENT SERIES, I HAVE A TEAM THAT IS WILL BE TRAINING ALL CASEWORKERS AND SUPERVISORS ON HOW TO HOW TO ENGAGE FAMILIES AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WITH FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WITH THAT, WE ARE WORKING WITH ROLLING OUT ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE TO EVERY CASEWORKER.
SO WE'VE STARTED IN OUR NEW CASEWORKERS.
SO EVERY CASEWORKER THAT COMES IN TO US AS AN INVESTIGATOR WILL ALSO BE TRAINED IN OUR ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE, AND SO THEY WILL BE DULY TRAINED, AND WITH THAT, AFTER WE HAVE EVERYONE TRAINED, WE'RE HOPING WE UPDATE OUR POLICY AND PROCEDURES AROUND WHAT GOES TO A.R.
WE ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, HAD TO LOOK AT SUPPORT FOR OUR STAFF.
SO THE PEER SUPPORT TEAM WAS CREATED AND SINCE MARCH OF 2022, WE'VE SUPPORTED ABOUT 116 STAFF DURING A TIME OF CRISIS, AND THIS PEER SUPPORT IS MADE UP OF THEIR OWN PEERS THAT WORK IN THE FIELD OR HAVE WORKED IN THE FIELD THAT CAN REACH OUT TO OUR STAFF IN THE TIME OF CRISIS TO WORK WITH THEM AND HELP THEM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF COPE THROUGH WHATEVER CRISIS THAT IS HAPPENING WITH THEM.
WE ARE ALSO ENHANCING OUR MENTOR PROGRAM, WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO REALLY HELP US WITH DEVELOPING OUR NEW STAFF, AND SO OUR WE HAVE MENTOR PROGRAM SPECIALISTS WHO REALLY HELP OUR HELP DEVELOP OUR MENTORS, AND SO IF WE ROLL OUT A NEW POLICY OR A NEW PROCEDURE, OUR MENTORS ARE TRAINED BY THE ONES OF US WHO HAVE CREATED IT, AND SO THOSE MENTORS GET A FIRST HAND KIND OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT THEN TO GO OUT AND PAIR UP WITH NEW WORKERS TO HELP TRAIN AND DEVELOP THEM.
WE'VE ALSO CREATED A MENTOR ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND SO OUR MENTORS THAT ARE TENURED AND HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, WE HAVE THEM IN A ROOM AND KIND OF TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE ANYTHING FROM POLICY TO PRACTICE, BEST PRACTICE, COMMUNICATION, ANYTHING THAT'S KIND OF HINDERING THEM MAYBE TO DO THE WORK.
WE ARE KIND OF USING THEM AS OUR ADVISORY COUNCIL TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD.
I'LL MOVE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT TO OUR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT, AND I WILL SAY THEY'VE BEEN BUSILY ASSISTING THE CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS AND RESOLVING CASES, BUT I WILL SAY THEY HAVE LOCATED 1564 CHILDREN WHO WERE ON OUR SCALE AS OF RECENT REPORT FROM DFPS. SO NOT ONLY DO THEY HELP THAT PART OF THE INVESTIGATIONS, BUT THEY ARE BUSILY WORKING TO FIND THE CHILDREN THAT ARE MISSING FROM CARE.
THEY ALSO COLLABORATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEY'VE HAD TWO SIGNIFICANT RECOVER AND ANTI TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS, AND ONE OF THEM YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, IT WAS CALLED WE WILL FIND YOU, AND THIS WAS IN COLLABORATION WITH DEPUTY MARSHALS AND THE SI TEAM, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND AND LOCATE AND RECOVER ABOUT 30 MISSING CHILDREN.
JUST A FEW UPDATES ON THE CHILD CARE INVESTIGATION.
SO OUR RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE IS OVERALL PERFORMING WELL.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THAT ACROSS THE WHOLE INVESTIGATION DIVISION AND THEN THEY ALSO HAD WHAT THEY CALL THEIR SPARK CONFERENCE AND WHERE THEY GATHER ALL THE RESIDENTIAL AND CHILD CARE INVESTIGATION AND MANAGEMENT TEAM, AND THEY REALLY WORKED ON TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF INVESTIGATIONS DURING THEIR SPARK CONFERENCE.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THIS IS MY LAST UPDATE, BUT I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE OUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
[01:15:04]
DIRECTORS THAT SERVE ON THE THIS WORKGROUP FROM FIVE DIFFERENT STATES, AND THAT INCLUDES ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS.IT'S COMPRISED OF ANTI-TRAFFICKING PARTNERS AND MULTI DISCIPLINES, AND THEY WORK TO LOOK AT MINIMIZING DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS AMONG THE PARTNERS AND USE EACH OTHER AS RESOURCES TO COMBAT AND LOOK AT OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
THAT'S MY UPDATE. ANY QUESTIONS? DO WE HAVE BUILT IN ANY SYSTEM OF RECOGNIZING AND TREATING SECONDARY TRAUMA OF OUR WORKERS? THAT'S ACTUALLY WE DO HAVE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING, BUT IT'S ALSO AN AREA THAT WE'RE REALLY WORKING TO O THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE SHORE THAT UP? HOW DO WE BETTER USE WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, HOW DO WE BETTER USE THOSE TOOLS? SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR STAFF HONESTLY, WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE FIELD OR NOT, ALL OF US READ THINGS THAT ARE DEVASTATING TO EVEN READ, TO EVEN KNOW.
