Update from the Children's Commission Notebook May 22, 2020
Update from the
Children's Commission
Notebook
May 22, 2020
Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families
May 22, 2020
Notebook Table of Contents
Commission, Committee, and Collaborative Council Member List ............... 1
Minutes from February 21, 2020 Commission Meeting ............................... 2
May 22, 2020 Report to Commission ........................................................... 3
Financial Report ........................................................................................... 4
Commissioner Updates ................................................................................ 5
Covid-19 One-Pager ..................................................................................... 6
INSERT - TAB 1
Last
Update
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May
22,
20
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Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families
Meeting Minutes February 21, 2020
CALL TO ORDER AND OPENING REMARKS
Justice Eva Guzman called the meeting to order at 9:34 a.m. and welcomed Commissioners and guests to the first Commission meeting of 2020.
Recognition of Guests
Justice Guzman welcomed special guests Dr. Jerry Milner, Associate Commissioner for the Children’s Bureau, and Mr. David Kelly, Special Assistant to the Office of the Associate Commissioner at the Children’s Bureau. Ms. Sasha Rasco was introduced as the Associate Commissioner for Prevention and Early Intervention at the Department of Family and Protective Services. Justice Guzman welcomed Child Protective Services Associate Commissioner Kristene Blackstone and thanked her for her long service to the Commission as this meeting marked Ms. Blackstone’s last meeting as a Commissioner.
Justice Guzman announced an after-lunch presentation from Mr. Felix Herrera from the Consulate General of Mexico and introduced Judge Delia Gonzalez from the Dallas County Permanency Court, Judge Robin Sage and Anne Heiligenstein from Casey Family Programs, and Mr. Graham Keever who was in attendance on behalf of Senator Royce West.
Presentation from Dr. Jerry Milner and Mr. David Kelly
Dr. Jerry Milner shared the vision of promoting primary prevention and strengthening families through community-based programs. Dr. Milner also reflected on his time spent with young adults with lived experience and noted that many of them experience extreme adversity, a lack of education or employment opportunities, or homelessness and may be victims of human trafficking. He underscored that each placement move induces more trauma to the child. Dr. Milner expressed his desire to use the funds allocated to child welfare to help families provide for their children’s needs as opposed paying for foster care. Dr. Milner concluded by emphasizing the critical importance of legal representation and meaningful use of the reasonable efforts requirements.
Mr. David Kelly began his remarks with the premise that child welfare is the intersection of public health, poverty, and civil rights, and until this is understood, child welfare outcomes will not differ. Mr. Kelly underscored that attorneys should be trauma-informed, have knowledge around family separation and child development, as well as the importance of child and youth voice. Mr. Kelly stressed the impact of legal protection for vulnerable community members, from events that would cause further hardship, including eviction and immigration issues, as well as natural disasters and crisis. He noted that training funds are available from Title IV-E to aid the judicial community in providing legal services. Mr. Kelly concluded his presentation by sharing that there is a proposal to
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double the CIP budget nationally and thanked Ms. Amberboy for her leadership of the Texas Court Improvement Program.
Commissioner Membership Changes
Justice Guzman announced the Commissioner changes starting with Dr. Gary Blau, the Executive Director of The Hackett Center for Mental Health, who replaced Dr. Andy Keller as a Commissioner. Dr. Blau provided a brief introduction to meeting attendees, highlighting his extensive background working for the State of Connecticut Department of Children and Families and as the Chief of the Child, Adolescent, and Family Branch of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Justice Guzman introduced Ms. Elizabeth Farley from Governor Greg Abbott’s office, who replaced Ms. Erin Bennett as the Commission’s ex officio member from the Governor’s Office. Ms. Luanne Southern transitioned from being the Senior Director of Texas Strategic Consulting at Casey Family Programs to the Executive Director of the Texas Mental Health Consortium and will continue to serve on the Children’s Commission. Ms. Anne Heiligenstein assumed the role of Director of Texas Strategic Consulting with Casey Family Programs and will be appointed to the Children’s Commission in May.
