[00:00:03]
          >> THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE USED THAT. GOOD MORNING. 
          [I. ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS]
I'M DR. ALMEIDA, AND I CALLED THE MARCH 14, 2025 MEETING OF THE FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COUNCIL TO ORDER AT 9:00 IN THE MORNING. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE HERE IN PERSON AND ALSO WATCHING ONLINE. 
          FIRST, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK COURTNEY JONES FOR SERVING ON THE COUNCIL. 
          WE ALL BENEFITED FROM HER KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE. 
          AGAIN, THANK YOU, MISS JONES FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE COUNCIL FOR MANY YEARS. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME SEVERAL NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING JUDGE KATRINA GRIFFITH. 
          WELCOME. MICHAEL BARTON AND TIMOTHY BELSE TO THE COUNCIL. 
          BUT I BELIEVE TIMOTHY WAS APPOINTED THIS WEEK AND WILL JOIN US UP HERE IN JUNE, ONCE WE'VE COMPLETED HIS TRAINING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALSO. 
          THANK YOU, CHERYL FOR KEEPING US IN ORDER. 
          [LAUGHTER] THIS IS ALSO MY FIRST COUNCIL MEETING THAT I'M ACTUALLY CHAIRING THE MEETING, AND TRYING TO TAKE JUDGE HELLM'S PLACE, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE. 
          NOW, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OR PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. 
          WE'LL GO WITH THAT RIGHT NOW. 
          IF WE CAN HAVE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WHAT CITY YOU'RE FROM. 
          YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU'RE FROM. THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, JULIE CROSE FROM DALLAS. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, KATRINA GRIFFITH FROM HOUSTON. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, MICHAEL BARTON FROM SUGARLAND. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, [INAUDIBLE] ALICE TEXAS. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, I'M LISA HACKETT FROM HUNTSVILLE. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, ERICA MATA FROM EL PASO. 
          >> I'M CONNIE ALMEIDA. 
          I'M FROM FORT BEND COUNTY. THANK YOU. 
          ALSO UP HERE WITH US IS OUR DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, JENNIFER SAMS, AND VICKI AND THANK YOU, CHERYL FOR SPELLING OUT THE PRONUNCIATION. 
          I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO THIS. [INAUDIBLE]. I DID NOT GET IT. 
          CLOSE ENOUGH. YES. THANK YOU. 
          I'M GOING TO WORK ON THAT AGAIN, MY APOLOGIES. 
          WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT SO WE HAVE A QUORUM TODAY. 
          WE CAN MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. 
          AGAIN, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER AND HER TEAM, AND WE'LL BE HEARING FROM THE TEAM LATER ON THIS MORNING. 
          AT THIS TIME, I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING, WHICH WAS DECEMBER 13, 2024. 
          IF SO, IF I CAN HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES? 
          >> I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES. 
          >> CAN I HAVE A MOTION FOR A SECOND? 
          >> I SECOND. 
          >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE TO CALL FOR A VOTE? DO WE HAVE A VOTE TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES? THANK YOU. LET'S SEE. 
          [II. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS IN TERMS OF GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS. THIS IS THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETING FOR 2025, AND OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE JUNE 13, 2025. 
          THE AGENDA WILL BE POSTED ON JUNE 3, 2025. 
          I'M SORRY. THE CORRECT DATE IS JUNE 13, 2025. 
          THERE WAS AN ERROR, I THINK IN ONE OF THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT SAID JUNE 3. 
          THE NEXT MEETING AFTER THAT SEPTEMBER 12, 2025, AND THEN DECEMBER 12, 2025 WE HAVE FOUR MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. 
          AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETING FOR 2025. 
          [00:05:03]
OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS TO HEAR 
          [III. COUNCIL ACTIONS/INITIATIVES]
ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES THAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ENGAGED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THEIR ACTIVITIES SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. 
          I CAN START IN FORT BEND COUNTY OUR CHILD ADVOCATES HAS TAKEN THE LEAD IN FORMING A CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION. 
          THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS, NOT QUITE TWO YEARS, BUT THIS IS REALLY A GRASSROOTS APPROACH THAT'S BEING LED BY THE CHILD ADVOCATES OF FORT BEND COUNTY AND REALLY BRINGING TOGETHER VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS AROUND CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION. 
          IT'S REALLY BEEN FASCINATING THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE, INCLUDING THE CREATION OF A WEBSITE ABOUT LOCAL RESOURCES AND JUST REALLY STRONG COMMUNITY EVENTS. 
          WE'RE GETTING READY, OF COURSE, FOR APRIL, WHICH IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH. 
          AGAIN, FORT BEND COUNTY HAS BEEN REALLY VERY PROACTIVE IN BRINGING TOGETHER OUR PARTNERS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, INCLUDING OUR FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS. 
          NEXT WEEK, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING WITH THE FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN REACH OUT TO THEM AND HOW WE CAN WORK, HAVE A STRONGER WORKING RELATIONSHIP TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. WITH THAT. 
          >> GOOD MORNING AGAIN. 
          IN DALLAS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS ESTABLISHING OR UPDATING OUR BOARD. 
          WE'VE RECENTLY HAD A MEET AND GREET WITH ALL ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES STAFF IN THE REGION WHO WERE AVAILABLE I REALLY ENCOURAGE ON APS OR CPS LEVEL FOR BOARDS OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO DO THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS CAME FROM THAT. 
          WE SOLVED A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN AN HOUR AND 15 MINUTES. IT WAS AMAZING. 
          NOT ONLY THAT ACTIONABLE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THE MEETING AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. 
          WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THAT AND I KNOW THE FORT WORTH BOARD IS DOING THE SAME. 
          ALSO AS RECENTLY APPOINTED TO THE TEXAS PARTNER FOR ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES BOARD, THE STATE BOARD AS VICE PRESIDENT, AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THAT BOARD WHO HAVE RECENTLY BEEN APPOINTED. 
          IN THE AUSTIN EL PASO DISTRICT, WE HAVE KIM VARNER, CLAUDIA MASSEY, JESSICA CLUTT AND MARIA LAMAS, I BELIEVE. 
          THEN IN DFW, THERE'S ME AND JENNIFER RIGGS, WHO IS WITH THE TARRANT COUNTY BOARD. 
          THEN IN THE EAST DISTRICT, WE HAVE KRISTIN RED, NORTHWEST DISTRICT, DAN CUSS, SOUTH DISTRICT, DI OCHO, CINDY JAN. THEN WE HAVE SOME HONORARY MEMBERS, KIM BARNARD JESSICA. 
          THESE GLASSES AREN'T WORKING. 
          ANYWAYS, IT'S BEEN A REAL HONOR TO BE ON THIS COUNCIL AND THEN NOW TO BE A PART OF THAT BOARD, AND THE MISSION OF THAT BOARD IS TO SUPPORT, OF COURSE, THE MISSION OF ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND WORK ALONGSIDE THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND SUPPORT ALL THE BOARDS IN THE STRAIGHT THE STATE TO STRENGTHEN THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY WITH ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND THEIR MISSION TO PARTNER TO PROTECT THE ELDERLY. THANK YOU. 
          >> EXCUSE ME. AS THE JUDGE OF THE HARRIS COUNTY CHILD PROTECTION COURT. 
          IT'S A PMC COURT DOWN IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON. 
          THE FIRST IS WE HAVE OPENED UP A NEW DRUG COURT IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          IT'S CALLED CPRC, CPS PREVENTION AND REHABILITATION COURT. 
          WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH PMC PARENTS THAT THE BARRIER TO REUNIFICATION IS THEIR ONGOING DRUG USE, AS WELL AS TERMINATED PARENTS WHO CPS IS WANTING TO WORK WITH FOR OUR OLDER YOUTH IN ORDER TO REUNIFY OR TO CREATE A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH, AND WE WILL WORK WITH THOSE PARENTS IN OUR DRUG COURT AS WELL. 
          IT'S A THREE POPULATION DRUG COURT. 
          OUR SECOND POPULATION IS GOING TO BE THE PARTICIPATION IN SERVICE CASES OR COURT ORDER SERVICE CASES, WHERE DRUG USE IS THE REASON FOR THEIR FESS CASE. 
          FINALLY, AND THE ONE THAT'S MOST NEAR TO MY HEART IS WE ARE GOING TO BE 
          [00:10:02]
WORKING WITH OUR YOUTH WHO ARE USING DRUGS, AND THAT IS CREATING PROBLEMS IN PLACEMENT STABILITY OR JUST THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE AND ACTIVITIES, SCHOOL WORK, AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM IN OUR DRUG COURT AS WELL, TWICE A MONTH COMING TO EITHER A COURT HEARING OR AN OUTSIDE ACTIVITY IN ORDER TO HELP PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE FOR THEM. 
          WE ARE ALSO IN OUR PLANNING PROCESS FOR OUR ADOPTION DAY. 
          WE DO IT THREE TIMES A YEAR. 
          OUR NEXT ONE IS THE MAY 4 BE WITH YOU, BUT WE DON'T HOLD COURT ON SUNDAY, SO IT'S GOING TO BE ON MAY 2, WHICH IS A FRIDAY. 
          FINALLY, WE ARE IN PREPARATION FOR OUR ANNUAL GRADUATION CELEBRATION. 
          IT'S THE CHILD PROTECTION COURT AND THE GOLF COAST COURT, WHICH ARE BOTH HELD IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND WE COME TOGETHER AND WE CELEBRATE ALL OF OUR YOUTH HAVE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL. 
          WE HAVE SOME COLLEGE GRADUATES THIS YEAR, AND WE HAVE SOME KIDS COMING IN WITH GEDS, AND WE SHOULD HAVE A COUPLE KIDS THAT RECEIVE THEIR TRADES, AND WE JUST DO A LARGE CELEBRATION FOR THEM FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. 
          >> GOOD MORNING AGAIN. WHEN I WAS HERE IN DECEMBER, I TOOK ADVANTAGE AND IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND WRAP SOME PRESENTS WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT PARTNERED WITH US. 
          I LEFT VERY EXCITED, BUT ALSO SADDENED, THAT WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTMAS, THERE'S SO MANY ACTIVITIES IN THE CPS ADOPTION, FOSTER CARE. 
          I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF AND I DID WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE STAFF IN THE REGION I'M FROM FOR APS. 
          WITHIN TWO DAYS, MY SUV WAS FULL OF STUFF FROM THE COMMUNITY. 
          WE ONLY DID IT WITH TWO DAYS AND IT WAS ABOUT $1,200 WORTH OF ITEMS, AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THE SMALL COMMUNITY THAT I'M FROM THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT APS IS FOR AND WHAT WE DO, BUT I KNOW WE DO AN AMAZING JOB. 
          FROM THERE, MORE PEOPLE WANTED TO DO FOR APS AND SOMETIMES IN COMING IN MARCH AND APRIL, THEY WANT TO DO A DIFFERENT DRIVE FOR THEM AND JUST FOR APS. 
          IT WAS REALLY NICE TO HEAR THAT, AND OF COURSE, THERE'S SO MANY AWARENESS GOING AROUND FOR CPS. 
          I'VE BEEN INVITED AROUND OUR AREA TO COME TO THE BOARD AND LISTEN TO. 
          BUT A SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE STAFF AND DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTIVE SERVICE FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. 
          YOU GO ABOVE AND BEYOND, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> WELL, IN HUNTSVILLE, WALKER COUNTY, MY FOCUS IS USUALLY PRIMARILY ON OUR SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY, SO WITH APS. 
          WE HAVE DONE AN AWFUL LOT TO TRY BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT IN RURAL IN THAT PART OF EAST TEXAS, SO MANY RURAL PEOPLE. 
          WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER WITH THE CHURCHES TO HAVE ACTIVITIES, SO THE SENIORS CAN BE SEEN BECAUSE TOO OFTEN SENIORS ARE LEFT ALONE, NO ONE CHECKS IN ON THEM. 
          WE HAVE ACTIVITIES, AND I ALSO HAVE STARTED QUITE A FEW BRIEFINGS ON LIFE ACTIVITIES, LIFE PLANNING TO GET THEM PLANNING FOR LIFE AND AWARENESS FOR SCAMS AND EXPLOITATION AND FINDING THAT PERSON THAT YOU CAN TRUST AND THAT PERSON WILL ALWAYS CHECK UP ON YOU BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, A LOT OF CHILDREN OFTEN CAN ABANDON THEIR FAMILIES. 
          BUT THOSE PROGRAMS ARE REALLY HELPING BECAUSE WE ARE UNABLE TO FIND ENOUGH QUALIFIED CARE PROVIDERS OR CARE PARTNERS TO ACTUALLY GO OUT INTO THESE RURAL AREAS. 
          WHETHER IT'S TRAINING OR FUNDING TO GET THEM PAID, WE'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH THOSE SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THOSE. 
          ADDITIONALLY, I SERVE ON A HOUSING FINANCE COMMITTEE AND WE ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK TO TRY AND HELP SENIORS HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE A LOT OF SENIORS ARE IN THEIR HOMES THAT MAY NEED A LOT OF MAINTENANCE THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DO AND WE CAN'T FIND ANYBODY TO DO THAT. 
          BUT THEN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO MAYBE A SENIOR COMMUNITY WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD IT. 
          THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE ARE REALLY POUNDING HEAVY ON RIGHT NOW IN WALKER COUNTY. THANK YOU. 
          >> WELL, OUT IN EL PASO, WE'VE BEEN BUSY. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON RECENTLY 
          [00:15:02]
IS HELPING IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATIVE CARE. 
          WHAT THAT MEANS IS BASICALLY GETTING GREATER COORDINATION BETWEEN PRIMARY CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SO TRYING TO KEEP THAT EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND CARE CONNECTED WITHIN THE PRIMARY CARE SETTING. 
          WE HAD A TRAINING BACK IN FEBRUARY ON HOW THE COLLABORATIVE CARE MODEL WORKS WITH A SET OF PEDIATRICIANS AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS. 
          >> ALONG WITH TEXAS TECH FOLKS WHO ARE OUR CPANC CHILD PSYCHIATRY ACCESS NETWORK. 
          IT WAS REALLY A GOOD EVENT. 
          WE HAD GREAT PARTICIPATION, AND OUR HOPE IS TO HAVE A COHORT OF CHAMPIONS OUT THERE THAT CAN SHOW THAT WE CAN REALLY HAVE THIS COORDINATION OF CARE EARLY ON, SO THAT YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS CAN HAVE EARLY ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE WITHIN THE PRIMARY CARE SETTING. 
          THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON. 
          ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE SOME WORK GOING ON WITH OUR HEART GALLERY OF EL PASO. 
          VANESSA LEON, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THAT PROGRAM IS DOING A GREAT JOB AND CONVENING FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE OUR EFFORTS IN EL PASO. 
          >> THANK YOU. WITH THAT, NOW, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR DEPUTY COMMISSIONER WHO 
          [IV. AGENCY UPDATE]
IS ACTUALLY GOING TO DELIVER THE COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. COMMISSIONER MUTH WAS CALLED TO THE CAPITOL, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSION. 
          THAT HAPPENS OFTEN. 
          AS DR. ALMEIDA SAID, I'M JENNIFER SAMS. I'M THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER HERE AT DFPS. 
          I WANT TO ECHO YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT WELCOMING OUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE NEW FOLKS AT THE TABLE, AND WE'RE VERY MUCH APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AS CHAIR BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. 
          WE ARE AT ABOUT THE HALFWAY POINT OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND IN FACT, TODAY IS THE BILL FILING DEADLINE. 
          IF YOU NEVER WORKED AROUND THE LEGISLATURE, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HAPPY THAT MAKES SOME OF US BECAUSE [LAUGHTER] A LOT OF BILLS TO ANALYZE AND LOOK AT AND CONSIDER, AND IT'S NICE TO KNOW WHEN YOU'VE REACHED THE ENDPOINT OF NEW BILLS COMING IN. 
          THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS RIGHT NOW, AND IN FACT, THAT'S WHY THE COMMISSIONERS DOWNTOWN THIS MORNING. 
          LEAN IS GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GIVING YOU AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR BUDGET IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE. 
          LEAN IS OUR CFO, AND SHE AND THE COMMISSIONER ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. 
          SEVERAL BILLS ARE BEING DEBATED RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD IMPACT THE AGENCY. 
          SOME OF THE KEY TOPICS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED INCLUDE CHANGING INVESTIGATIVE PRACTICE TO MEET A STANDARD WHICH IS KNOWN AS ACTIVE EFFORTS. 
          THIS MEANS AFFIRMATIVE AND ACTIVE AND THOROUGH AND TIMELY EFFORTS INTENDED TO PRIMARILY MAINTAIN OR REUNITE THE CHILD WITH HIS OR HER FAMILY. 
          IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE INTENSIVE WORK UP FRONT. 
          CREATING A RURAL COMMUNITY-BASED CARE PILOT IN THE AREA OF THE STATES THAT HAS NOT RECEIVED A BIDDER, THAT WOULD BE OUT IN WEST TEXAS. 
          WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED BIDDERS OUT THERE AND HAVE POSTED THAT TWO TIMES. 
          THAT AREA COULD INCLUDE THE EL PASO AREA AND THE PERMIAN BASIN CONCHO VALLEY CATCHMENT AREAS. 
          MOVING FROM THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, IN JANUARY, WE RELEASED OUR SECOND ANNUAL PLAN CALLED A WAY FORWARD VOLUME 2. 
          OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE REALLY MADE GREAT STRIDES. 
          WE'VE BROUGHT DOWN AGENCY TURNOVER SIGNIFICANTLY. 
          WE'VE REDUCED HOLD TIMES AT STATE WIDE INTAKE, AND WE'VE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN GOING WITHOUT PLACEMENT. 
          THE PLAN CENTERS AROUND THREE GOALS, CHILD PROTECTION EVOLUTION, STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORTING AND RETAINING OUR WORKFORCE. 
          WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THIS NEXT YEAR BRINGS US. 
          CHILD PROTECTION EVOLUTION, IS THE FIRST GOAL, AND JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW ITEMS IN THIS CATEGORY. 
          WE'RE CONTINUING, OF COURSE, TO EXPAND OUR COMMUNITY-BASED CARE ACROSS THE AGENCY. 
          I THINK THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE AWARE WHAT COMMUNITY-BASED CARE IS, BUT IT IS WHERE WE ARE TRANSITIONING THE PLACEMENT AND CASE MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT THAT CPAS CURRENTLY DOES, AND WE ARE CONTRACTING WITH A SINGLE SOURCE CONTINUUM CONTRACTOR IN THE CATCHMENT AREAS TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE. 
          THIS YEAR, WE ARE COMPLETING 
          [00:20:03]
NEGOTIATIONS AND READINESS AND IMPLEMENTATION FORT BEND COUNTY, HARRIS COUNTY, AND THE COUNTY SURROUNDING HARRIS COUNTY. 
          AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THAT WILL GREATLY INCREASE THE POPULATION OF CHILDREN SERVED IN COMMUNITY-BASED CARE. 
          THE HOUSTON AREA ALONE HOUSTON IS THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF CHILDREN THAT LIVE THERE. 
          THAT WILL TAKE US TO ABOUT 70% OF THE STATE BEING COVERED BY COMMUNITY-BASED CARE, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THAT BRINGS. 
          ARE CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT THE TEXAS CHILD CENTERED CARE OR T3C, WHICH IS OUR NEW RATE STRUCTURE. 
          WE BEGAN OFFICIALLY IN JANUARY AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR OUR PROVIDERS TO BECOME WHAT WE ARE CALLING CREDENTIALED. 
          THERE ARE NOW 27 SERVICE PACKAGES AND PROVIDERS HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHICH OF THOSE SERVICE PACKAGES THEY FEEL EQUIPPED TO SERVE, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THEY CAN PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE UNIQUE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WHO FALL INTO THAT PACKAGE. 
          AND WE'VE STARTED CREDENTIALING AND ACTUALLY, WE HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE NOW BEING PAID IN THAT MODEL, SO WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. 
          WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT. 
          WE ARE ALSO EXPANDING OUR USE OF ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE ACROSS THE STATE AND LATER YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM MARTHA TALBERT FROM THE CPI ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER WITH AN EXPLANATION AND AN UPDATE ON ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE. 
          NEXT GOAL IS STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. 
          TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE ITEMS IN THIS CATEGORY. 
          FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO BUILD AND GROW COMMUNITY PARTNERS PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE. 
          I THINK YOU GAVE A VERY GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT A DIFFERENCE THAT MAKES WHEN THE COMMUNITY IS ENGAGED, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THAT EFFORT FORWARD. 
          KEZ WOLD, THE APS ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER WILL BE PRESENTING IT JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THE PARTNERING TO PROTECT INITIATIVE. 
          THE APS FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION UNITS AND THE COMPLEX SERVICE DELIVERY UNIT TO MEET COMPLEX NEEDS. 
          ANOTHER PART OF THIS GOAL IS TO ADDRESS CHILDREN WITHOUT PLACEMENT. 
          DUE TO THE HARD WORK OF OUR STAFF, WE ARE CLOSE TO HAVING ONE-THIRD OF THE YOUTH WITHOUT PLACEMENT THAT WE HAVE THIS TIME LAST YEAR. 
          TYPICALLY ON A NIGHT, WE HAVE AROUND 20-25. 
          LAST YEAR, AT THIS TIME, WE WERE CLOSER TO 60-70. 
          WE'VE MADE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. 
          AS YOU KNOW, THE UNDERLYING ISSUE THAT'S PREVENTING US FROM IDENTIFYING PLACEMENTS FOR CHILDREN IS SO OFTEN MEETING THEIR HIGH-ACUITY MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. 
          WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH AND THE LEGISLATURE TO IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS HOPEFULLY THAT WILL TAKE US FROM THIS ROLE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE RECEIVING THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. 
          THE NEXT GOAL IS TO SUPPORT AND RETAIN OUR WORKFORCE. 
          A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING GREATLY ON OUR WELLNESS. 
          THAT DOESN'T JUST MEAN FOR OUR BODIES. 
          THAT REALLY MEANS FOR OUR STAFF WHO EXPERIENCE SECONDARY TRAUMA, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, STAFF OFTEN SEE AND KNOW AND HEAR THINGS THAT ARE VERY TRAUMATIC, NOT DIRECTLY TO THEM, BUT BY VIRTUE OF BEING A PART OF THAT WORK, AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT THEM AND BELIEVE THAT THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY. 
          THIS WEEK, FOR EXAMPLE, WE PROMOTED A WEBINAR ON SECONDARY TRAUMA, UNDERSTANDING, AND MITIGATING AND SUPPORTING EACH OTHER THROUGH THE SYMPTOMS. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE BUSY AT WORK AND ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE HEADED AS AN AGENCY. WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? 
          >> NO. I ACTUALLY HAVE [LAUGHTER] SOME QUESTIONS OR MAYBE SOME COMMENTS. 
          WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN WITHOUT PLACEMENT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. 
          IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY CONCERNED, AND THERE'S DEFINITELY BEEN SOME VERY INTENTIONAL INTENSIVE EFFORTS TO FIND PLACEMENTS FOR THESE CHILDREN AND THERE'S SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT. 
          I GUESS MY QUESTION WAS, AND OFTEN I DO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT DATA, BECAUSE I'M THINKING, HOW MANY NEW CHILDREN ARE ACTUALLY CHILDREN WITHOUT PLACEMENT. 
          I'M TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF THE MOVEMENT, LIKE HOW MANY CHILDREN DO WE FIND PLACEMENTS FOR, BUT THEN HOW MANY ENTER INTO THAT STATUS? 
          >> I CAN. I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. 
          WE DO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS, BUT THE REALITY IS IT'S A MIX. 
          VERY OFTEN, A CHILD COMES INTO OUR CARE AND WE ARE ABLE 
          [00:25:02]
TO THEY MAY GO WITHOUT PLACEMENT FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. 
          WE'RE ABLE TO FIND A PLACEMENT AND THEY DON'T COME BACK INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN'T FIND A PLACEMENT FOR THEM. 
          BUT ABOUT A FOURTH OF THE TIME, MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, WE SEE CHILDREN THAT GO TO A PLACEMENT, AND THEY REALLY STRUGGLE IN THAT PLACEMENT. 
          THAT REALLY TIES BACK TO THE HIGH-ACUITY NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN, AND OUR PROVIDERS, WHILE OUR PROVIDERS IN THE CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM ARE VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO. 
          THEY ARE NOT USED TO AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM. 
          WE ACTUALLY HAVE A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WE'VE STARTED TO TRY TO HELP THEM STEP UP IN A WAY, BUT THEY'RE NOT [NOISE] TRULY THE MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS. 
          THEY HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE, OF COURSE, THEY NEED TO HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE ABOUT TREATMENT AND SERVICES, BUT MEETING THE REALLY, REALLY HIGH-ACUITY NEEDS OF THESE KIDS IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED THE CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM TO HELP US WITH. 
          THOSE ARE CASES WHERE WE'RE REALLY PARTNERING WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION. 
          WE HAVE WEEKLY OR BI WEEKLY STAFFING WITH THEM WHERE WE STAFF CHILDREN, JUST LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO GET AND STAY IN A PLACEMENT. 
          WE'RE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE AGENCY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. 
          WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIES THAT WE CAN EMPLOY TO HELP THIS CHILD TO BE MORE STABLE? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO DO SUCCESSFULLY THAT'S HELPED WITH THIS IS, WE ARE WE'RE RUNNING A SMALL PROGRAM THAT FOR A LONG TIME, WE HAD CHILDREN THAT WERE IN HOTELS, AND WE REALIZED THAT THAT IS PROBABLY ABOUT THE WORST PLACE YOU COULD BE IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND WITH ALL OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT THESE CHILDREN PRESENT WITH. 
          WE HAVE RENTED A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY THAT WE ARE USING. 
          IT IS NOT A PLACEMENT. 
          IT IS REALLY STILL A CHILD WITHOUT PLACEMENT LOCATION WITH OUR STAFF THAT WE ARE FULL TIME DEDICATED, BUT IT'S REALLY CONSISTENCY, AND IT'S BUILDING IN CONSISTENCY FOR THEM, SO THAT THEY'RE SEEING THEY CAN STABILIZE AND THEN HOPEFULLY TRANSITION OUT. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION, THAT MODEL'S BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL, WE CAN SEE THAT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON A LITTLE BIT BIGGER SCALE WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE, PARTICULARLY IF YOU BROUGHT IN THE EXPERTISE OF THE CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH FOLKS AT HHSC. 
          THAT'S PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE BEEN REALLY WORKING WITH THEM TO TRY TO DEVELOP. 
          >> THANK YOU. INFORMATIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING IN TERMS OF GETTING PROVIDERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL WEST TEXAS AREA, YOU MENTIONED THAT THOSE CONTRACTS HAVE GONE OUT TWICE, AND WE'VE HAD NO BIDS ON THEM. 
          IS THERE A STRATEGY? IS THERE A PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT? 
          >> THERE IS LAST YEAR, WE RELEASED A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. 
          WE REALLY WANTED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY IN THOSE AREAS, UNDERSTAND WHY THEY FELT LIKE THERE WAS A STRUGGLE TO IDENTIFY SOMEONE WHO COULD TAKE THE LEAD IN THAT COMMUNITY? WE GOT REALLY VALUABLE INFORMATION BACK FROM THAT, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM AND SOME COMMUNITY LEADERS OUT IN THAT AREA AROUND THAT'S WHAT THIS RURAL PILOT BILL IS ABOUT. 
          RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY IN THE LAW TO QUITE BE AS FLEXIBLE. 
          I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF ANOTHER WORD THAN FLEXIBLE. 
          [LAUGHTER] BUT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY THAT WE NEED UNDER THE CURRENT LAW AND THIS BILL WOULD GIVE US SOME FLEXIBILITY TO SEE IF WE CAN DESIGN SOMETHING THAT COULD BE SUCCESSFUL OUT THERE. 
          IT IS VERY DIFFERENT. 
          MANY OF THE KIDS IN THE PERMIAN BASIN AND EL PASO AS WELL ARE NOT NECESSARILY PLACED IN THEIR COMMUNITY. 
          THERE'S FEWER PROVIDERS OUT IN THAT AREA, AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BUILD THAT SERVICE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. 
          REALLY RETHINKING WITH THEM AND PARTNERING WITH THEM ABOUT HOW DO WE MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN FROM THIS COMMUNITY IN THIS COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE REALLY WORKING TO THINK THROUGH. 
          >> THANK YOU. SINCE THERE [NOISE] ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO A REPORT FROM MELANIE MACKENZIE WITH ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES AND SHE'S GOING TO SHARE AN UPDATE ON COMMUNITY-BASED CARE IN THE REGION. THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. 
          IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND SPEAK TO YOU. 
          LIKE SHE SAID, I'M MELANIE MACKENZIE. 
          I'M WITH SAINT FRANCIS MINISTRIES. 
          WE ARE THE COMMUNITY-BASED CARE CONTRACTOR IN REGION ONE IN THE PANHANDLE. 
          WE BEGAN OUR WORK. 
          [00:30:02]
IN THE 41 COUNTIES THAT WE SERVE IN JANUARY OF 2020. 
          TWO THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY AS WE CONTINUE OUR WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY-BASED CARE ORGANIZATION IS COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND RESOURCES AND THEN COMMUNITY AWARENESS, AND ADVOCACY. 
          THOSE ARE OUR TWO BIG THINGS THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON TO CONTINUE TO MOVE SAINT FRANCIS FORWARD IN THE COMMUNITY-BASED CARE FORWARD. 
          >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE STARTED THIS YEAR WAS A FAMILY REUNIFICATION DAY. 
          WE OFTEN HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT ADOPTION DAY AND NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY, AND WE THOUGHT THE FAMILIES THAT WORK VERY HARD TO GET THEIR CHILDREN RETURN TO THEIR CARE DESERVE A SPECIAL DAY AS WELL. 
          THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE STARTED THIS YEAR THAT WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF. 
          WE WORK HARD TO HELP FAMILIES REUNIFY. 
          WE HAD PEN WHEELS THAT THEY PLANTED. 
          WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY REUNIFY OVER 100 FAMILIES IN THE 41 COUNTIES THAT WE SERVE. 
          THOSE FAMILIES CAME TO OUR OFFICE AND PLANTED GOLD PEN WHEELS IN THE YARD, AND THEN WE ALSO PROVIDED THEM WITH A BASKET OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND SPECIAL GIFT CARDS AND ACTIVITIES THAT THE FAMILIES CAN DO TOGETHER. 
          SOME OF THOSE THINGS CAME FROM LOCAL CASES AND OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES THAT PROVIDED SOME GIFT CARDS TO THEM AND HELP THEM TO GO HAVE A SPECIAL MEAL, DO SPECIAL ACTIVITIES OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. 
          OUR COMMUNITY HAS SHOWN MUCH LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR OUR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AND SO MANY CPAS, LOCAL CHURCHES, RESTAURANTS, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE GENEROUSLY DONATED TOWARDS THESE EVENTS, AND WE COULD NOT DO ALL OF THIS WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT. 
          THEY'VE PROVIDED THANKSGIVING DINNERS AND SPECIAL DISHES TO OUR YOUTH. 
          A LOCAL PIZZA PLACE HAS HOSTED OUR INDEPENDENT LIVING AND OLDER YOUTH IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. 
          THE PICTURE HERE SHOWS THEM ALL MAKING THEIR OWN PIZZA, AND EACH YOUNG ADULT WAS ABLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN PIZZA, AND AFTER THAT, THE OWNER AND HIS STAFF GRACIOUSLY DONATED A SHOPPING TRIP FOR SOME OF THESE YOUTH. 
          ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE DOING IS TEEN CONFERENCES AND LOCAL AGING OUT SEMINARS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. 
          A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS VOLUNTEER FOR THESE THINGS AND SET UP BOOTHS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT AS WELL. 
          ONE OF THE EVENTS WE HAD THAT WAS VERY SPECIAL, A LOCAL ARTIST WAS ON HAND, WHERE THE YOUTH WROTE POEMS ABOUT THEIR TIME IN FOSTER CARE AND WHAT THAT WAS LIKE. 
          THEY READ THESE POEMS TO THE AUDIENCE, AND WE HAD AN ARTIST THERE THAT WAS DRAWING A PORTRAIT OF THE YOUTH THERE. 
          THAT WAS VERY SPECIAL TO THEM. 
          ANOTHER LOCAL ARTIST IN THAT PICTURE THAT YOU SEE THERE, ONE OF THE YOUTH'S POEMS WAS A ROAD TRAVELED. 
          THIS PAINTING WAS DONE BY THE YOUTH WITH WE HAD A LOCAL ARTIST THERE THAT DIRECTED HER AND GUIDED HER THROUGH THAT. 
          JUST REALLY SPECIAL THINGS THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH. 
          WE DO FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR YOUTH TO GIVE BACK AND SHOW THEIR SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND SO WE ASKED THEM TO COME UP WITH SOME WAYS THAT THEY CAN GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          THEIR IDEA THAT THEY CAME UP WITH WAS TO MAKE BLANKETS, AND THEY SUPPLIED THOSE BLANKETS TO LOCAL CHILDREN SHELTERS AND PLACEMENTS IN THE PANHANDLE. 
          THE BLANKETS WERE ALSO GIVEN TO OUR TRANSPORTATION TEAMS WHO TRANSPORT OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO PLACEMENT, JUST PROVIDING SOME COMFORT TO THEM DURING THE DIFFICULT TIMES THAT THEY HAVE. 
          WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK AND SHOW OUR YOUTH IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY TWICE A YEAR. 
          SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE STARTED DOING, IT'S OUR SECOND ANNUAL OPEN HEARTS, OPEN HOMES EVENT THAT WE'VE STARTED. 