SO WHEN YOU IMAGINE OUR STAFF THAT ARE ON THE FRONT LINES AND IN IT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING ALL OF THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY NEED TO DEAL WITH THAT SECONDARY TRAUMA, AND SO WE'RE TAKING A SECOND LOOK AT THAT RIGHT NOW AND TRYING TO SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO LIFT THAT UP AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE GETTING THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
EXCUSE ME. MY ALLERGIES ARE HORRIBLE.
SO HOPEFULLY FIRST, I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS FOR WORKING ON RETENTION.
I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS THIS AREA, AND I UNDERSTAND IN EVERY DEPARTMENT, BUT CPI WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH CASEWORKERS, WHETHER IT BE WITH CPS OR APS AND SO FORTH.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT YOU ALL ARE WORKING ON YOUR POLICY AND PROCEDURES HANDOUT FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES AND ALSO ABLE TO FIND AT LEAST 100 FOLKS OUT THERE THAT WERE IN THE SYSTEM.
THAT'S A GREAT JOB. GREAT JOB TO EVERYBODY THAT WAS ON THERE.
IF IT'S ABLE TO MAYBE BE PROVIDED LATER, IS.
HOW MANY OPENINGS DO WE HAVE IN CPI TO FILL, DO YOU? IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION, IT CAN BE PROVIDED LATER.
IT'S MY LAST REPORT WAS 254 VACANT INVESTIGATION POSITIONS, AND I SAY INVESTIGATIONS I WANT TO SAY THAT'S INVESTIGATIONS AND ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE.
YES. YOU TALKED EARLIER ABOUT TRAINING YOUR NEW STAFF WHICH IS ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR THAT YOU GO INTO A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE AND HAVE TRAINING.
DO YOU RECALL WHAT IS THE TRAINING TIMELINE BEFORE THEY GO ON THEIR OWN OR WHAT TYPE OF TRAINING IS BEING OFFERED? I'M PRETTY SURE THE ONES THAT YOU ALL DO HIRE DO COME WITH SOME TYPE OF EXPERIENCE.
I THINK SOME EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, BUT THE EXPERIENCE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU THINK WHEN THEY COME IN, RIGHT, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE NEW COLLEGE GRADUATES COMING IN. SO IT MAY BE JUST WHATEVER THEY WORKED ON IN THEIR INTERNSHIP OR IN THE FIELD.
SO WE DO HAVE A LOT OF NEW YOUNG EMPLOYEES COMING IN, AND SO IT TAKES THEM ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO GET THROUGH THE FULL TRAINING AND SO BECAUSE THEY GO TO ABOUT AROUND THREE MONTHS OF THREE AND A HALF MONTHS OF LIKE IN-CLASS TRAINING AS WELL AS KIND OF BEING WITH THEIR MENTOR, AND THEN AFTER THEY COME OUT OF TRAINING, THEY'RE ABOUT THREE MONTHS WHERE WE CAP THEIR WORKLOAD AND GIVE THEM, IF WE CAN, CERTAIN CASES TO KIND OF GIVE THEM TIME TO LEARN WHILE THEY'RE WORKING, WORKING CERTAIN TYPES OF CASES.
SO IT'S ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO BECOME FULLY CASE-ASSIGNABLE, AND DO YOU THINK THOSE SIX MONTHS WE'RE LOSING SOME EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OF THE TRAINING OR THE CLASSROOM AND MAYBE THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF WHAT IT ENTAILED? YES, I MEAN, ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK AND I THINK WHEN WE SET UP THIS THE WAY WE'RE DOING OUR CURRENT TRAINING, YOU KNOW, WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO GIVE THEM SOME IN CLASSROOM, BUT ALSO FIELD WORK BECAUSE WE WANTED THEM TO KNOW AT THE VERY BEGINNING WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR THEM.
[01:20:05]
IT. SO WE'RE GIVING THEM THAT AT THE VERY BEGINNING, AND YES, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME THAT WE DO NOT KEEP THROUGH TRAINING BECAUSE THEY DECIDED THAT THIS IS NOT FOR THEM.THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR DOING AN AMAZING JOB.
NEXT, WE HAVE BROCK BOUDREAU, WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
ERICA BANUELOS IS OUT THIS WEEK AND BROCK IS HER DEPUTY AND GOING TO SHARE AN UPDATE.
AS JENNIFER SAID, ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER ERICA BANUELOS GIVES HER APOLOGIES.
SHE COULDN'T BE HERE THIS MORNING.
I'M ERICA'S DEPUTY. I'M THE DEPUTY ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT GOING ON WITH THE SESSION, AND I THINK THAT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER BIGGAR GAVE US SOME HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH EACH OF THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. I THINK SHE HIT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT SHE HAD FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, TOO.
I'D LIKE TO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT ANY OF THOSE THINGS, AND I'LL ANSWER WHATEVER I CAN AND GET BACK TO YOU WITH THE THINGS I CAN ANSWER, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE BIGGER SYSTEMIC ISSUE WITH CPS, AND I GENERALLY ADDRESS IT WITH THIS GROUP.
SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ABOUT PLACEMENT CAPACITY.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE KIDS THAT COME INTO CARE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE PLACES TO PUT THEM AND PLACEMENT CAPACITY IS A REAL CHALLENGE FOR US, AND WE HAVE BEEN DILIGENTLY WORKING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO IMPROVE THE PLACEMENTS THAT WE HAVE, BUT ALSO EXPAND OUR SERVICE ARRAY AND TRY TO FIND MORE BEDS AND MORE SLOTS AND MORE HOMES FOR THE KIDS.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU GET AS A BYPRODUCT OF CHALLENGE WITH PLACEMENT CAPACITY IS CHILDREN WITHOUT PLACEMENT, AND THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE YOUTH THAT ARE IN AN UNLICENSED PLACEMENT.
THESE ARE THE YOUTH THAT YOU READ ABOUT IN THE PAPER.
SO I ALWAYS TRY TO REMEMBER TO LET YOU KNOW THAT TWO YEARS AGO, MAYBE THREE YEARS AGO NOW, IN JUNE OF 2021, WE HAD 400 UNIQUE YOUTH FOR THAT MONTH IN YOUTH WITHOUT PLACEMENT.
LAST MONTH WE HAD MY BEST COUNT THAT I HAVE IS 254, SO WE'VE MANAGED TO CUT ABOUT IN HALF.
ONE OF THE RATES THAT I LOOK AT REGULARLY IS THE AVERAGE DAILY RATE FOR EACH MONTH, AND FOR MAY LAST MONTH WE HAD ABOUT 100 YOUTH ON AVERAGE IN A NON-LICENSED PLACEMENT.
SO AS WITH ANY PROCESS IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS, YOU CAN MAKE PRETTY GOOD GAINS IN THE BEGINNING AND THEN YOU SORT OF HIT THAT WALL.
YOU KNOW, MISS HELMS, I KNOW YOUR HUSBAND IS HERE AND HE CAN PROBABLY TELL US THAT LAST 20 YARDS SEEMS TO BE UPHILL A LITTLE BIT, DOESN'T IT? YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO COVER 80, BUT THOSE LAST 20 ARE HARD AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO MAKE GAINS, BUT EVERY TIME I COME AND ADDRESS YOU, I TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IS GIVING GRANTS TO OUR PROVIDERS TO HELP TO SEED THEM AND INCENTIVIZE THEM TO GET INTO THE SPACE WITH US AND HELP US TO IMPROVE WHAT WE HAVE, EXPAND WHAT WE HAVE, OR BRING NEW PROGRAMS TO THE TABLE, AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, WE'VE AWARDED 22 GRANTS OVER THE LAST YEAR, SO WE FINALLY EXHAUSTED ALL OF THOSE GRANTS.
THEY HAVE SOME AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS.
THEY'VE GENERALLY BEEN IN AND OUT OF PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS.
THEY HAVE HIGH ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.
THEY HAVE GENERALLY SOME INVOLVEMENT WITH JUVENILE JUSTICE.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET THEM INTO A PLACEMENT.
THEY'VE BEEN IN CARE FOR A WHILE.
THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH QUITE A BIT, RIGHT? THESE ARE GOOD KIDS IN A TOUGH SITUATION, AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE REALLY FOCUSED ON WITH OUR PROVIDER PARTNERS WAS TO COME UP WITH A HAVE THEM COME IN AND ESTABLISH SOME QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES.