          IT'S A COMMUNITY-WIDE INFORMATIONAL EVENT HELD IN AMARILLO, AND ALSO LUBBOCK. 
          IT'S JUST REALLY CONNECTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND AGENCIES. 
          WE HAVE ALL OF OUR LOCAL CHILD PLACING AGENCIES AVAILABLE SO THAT THE COMMUNITY, IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN INTERESTED IN FOSTER CARE OR WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT, YOU CAN COME AND VISIT WITH ALL OF THE CHILD PLACING AGENCIES AND SEE IF IT'S A FIT FOR YOU. 
          ALSO, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS SPECIAL THAT WE DO. 
          WE HAVE A YOUNG ADULT THAT'S COME BACK AND THEY SPEAK AT THESE EVENTS JUST TO GIVE A PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE GROWING UP IN FOSTER CARE AND THE NEED FOR LOVING FOSTER PARENTS. 
          [00:35:01]
WE ALSO HAVE FOSTER PARENTS THAT SPEAK AT THESE EVENTS TOO JUST TO SHOW FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE AND WHAT IT'S LIKE BEING IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. 
          AGAIN, WE CAN CONTINUE TO JUST INFUSE OURSELVES IN THE COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY. 
          THESE ARE SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN. 
          JUST DISCUSSING OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY IF THEY'VE EVER BEEN INTERESTED IN FOSTER CARE, A LOT OF WORK IS CLARIFYING MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT WHO CAN BE FOSTER PARENTS, AND GENERALLY PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY ARE AWARE AND CONNECTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH STORIES OF KIDS THAT ARE DIRECTLY IN THE COMMUNITY, IN THE CHURCHES, IN THE PEERS THAT THEY SIT NEXT TO, IN THE SCHOOLS THAT THEIR CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL WITH. 
          A LOT OF INFORMATIONAL EVENTS AND CONNECTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 
          NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY IS A BIG EVENT THAT WE ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT DO WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY. 
          THE PEOPLE OF WEST TEXAS ARE AMAZING AND SO GIVING. 
          THE NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY. 
          COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROVIDED FOOD AND DRINKS AND COOKIES, AND SPECIAL GIFTS TO THE KIDS AND FAMILIES THAT WERE THERE IN CELEBRATION OF ALL THE ADOPTED FAMILIES THAT DAY. 
          THIS YEAR, WE HAD ADOPTION STORY WAS THE EVENT, THE TOY STORY THEME TO INFINITY AND FOREVER. 
          ONE OF THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS NEWS CHANNEL 10 AND AMARILLO. 
          WE'VE CREATED A NEW COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM. 
          THROUGH THAT PARTNERSHIP IN THE SEGMENT TITLED HEARTS, HOPE, AND HOME, WE'RE ABLE TO FEATURE DIFFERENT ADOPTION INTERVIEWS WITH LOCALLY FREE CHILDREN FOR ADOPTION. 
          INTERVIEWS WITH ST. FRANCIS STAFF, INTERVIEWS WITH FOSTER AND KINSHIP FAMILIES AND AWARENESS TO VARIOUS TOPICS SUCH AS SEX TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE PREVENTION. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL SAY THAT'S BEEN GREAT AND SHOWS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AS WE DO INVITE OTHER LOCAL CHILD PLACING AGENCIES TO COME AND DO THIS SEGMENT WITH US. 
          NEWS CHANNEL 10 ALSO DID HIGHLIGHT OUR OPEN HEART, OPEN HOME EVENT, AND THIS YEAR WAS THE BIGGEST. 
          I THINK SOME OF THAT CAN BE DEFINITELY ATTRIBUTED TO THIS PARTNERSHIP. 
          WE HAD 22 FAMILIES SHOW UP FOR THAT OPEN HEARTS, OPEN HOMES EVENT, SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. 
          OTHER ADOPTION RECRUITMENT-SPECIFIC PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE WORK WITH IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. 
          WE HAVE A NEWSPAPER THAT DOES A WEEKLY ADOPTION SEGMENT. 
          IT'S POSTED IN THE NEWSPAPER, ON THEIR WEBSITE, AND ON FACEBOOK. 
          THE HEART GALLERY OF THE HIGH PLAINS IS ALSO A GREAT PARTNERSHIP THAT SPECIFICALLY FEATURES CHILDREN AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION IN REGION 1. 
          ONE THING WE ARE ALSO DOING IS A FAITH BASED AMBASSADOR PROGRAM THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH. 
          WHEN YOU THINK OF COMMUNITY, WE THINK OF WHAT MAKES A COMMUNITY. 
          WHO ARE MY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY? WHO DO I VIEW AS COMMUNITY? CHURCH WAS A BIG ONE. 
          WE'RE ASKING OUR STAFF TO BE AN AMBASSADOR IF THEY ARE PART OF A LOCAL CHURCH THAT WE CAN GO IN AND TALK TO VARIOUS SMALL GROUPS AND POST THINGS THAT WE HAVE VARIOUS EVENTS FOR THE NEED FOR FOSTER CARE, POST THAT IN THEIR BROCHURES, THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          THE FAITH FAITH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM IS ONE THAT WE'RE JUST BEGINNING AND WE THINK THAT'LL BE REALLY GOOD TO WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND LOCAL CHURCHES ON THAT. 
          AT ST. FRANCIS, WE DO BELIEVE AGAIN, INFUSING OURSELVES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AND WE BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE VISITS WHEN THEY VISIT WITH THEIR FAMILY, THAT IT SHOULD BE IN THE MOST HOME SETTING AS POSSIBLE AND NOT FOUR WALLS WITH THE TWO WAY MIRROR. 
          WE HAVE 18 COMMUNITY VISITATION SPACES THAT WE HAVE FAMILY VISITATIONS AT. 
          THEN WE ALSO HAVE TWO HOUSES THAT HAVE BEEN GENEROUSLY DONATED FOR OUR CHILD WATCH. 
          OTHER EVENTS THAT WE DO, THANKSGIVING IS A BIG ONE FOR US. 
          WE PARTNER WITH THE LOCAL CHURCH THAT PROVIDES A THANKSGIVING MEAL BOX, AND WE HAVE OUR KINSHIP FAMILIES DRIVE UP, AND WE'RE ABLE TO PASS OUT FOOD BOXES TO THEM. 
          [00:40:01]
CHRISTMAS, WE ALWAYS PARTNER WITH OUR COUNTY CHILD WELFARE BOARDS TO HELP PROVIDE OUR KIDS CHRISTMAS. 
          THEN WE ALSO RELY HEAVILY ON OUR CHRISTMAS KIDS, WHERE WE ACCEPT DONATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY TO SPONSOR CHILDREN FOR THEIR CHRISTMAS WISH LISTS. 
          APRIL, AS YOU KNOW, IS A BIG MONTH FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, OUR CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH IN APRIL. 
          WE PARTNER EVERY YEAR WITH DFPS FOR GO BLUE. 
          COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF LUBBOCK, WE PLACE PINWHEELS ALL AROUND LOCAL GROCERY STORES. 
          THEN WE ALSO PARTNER WITH LOCAL HOSPITALS TO TIE BLUE RIBBONS AROUND THE FENCES AND PINWHEEL CEREMONIES. 
          THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT, WE HAVE THE CADILLAC RANCH WHERE WE SPRAY PAINT ALL OF THE CARS THERE BLUE FOR GO BLUE DAY. 
          ANOTHER COLLABORATIVE EVENT THAT WE WORK WITH, A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH DFPS IS OUR PARENT SUPPORT GROUP. 
          THE PARENT SUPPORT GROUP IS AN INFORMATIONAL SUPPORT GROUP LED BY PARENTS WHO'VE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THEIR CPS CASE. 
          WE FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM THOSE AND SHOW SOME HOPE TO OUR FAMILIES AND PARENTS WHO'VE GONE THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THAT. 
          THIS IS A START UP THAT WE'VE STARTED DOING IN BOTH LUBBOCK AND AMARILLO AND JUST A REALLY GOOD SOURCE FOR PARENTS. 
          AT ST. FRANCIS, WE HAVE PARENT SUPPORT WORKERS. 
          WE FEEL IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TO FEEL LIKE THAT THEY HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S LEADING THEM AND HELPING THEM AND SHOWING THE WAY. 
          THE PARENT SUPPORT WORKERS PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES FOR PARENTS, INCLUDING LIFE SKILLS, SHOWING THEM, TEACHING THEM, GOING ON BUS ROUTES WITH THEM, GOING TO THE GROCERY STORES WITH THEM, DOING LOTS OF HANDS ON PRACTICAL THINGS WITH THESE PARENTS TO HELP TEACH THEM AND ASSIST THEM IN ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY SUPPORT NETWORK FOR THEM. 
          ANOTHER THING WE HAVE AT ST. FRANCIS IS FATHERHOOD FIRE. 
          I THINK A LOT OF TIMES FATHERS ARE MAYBE NOT AS PROMINENT AS SOME OF THE MOTHERS THAT WE HAVE IN CARE AND WE WANT TO FEEL LIKE THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE AND WE SUPPORT THEM. 
          AND SO THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER OUR FATHERS. 
          THEN LASTLY, WE COULDN'T DO A LOT OF THE WORK WE DO WITHOUT OUR GO FUNDS WITHIN OUR FOUNDATION. 
          WE CAN SPEAK TO COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR GO FUNDS PROGRAM, AND THESE FUNDS HELP US DO THINGS AND HELP US BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES AND ENABLE THEM TO COME TOGETHER. 
          SOME EXAMPLES OF THAT INCLUDE PURCHASING SPECIAL MEDICAL ITEMS FOR KIDS OR FAMILIES THAT ARE NOT TRADITIONALLY COVERED BY MEDICAID, PERFORM HOME REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE THAT'S NEEDED TO EITHER REUNIFY A FAMILY OR TO HAVE A CHILD BE ABLE TO BE PLACED IN A KINSHIP HOME. 
          PURCHASE GRADUATION ITEMS, JUST NORMAL THINGS THAT MOST OF OUR CHILDREN THAT WE SOMETIMES TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT IS EASILY READILY AVAILABLE TO US, BUT WE HELP SUPPORT OUR YOUTH AND PURCHASE GRADUATION ITEMS AND ALSO HELP WITH TRAVEL EXPENDITURES, WHETHER THAT'S PLANE TICKETS TO GET FAMILY TO BE ABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER OR SIBLINGS, TO BE ABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER OR AIRBNB SO THAT FAMILY MEMBERS CAN COME AND SEE CHILDREN. 
          THESE TYPE OF FUNDS DO HELP US DO THOSE THINGS. THAT'S IT. 
          >> THANK YOU. I ACTUALLY HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND THEN I'M SURE HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE SOME QUESTIONS AND OTHER COMMENTS. 
          I REALLY WANTED TO JUST THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND IT'S JUST A REALLY REMARKABLE EXAMPLE OF A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND BRINGING IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          YOU MENTIONED THE CHILD WELFARE BOARDS, WHICH WE OFTEN FORGET ABOUT. 
          THOSE ARE THE LOCAL BOARDS THAT REALLY PROVIDE A OF SUPPORT TO OUR FAMILIES AND TO OUR STAFF. 
          YOUR VISITATION AND REALLY MOVING OUT OF THOSE ONE ROOMS WITH THE ONE WAY VIEWING MIRRORS TO THE VIEWING MIRRORS TO A HOME LIKE SETTING. 
          I THINK THAT WAS GREAT. THE REUNIFICATION DAY. 
          I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT ACROSS THE STATE. 
          IT'S JUST MY THOUGHT. 
          THEN OF COURSE, THE PIECE ABOUT YOUTH GIVING BACK. 
          [00:45:06]
WE ALL CAN BE RECIPIENTS, BUT WE ALSO CAN GIVE BACK AND I THINK THAT'S JUST SO EMPOWERING AND SO SIGNIFICANT. 
          THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION. 
          QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? 
          >> I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO SOME OF YOUR GUYS' STATS, IF YOU HAVE THEM. 
          WHAT REUNIFICATION RATE DID YOU GUYS HAVE LAST YEAR? 
          >> I'M SORRY. 
          >> YOUR REUNIFICATION RATE? YOU SAID IT WAS AROUND 100 FAMILIES, BUT WHAT IS THAT RATE COMPARED TO HOW MANY KIDS AND FAMILIES CAME IN? 
          >> THAT WAS 100 FAMILIES TOTAL. 
          I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER OF LAST YEAR, HOW MANY KIDS TOTAL CAME INTO CARE, BUT I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU IF YOU'D LIKE. 
          >> DO YOU KNOW IF THAT IS IN LINE WITH WHAT THE NON-CBCS ARE DOING? I THINK IT WAS LIKE 32. 
          >> I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THEIR TOTAL REUNIFICATION RATE. 
          >> OKAY. 
          >> YOU KNOW WHERE YOU GUYS ARE AT WITH YOUR NUMBER OF RELATIVE NEXT OF KIN HOMES AS COMPARED TO YOUR FOSTER HOMES? 
          >> YES. I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT 65% THAT WE HAVE THAT WE WORK WITH FOR OUR KINSHIP PROGRAM AND GETTING KIDS IN THOSE KINSHIP PLACEMENTS. 
          >> IS THAT ALL VERIFICATION OR JUST LIKE A TOTAL? 
          >> TOTAL. 
          >> WHAT ARE YOU GUYS AT WITH YOUR VERIFICATION NUMBERS? 
          >> I DON'T HAVE THAT SPECIFIC NUMBER FOR YOU, I APOLOGIZE, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY GET THESE THINGS AND SEND IT TO CHERYL. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> CAN I ADD SOMETHING ABOUT KINSHIP VERIFICATION? JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION IS WORKING TO REVISE THE RULES AROUND KINSHIP CARE AND WHAT IT'LL TAKE TO BECOME VERIFIED. 
          WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT CHANGE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL SEE CHANGE, AND I THINK THE RULES ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE EFFECT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. 
          I THINK THOSE NUMBERS WILL REALLY START TO CHANGE FOR EVERYBODY AND MORE KINSHIP CAREGIVERS WILL BE ABLE TO BE CERTIFIED AND RECEIVE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHERE THAT GOES. 
          >> QUICK QUESTION ON THE FAMILY REUNIFICATION. 
          JUST AS A GLOBAL OBSERVATION, WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON SCENARIOS WHERE SOMEONE'S BEEN REMOVED FROM A HOME AND THEN REUNIFIED? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? 
          >> AS FAR AS WHEN THEY COME INTO CARE, THE REASONS THEY COME INTO CARE OR? 
          >> HOW THAT REPAIRS, YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO REUNIFY THEM. 
          ARE THESE TYPICALLY LIKE THE HOME HAS FALLEN APART AND IT'S JUST NOT SAFE OR IS IT MORE COMMON FOR ABUSE AND THEN THEY'RE ABLE TO COME BACK? WHAT WHAT ARE THOSE SCENARIOS LOOK LIKE? 
          >> SURE. A LOT OF OUR CHILDREN COME INTO CARE FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT, WHETHER THAT BE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, DRUG ABUSE, PHYSICAL ABUSE. 
          THE FAMILIES WORK VERY HARD ON THEIR PLANS AND SHOW THE JUDGES HAVE TO SEE THAT THEY'VE MADE THOSE PROGRESSIVE EFFORTS AND SEEN A CHANGE IN THE PARENTS AND NOT JUST A CHECKLIST OF CHECKING THINGS OFF. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> WE WORK WITH VARIOUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS, PARENTING INSTRUCTORS, COUNSELORS, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT ALSO WORK WITH THE PARENTS TO SHOW THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE AND HAVE MADE THAT CHANGE. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS ACTUALLY FROM KEZ WOLD. 
          I HOPE I PRONOUNCE THAT. 
          THE ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. 
          >> GO MORNING. 
          >> EXCITED TO BE HERE AND VISIT WITH YOU ALL. 
          I DID WANT TO UPDATE THE COUNCIL ON SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE ONGOING AT APS, AND IT'S A LOT OF GOOD NEWS, I BELIEVE. 
          ONE OF OUR MAJOR PROJECTS, THIS HAS NOW BEEN IN PLACE FOR ALMOST 18 MONTHS, OUR TRAINING WHILE WORKING INITIATIVE. 
          THIS IS A PILOT TRAINING PROGRAM THAT WE DESIGNED IN HOUSE TO REALLY ACCOMPLISH SEVERAL THINGS AND MY STAFF WILL TELL ME I'M SIMPLIFYING THIS. 
          BUT IN MY MIND, IT'S FOUR ITEMS THAT WE WANTED. 
          OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT THE BEST PREPARED STAFF. 
          WHEN NEW TRAINEES GRADUATE, WE WANT THEM TO BE COMPETENT AND WE WANT THEM TO BE CONFIDENT IN THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. 
          THEN IF THEY ARE BOTH OF THOSE THINGS, WE'RE MORE LIKELY TO RETAIN THOSE TRAINED STAFF. 
          ADDITIONALLY, WE WANTED TO IDENTIFY EARLY ON THE FIT. 
          WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STAFF THAT WE ARE HIRING AND THEN TRAINING ARE ABLE TO DO THE WORK. 
          THEN FINALLY, UNDER OUR OLD TRAINING MODEL, WE REALLY DIDN'T GET ANY WORK PRODUCT OUT OF NEW STAFF UNTIL THEY HAD GONE THROUGH THE ENTIRE TRAINING. 
          [00:50:02]
NEW STAFF WEREN'T DOING ANY ACTUAL CASEWORK FOR APPROXIMATELY 5.5-6 MONTHS, AND WE WANTED TO GET EARLY ON, GET SOME RESULTS. 
          SOME NUMBERS TO SHARE WITH YOU. 
          ON THE RESULTS, OUR TRAINING WHILE WORKING STAFF BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND THAT'S FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, SEPTEMBER OF '23 AND FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. 
          THEY HAVE COMPLETED ALMOST 3,000 CASES, WORKING THOSE CASES FROM BEGINNING TO END. 
          THEY HAVE CONDUCTED 6,400 INITIAL FACE TO FACE CONTACTS, AND THEY HAVE COMPLETED 10,500 CASE INITIATION CONTACTS. 
          THESE ARE ALL PRODUCT THAT IN THE PAST, WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE DONE BY CASE WORKERS WHO WERE TENURED. 
          THIS TAKES WORKLOAD OFF OF OUR WORKFORCE. 
          WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. 
          WE'VE ALSO SEEN A GRADUATION RATE OF ABOUT CLOSE TO 70%, 68%. 
          A HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-TWO OUT OF, I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN 268 TRAINEES THAT STARTED AND COMPLETED THE TRAINING, WHETHER THAT'S COMPLETION BECAUSE THEY GRADUATED OR COMPLETION BECAUSE THEY LEFT. 
          WE'RE GETTING ABOUT 68% HAVE GRADUATED. 
          BUT IMPORTANTLY, 75% OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T GRADUATE BECAUSE THEY SEPARATED, THAT HAPPENED DURING THE FIRST 75 DAYS. 
          WE DIDN'T SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME. 
          WE DIDN'T SPEND MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS ON A NEW EMPLOYEE WHO WASN'T CUT OUT FOR THE WORK. 
          WE GOT RID OF THEM OR THEY GOT RID OF THEMSELVES EARLIER ON IN THE PROCESS. 
          WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. 
          ABOUT 30% OF THOSE WERE DECISIONS THAT WE MADE WHERE WE DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED TO DISMISS THE EMPLOYEE. 
          BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK 70% SELF-SELECTED OUT, THEY REALIZED THIS IS NOT THE WORK FOR ME. 
          WE'RE REALLY PLEASED WE'RE SEEING GREAT STRIDES HERE AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES NEXT. 
          I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION UNITS. 
          THESE WERE UNITS THAT WE CREATED IN HOUSTON, DFW, AND SOUTH TEXAS, AND WE WANTED THEM TO FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON THOSE VERY COMPLEX FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION INVESTIGATIONS. 
          AS YOU PROBABLY ARE AWARE, THOSE INVESTIGATIONS TAKE A DIFFERENT UNIQUE SKILL SET BECAUSE THEY CAN BE VERY COMPLEX. 
          WE'RE SEEING SOME GREAT RESULTS. 
          WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE, FIRST OF ALL, NOT ONLY DOES IT ENSURE THAT WE'RE DOING QUALITY INVESTIGATIONS AND WE CAN BUILD A SKILL SET, IT ALSO TAKES LOAD OFF OF THE REST OF OUR WORKFORCE BECAUSE NOTHING MAKES A REGULAR APS WORKER MORE SAD THAN GETTING AN EXPLOITATION CASE WITH 20 PAGES OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 
          NOW THEY CAN SAY, NO, SEND THAT TO THE EXPLOITATION UNIT. 
          COMING OUT OF THAT, WE'RE AVERAGING ABOUT 44 INTAKES BEING HANDLED BY THOSE FOLKS. 
          WE'VE SEEN ALMOST 700 COMPLETED CASES. 
          THREE HUNDRED REFERRALS HAVE BEEN MADE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND WE'RE HOPING TO SEE THIS NUMBER GROW, BUT AS OF NOW, SEVEN REFERRALS HAVE RESULTED IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, AND WE'RE MONITORING THAT CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DA'S OFFICES TO SEE HOW MANY OF THESE CASES NOT ONLY GET INVESTIGATED, BUT HOW MANY OF THEM MOVE TO PROSECUTION AND TO RECOUPMENT OF FUNDS OR TO CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR THE PERPETRATORS. 
          AS PART OF THAT WORK, WE WANTED TO BUILD SKILL SET AND CAPACITY WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION. 
          WE PARTNERED WITH OUR FRIENDS IN INTERNAL AUDIT AT DFPS TO JOIN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON GETTING PEOPLE CERTIFIED AS CERTIFIED FRAUD EXAMINERS. 
          WE HAVE PUT MANY OF OUR STAFF THROUGH DIFFERENT TRAININGS, AND WE HAD OUR FIRST TWO GRADUATES. 
          THIS IS A VERY RIGOROUS TRAINING AND IT'S A VERY RIGOROUS EXAM. 
          WE HAVE OUR FIRST TWO OFFICIAL CERTIFIED FRAUD EXAMINERS THAT ARE PART OF OUR TEAM, AMANDA POKE. 
          SHE ACTUALLY RECENTLY PROMOTED, AND SHE'S NOW PART OF OUR POLICY TEAM, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. 
          THEN IN SOUTH TEXAS, WE HAVE MARISSA BACH, ONE OF OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS. 
          WE DO HAVE ANOTHER SEVEN THAT ARE CURRENTLY COMPLETED THE TRAINING AND THEY'RE STUDYING FOR THE EXAM. 
          GREAT STUFF HAPPENED. BIG SHOUT OUT TO CHANCE IN INTERNAL AUDIT FOR PARTNERING WITH US ON THAT. 
          IN ADDITION, I WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ON OUR PARTNERING TO PROTECT PROGRAM. 
          THIS HAS BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE. 
          WE'RE IN OUR SECOND YEAR OF IMPLEMENTING THE PROCESS IN THE DISTRICT. 
          EVERY DISTRICT DEVELOPS THEIR OWN ENGAGEMENT PLAN. 
          WHERE DO THEY NEED TO FOCUS THEIR EFFORTS? WHICH PARTNERS DO THEY NEED TO INCREASE OR IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH? WE'RE SEEING A CONTINUATION OF SOME OF THE EARLY TRENDS, 
          [00:55:05]
A REAL FOCUS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, ON OUR COURTS, ON OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS. 
          BUT IN THE SECOND YEAR, WE'RE ALSO STARTING TO SEE SOME EXPANSION, SOME FOCUSES ON PROVIDERS SUCH AS NURSING HOMES, HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, AND OUR FRIENDS AT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION. 
          WE'RE REALLY SEEING THE INITIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THOSE CRITICAL PARTNERS, THE PEOPLE THAT BOOTS ON THE GROUND WHEN YOU'RE AT THE HOME, AND NOW WE'RE SEEING IT START TO EXPAND A LITTLE BIT MORE. 
          WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. 
          I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SOME SUCCESS STORIES THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THIS WORK THAT WE HAVE ENGAGED IN. 
          AT OUR LAST CONFERENCE, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IN MORE THAN 100 PARTNERS AND GIVE THEM THIS WAS USING FEDERAL FUNDS, FEDERAL GRANTS, AND TO BRING 100 PARTNERS IN, GIVE THEM A SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND OUR APS CONFERENCE. 
          AT THAT CONFERENCE, WE HOSTED OUR FIRST PARTNERING TO PROTECT AWARD. 
          YOU CAN SEE WE WERE RECOGNIZING PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE KEY PARTNERS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE. 
          IT'S EVERYTHING FROM COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION PARTNERS, ALL THE WAY TO ACOS OR COGS AND A RALLY CREDIT UNION. 
          IT'S A REALLY WIDE VARIETY OF PARTNERS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE. 
          ANOTHER SUCCESS STORY, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, I BELIEVE IS THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY. 
          THEY WITH THE HELP OF SOME VERY ACTIVE PARTNERS OF OURS, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE JUDGE VASQUEZ, PROBATE COURT JUDGE IN BEAR COUNTY, AS WELL AS SENATOR MENENDEZ, PLUS OUR APS BOARD. 
          THEY WORKED WITH THE CITY TO PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES ALL CITY EMPLOYEES WHO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC TO TAKE A COURSE ON ELDER ABUSE. 
          HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY IT? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? HOW DO YOU REPORT IT? THAT'S 15,000 EMPLOYEES. 
          THEY WILL BE ANNUALLY REFRESHED, AND WE WORKED WITH THE CITY AND FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO PROVIDE THAT TRAINING SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE THE TRAINING ONLINE. 
          AT FIRST, I WAS LIKE, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? BUT OUR DISTRICT DIRECTOR IN SOUTH TEXAS GAVE ME A LIST WHERE THEY'RE FIRST STARTING THE TRAINING. 
          IT'S THEIR DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, THEIR METRO HEALTH, SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT, SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING, THE PARKS AND REC FOLKS, THEIR 311 STAFF, THEIR CODE ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE, AND THEIR ANIMAL SERVICES. 
          THAT'S THE INITIAL GROUP THAT THEY'RE GOING TO START TRAINING. 
          THIS IS HUGE AND WE'RE SUPER EXCITED. 
          I'M VERY CONFIDENT SAYING THIS IS THE FIRST ARRANGEMENT OF THIS SORT IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. 
          REALLY THRILLED ABOUT THAT. 
          HARRIS COUNTY. WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN THE HARRIS COUNTY BOARDING HOME TASKFORCE. 
          THIS IS A GROUP THAT COMPRISED OF SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, APS, AND THEN OTHER PARTNERS, AND IS REALLY FOCUSED ON UNLICENSED UNREGULATED BOARDING HOMES. 
          OUR STAFF ARE AT THE TABLE AND THEY ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND WHEN THESE PLACES FOR WHATEVER REASON NEED TO BE SHUT DOWN. 
          WE PARTICIPATED IN 180 SHUTDOWNS. 
          MADE 91 REFERRALS, AND ACTUALLY JUST LAST MONTH, WE WERE ABLE TO RELOCATE FIVE RESIDENTS THAT WERE LIVING IN UNSAFE CONDITIONS. 
          REALLY GREAT STUFF GOING ON IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          I DID WANT TO UPDATE YOU BRIEFLY ON FEDERAL FUNDING. 
          AS SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE, WHEN COVID HIT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPECIFICALLY ALLOCATED FUNDS FOR ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES. 
          PRIOR TO THAT, WE DID RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDS THROUGH THE SOCIAL SECURITY BLOCK GRANT DOLLARS. 
          BUT THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS HAVE COME AND NOW GONE. 
          BUT THERE IS STILL MONEY IN THE FEDERAL BUDGET THROUGH THE ELDER JUSTICE ACT. 
          IT'S REDUCED AMOUNT, AND WE'RE REALLY USING THAT MONEY TO FOCUS ON OUR PARTNERING TO PROTECT WORK. 
          WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 
          THEY PASSED THE FIRST FEDERAL RULES FOR APS IN HISTORY, AND WE WERE GIVEN FOUR YEARS TO COMPLY WITH THOSE RULES. 
          WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THAT, ALTHOUGH RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WHOLE SITUATION MAY BE A LITTLE BIT ON HOLD ON THE FEDERAL SIDE. 
          BUT HERE IN TEXAS, WE AGREE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE RULES ARE VALUABLE AND VALID, AND SO WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. 
          WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. 
          >> FOR THE SAN ANTONIO TRAINING, WHEN DOES THAT BEGIN? 
          >> I BELIEVE IT BEGINS THIS MONTH. 
          [01:00:02]
WE WORKED WITH THEM TO PUT THE TRAINING TOGETHER. 
          IT'S ALL ONLINE, AND SO THEY ARE ROLLING THAT OUT EVEN AS WE SPEAK. 
          >> AWESOME. THANK YOU. ON YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT REFERRALS, SO WHEN LET'S SAY, FIDELITY, CHARLES SHRUB OR WHATEVER, HAS A CONCERN ABOUT ONE OF THEIR CLIENTS BEING EXPLOITED. 
          THEY CONTACT APS AND THAT GENERATES SOMETHING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          THAT WOULD BE UNDER THE CATEGORY HERE, LIKE THE 300 REFERRALS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, CORRECT? IN THOSE CASES, YOU'RE NOT DOING AN INVESTIGATION, YOU'RE SIMPLY SENDING IT ON TO LAW ENFORCEMENT? 
          >> NO. THOSE ARE ACTUALLY THOSE 300 CASES ARE CASES THAT WE HAVE INVESTIGATED AND THAT WE HAVE VALIDATED AND FEEL THAT THERE MAY BE A CRIMINAL VIOLATION OF THE PENAL CODE, AND THEN WE MAKE THAT REFERRAL TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          WE PROVIDE THEM WITH NOTIFICATION THAT WE FOUND SOMETHING THAT IS PROBLEMATIC AND WE BELIEVE IT MAY BE CRIMINAL. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THAT IS A FRUSTRATION FOR OUR APS STAFF BECAUSE WE ARE NOT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS. 
          THAT'S ONE OF THE FOCUSES OF BOTH THAT EXPLOITATION UNITS AND OUR PARTNERING TO PROTECT IS HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT WE'RE GIVING THEM ACTIONABLE INVESTIGATIONS, THAT THEY CAN TAKE THOSE INVESTIGATIONS AND THEN ON THE CRIMINAL SIDE, DO SOMETHING. 
          >> MAY I ADD SOMETHING TO THAT? 
          >> YOU MAY. 
          >> OF COURSE. 
          >> OF COURSE, I AM IN CHARGE HERE. 
          >> A BIG CHALLENGE JUST FROM THE NATURE OF MY WORK THAT WE HAVE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SUPPORTING APS IN THIS WORK IS THAT A LOT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT TRAINED. 
          THEY'RE NOT TRAINED PROPERLY TO INVESTIGATE FINANCIAL CRIME CASES. 
          I KNOW IN THE DFW AREA, WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH BOTH DA'S OFFICES TO RECTIFY THAT, BUT THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT HAPPENS AND WHERE A LOT OF THE FRUSTRATION FOR ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMES IN IN THE CASE WORKERS. 
          WE ARE AGAIN, ACTIVELY WORKING. 
          ACTUALLY, I JUST MET WITH THE DA THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT STRATEGIES FOR THAT. 
          I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'LL ARE DOING IN THIS REPORT IS EXCELLENT, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION. 
          >> OKAY. 
          >> ON THE EXPLOITATION UNITS OUT OF CURIOSITY, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY CASES ARE COMING IN THAT DON'T FIT THE SCOPE OF WORK OF THAT UNIT? 
          >> FOR EXPLOITATION. 
          I BELIEVE WE'VE SET A CUTOFF AT $10,000 SO THAT CASES THAT ARE $10,000 OR MORE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO GO TO THE EXPLOITATION UNIT. 
          I WOULD HAVE TO PULL SOME NUMBERS, BUT I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION FOR SURE. 
          >> IF THEY'RE UNDER $10,000, ARE THEY RECEIVING OTHER ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES? 
          >> YES. IF THEY COME IN AND THEY'RE UNDER WHATEVER THE THRESHOLD THAT HAS BEEN SET, WHICH IS 10,000, THOSE ARE STILL INVESTIGATED, BUT THEY WOULD NOT BE INVESTIGATED NECESSARILY BY THE SPECIALIZED UNIT. 
          THE REASON FOR THAT REALLY, THAT SPECIALIZED UNIT IS DESIGNED TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THAT MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF DATA, MORE COMPLEX INVESTIGATIONS. 
          BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO USE AS A RESOURCE. 
          WE HAVE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS THAT ANY CASEWORKER REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY'RE IN THAT UNIT OR NOT, THEY CAN ACCESS THOSE SPECIALIZED RESOURCES. 
          WE CONTRACT FOR FORENSIC ACCOUNTING SERVICES SO THAT, IF IT IS MORE COMPLEX, EVEN THAN OUR TRAINED STAFF AND OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS CAN QUITE SORT OUT, THEY'RE ABLE TO USE THAT RESOURCE FORENSIC ACCOUNTING TO BOLSTER THEIR WORK AND THEIR INVESTIGATIONS. 
          >> THEN LASTLY, AROUND THE SAME ISSUE. 
          DO YOU KNOW IN OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE, HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE REFERRED TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT? 
          >> WE CAN GET YOU THOSE NUMBERS, THE NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT REFERRALS, YES. 
          >> WELL, IN THE GENERAL TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. 
          LIKE IN DALLAS, THEY WOULD BE REFERRED TO US. 
          >> AS FAR AS THAT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR VALID CASES, WHETHER IT'S FOR NEGLECT, ABUSE, OR EXPLOITATION, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE AT SOME POINT REFERRED TO OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, WHETHER IT'S FOR ASSISTANCE WITH FINANCES, WHETHER IT'S ASSISTANCE WITH UTILITY BILLS, ETC, WE'RE ALWAYS REFERRING CASES AS WELL AS PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES. 