THESE ARE QRTPS OR QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS. THESE ARE FEDERALLY ACCREDITED PROGRAMS. YOU HAVE TO BE ACCREDITED.
YOU HAVE 24 HOUR NURSING CARE.
YOU HAVE 24 HOUR MEDICAL, MENTAL, BEHAVIORAL, CLINICAL STAFF.
[01:25:04]
THEY USE EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMS, AND IT'S BEEN TOUGH TO GET THAT STARTED, BUT I'M REALLY HAPPY TO TELL YOU, WE'VE SIGNED TWO CONTRACTS.WE'VE GOT TWO QRTPS STOOD UP HERE IN TEXAS.
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE PENDING.
WE ADMITTED OUR VERY FIRST KID INTO ONE OF THOSE MONDAY.
SO I THINK BY THE TIME WE GET THE THREE CONTRACTS DONE, WE'LL HAVE ABOUT 93 BEDS AVAILABLE FOR US.
THAT'S A BIG TIME ADDITION TO OUR SERVICE ARRAY.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PROVIDER PARTNERS FOR BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH US AND GET THAT GOING.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION, MISS? ARE YOU WORKING WITH THE HARRIS CENTER? NO, I WANT TO GET TO THAT.
OKAY. WE HAVE JUST OPENED UP THE JUVENILE DIVERSION CENTER.
SO WE'RE TAKING FOLKS, KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT INTO THE JUVENILE SYSTEM AND ARE TAKING THEM OUT OF THE DETENTION AND PUTTING THEM IN THE DIVERSION, AND IT'S WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
SO IN ADDITION TO THE QRTPS, IF YOU REMEMBER--YOU PROBABLY DON'T, BUT I REMEMBER--THE LAST TIME THAT WE TALKED IN MARCH, I KIND OF LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG A LITTLE BIT.
I SAID, WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD IDEA.
WE'RE HOPING WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IT UP.
WELL, SURE ENOUGH, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER OVER IN HOUSTON, AND WE HAVE YOUTH IN IN CHILD WATCH THAT HAVE BEEN CYCLING IN AND OUT OF PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS THREE, FOUR, FIVE TIMES.
THEY GO INTO A HOSPITAL, THEY'RE TERRIBLY ACUTE.
THEY HAVE SELF HARMING BEHAVIORS.
THEY'LL TREAT THEM THROUGH TO WHERE IT'S NO LONGER MEDICALLY NECESSARY TO HAVE THEM IN HOSPITAL AND THEY'LL DISCHARGE THEM, AND MOST OF THE TIME THAT WORKS FOR MOST KIDS, THAT'S GOING TO BE OKAY, BUT FOR SOME OF THESE KIDS, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK, AND THEY NEED MORE HELP.
THEY NEED MORE TREATMENT TO STABILIZE SO THAT THEY CAN MEET THE BEHAVIORAL REQUIREMENTS OF A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER OR A THERAPEUTIC FOSTER HOME, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE WANTED TO DO AND UT APPROACHED US AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME PROMISING PROGRAMS HERE.
WE THINK WE CAN WORK WITH YOU IF WE CAN SET SOMETHING UP.
SO WE WORKED WITH THEM AND WE STARTED THAT PROGRAM IN HOUSTON, WE HAVE 18 BEDS.
IT'S GENERALLY 45 DAYS, 60 AT THE MAX, BUT INSTEAD OF DISCHARGING THESE YOUTH THAT ARE JUST BARELY STABILIZED AND REGULATED INTO CHILD WATCH AGAIN, WHICH IS LIKELY WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO, WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP THEM IN THE HOSPITAL AND CONTINUE THAT PROGRAMING TO A POINT WHERE THEY CAN COME OUT AND THEN TRULY STEP DOWN INTO A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT SETTING INTO A THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE, AND NOW THEY'VE GOT A CHANCE TO CONTINUE THEIR HEALING AND CONTINUE THEIR TREATMENT BECAUSE THESE KIDS I'M TELLING YOU, IF THE WAY THAT WE WERE DOING IT BEFORE, THEY WERE NOT GETTING TREATED PROPERLY AND THEY WERE GOING RIGHT BACK INTO THOSE HOSPITALS, THEY'RE GOING RIGHT BACK INTO [INAUDIBLE], 55% RECIDIVISM RATE OVER 90 DAYS.
THAT'S NOT AN ANNUAL RECIDIVISM RATE.
THAT'S A 90 DAY RECIDIVISM RATE.
NOW, IT'S A SMALL SUBSET OF CHILDREN WITHOUT PLACEMENT, BUT IT'S THE HARDEST BUNCH.
IT'S THE ONE WHO NEEDS THE MOST, AND IF WE CAN GET THEM THE HELP THAT THEY NEED, YOU MAY NOT SEE THESE NUMBERS AT 90 OR 100 COME DOWN, BUT WE'LL HAVE TREATED ABOUT 200 KIDS WHO REALLY NEEDED IT AND GET THEM OUT OF CHILD WATCH AND INTO A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GET BETTER.
I HAD A YOUNG WOMAN IN FRONT OF ME.
ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO THAT HAD BEEN IN THE PROGRAM FOR THREE YEARS AND SHE HAD HAD 46 PLACEMENTS, AND IT WAS JUST THE PROBLEM IS AND I'M STILL SCREAMING FROM THE ROOFTOPS TRAUMA.
WE NEED TO TREAT TRAUMA AND TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE WHO WILL JOIN ME IN SCREAMING LIKE THAT HELP BECAUSE EVERY ONE OF THESE INCIDENCES IS A TRAUMA.
NO ONE'S EVER GOING TO WANT ME.
YOU KNOW, I WAS IN A PLACEMENT AND I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET ADOPTED, BUT THEN THE AMYGDALA STARTED FIRING OFF FIGHT, FLIGHT OR FREEZE, AND THAT'S WHERE WE WENT, AND IT'S JUST IT'S PAINFUL.
[01:30:01]
I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU'VE COME UP WITH THIS, BUT YOU DO NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE JUVENILE DIVERSION CENTER BECAUSE WE'VE NOW OPENED IT AND IT HAS RESIDENTIAL BEDS AND THE WHOLE BIT, AND WE'RE VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.SO WE NEED TO, AND THE HARRIS COUNTY GROUP WAS THERE AT THE TIME WHEN WE OPENED IT.
WELL, I'LL CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH THEM.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ME? QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
CAN YOU SHARE WITH US WHAT THESE YOUTH DO AT THE HOTEL WITH YOUR STAFF? ARE THEY GOING THROUGH SOME TYPE OF TRAINING? DO THEY GET OUT OF THE HOTEL? DO THEY? YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WHEN MY KIDS LOVE GOING TO THE HOTEL, THEY LIKE GOING TO THE POOL AND JUST WATCHING TV AND ORDERING OUT.
YOU DID MENTION A LITTLE BIT, BUT CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND ELABORATE? YES, I CAN. SO FOR MOST OF THE YOUTH THAT ARE IN CHILD WITHOUT PLACEMENT IN THE HOTELS, LET ME SEE.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE TO VISIT A HOTEL, BUT NOBODY LIKES TO LIVE IN ONE.
NOW, NOW, MOST OF THESE YOUTH WILL BE IN CHILD WATCH FOR FOUR, FIVE, SIX NIGHTS, ONE NIGHT, TWO NIGHTS, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, IT'S NOT VERY MANY THAT CONTINUE TO PERSIST IN THE HOTEL BEYOND TWO WEEKS.
SO IT'S A RELATIVELY SHORT TERM THING.
THEY GO TO SCHOOL, THEY COME BACK, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE OUTSIDE TIME.
THERE ARE OTHER KIDS THERE, YOU KNOW, SO THEY ARE ABLE TO HAVE SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY, BUT UNDER THE CLOSE WATCH OF DFPS PERSONNEL AND THERE'S SECURITY PERSONNEL THERE TO LOOK AFTER THEIR SAFETY AND EVERYONE ELSE'S.
SO THEY CONTINUE TO GET THEIR MEDICATIONS.
THEY CONTINUE TO GO TO THEIR DOCTOR'S VISITS.
THEY CONTINUE TO DO THESE OTHER THINGS.
WE DON'T LET THEM KEEP THEIR CELL PHONES BECAUSE WE FOUND THAT THEY'VE USED THOSE SOMETIMES FOR NEFARIOUS REASONS TO ARRANGE WAYS TO ELOPE OR WHAT HAVE YOU, OR MEET PEOPLE THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE MEETING AND SO WE DO IMPOSE SOME SEMBLANCE OF ORDER WITH THEM FOR THEIR PROTECTION.
WELL, THAT'S ONE THAT'S ONE REASON, AND MOST OF THESE KIDS ARE OLDER KIDS.
WE HAVE VERY FEW, SIX, SEVEN YEAR OLDS IN CHILDREN WITH OUTPLACEMENT.
THESE ARE 13 AND UP, AND THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF RUNNING AWAY, AND SOMETIMES THEY RUN AWAY FROM FROM OUR SUPERVISION WHILE THEY'RE IN CHILD WATCH, BUT THEY RUN AWAY FROM FOSTER HOMES AS WELL.