          >> THAT'S WHAT I'M SPECIFICALLY INTERESTED IN, IS THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT. THOSE REFERRALS. 
          >> WE CAN DEFINITELY GET YOU THAT DATA. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THIS PROGRAM. THIS JUST WARMS ME BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO ON A SMALL SCALE IN WALKER COUNTY WHEN WE DON'T NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY IN MOTION. 
          I NEED TO REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW WE NEED TO START IMPLEMENTING THIS BECAUSE THE EXPLOITATION PART IS REALLY BLOWING UP BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ANY MORE LAND BEING MADE. 
          [01:05:04]
THERE ARE A LOT OF ELDERS WITH LAND. 
          THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE TRYING TO EXPLOIT THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR LAND, AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE TRAINED PEOPLE TO LOOK AFTER THEM, THEIR CHILDREN AREN'T. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT ABOUT, I'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN CONNECT AND GET THIS TO GOING IN WALKER COUNTY, BUT SOMETHING THAT SHE MENTIONED EARLIER, I THINK POSSIBLY, IS THERE SOMETHING WHERE THERE ARE TRAININGS FOR CHILDREN OF AGING PARENTS BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CHILDREN MAY STEP AWAY, WALK AWAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. 
          THIS IS MY PARENT. THEY GOT THIS, WHEN THEY REALLY DON'T. 
          I THINK A PROGRAM LIKE THAT MIGHT BE EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL. 
          I'LL TELL YOU A GOOD EXAMPLE, SOMETHING THAT I JUST ENCOUNTERED THIS PAST WEEK. 
          I HAD A SENIOR FALL AT MY YOGA CLASS AND LONG STORY HAD TO GET HER HOME. 
          BUT IT WAS SO AMAZING BECAUSE SHE DID NOT WANT ME TO CALL HER SON. 
          SHE WAS, I'LL CALL HIM, NO, YOU GO TO. 
          AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS CONVERSATION, I'M NOT LEAVING YOU HERE UNTIL I TALK TO HIM. 
          HE CALLED BECAUSE HE PUT CAMERAS UP. 
          THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT MAYBE SOME AWARENESS TO GO TO THE SENIORS, HOW BENEFICIAL THEY CAN BE, TO THE CHILDREN, HOW THIS IS SOMETHING THEY COULD DO. 
          BUT THOSE TYPE, I THINK TRAININGS MIGHT BE INCORPORATED INTO THAT. 
          >> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I KNOW A FEW YEARS AGO, WELLS FARGO INVESTMENTS DEVELOPED SOME TOOL KITS TO PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH SOME REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION LIKE, HOW DO YOU TALK ABOUT FINANCES WITH MOM? HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT MOM IS TALKING ABOUT FINANCES WITH YOU? HOW DO YOU MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF MOM NO LONGER CAN MANAGE YOUR FINANCES AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY ARE PREVENTION WORK TO AVOID FALLING VICTIM TO SCAMS OR EXPLOITATION. 
          YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITING OPPORTUNITY THERE, AND I CAN DIG OUT THAT TOOL KIT AND WE CAN START TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT THAT WORKING WITH OUR FOLKS IN FAITH BASED AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS WELL TO PROVIDE A LOT MORE PUBLIC AWARENESS. 
          >> THE OTHER THING THAT I SPEAK ON WHEN I GO TO THESE SENIOR EVENTS IS THE LIFE PLANNING PORTION. 
          ALSO WITH THE CHILDREN OF AGING PARENTS, THEY SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE OF THAT BECAUSE WHEN I SPEAK ON IT, THEY TAKE IT HOME. 
          IT'S JUST LIKE A KID IN SCHOOL, IF YOU DON'T SHARE IT WITH YOUR PARENTS, YOUR PARENTS DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT. 
          WITH THESE SENIORS, IF THEY DON'T SHARE IT WITH THEIR CHILDREN, THE CHILDREN DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, SO THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. 
          THAT IS THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON. 
          IT JUST SEEMS LIKE I'M REINVENTING THE WHEEL WHEN A LOT OF THIS IS ALREADY IN MOTION THAT I JUST NEED TO GET CONNECTED WITH. 
          >> I WAS SO EXCITED TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT THAT LIFE PLANNING WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT. 
          WHAT HAPPENS IF I'M IN THE HOSPITAL? WHAT HAPPENS IF I'M UNABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS ANYMORE. 
          LET'S BE HONEST, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DIE? 
          >> I HAVE DOCUMENTS THAT I'LL SHARE WITH YOU. 
          >> YEAH, AND THOSE THINGS LIKE DURABLE POWERS OF ATTORNEY THAT YOU CAN SIGN IN ADVANCE, DIFFERENT PLANNING PIECES THAT CAN GO IN PLACE TO PROTECT FINANCES, TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH. 
          TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE MAKING THE DECISIONS OR AT LEAST THAT YOUR CHILDREN KNOW WHAT THOSE DECISIONS ARE. 
          IT SEEMS VERY BASIC, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE NONE OF US WANT TO THINK ABOUT. 
          >> WELL, NOT NOT ONLY DO WE NOT WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT, BUT WHEN THE TIME COMES, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF BECAUSE THEY'RE GRIEVING? INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO JUST GRIEVE, THEY END UP DOWN THE LINE WITH A HUGE BILL. 
          ALL OF THE INSURANCE MONEY IS JUST GONE ON STUFF THAT THEY DIDN'T GET OR DIDN'T WANT DIDN'T NEED. 
          >> WE HAD AN AMAZING PRESENTER AT OUR CONFERENCE THIS LAST YEAR, DEALING WITH GRIEF AND TALKING ABOUT HOW SOMETIMES WHEN YOU GO INTO A HOME AS AN APS WORKER AND YOU THINK THAT THE PERSON HAS DEPRESSION OR THAT THE PERSON IS DEALING WITH SOME TYPE OF MENTAL ILLNESS, THEY MAY BE DEALING WITH GRIEF. 
          VERY DEEP GRIEF AND HOW DO YOU TREAT THAT DIFFERENTLY, AND HOW DO YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GRIEF AND STILL PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES? SO THAT'S A GREAT POINT. 
          >> THANK YOU, GUYS. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THIS ONE BOB. 
          >> AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. 
          THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN THE PROGRAM THAT ALL ARE WORKING TOGETHER. 
          [01:10:02]
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THEIR TRAINING BECAUSE THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THEY COME IN TO OUR AGENCY AND FIVE TO SIX MONTHS BEFORE, THEY'RE SOLID TO BE ON THEIR OWN. 
          THIS IS IT. IT'S NOT SIX WEEKS, TWO MONTHS. 
          LOOKING AT YOUR STATUS AS YOU STARTED, 03,000 CASES FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END. 
          THAT'S A LOT FOR A TRAINING. 
          THEY'RE AWARE OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO CONSIST ON, THANK YOU ON THAT. 
          I WANTED TO SHARE WHEN I WAS DOING THE DRIVE BACK IN DECEMBER, I DID TALK TO THE STAFF THERE IN THE AREA. 
          I WANTED TO KNOW HOW MANY FOR OUR COUNTY, AND WE HAD 31. 
          WHEN I WAS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TALKING, THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR THERE WAS THAT MANY CASES BECAUSE ONE CASE IS A LOT OF CASES. I SAID, WELL, IT'S ONLY 31. 
          NO, THAT'S A LOT OF CASES. 
          GOING BACK TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID, LISA IS, THESE ELDERLIES ARE BEING TARGETED. 
          AND JUST TO SHARE A REAL QUICK STORY, I OVERSEE AN ELDERLY AND I HAVE ACCESS TO HER BANK ACCOUNT, MOST OF THE TIME IS JUST BASIC STUFF. 
          OF COURSE, SHE GETS THINGS DELIVERED. 
          WE NEEDED HER BANK STATEMENTS FOR A REASON. 
          CAN YOU BELIEVE BECAUSE SHE IS TECH SAVVY SOMEWHAT? SHE PRESSED SOMETHING FOR A TRIAL BECAUSE SHE GETS HER HOMES DELIVERED AND THERE WAS TWO RETAILS WE'RE GOING TO CHARGE HER $100. 
          WHEN I LOOKED INTO IT, WHAT IS THIS? EVERYTHING STOPS BECAUSE IT'S TIME CONSUMING. 
          LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO CALL HER AT THE BANK AND CALL EVERYONE ELSE AND BECAUSE SHE WAS CAPABLE OF DOING THIS, EVEN IN HER AGE, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT? THERE'S SOME THAT DO NOT HAVE THAT SUPPORT OR CAMERAS AND THINGS. 
          BUT I THANK YOU. 
          THIS IS DEAR TO MY HEART. 
          I THINK WE AT THE BEGINNING IS, WE'RE ALL GETTING THERE. 
          WE'RE ALL GETTING OLDER. WE'RE GOING TO BE, WE'RE ALREADY IN THAT AGE. 
          BUT THANK YOU AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR STAFF. 
          THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, AND I KNOW WE ARE PUSHING WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE FOR THIS AGENT AND APS. THANK YOU. 
          >>THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> OUR NEXT PRESENTER IS MARTHA TALBERT WITH CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS, THE ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER. 
          SHE'LL BE GIVING US AN UPDATE ON THE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE EXPANSION. HI. 
          >> YES. GOOD MORNING. I'M MARTHA TALBERT, THE ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS, AND DEFINITELY WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON OUR ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE EXPANSION. 
          I THINK I HAVE TALKED TO THIS GROUP A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AR, BUT I'M GOING TO START FROM THE BEGINNING AND JUST REMIND EVERYONE WHAT AR IS. 
          ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE IS BASICALLY A DIFFERENT WAY OF ENGAGING OUR FAMILIES. 
          IN CERTAIN TYPES OF ALLEGED ABUSE OR NEGLECT. 
          IT ALLOWS US TO MEET THE FAMILIES WHERE THEY ARE BASICALLY AND MEET THE FAMILIES NEEDS WHILE KEEPING THE CHILDREN SAFE. 
          IT'S A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH WITH FAMILIES. 
          IN THESE CASES, THERE'S NO ALLEGED PERPETRATORS, NO DISPOSITIONS, NO CENTRAL REGISTRY FOR THE FAMILIES THAT WE WORK WITH. 
          IT BASICALLY ELIMINATES FAULTS FOR THE PARENTS TO ALLOW MORE ENGAGEMENT AND FOR US TO WORK WITH THEM IN BASICALLY A DIFFERENT WAY FROM THE START OF THE INVESTIGATION OR START OF THE AR CASE. 
          IN AR, WE ABSOLUTELY ASSESS SAFETY STEEL. 
          IF THERE IS A DANGER OR CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF A CHILD, WE WILL DEFINITELY MAKE DECISIONS AT THAT POINT TO ENSURE THE CHILD SAFETY. 
          THEN THERE'S REALLY CERTAIN CASES THAT CANNOT GO TO AR AND ONE OF THOSE IS SEXUAL ABUSE AND THE OTHER ONE IS SERIOUS PHYSICAL ABUSE. 
          JUST A LITTLE DETAIL ABOUT THAT, THOUGH. 
          I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT WHEN I TALK ABOUT ENGAGEMENT OR WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE DIFFERENT FOR THE FAMILY IS IN TRADITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS, WE'RE OFTEN GOING TO THE SCHOOL TO INTERVIEW AND TALK TO CHILDREN. 
          IT'S OUR VERY FIRST STEP WHEN WE GET A TRADITIONAL INVESTIGATION CASE, IN AR, WE ACTUALLY CONTACT THE FAMILY. 
          WE HAVE ABOUT 120 HOURS, FIVE DAYS TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THAT FAMILY, BUT WE TRY TO ENGAGE THEM FIRST BY MAKING A PHONE CALL, SETTING UP A TIME, GO INTO THE HOME, BE ABLE TO TALK TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY TOGETHER. 
          WE ALSO ENCOURAGE THAT FAMILY TO ACTUALLY IF THEY HAVE FAMILY OR OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE HOME, 
          [01:15:02]
SO WE COULD ALL MEET WITH THEM TOGETHER. 
          WE ENCOURAGE THAT AS WELL FOR THAT FAMILY. 
          SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ABOUT AR AND TRADITIONAL IS ONE, OF COURSE, IS THE FACE TO FACE CONTACT, JUST THE TIME FRAMES AROUND THAT. 
          OTHER THING IS THAT WE EXTEND OUR CLOSURE DATE FOR AR TO ABOUT 60 DAYS. 
          THERE CAN BE EXTENSIONS, BUT TRADITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS, WE WANT THEM TO RESOLVE IT PRETTY QUICKLY WITHIN 45. 
          BUT THE EXTENSION FOR THE 60 DAYS FOR AR IS BECAUSE THE GOAL OF THIS IS TO ENGAGE THE FAMILIES, WORK WITH THE FAMILIES, MAYBE OFFER SERVICES, MAYBE CONNECT THEM TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. 
          BASICALLY, I TALK ABOUT IT IN WAYS THAT I ALWAYS SAY, WE WANT TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE FAMILY, MAYBE THE VERY FIRST TIME, OFFER THEM SERVICES AND HOPEFULLY THEY DON'T COME BACK THROUGH OUR SYSTEM. 
          THAT IS THE GOAL OF AR BASICALLY, IS ENGAGE ENOUGH AND HOOK THEM TO ANY COMMUNITY RESOURCES. 
          SOMETIMES IT TAKES US A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S THE WHY BEHIND THE 60 DAY. 
          OF COURSE, I SAID IT EARLIER, THERE'S NO PERPETRATOR. 
          THERE'S NO ALLEGED PERPETRATOR. 
          THERE'S NO DISPOSITION ON A CASE. 
          WE TRY TO SCHEDULE OUR HOME VISITS AND THAT NO CENTRAL REGISTRY. 
          OF COURSE, ON THE TRADITIONAL, EVERYONE ON THE TRADITIONAL SIDE HAS A DISPOSITION THAT THERE IS AN ALLEGED PERPETRATOR IN EVERY ONE OF OUR TRADITIONAL CASES. 
          MOST OF OUR CONTACTS ARE UNANNOUNCED. 
          >> IT'S DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT APPROACH AS WE WORK THROUGH WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE AR. 
          JUST A LITTLE HISTORY. 
          AR STARTED IN DFPS IN 2013. 
          IN AROUND 2022, MY TEAM AND I STARTED TALKING ABOUT AR BECAUSE I WILL TELL YOU ALL, IN 2013, THE ULTIMATE GOAL WAS TO INCREASE WHAT WE SEND TO AR. 
          IN 2013, WHAT WE HAD DONE IS WE HAD PUT PRETTY STRICT PARAMETERS ON WHAT COULD BE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE. 
          ONE OF THEM WAS IN AGE, YOU COULDN'T BE UNDER AGE SIX TO BE AN AR. 
          THERE WAS A VERY STRICT PARAMETERS ON WHAT COULD BE AR. 
          IN 2022, MY TEAM AND I STARTED TALKING ABOUT WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF WE WANTED TO EXPAND OR WE WANTED TO HAVE MORE FAMILIES GO THE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE ROUTE VERSUS TRADITIONAL. 
          WE STARTED LOOKING AT IT AND LIKE, WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY TO EXPAND OUR AR? IT STARTED WITH JUST A CONVERSATION, AND THEN WE STARTED WORKING ON PRACTICE AND POLICY AND TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STAFF, AND AT SOME POINT WE SAID, WE'RE GOING TO DO A PILOT. 
          WE CHOSE EL PASO FOR OUR PILOT. 
          OUR PILOT IS NOW COMPLETE. 
          WE HAVE SOME RESULTS THAT I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU. 
          BUT WE'RE STILL TWEAKING SOME OF THE INFORMATION WE'VE RECEIVED. 
          BUT OVERALL, WHAT WE DID SEE OUT OF OUR PILOT BY CHANGING OUR POLICY OR CHANGING OUR PRACTICE IN EL PASO IS WE DID SEE THAT ABSOLUTELY MORE FAMILIES WENT THE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE ROUTE IN EL PASO. 
          WE SAW MANY THINGS, BUT LET ME GO BACK. 
          I'M SORRY, I SKIPPED AHEAD. I APOLOGIZE. 
          BUT THIS WAS OUR OVERALL GOALS FOR AR ONCE WE STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT DID WE WANT TO DO? WHAT DID WE WANT TO SEE? AS YOU CAN SEE, WE WANTED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES INCREASE AND GO THE AR. 
          WE WANTED TO SEE WORKER SATISFACTION INCREASE. 
          I WILL TELL YOU ALL THIS IS THAT MY OVERALL WHEN I LOOK AT TURNOVER, MY AR STAFF STAY LONGER THAN MY TRADITIONAL STAFF. 
          WE THOUGHT THAT MAY HELP US AS WELL IF WE INCREASE OUR AR. 
          WE WANT TO INCREASE OUR WORKER SATISFACTION, OUR COMMUNITY SATISFACTION, INCREASED FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. 
          WE WANTED TO SEE OUR QUALITY IMPROVE WITH THE AR PART, AND PART OF THAT IS LOOKING AT HOW MANY OF OUR CHILD SAFETY SPECIALISTS READ OUR CASES, AND IF WE CAN REDUCE THAT REJECTION RATE. 
          WE WANTED TO SEE IF WE DO AR, IF WE SEND A CASE TO AR, WE WANTED TO SEE THE DECREASE AND HOW MANY OF THOSE HAVE TO BE PROGRESS. 
          ARE WE TRULY ENGAGED IN THAT FAMILY, ARE WE WORKING WITH THAT FAMILY AND NOT HAVING TO PROGRESS THAT TO THE INVESTIGATION STAGE? WE DEFINITELY LOOK AT RECIDIVISM AND THE NUMBER OF RE-REFERRALS AFTER WE WORK WITH THE FAMILY AND AR. 
          THEN JUST THE OVERALL QUALITY, AND I'LL TELL YOU A FEW LESSONS LEARNED HERE IN A MINUTE FROM REGION 10. 
          BUT JUST THE OVERALL QUALITY INFIDELITY OF OUR AR, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE DOING THAT TO OUR BEST WE COULD FOR OUR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN. 
          [01:20:02]
ONCE WE STARTED WHAT WE DID FOR THE PILOT CHANGES, WE CHANGED IT WHERE ANY AGE COULD GO TO AR, AND THAT WE WOULD BASICALLY NOT HAVE PARENTS' HISTORY STOP US FROM HAVING FAMILIES GO THROUGH AR. 
          WE STARTED WITH THE EXPANSION. 
          THEN THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE FOUND FOR THE EXPANSION PILOT SO FAR AS WE DEFINITELY SAW AN INCREASE IN CASES GOING TO AR BASICALLY DOUBLED OUR CASES. 
          IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF CASES GOING TRADITIONAL, THAT DOUBLED GOING TO AR IN EL PASO. 
          WE DID SEE A CHANGE IN THE NUMBERS GOING TO THE TRADITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS. 
          WE DID IDENTIFY AND FOCUS ON SOME PRACTICES IN REGION 10 THAT WILL HELP US WITH THE QUALITY. 
          WE PROVIDED A LOT OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR REGION 10 OVER AR, AND WE DEFINITELY NOTED AN INCREASED ENGAGEMENT IN FAMILIES AND WITH OUR WORKERS IN THAT AREA. 
          WE'LL SAY ONE OF OUR LESSONS LEARNED IS THAT WE PROBABLY AND WE'RE DOING IT IN REGION 5 RIGHT NOW. 
          WE REALLY LEARNED THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO AN ASSESSMENT OF THE AREA BEFORE WE GO IN AND DO A PILOT. 
          RIGHT NOW IN REGION 5, WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING AN ASSESSMENT OF THAT AREA. 
          WHEN I SAY ASSESSMENT, IT'S REALLY A READINESS PLAN. 
          WHAT IS THEIR PRACTICE, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR THEM, WHAT TRAINING SHOULD WE DO, WHAT DEVELOPMENT? WE HAD A FEW LESSONS LEARNED, BUT I WILL SAY OVERALL OUR PILOT WENT REALLY WELL. 
          WE HAD A LOT OF WORKER SATISFACTION. 
          WE HAD COMMUNITY SATISFACTION, WE HAD DONE SURVEYS, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE PERCENTAGE, BUT IT WAS OVER 50% OF FAMILIES BEING SATISFIED WITH THE WORK WE HAD DONE IN REGION 10. 
          I'LL SAY WE ENDED THE PILOT. 
          WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY END IT BECAUSE ONCE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S OUR NEXT STEP IS THE WORKERS IN REGION 10, THEY WANTED TO CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS AS NORMAL AND CONTINUE WITH THIS AR PILOT. 
          THEY'RE CONTINUING TO WORK A MAJORITY OF THEIR CASES AS ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE, AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN AN INCREASE IN ANY BAD OUTCOMES FOR FATALITIES OR FOR RECIDIVISM AT THIS POINT. 
          FAR, REALLY GOOD OUT OF REGION 10. 
          I WILL SAY WE'RE CONTINUING TO ASSESS A FEW THINGS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF OUR DATA BACK FOR THE RESPONSE PILOT. 
          THERE'S STILL A FEW THINGS THAT WE'RE LINGERING THAT WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE PILOT AND REGION 10 OR EL PASO AREA. 
          WE'RE STARTING IN FIVE. 
          WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THAT GOES. 
          THEN WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. 
          WE'RE STILL WAITING. 
          WE'RE HAVING TO CHANGE OUR TACK TO MAKE SURE IT MEETS UP TO WHAT OUR WORLD WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE FOR AR BECAUSE OUR ENTIRE GOAL IS THAT WE'LL EXPAND IT ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS. 
          WE'VE GOT IMPACT UPDATES THAT WE HAVE TO DO. 
          WE'RE CREATING NEW DATA TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO LOOK AT RECIDIVISM AND REMOVALS AND SERVICES OFFERED IN AR. 
          WE'RE GOING TO ADMINISTER FAMILY AND STAFF SURVEYS TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THEM. 
          WE'RE DOING STATEWIDE TRAINING RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE STATE. 
          WE'RE UPDATING THE PUBLIC WEBSITES ABOUT AR AND THE RESOURCES. 
          THEN, OF COURSE, WE DO COMMUNITY TOWN HALLS AS WELL TO GET THE COMMUNITY BUY-IN FOR ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE. 
          THAT'S PRETTY QUICK. OPEN TO QUESTIONS ABOUT AR OR ANYTHING. 
          >> REAL QUICK. INVESTIGATORS, THEY'RE GETTING A MIX OF TRADITIONAL AND AR THEY'RE DOING. 
          IS NOT AR GOES TO THESE PEOPLE AND THE INVESTIGATIONS GO TO SOMEONE ELSE, IS THAT RIGHT? 
          >> IT DEPENDS ON THE REGION OR THE COUNTY AREA. 
          WE DO HAVE SOME IN OUR LARGER AREAS WHERE IT HAS AR CASES AND THEN OUR TRADITIONAL HAS TRADITIONAL CASES. 
          BUT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE REGIONS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE KNOW AS WE HAVE A MAJORITY OF OUR PRIORITY TO INVESTIGATIONS. 
          NOW WE WILL BE AR CASES AS WE ROLL OUT, THEY WILL START BLENDING. 
          WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM RIGHT NOW. I WILL SAY THIS TOO. 
          I THINK ONCE YOU TAKE THE AR TRAINING AND YOU UNDERSTAND HOW TO TALK TO FAMILIES A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND DIFFERENTLY, WE WANT THAT FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE YOU CAN ENGAGE IN TRADITIONAL AND YOU CAN ENGAGE IN AR. 
          WE'RE WORKING THROUGH ALL THAT. 
          >> WE'RE THE FIRST ONES TO DO THIS OR HAVE OTHER STATES ALREADY ENGAGED IN THIS? YES. OTHER STATES HAVE ALREADY ENGAGED. 
          I CAN'T NAME THEM RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE ARE SOME STATES THAT REALLY ALL THEIR CASES EXCEPT FOR THE EMERGENCY CASES, 
          [01:25:08]
EXIGENT, VERY SCARY CASES. 
          SERIOUS PHYSICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE, ALL THEIR CASES ARE AR, EXCEPT FOR THOSE. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> YES. 
          >> IS THERE A CERTAIN TYPE OF CASE THAT YOU SEE IS MORE SUCCESSFUL WITH AR? 
          >> I DON'T KNOW A CERTAIN TYPE, BUT I WILL SAY IF YOU LOOK AT FAMILIES AND YOU THINK ABOUT YOUNG PARENTS AND MAYBE THERE IS SOME NEGLECT GOING ON. 
          MAYBE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF NEGLECTFUL SUPERVISION. 
          THOSE WORK VERY WELL IN AR. 
          I THINK IT'S JUST THE ENGAGEMENT UP FRONT, THE NO-FAULT WHERE WE CAN REALLY TALK TO THEM AND TALK TO THE FAMILY ABOUT THEIR WORRIES, WHAT'S WORKING WELL FOR THEM, AND POSSIBLY DO COMMUNITY SERVICES AND STUFF FOR THAT FAMILY. 
          I THINK NEGLECTFUL SUPERVISION IS GOOD. 
          WE'VE SEEN SOME GOOD OUTCOMES EVEN FOR SOME INAPPROPRIATE DISCIPLINE THAT DOES NOT GET UP TO THE SERIOUS PHYSICAL ABUSE YET, BUT THAT EDUCATION AND TALKING WITH THAT FAMILY THROUGH THAT INAPPROPRIATE DISCIPLINE PART. 
          I THINK ABOUT IT, I SAID THIS AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS AR PIECE IS THAT IF WE CAN INTERVENE WITH FAMILIES LIKE THAT VERY FIRST INTAKE WHEN IT IS NOT SEVERE AND MAYBE WE CAN GET PEOPLE TO WRAP AROUND THAT FAMILY AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK THROUGH OUR SYSTEM. 
          THAT'S THE GOAL. I THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE FIRST TIME WE SEE FAMILIES, CAN WE DO ANYTHING FOR THEM? 
          >> I HAVE A QUESTION, COMMENT. 
          I'M VERY INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE OUTCOMES OF AR IN TERMS OF REDUCING THE REOCCURRENCE OF ABUSE OR EVEN THE POTENTIAL ABUSE OF ANOTHER CHILD OR ANOTHER CHILD COMING IN WITHIN THE FAMILY. 
          I'M SURE THERE'S DATA OUT THERE THAT I CAN LOOK AT. 
          PROBABLY FROM OTHER STATES. 
          >> YES. FROM OTHER STATES, AND THAT'S PART OF OUR NEXT STEP IS TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE ONE RECIDIVISM, WHICH WE KNOW WOULD BE A YEAR OUT. 
          BUT THE OTHER PIECES, ONCE WE WORK WITH THEM, DO WE GET ADDITIONAL REFERRALS? WE ARE WORKING ON THAT PIECE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TOO. 
          I'D LOVE TO KNOW THAT ESPECIALLY IN THE EL PASO PILOT, I THINK ABOUT IT, IF WE, LET'S SAY 500 FAMILIES IN AR, DO WE EVER SEE THEM, AND HOW MANY AND WHY? WHY DO WE SEE THEM AGAIN? IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING I THINK WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ANALYZE IT, ESPECIALLY KNOWING WE'RE GOING TO GO REGION 5 NEXT. 
          BUT STATE OF TEXAS IS BIG, AND OUR GOAL IS 2028 THAT WE HAVE THE ENTIRE STATE WITH MAJORITY OF THE CASES GOING IN AR. 
          I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW THAT WE CAN, OF COURSE, CORRECT ANYTHING WE NEED TO AS WE ROLL OUT TO THE STATE. 
          >> DEFINITELY, YOU WOULD THINK THAT THAT WE SHOULD SEE SOME POSITIVE IMPACT IN THOSE TWO AREAS, THE RE-OCCURRENCE AND THEN ANOTHER CHILD FROM THAT FAMILY, FROM THAT PARENT BEING INVOLVED IN OUR SYSTEM. 
          THAT WOULD BE GREAT. RIGHT NOW IT'S IN PILOT, LOOKING AT EXPANDING TO OTHER COUNTIES, LOOKING AT COLLECTING THE DATA. 
          IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE MORE SATISFACTION OR BETTER RETENTION RATES WITH THE STAFF THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE AR TEAM VERSUS THE OTHER TEAM. 
          >> YES. I THINK IF YOU EVER LOOK AT TRADITIONAL OF HOW WE WORK AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND IF WE GO TO THE SCHOOL FIRST, IT SETS THAT FAMILY IN A TRAJECTORY IF YOU THINK ABOUT A FAMILY. 
          YOU GO TO THE SCHOOL, YOU TALK TO A CHILD AT SCHOOL AND THEN YOU'RE CONTACTING THE PARENTS. 
          THAT SETS UP SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY FOR US THAT ENGAGEMENT PART, HOW WELL DO WE DO WITH THAT FAMILY AFTER THAT? I THINK IT HELPS OUR WORKERS TO KNOW THEY CAN OR STILL GOING TO ASSESS SAFETY. 
          WE'RE GOING TO STILL ENSURE THE CHILD IS SAFE, BUT CAN WE TALK TO THE FAMILY DIFFERENT? CAN WE CALL THEM FIRST? I THINK IT JUST GIVES OUR WORKERS A LITTLE BIT MORE SATISFACTION THAT THEY'RE HELPING FAMILIES AND MAYBE NOT BEING QUITE AS INTRUSIVE AS SOMETIMES THE TRADITIONAL INVESTIGATION WILL GO. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> YES. 
          >> I JUST HAD A COMMENT. 
          FIRST, I APPRECIATE THAT EL PASO HAS BEEN A PILOT. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS WORK AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THESE CASES, ARE YOU SEEING ANY TRENDS? I WANT TO LOOK AT THOSE DATA A LITTLE BIT BETTER AS WELL BECAUSE ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE COULD BE DOING THAT ARE MORE PREVENTIVE IN THE PARENTAL ROLE WHERE YOU'RE SEEING MAYBE A TREND, SOMETHING MAY BE CULTURAL, 
          [01:30:01]
OR SOMETHING MAYBE WITHIN THE FAMILIES THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADDRESS AND MORE PREVENTIVE PARENTING TYPES OF APPROACHES WITH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS? ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO PROACTIVELY, I'M ALWAYS INTERESTED IN. 
          >> I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING LIKE RIGHT NOW. 
          ONCE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE READINESS OF THE COUNTY, I GUESS YOU'D SAY, IS I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS LOOK AT ALL THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND SERVICES THEY HAVE, AND THEN ALSO MAKE SURE OUR STAFF ARE AWARE OF ALL THOSE, THEN WE CAN CONNECT THOSE PARENTS TO WHATEVER'S IN THAT COMMUNITY AT THAT TIME. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          NEXT, WE'LL HEAR FROM LEA ANN BIGGAR. 
          I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT. 
          >> THAT'S RIGHT. 
          >> THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ON EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS. SMALL TOPIC. 
          >> NOT MUCH TO GO ON HERE. 
          GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. I AM LEA ANN BIGGAR, THE CFO FOR DFPS. 
          I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL A VERY HIGH OVERVIEW OF OUR BUDGET FIRST JUST SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE STAND NOW. 
          WE'RE ABOUT 4.6 BILLION ALL FUNDS WITH 3.1 BILLION GR FOR THE CURRENT BIENNIUM. 
          WE HAVE OVER 12,000 FTES FOR OUR AGENCY. 
          JUST A QUICK UPDATE. 
          WE HAD ON THE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM IN OUR BUDGET STRUCTURE FOR ONE YEAR OF THIS BIENNIUM. 
          THIS OVERVIEW DOES NOT INCLUDE THAT PROGRAM SINCE IT IS NOW TRANSFERRED TO HHSC. 
          >> FOR GOING INTO 26 AND 27, SOME OF OUR MAIN KEY BUDGET DRIVERS ARE FOSTER CARE AND OUR EXPANSION ON COMMUNITY BASED CARE. 
          UNDER FOSTER CARE, WE'RE CONTINUING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXAS CHILD CENTERED CARE, AND THAT IS A MORE EXPENSIVE PROGRAM, BUT THE LEDGE DID FULLY FUND THAT FOR US. 
          WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT IMPLEMENTATION. 
          WE'RE LOOKING AT RESOURCES, EXCUSE ME, AND TO CONTINUE OUR SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITHOUT PLACEMENT. 
          WE ALSO HAD THE ANNUALIZED INCREASE OF OUR VERIFIED KINSHIP SUPPORT PAYMENTS. 
          YOU MIGHT KNOW THIS AS THE RELATIVE ANOTHER CAREGIVER PAYMENT THAT ALMOST DOUBLED. 
          THEN WE ALSO ARE ANTICIPATING THE INCREASE IN KINSHIP CAREGIVERS BECOMING VERIFIED, WHICH DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SIMMS MENTIONED EARLIER. 
          FOR COMMUNITY BASED CARE, WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPANDING INTO FOUR NEW STAGE I'S AND FOUR NEW STAGE II'S. 
          THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR ANNUALIZED BUDGETS FOR THE EXISTING CATCHMENT AREAS THAT INCREASE OUR BUDGET FOR 26 AND 27. 
          AS LEGISLATION GOES, THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE WILL FILE SEPARATE BUDGET BILLS. 
          THEY WERE VERY SIMILAR THIS YEAR, WHICH WAS EASIER FOR US TO HANDLE, AND IT MAKES OUR CONVERSATIONS EASIER TO START. 
          WE INCREASED FUNDING FROM OUR CURRENT YEAR BY FULLY FUNDING THE APS FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION STAFFING. 
          THERE'S FULL FUNDING FOR THE INCREASE OF OUR VERIFIED KINSHIP PLACEMENTS, AS MENTIONED. 