SO IT SEEMS AT TIMES OUR HANDS ARE TIED.
WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO ASSIST THEM.
IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION.
COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
I AM HOLLY MIMS. I'M A DIRECTOR IN THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY BASED CARE TRANSITION.
WANTED TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF UPDATES FROM ACROSS THE STATE.
SO FIRST I WANT TO START WITH IMPLEMENTATION UPDATES.
SO LAST TIME I UPDATED YOU GUYS THAT WE HAD SOME NEW SSCC PARTNERS OR SINGLE SOURCE CONTINUUM PARTNERS COME LIVE, COME ONLINE AND I WANTED TO SHARE AN UPDATE ABOUT THOSE.
SO WE HAVE EMPOWER IS OUR SSCC IN THE DALLAS SO THE THREE EAST REGION WE HAVE FOUR KIDS, FOUR FAMILIES THAT'S IN OUR REGION FOUR PINEY WOODS COMMUNITY, AND THEN WE HAVE TEXAS FAMILY CARE NETWORK, WHICH IS IN OUR DEEP EAST REGION FIVE AREA, AND THEY ARE ALL IN THE START UP PROCESS FOR STAGE ONE.
SO IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT THESE BASED ON READINESS CERTIFICATION, THAT THESE SSCCS WILL GO LIVE IN STAGE ONE IN A STAGGERED ORDER STARTING IN SEPTEMBER.
SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT EMPOWER WILL START IN SEPTEMBER, STAGE ONE, THAT TEXAS FAMILY CARE NETWORK, THAT'S REGION FIVE WILL START IN OCTOBER FOR STAGE ONE AND THAT FOR KIDS FOR FAMILIES WILL START FOR STAGE ONE IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
[01:35:04]
SO THAT'S SUPER EXCITING.LAST TIME I GAVE AN UPDATE ALSO ON THE METROPLEX WEST.
SO THAT'S OUR THREE WEST REGION.
SEPTEMBER IS GOING TO BE VERY BUSY.
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEXT UPDATE FOR YOU GUYS AND THEN OUR REQUEST FOR APPLICATION FOR OUR NEXT FOUR AREAS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WERE FUNDED IN OUR EXPANDING COMMUNITY BASED CARE. SO THAT'S REGIONS 6A, HARRIS COUNTY, 6B, 8A BEAR COUNTY, AND THEN EL PASO WILL BE RELEASED ALSO IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR. WE'RE HOPEFUL. WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THEY WILL BE RELEASED THEN.
WE LAUNCHED OUR BRAND NEW COMMUNITY BASED CARE WEB PAGE, SO IT IS COMMUNITYBASEDCARE.ORG.
THERE'S NO HYPHEN IN BETWEEN COMMUNITY BASED SO THE CONTENT WE I SPOKE LAST TIME WE REALLY TRY TO KEEP OUR CONTENT RELEVANT AND UP TO DATE AND MEANINGFUL AND I THINK AND I HOPE--AND I WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK--THAT THE FEEL OF THIS NEW WEB PAGE IS REALLY INVITING AND VERY INFORMATIVE AND EASY FOR ANYBODY.
ANYBODY THAT HAS A HAND IN THE CHILD WELFARE SPHERE AND IN COMMUNITY BASED CARE IN TEXAS CAN FIND THIS WEBSITE HELPFUL AND ON THE FRONT PAGE RIGHT NOW, YOU'LL SEE A VIDEO CALLED WHY CBC, AND IT TALKS ABOUT WHY IS TEXAS UTILIZING THIS COMMUNITY DRIVEN FOSTER CARE MODEL? I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO WATCH THAT VIDEO AND THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS THAT HELPED WITH ALL OF THAT.
THAT WAS JUST SUCH A HUGE UNDERTAKING.
OKAY. ARE YOU LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW? THAT'S EXCITING.
OKAY, AND THEN ALSO ON OUR WEB PAGE, UNDER THE NEWS AND EVENTS PIECE, YOU WILL SEE OUR COMMUNITY TOWN HALLS OR COMMUNITY CONVENINGS. SO LIKE MR. MATA SHARED, WE WILL BE ON JUNE 19TH, WE WILL BE IN EL PASO WITH THE ALLIANCE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY BASED CARE AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THAT AREA AND WHAT WHAT WHAT'S NEEDED OUT THERE TO MAKE THIS SUCCESSFUL FOR OUR FAMILIES, AND NEXT WEEK WE'LL BE IN BELTON DOING THE SAME, AND LASTLY, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT OUR QUARTERLY IMPLEMENTATION REPORT, OUR CBC QUARTERLY IMPLEMENTATION REPORT, WILL BE POSTED ON JUNE 30TH.