          WE SAW AN INCREASE IN OUR FUNDING FOR DAYCARE FUNDING TO INCORPORATE INCREASING RATES, AND THEN OF COURSE, THE FULLY FUNDING THE CATCHMENT AREAS FOR COMMUNITY BASED CARE. 
          ONE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE WAS THE HOUSE FUNDED AN INCREASE TO THE NETWORK SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO $2,500 PER CHILD FTE FOR CBCS, AND THE SENATE DID NOT FUND THAT. 
          THAT REMAINED AN EXCEPTIONAL ITEM ON OUR LIST. 
          THEN GOING INTO 26 AND 27, YOU'LL SEE A REDUCTION IN OUR FTES OVERALL, AND THAT'S THE REFLECTION OF THE CONTINUED ROLLOUT OF CBC. 
          AS THOSE FUNCTIONS LEAVE THE AGENCY AND GO TO THE COMMUNITY, WE REDUCE OUR FTES AND PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES TO THE CONTRACTORS TO PERFORM THOSE FUNCTIONS. 
          THEN IN OUR EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS, YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A REQUEST OF 346.4 FTES. 
          THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE IN THE APS REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS TO MEET OUR, SORRY, PUBLISHED CASEWORKER TARGET. 
          THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES GIVE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE FUNDING AND FTE REQUEST BY EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS. AS WE GO THROUGH THE NEXT SLIDES, I'M JUST GOING TO TOUCH ON THE NEW OR REVISED ITEMS FROM OUR PREVIOUS REQUEST AND OUR LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION REQUEST. 
          OVERALL REQUEST IS 603.8 MILLION IN ALL FUNDS WITH ABOUT 475 MILLION IN GENERAL REVENUE AND THEN A REQUEST OF 346.4 FTES. 
          NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THE MEAT OF THINGS HERE. 
          THE BASE BILLS INCLUDED FUNDING FOR A FEW OF OUR ORIGINAL ASKS IN THIS SECTION, INCLUDING FULLY FUNDING OUR APS FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION UNITS, 
          [01:35:01]
SUSTAINING DAYCARE RATES, AND FULLY FUNDING THE INCREASED UNVERIFIED KINSHIP RATES. 
          OUR REVISED REQUEST FOCUSES ON THE APS TRAINING WHILE WORKING PROGRAM AND MEETING THE PUBLISHED CASELOAD TARGETS FOR APS CASE WORKERS. 
          ALTHOUGH WE WERE FUNDED FOR SUSTAINING AND EXPANDING CBC IN OUR BASE BILL, WE WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME LESSONS LEARNED TO HELP WITH THE TRANSITION. 
          ONE OF THE ISSUES REVOLVES AROUND STAFFING, BOTH FOR THE AGENCY AND FOR THE SSCCS. 
          TO THIS POINT, THE AGENCY IS REQUESTING EARLY RESOURCE TRANSFER FUNDING TO ALLOW THE SSCCS TO BEGIN HIRING STAFF PRIOR TO GO LIVE, AND THAT WILL HELP THEM ESTABLISH A PIPELINE OF TRAINED STAFF WHENEVER THEY BEGIN THE TAKEOVER. 
          FOR THE AGENCY, WE'RE REQUESTING FUNDS TO PROVIDE INCENTIVE PAYMENTS TO STAFF WHO STAY WITH THE AGENCY THROUGH THE GO LIVE DATE. 
          WE'VE SEEN WHERE STAFF BEGIN LEAVING, EITHER TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER JOB WITHIN THE AGENCY OR LEAVING THE AGENCY ALTOGETHER, ONCE IT'S BEEN ANNOUNCED WHEN AN AREA IS MOVING INTO CBC. 
          THIS STAY PAY WOULD INCENTIVIZE STAFF TO REMAIN AND PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORT THROUGH THE TRANSITION. 
          WE ALSO HAVE TWO REQUESTS THAT FOCUS ON THE RESOURCE TRANSFER METHODOLOGY. 
          THE AGENCY IS REQUESTING RESOURCES FOR ACCOUNTING FUNCTIONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY PART OF THE RESOURCE TRANSFER, AND THE AGENCY DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO GIVE UP. 
          WE ARE ALSO ASKING TO ADJUST OUR METHODOLOGY FOR THE HR RELATED FUNCTIONS IN ORDER TO RETAIN NECESSARY FTES WITH THE AGENCY WHILE ALSO PROVIDING THE RESOURCES FOR THE SSCCS. 
          FOR OUR IMPROVED CLIENT SAFETY THROUGH SERVICES ITEM, THE EXPAND DAYCARE FOR KINSHIP CAREGIVERS AND TRANSITIONAL LIVING SERVICES REQUESTS REMAIN FROM OUR ORIGINAL REQUEST. 
          THE DAYCARE FOR KINSHIP CAREGIVERS REQUEST WAS UPDATED TO REFLECT A REVISED CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBLE CAREGIVERS AND INCLUDES EXPANDING TO YEAR ROUND CARE FOR YOUTH AGES 7-12. 
          WE'VE ALSO UPDATED OUR PLACEHOLDER FOR SUSTAINING THE TEXAS FAMILY FIRST PILOT. 
          THE REQUEST FOCUSES ONLY ON AREAS THAT HAVE HAVE PROGRAMS IN PLACE AND INCLUDES FULLY FUNDING THE TWO ADDITIONAL AREAS THAT STARTED IN FY25. 
          THE REQUEST UNDER MEETING THE NEEDS FOR HIGH ACUTE YOUTH DID NOT CHANGE IN PURPOSE, BUT WE FURTHER REFINED TO CREATE A MORE FOCUSED TASK. 
          THE STRENGTHENING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS, REMAIN THE SAME AS OUR ORIGINAL REQUEST. 
          BUT SUPPORT FOR KINSHIP FAMILIES FOCUSES ON PROVIDING SUPPORT IN AREAS THAT ROLLED OUT IN CBC, WHILE THE INTENSIVE PEER SUPPORT SERVICES WAS ADJUSTED TO ACCOUNT FOR TIME NEEDED TO GO THROUGH THE CONTRACTING PROCESS. 
          THERE'S NOT BIG CHANGES THERE, BUT MINOR. 
          OUR STABILIZED AND RETAINED WORKFORCE REQUEST ALSO REMAINS INTACT FROM OUR ORIGINAL REQUEST. 
          AS YOU'RE AWARE, THIS ITEM ADDRESSES SALARY COMPRESSION ISSUES, LOW STARTING PAY FOR SUPPORT STAFF, AS WELL AS PAY DISPARITY ACROSS SOME PROGRAMS. WE DID ADD IN A NEW REQUEST UNDER THE EDUCATION BASED COMPENSATION ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE. 
          WE LIKE OUR NAMES HERE, TO ADDRESS THE INCONSISTENCY OF PROVIDING PAY INCENTIVES TO NEW HIRES WITH MASTERS OF SOCIAL WORK BUT NOT PROVIDING A SIMILAR INCENTIVE TO EXISTING STAFF WHO OBTAIN THEIR MSW WHILE EMPLOYED WITH THE AGENCY. 
          THIS REQUEST WILL PROVIDE FUNDING TO ALLOW THE AGENCY TO COMPENSATE ELIGIBLE WORKERS WHO OBTAIN THEIR MSW WHILE WORKING AT DFPS. 
          OUR STRENGTHENING AGENCY OPERATIONS REQUEST EXPANDED TO INCLUDE SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS WITHIN THE AGENCY. 
          FIRST, WE ADDED A REQUEST TO FORMALIZE THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING A REASON TO BELIEVE DISPOSITIONS IN ORDER TO ENSURE ACCURACY AND CONSISTENCY PRIOR TO PLACING SOMEONE ON THE CENTRAL REGISTRY. 
          THE REQUEST CREATES A TEAM THAT WOULD PROVIDE SECONDARY REVIEWS TO THESE CASES. 
          SECOND, WE'RE REQUESTING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR DUE PROCESS THAT ALLOWS A DESIGNATED PERPETRATOR TO REQUEST A REVIEW OF THEIR CASE AFTER BEING PLACED ON THE CENTRAL REGISTRY. 
          THE ADDITIONAL STAFF ARE NEEDED TO ADDRESS OUR BACKLOG OF CASES. 
          ALSO OF NOTE, WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE OUR STATEWIDE INTAKE HOLD TIME REQUEST FROM 41 FTES TO 24 FTES, AND THAT'S BASED ON INCREASED PERFORMANCE BY THE PROGRAM. 
          THE LAST NEW ITEM UNDER STRENGTHEN AGENCY OPERATIONS IS A REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR LEASE REPLACEMENTS. 
          THIS REQUEST FOCUSES ON THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE PICK WELL BUILDING IN SAN ANTONIO. 
          WE ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF RE PROCURING LEASE SPACE AND FUNDING WOULD GO TOWARDS THE MOVE OUT COSTS, FURNITURE PURCHASES, AND IT AND PHONE CABLING FOR THE NEW LOCATION. 
          WE HAVE MADE AN ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENT SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THIS, WHERE THIS REQUEST WAS FOR TWO NEW LOCATIONS IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT WE'VE NARROWED THAT DOWN TO FOR ONE LOCATION. 
          THE BIGGEST CHANGES IN TERMS OF FUNDING COME IN OUR STRENGTH AND IT AND DATA RESOURCES REQUEST. 
          WE'VE ADDED THE REQUEST TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. 
          [01:40:05]
THIS NEW SYSTEM WOULD REPLACE THE EXISTING CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHICH WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 1996. 
          IT WOULD CREATE EFFICIENCIES FOR CASE WORKERS, ESTABLISH A REAL TIME DATA EXCHANGE WITH EXTERNAL PARTNERS, AND REDUCE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORTS. 
          THE REQUEST ALSO INCLUDES ONGOING COSTS FOR THE CONTRACTS AND GRANTS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM MODERNIZATION PROJECT, WHICH STARTED THIS BIENNIUM. 
          THE SECOND NEW ITEM IN THIS REQUEST IS RELATED TO THE SEARCH ENGINE FOR MULTI AGENCY REPORTABLE CONDUCT OR SEMARC. 
          DFPS IS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE SYSTEM, AND THE FUNDING REQUEST INCLUDES ONE TIME FUNDS TO CONNECT IMPACT SYSTEMS TO SEMARC AND PROVIDING ONGOING MAINTENANCE FOR THE SYSTEM AND ESTABLISHING A HELP DESK FOR USERS OF THE SYSTEM. 
          THEN THE LAST NEW ITEM, I'LL COVER TODAY IS THE REQUEST THAT ADDRESSES THE REPLACEMENT OF OUR RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. 
          WE CURRENTLY CONTRACT OUT FOR THIS SERVICE, BUT WE ARE IN NEED OF AN IN HOUSE SYSTEM THAT WOULD MEET ALL OF OUR NEEDS AND IMPROVE INTEROPERABILITY WITH IMPACT IN SSCCS. 
          WHERE WE ARE NOW IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS WE'VE SUBMITTED OUR REVISED REQUESTS TO THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THEY'RE IN TALKS. 
          WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH WORK GROUPS ON WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO ADOPT. 
          SENATE HAS PUT OUT THEIR DECISION DOCUMENT FOR THEIR SUBCOMMITTEES AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE GOING TO THE FLOORS, THEY'RE STILL WORKING WITH THE HOUSE ON WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO ADOPT OUT OF OUR EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS. WHATEVER THEY DON'T AGREE ON, WE'LL END UP GOING INTO CONFERENCE NEXT MONTH. 
          WE'LL SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE. LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. 
          >> I HAVE THIS ONE MINOR QUESTION BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL THIS. 
          I MEAN, GREAT PRESENTATION, VERY THOROUGH THAT I NOTICED THAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT. 
          I RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S JUST FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 
          I JUST WANTED TO MAYBE QUESTION, COMMENT. 
          WE KNOW THAT SO MANY OF OUR CHILDREN THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN THE CHILDREN WITHOUT PLACEMENT AND ARE HIGH RISK KIDS ARE BECAUSE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS SO IT SEEMS LIKE THE AMOUNT THAT'S ACTUALLY BEING REQUESTED TO THAT DOES NOT REFLECT THE URGENCY OR WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF OUR CHILDREN'S NEEDS. 
          >> I CAN ADDRESS THAT. THE REALITY IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY HAVE WORKED HARD TO DO IS TO NOT BUILD THOSE SOLUTIONS INTO OUR AGENCY BECAUSE PARENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RELINQUISH THEIR CHILDREN OR COME INTO THE PROTECTIVE SYSTEM IN ORDER TO GET THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. 
          YOU MAY RECALL LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE ACTUALLY REQUESTED SOME ITEMS IN OUR APPROPRIATIONS BILL AND OUR REQUEST THAT WERE ACTUALLY FOR THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION. 
          THIS TIME WE DIDN'T TAKE THAT APPROACH, WE REALLY WORKED CLOSELY WITH THEM. 
          THEY'VE MADE REQUESTS, AND WE ARE ACTIVELY SUPPORTING THE REQUESTS THAT THEY ARE MAKING VERSUS US MAKING THOSE REQUESTS. 
          THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO SHIFT AWAY FROM IS BUILDING THE SOLUTIONS INTO THE PROTECTION SYSTEM THAT THEN LEAD MORE CHILDREN AND TO COME INTO OUR CARE INSTEAD OF GETTING THE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THAT FAMILIES NEED IN THE APPROPRIATE SETTING. 
          WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE, AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES ACROSS THE STATE. 
          THERE WAS A CHILDREN'S HEALTH STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WAS DEVELOPED. 
          WE WERE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THAT. 
          WE'RE REALLY SUPPORTING THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES REQUEST VERSUS US MAKING THOSE REQUESTS IN OUR SYSTEMS. 
          >> THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION AND YOU DID TALK ABOUT THIS, THE REDUCTION IN THE FTES. 
          BUT GIVEN THE EXPANSION OF THE COMMUNITY BASED CARE, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT REDUCTION WOULD BE MORE SIGNIFICANT. 
          >> LET ME GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. 
          IT IS JUST FOCUSING ON THAT WOULD BE OUR CPS FTES THAT REDUCE AND WE DO LOSE ABOUT 600 FTES. 
          THAT'S REALLY WHERE YOU SEE IT. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'M SURE EVERYBODY'S HAD TIME TO READ IT. 
          I'M SURE YOU'VE OBSERVED IT VERY WELL. [LAUGHTER] 
          >> YES. 
          >> GREAT. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INFORMATION. THANK YOU. 
          FINALLY, OUR FINAL PRESENTER WILL BE RACHEL DULER. 
          [V. FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT AND ACTVITIES
OPPORTUNITIES UPDATE]
I FINALLY GOT ONE OF THE NAMES RIGHT. 
          THE DIRECTOR OF FAITH BASED AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE FAITH BASED AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. 
          [01:45:04]
WE ARE, IS, OF COURSE, ON THE PURPOSES OF APRIL AND CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH. 
          THERE ARE A LOT OF EVENTS THAT ARE BEING SCHEDULED RIGHT NOW. 
          I DON'T HAVE THE COMPLETE LIST FOR YOU TODAY BECAUSE LITERALLY RIGHT NOW, I'M STILL GETTING THINGS ADDED TO OUR CALENDAR. 
          AS SOON AS THAT CALENDAR IS MORE COMPLETE, I'LL BE SURE TO SEND YOU ALL OF THE DETAILS. 
          WE HAVE WELL OVER RIGHT NOW 100 EVENTS SCHEDULED AROUND THE STATE, FROM EVERYTHING FROM PROCLAMATIONS, TO VIGILS, TO LUNCH AND LEARNS AND WEBINAR. 
          AGAIN, WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL OF THE DETAILS SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR REGIONS. 
          WE DO HAVE PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED, AND THIS IS ALL IN THE TOOLKIT, WHICH IS IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES, YOU'LL SEE THAT. 
          THESE QR CODES THAT ARE ON THESE FLIERS ALSO TAKE YOU TO THAT TOOLKIT, WHICH IS ON OUR PUBLIC WEBSITE. 
          BUT FRIDAY, APRIL 4 IS GO BLUE DAY. 
          THAT IS THE DAY THAT WE ASK EVERYONE TO WEAR BLUE FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH. 
          THAT IS ALSO THE DAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR BIG EVENT AT THE CAPITOL DOWNTOWN. 
          THE GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION HAS BEEN SIGNED AND IS CURRENTLY UP ON THE WEBSITE ON OUR TOOL KIT, SO THAT CAN BE DISTRIBUTED. 
          YOU'LL SEE THAT PROCLAMATION USED IN THE PROCLAMATIONS ACROSS THE STATE AND ALSO WE'LL HAVE AN EVENT AT THE CAPITOL ON THAT DAY. 
          WE WILL BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOU IN THAT INVITE, SHOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN US. 
          WE ARE STILL WAITING ON CONFIRMATION OF A LEGISLATIVE SPONSOR. 