SO THAT GIVES YOU A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT I'M SHARING RIGHT NOW IMPLEMENTATION AND ALSO GIVES YOU INSIGHT FROM EACH OF OUR SSCCS ABOUT WHAT UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES AND INITIATIVES ARE GOING ON IN THEIR AREAS.
SO WITH THAT, I'M OPEN TO QUESTIONS.
SO THANK YOU. THANK ALL OF YOU GUYS WHO HAVE TAKEN SOME TIME THIS MORNING TO COME AND VISIT WITH US AND SHARE WITH US THE UPDATES OF WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DOING.
IT'S VERY EXCITING TO SEE US MOVING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION AND OUR NUMBERS IN CWOP COMING DOWN AND THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO HELP. SO I'M VERY PROUD OF EVERYBODY.
[V. Public Comment]
THEM. WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC AND WE VALUE YOUR INPUT.PLEASE KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL, THE COMMISSIONER AND OUR AND OUR GENERAL COUNSEL, THE LAWYER, VICKI K, ARE UNABLE TO COMMENT OR RESPOND TO ANY OF THE STATEMENTS OR QUESTIONS DURING PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR INFORMATION WITH US.
PLEASE SIGN UP AT THE REGISTRATION TABLE.
WE HAVE OBSERVED, WE ARE OBSERVING A TWO MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR ALL SPEAKERS.
OUR TIMEKEEPER GOVERNMENT RELATIONS INTERN JOHN HORRY WILL KEEP TRACK OF YOUR TIME AND WILL INDICATE WHEN YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT BY THE FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT ON THE PODIUM.
WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, THE RED LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE TIMER WILL BEEP.
PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL, AND WHEN THE RED LIGHT COMES ON AND THE BEEP GOES OFF, PLEASE QUIT SPEAKING.
IT'S ALL RIGHT WHERE I COULD REACH THEM, AND THEN I COVERED THEM UP.
IS JENNIFER [INAUDIBLE] JENNIFER, [INAUDIBLE].
[01:40:09]
HELLO. GOOD MORNING.MY NAME IS JENNIFER [INAUDIBLE] AND I'M PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF THE WHIT PROGRAM.
W-H-I-T. IT STANDS FOR WEEKLY HANDS ON INDEPENDENT TUTORING.
WHAT WE DO IS WE SUPPLY FREE TUTORING TO FOSTER CHILDREN AND ALL CHILDREN THAT ARE INVOLVED IN A CPS CASE WHO DON'T QUALIFY FOR A 504 PLAN, MEANING GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.
THESE KIDS THAT WE HELP ARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE SIMPLY FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND ARE WAY BEHIND ON THEIR EDUCATION AND ARE IN DANGER OF DROPPING OUT.
MAINLY, WE USE UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THE HONORS PROGRAM OR EDUCATION PROGRAM.
SO THESE KIDS ALSO WHO TUTOR, BECOME MENTORS AND VERY CONNECTED TO OUR TUTORS.
WE PUT OUR TUTORS THROUGH A VERY STRINGENT--I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL IT--TRAINING WHERE WE TEACH THEM ABOUT TUTORING. ALL OF OUR TUTORING EDUCATION IS SUPPLIED ONLINE ON OUR WEBSITE WHICH IS WWW .WHITPROGRAM.ORG.
WE HAVE A DATABASE THAT NOW ALL THE TUTORS, WHEN THEY DO A SESSION, THEY CAN RECORD THEIR SESSION AND IT'S PASSWORD PROTECTED AND I'M SO SORRY I JUST LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
PASSWORD PROTECTED WHERE CPS CAN ALSO THEIR CASEWORKER CAN ALSO GET TO THEIR INFORMATION.
WE SUPPLY TUTORING TO K THROUGH 12.
AS I SAID, IT'S MAINLY ON OUR STUDENTS.
WE DON'T ALLOW ANY TRANSPORTATION AND WE HAVE THEM DO THEIR TUTORING SESSIONS ONCE A WEEK FOR ONE HOUR AT A PUBLIC LIBRARY OR A PUBLIC FACILITY THAT'S AGREED UPON.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS[INAUDIBLE].
YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF US AS A COMPANY, BUT WE'RE THE GUYS THAT ARE ENTRUSTED WITH RECORDING 9-1-1 CALLS, LOGGING THEM, AND OUR CLIENTS INCLUDE NASA, DPS, HOMELAND SECURITY, ET CETERA.
I AM PRESIDENT OF A DIVISION CALLED IQ THREE.