          WE ALWAYS HAVE A LEGISLATIVE SPONSOR THAT SPEAKS AT THAT EVENT, AND OUR EXACT TEAM IS THERE SPEAKING AT THE EVENT. 
          WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERS WITH TEXT PROTECTS THAT ARE ALSO THERE WITH US. 
          IT'S REALLY A GREAT EVENT. 
          HOPEFULLY, THE WEATHER IS NICE. 
          IT'S HELD ON THE SOUTH STEPS OF THE CAPITOL. 
          BUT WE ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN IN CASE WE HAVE BAD WEATHER, BUT HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER WILL HOLD OUT FOR US AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO BE AT THE CAPITOL THAT DAY. 
          LEADING UP TO FRIDAY, APRIL 4TH, WE ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION WITH PARENTS AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN. 
          WE HAVE BLUE RIBBON WEEK, AND WE WILL GO OUT TO SCHOOLS TO TALK ABOUT BLUE RIBBON WEEK. 
          ALSO IN THE TOOL KIT ARE ITEMS THAT YOU CAN TALK TO CHILDREN AND GET PARENTING TIPS, THINGS LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA, MAKING SURE YOU'RE SAFE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. 
          TALKING ABOUT DISCIPLINING YOUR CHILDREN CAN BE HARD AND SOME TIPS ON HOW TO DO THAT, BUT REALLY ENGAGING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AS WELL IN ORDER TO TALK ABOUT CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION. 
          WE WILL ALSO DO TRAININGS WITH THE SCHOOLS. 
          AGAIN, WE HAVE THESE ACTIVITIES THAT SCHOOLS CAN ACCESS AND DOWNLOAD IN ORDER TO UTILIZE THAT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS WELL. 
          >> THEN THIS AGAIN, IS THE LINK TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT. 
          WE HAVE SAMPLE MEDIA POSTS THAT YOU CAN USE AND THE PUBLIC CAN USE, WE HAVE HANDOUTS, WE HAVE SAMPLE IMAGES, AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. 
          LIKE I SAID, TO GET PARENTING TIPS, WE'VE GOT INFORMATION ON ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE, WHICH MARTA JUST TALKED ABOUT. 
          ANYTHING AROUND CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THIS TOOLKIT SO THAT OUR PARTNERS CAN USE IT, YOU CAN USE IT, AND THE INFORMATION IS OUT THERE TO THE PUBLIC. 
          WE DO PARTNER WITH SEVERAL ENTITIES AROUND THE STATE. 
          MELANIE TALKED ABOUT PAINTING CADILLAC RANCH. 
          WE DO THAT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. FRANCIS. 
          WE'RE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OTHER SSCCS AROUND THE STATE NOW THAT THEY ARE IN THEIR CATCHMENT AREAS ON DOING JOINT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS BECAUSE OUR PARTNERS ARE STILL THE SAME REGARDLESS OF WHO WE'RE WORKING WITH. 
          THEN THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF APRIL IS ALSO A VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION AWARENESS. 
          THE WEEK OF APRIL 20-26 IS WHEN WE WILL THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS THAT VOLUNTEER WITH OUR AGENCY. 
          WE'VE GOT LETTERS OF APPRECIATION AND CERTIFICATES THAT THE COMMISSIONER WILL SIGN. 
          THEN WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH OUR MEDIA RELATIONS TEAM TO HIGHLIGHT OUR VOLUNTEERS AND INTERNS. 
          WE HAVE AWARDS THAT WE GIVE OUT EVERY YEAR, AND WE WILL ALSO DO SOME VIDEOS OF THOSE VOLUNTEERS, THOSE EXCEPTIONAL VOLUNTEERS, THAT WE WILL THEN HAVE ON OUR PUBLIC WEBSITE, AND WE'LL BE SURE TO SEND THOSE TO YOU AS WELL SO YOU CAN SEE THE VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BEEN HIGHLIGHTED THIS YEAR. 
          THE EVENTS ARE COMING. 
          WE WILL GET THEM TO YOU IN THE NEXT WEEK. 
          YOU'LL PROBABLY BE SEEING MORE ADDED AS WE GET INTO THE MONTH. 
          WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS ON THE BOOKS, BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING OUT THOSE LAST MINUTE DETAILS. 
          WE WILL GET THOSE TO YOU AS SOON AS WE COMPLETE THEM. 
          ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UPCOMING MONTH? NO? 
          >> I'LL JUST COMMENT THAT THIS IS REALLY GREAT. 
          I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE BLUE RIBBON WEEK THEMES FOR EACH DAY. 
          SOME THOUGHT WENT INTO THAT AND I THINK IT JUST BRINGS SO MUCH AWARENESS TO IT. 
          [01:50:01]
REALLY AMAZING. GOOD THINGS. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE INFORMATION. 
          I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME EVENTS THAT WERE ALREADY TAKING PLACE HERE IN THE REGION, WHAT'S OUT THERE, SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOUR STAFF FOR A GREAT JOB AND EVERYONE TOGETHER. 
          BUT THIS IS GREAT. I LOVE THE BLUE RIBBON WEEK. 
          I KNOW WE JUST HAD TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOL WEEK, AND THE EVENT WAS GREAT, AND THEN CONTINUE, SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT'S VERY BENEFICIAL FOR THE STUDENTS OUT THERE AND THE PARENTS. THANK YOU. 
          >> YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. 
          WELL, THANK YOU ALL. APPRECIATE IT. 
          >> YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC TESTIMONY, 
          [VI. PUBLIC COMMENT]
WHERE WE WELCOME INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDERS ON THE TOPICS LAID OUT ON THE AGENDA. 
          WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC AND WE VALUE YOUR INPUT. 
          PLEASE KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL, THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OR GENERAL COUNCIL, ARE UNABLE TO COMMENT OR RESPOND TO THE STATEMENTS OR QUESTIONS DURING PUBLIC TESTIMONY. 
          THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH US. 
          IF YOU PLAN TO TALK ABOUT A SPECIFIC CASE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE OFFICE OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS CALL, PLEASE SIGN UP AT THE REGISTRATION TABLE IN THE BACK. 
          WE OBSERVE A THREE-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 FLASHING THE YELLOW LIGHT ON THE PODIUM. 
          WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, THE RED LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE TIMER WILL BEEP. 
          PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AND THE AGENDA ITEM YOU WILL BE PRESENTING ON. 
          LET'S GET STARTED. 
          OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS, AND I AM GOING TO DO MY BEST TO PRONOUNCE NAMES CORRECTLY, AMNONI MYERS. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS AMNONI MYERS, AND I AM THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF LAUNCH AHEAD. 
          I AGED OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WHEN I TURNED 18. 
          I CAME HOME TO FIND ALL OF MY BELONGINGS IN BLACK TRASH BAGS WAITING FOR ME ON THE PORCH. 
          WITH THIS, I HAVE SPENT MY CAREER ADVOCATING FOR TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH. 
          IN ADDITION TO MY WORK WITH LAUNCH AHEAD, I'VE INTERNED BOTH ON CAPITOL HILL AND AT THE WHITE HOUSE, WHERE I HELPED ADVOCATE FOR CHILD WELFARE POLICIES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. 
          I'M ALSO HERE TODAY BECAUSE I KNOW FIRST HAND THE STAKES OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. 
          MY SISTER AGED OUT AND WAS SEXUALLY EXPLOITED AND TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY WITHOUT EVER EXPERIENCING THE LIFE THAT SHE DESERVED. 
          THIS IS WHY LAUNCH AHEAD EXISTS, TO ENSURE THAT THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUTH IN CARE DON'T FACE THE SAME FATE. 
          DESPITE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM IN TEXAS, THERE ARE STILL SIGNIFICANT GAPS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPORTING TRANSITION AGE YOUTH. 
          TOO MANY YOUTH AGE OUT OF FOSTER CARE, NOT ONLY FACE HOMELESSNESS, EXPLOITATION AND OTHER CHALLENGES, THEY NAVIGATE MULTIPLE SYSTEMS, FOSTER CARE, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE. 
          WITHOUT COORDINATED EFFORTS ACROSS THE SYSTEM, THEY ARE AT SERIOUS RISK OF FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS. 
          WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT ANY LONGER FOR SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE HOLISTICALLY AS A TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD. 
          HOW LAUNCH AHEAD CAN HELP, LAUNCH AHEAD IS A DIGITAL PLATFORM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE PERSONALIZED PATHWAYS, MENTORSHIP, AND DATA DRIVEN INSIGHTS FOR YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE. 
          IT'S A SOLUTION THAT EMPOWERS YOU TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR FUTURE. 
          IT ALSO HELPS TRACK THEIR PROGRESS AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES. 
          OUR WORK IS DRIVEN BY THE REAL HEARTBREAKING STORIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE MY SISTER. 
          WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT NO ONE ELSE FACES THE SAME FATE. 
          I KNOW THAT TEXAS HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT WITH URGENCY AND CREATE A COORDINATED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT FOR TRANSITION AGE YOUTH. 
          WHILE COMMUNITY BASED CARE IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE BUILD SOLUTIONS THAT BRIDGE ACROSS SYSTEMS, HOUSING, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND MORE. 
          I'M HERE THIS WEEK FOR SOUTH BY SOUTH [INAUDIBLE]. 
          I WAS INVITED TO COME AND PITCH MY SOLUTION, AND I'M JUST INTERESTED IN BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH DFPS AND CBC PROVIDERS TO EXPLORE HOW LAUNCH AHEAD CAN CONTRIBUTE TO TEXAS EFFORTS IN CREATING A BETTER FUTURE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 
          IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ME AT AMNONI MYERS, A-M-N-O-N-I, M-Y-E-R-S, AT LAUNCHAHEAD.CO, NOT COM. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. 
          [01:55:03]
          >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS COURTNEY JONES. 
          >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. 
          LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT DECEMBER WOULD BE MY LAST COUNCIL MEETING. 
          THOUGH I WAS NOT GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND TODAY, I APPRECIATE THE SHOUTOUT AND THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF MY SERVICE. 
          I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE SERVED ALONGSIDE ME OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. 
          DURING MY TIME ON THE COUNCIL, I HAVE WORKED TO STRENGTHEN PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION, ADVOCATING FOR BETTER TRANSITION FOR COMMUNITY BASED CARE AND ENGAGED WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING EFFORTS. 
          I'VE SEEN PROGRESS, BUT I'VE ALSO SEEN HOW EASY IT IS FOR REAL ISSUES TO GET BURIED IN BUREAUCRACY, FOR REAL VOICES TO BE SILENCED AND FOR REAL LEADERSHIP TO BE REDUCED TO FORMALITY. 
          TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, BOTH THOSE CONTINUING AND THOSE STEPPING IN, DO NOT BE SEAT FILLERS. 
          DO NOT LET POSITIONS BE JUST ANOTHER TITLE. 
          THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE NEED ADVOCATES, NOT PLACEHOLDERS. 
          THEY NEED LEADERS WHO WILL CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO AND ASK UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONS, AND REFUSE TO LET POLITICS AND PROCESSES STAND IN THE WAY OF REAL PROGRESS. 
          THIS EXPERIENCE HAS ONLY STRENGTHENED MY COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN FOSTER CARE, ARE NOT JUST ACKNOWLEDGED, BUT TRULY HEARD AND SUPPORTED. 
          THAT IS WHY I WROTE ANGELS BRAVE LEAP, A BOOK THAT I WISH WOULD BE IN THE HANDS OF EVERY YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE. 
          BECAUSE FOR SO MANY CHILDREN, DECISIONS ARE MADE ABOUT THEM FOR THEIR LIVES WITHOUT THEIR VOICES BEING IN THE ROOM. 
          THIS BOOK IS MORE THAN JUST A STORY. 
          IT IS A REMINDER THAT THEIR EXPERIENCE MATTER, THEIR VOICES DESERVE TO BE HEARD, AND THEY ARE NOT ALONE. 
          I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. 
          CHANGE IS NEVER MADE BY THOSE WHO ACCEPT THINGS THAT ARE THE WAY THEY ARE, BUT BY THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN WHAT COULD BE. 
          BE ONE OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE, BE ONE WHO ACTS, BECAUSE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE DESERVE NOTHING LESS. 
          REMEMBER, LEGACY IS NOT ABOUT WHAT WE BUILD IN BOARD ROOMS. IT'S ABOUT WHAT WE BUILD IN OUR BOLDNESS FOR THOSE WHO WE REFUSE TO ACCEPT, THIS IS HOW IT'S ALWAYS BEEN. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY SINCE I ONLY GOT A 58-SECOND CALL TO SAY THANK YOU, AFTER BEING HERE FOR FIVE YEARS. 
          AS A A PERSON THAT SPENT 10 YEARS IN FOSTER CARE, THAT HAVE WORKED FOR THE DEPARTMENT FOR FOUR YEARS, AND A PERSON THAT HAS BEEN A FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENT, AND A PERSON THAT HAS SERVED ON THIS COUNCIL FOR FIVE YEARS, I GOT A 58-SECOND CALL AND WAS TOLD I WAS NOT EVEN NEEDED HERE TODAY AT THIS COUNCIL MEETING. 
          JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME, BUT PLEASE REALIZE THAT EVERYBODY'S VOICE MATTERS AND THE WAY THAT YOU HANDLE HOW YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT PEOPLE MATTERS AS WELL. 
          >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL BARTON. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? MY NAME IS MICHAEL BARTON. 
          MY SON AND HIS WIFE CANNOT HAVE CHILDREN TOGETHER. 
          IMAGINE THEIR JOY WHEN THEY WERE PAIRED WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AS A FIT FOR ADOPTION. 
          THE LITTLE BOY, SIX, WHO'S AUTISTIC, AND HIS SISTER, THREE. 
          MY SON HAS A VERY GOOD JOB, HE'S AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER. 
          HIS WIFE IS A SCHOOL TEACHER AT A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL. 
          THEY HAVE A LOVING CHRISTIAN HOME IN ALAN, TEXAS. 
          MY SON TEACHES SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ELEMENTARY KIDS AND ALSO TEACHES A BIBLE SCHOOL FOR TEENAGERS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS. 
          MY SON AND DAUGHTER IN LAW HAVE BEEN FOSTERING 22 CHILDREN THROUGH THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING SOME VERY CHALLENGING TEENAGERS. 
          [02:00:03]
THEY WERE OVERJOYED TO ADOPT BOTH CHILDREN AND PROVIDE THEM A LOVING CHRISTIAN HOME TO HAVE THEIR FOREVER FAMILY. 
          AS CHRISTMAS GOT CLOSE, IT WAS OUR FAMILY'S GOAL TO HAVE THE CHILDREN MOVE INTO THEIR HOME. 
          I UNDERSTAND THIS TO BE THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS. 
          THE CHILDREN HAD COMPLETED MULTIPLE VISITS AND OVERNIGHT STAYS. 
          THE CHILDREN STARTED CALLING MY SON DADDY, AND HIS WIFE MOMMY. 
          IT'S AN EMOTIONAL TIME. 
          IT WAS CHRISTMAS, AND THE BUREAUCRACY OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES CAN BE CHALLENGING, CAN BE FRUSTRATING. 
          CAN YOU IMAGINE THE PAIN WHEN MY FAMILY WAS SUDDENLY TOLD THEY WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ADOPT THESE CHILDREN? I WISH I'D BROUGHT THE PICTURE ON MY DESK OF THE FAMILY. 
          BUT I'M JUST APPREHENSIVE ABOUT WHAT I CAN SHARE. 
          REMEMBER MY SON AND WIFE HAVE FOSTERED 22 CHILDREN, MANY OF WHOM THEY STILL HAVE CONTACT WITH. 
          THOSE CHILDREN FOUND MY SON'S HOME TO BE SUPPORTIVE AND LOVING DURING A DIFFICULT TIME. 
          THOSE 22 CHILDREN WOULD TELL YOU THE LOVE OUR ENTIRE FAMILY GAVE THEM. 
          I PERSONALLY TOOK SOME OF THOSE CHILDREN FISHING. 
          REMEMBER THIS CHRISTMAS. 
          PLEASE REMEMBER MY SON AND WIFE CANNOT HAVE CHILDREN. 
          FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES CAN BE VERY BUREAUCRATIC AND CHALLENGING. 
          I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE. 
          THIS AGENCY, OCOK, SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. 
          I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES WITH THE JOB THAT YOU HAVE. 
          I KNOW IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. 
          MY WIFE WORKED FOR CPS AS A CASEWORKER. 
          SHE WAS FORCED TO LEAVE BECAUSE THE CASEWORK WAS SO OVERWHELMING, WORKING 80 HOURS, GETTING PAID FOR 40, WORK UNTIL 2:00 AM. 
          WITH THAT SAID, THIS IS A TRAGEDY, AN INJUSTICE, A FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM, AND A FAILURE OF THIS COUNCIL. 
          >> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. 
          I THINK THAT IS THE END TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT AND TO OUR MEETING TODAY. 
          WELCOME TO THE NEW MEMBERS. 
          I KNOW I ALREADY MENTIONED THAT. WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS, AND WITH THAT, THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.