BESIDES BEING A WINNING CONTESTANT OF THE AMAZING RACE, HAVING BEEN AROUND THE WORLD A COUPLE OF TIMES, I THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
BECAUSE IN ALL OF YOU, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN IT, THE ATROCITIES AROUND THE WORLD AND IT'S JUST CRAZY, AND ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING IS STILL NOT IT FEELS LIKE IT'S NOT ENOUGH. SO I SEE THE NEED FOR PRIVATE SECTOR TO STEP IN AND PARTICIPATE, WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE.
I JUST SO I CAN MAKE IT THROUGH MY MINUTES HERE.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO IQ THREE, WHICH IS A CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN QUESTIONABLE SITUATIONS. BASICALLY, IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION THAT PROVIDES LIVE ON SCENE INVESTIGATIONS AND INTERVIEWS, PROPER RECORDING OF THE EVENTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CONDITIONS DISCOVERED BY THE DILIGENT AGENTS THAT GO OUT THERE AND RISK THEMSELVES IN THOSE SITUATIONS.
SO I'M GOING TO JUMP TO, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY WHAT THIS THIS THIS TOOL CAN DO IS IT'S BASICALLY SECURE ZOOM RVI, REMOTE VIDEO INSPECTION TOOL THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY USING IN PUBLIC WORKS, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT BRINGING IT OVER HERE.
WHAT THAT WOULD DO IS IF AN INVESTIGATOR IS IN A CRAZY SITUATION WHERE THEY NEED TO PULL THE CHILD, YOU COULD ACTUALLY PATCH IN A JUDGE IMMEDIATELY TO MAKE A DECISION RIGHT AWAY.
THREE SECONDS WHERE THEY COULD MAKE A JUDGMENT AND MAKE A MOVE RIGHT THERE.
I'M HERE WITH EQUALITY, TEXAS.
I'M THEIR CONSTITUENT SERVICES MANAGER.
[01:45:08]
AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S PRIDE MONTH.WE'RE COMING OFF OF A LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT SAW AROUND 150 ANTI-LGBTQ+ BILLS FILED, AND NOTABLY, OF ALL THESE BILLS, THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE FAILED TO PASS ANY THAT CATEGORIZED THE SUPPORT OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AS CHILD ABUSE.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE A YEAR AGO, THE SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS RULED THAT ONLY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE CAN DEFINE OR CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF CHILD ABUSE. SO WHY DOES THIS AGENCY CONTINUE TO OPEN INVESTIGATIONS INTO PARENTS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEIR CHILD IS TRANS? AND WE DO KNOW THAT Y'ALL HAVE OPENED AT LEAST ONE MORE INVESTIGATION, DESPITE TELLING US THE OPPOSITE.
WILL YOU REALLY CLING TO THE NON-LEGALLY BINDING OPINION OF A DISGRACED, CORRUPT AND SOON TO BE IMPEACHED PUBLIC OFFICIAL? IT'S EMBARRASSING.
IT'S DISGRACEFUL, AND LEAVING THIS AS AN OPEN QUESTION, NOT GIVING US ANY ANSWERS, ONLY CONTRIBUTES TO THE HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT HERE IN TEXAS THAT SEEKS TO ERADICATE TRANSGENDER, NON-BINARY AND OTHER GENDER NON-CONFORMING PEOPLE. SO, PLEASE, ONE, GIVE US SOME CLARITY, AND TWO, STOP THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SOFIA SEPULVEDA AND I'M WITH EQUALITY, TEXAS.
I'M THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY MANAGER, AND AGAIN, IT IS PRIDE MONTH.
THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY.
SO WE'RE HERE JUST TO REMIND YOU THAT YOUR INVESTIGATIONS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE TRANSGENDER KIDS ARE ILLEGAL BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT, AND YET WE CONTINUE HEARING ABOUT FAMILIES BEING INVESTIGATED.
LOVING YOUR CHILD, LOVING YOUR CHILDREN IS NOT CHILD ABUSE.
WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE BIOLOGY AND REAL NATURE TELLS YOU THAT BEING TRANSGENDER IS NORMAL, AND THE TEXAS COURT HAS DEEMED THESE INVESTIGATIONS ILLEGAL. THESE INVESTIGATIONS WERE NOT A MANDATE, BUT RATHER A NON-BINDING OPINION FROM KEN PAXTON.
THIS DEPARTMENT WOULD BE WISE TO REEVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT IT INTENDS TO CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE INACCURATE, ILLEGAL ARGUMENT THAT WAS PUSHED BY A MAN WHO HAS NO CREDIBILITY OR INTEGRITY.
THERE BEING NOTHING ELSE, I'M GOING TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU ALL BE CAREFUL DRIVING HOME, WHEREVER THAT IS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.