Committee Membership Changes
Justice Guzman deferred the announcement of committee member updates to Executive Director Tina Amberboy.
Collaborative Council Membership Changes
Justice Guzman announced Mr. Norman Ladd from Ladd & Thigpen, P.C. as a new member of the Collaborative Council.
Staff Member Changes
Justice Guzman welcomed Ms. Chelsea Martinez, who previously worked for the Texas Education Agency. Ms. Martinez is the newest Executive Assistant for the Children’s Commission.
Adoption of September 27, 2019 Meeting Minutes
Justice Guzman directed members to Tab 2 of the Meeting Notebook and noted that members were provided the opportunity to review the September 27, 2019 minutes prior to the meeting. Justice Guzman asked if there were any corrections, and none were noted.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
Ms. Tina Amberboy directed meeting attendees to Tab 3 of the meeting notebook. At the September 2019 meeting, Ms. Amberboy proposed to Commission members a vote to restructure the standing committees. The Basic Committee was disbanded, and the Systems Improvement and Legal Practices and Processes Committees were created.
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Ms. Amberboy announced that Dr. Blau and Justice Julie Countiss joined the Systems Improvement Committee, Judge Randall Hufstetler joined the Legal Practices and Process Committee, and Judge Robin Sage joined the Data Committee. Ms. Amberboy expressed her gratitude to the new committee members. Ms. Amberboy noted that there were no membership changes to the Training Committee and Dual Status Task Force.
Ms. Amberboy continued her update directing members’ attention to Tab 4 of the meeting notebook to review the budget, noting that there was a slight amendment to the TCJ education grant, reminding members that in September the grant was still in negotiations. The final grant award was $575.00 more than the amount presented in September. Please see the February 2020 meeting notebook for details.
Ms. Amberboy also updated the meeting attendees on the Adoption and Permanency Workshop she, Ms. Jamie Bernstein, and Ms. Renee Castillo attended earlier in the week which focused on Judge Delia Gonzales’ Permanency Court in Dallas. The Commission received technical assistance from the Capacity Building Center for Courts to help study the court and evaluate the court’s processes.
Ms. Amberboy then directed meeting attendees to the Children’s Commission 2019 Annual Report which was distributed to the Supreme Court and via the Commission’s distribution lists in January.
Committee, workgroup, and project updates were provided by Ms. Renee Castillo, Ms. Jocelyn Fowler, Ms. Milbrey Raney, Mr. Dylan Moench, and Ms. Jamie Bernstein and can be found in its entirety here: http://texaschildrenscommission.gov/media/84475/final-report-to-commission-2-21-20.pdf.
Presentation from Ms. Carla Baker and Danna Mayhall
Ms. Carla Baker shared her road to reunification with her children when they were removed from her care by Child Protective Services. Ms. Baker explained that the process was not a simple one, but with peer support and determination, reunification was possible for her family. When appointed to her case, Ms. Mayhall shared a pamphlet she created in 2010 entitled “How to Conquer Your Service Plan and Get Your Kids Home Sooner,” which was critical to Ms. Baker’s success. Ms. Baker asked child welfare advocates attending the meeting to please remember their clients are real people with real life problems and are often afraid of an unknown process and system.
Ms. Danna Mayhall shared that she has represented parents with CPS cases since 2001. While she has many success stories, she added the collaboration with her clients is a critical ingredient for success. Ms. Mayhall also shared that the process can be more difficult for clients experiencing severe drug addiction. While not all are successful in family reunification, Ms. Mayhall offers support to her clients, ranging from providing transportation to having conversations with clients late into the night. She concluded by emphasizing that her primary goal as an attorney is always family reunification.
COMMISSION MEMBER UPDATES
Hon. Randy Shelton from Beaumont shared that reading the article about Judge Sakai’s early childhood court influenced him to look at the increase of family violence in his region. When taking a closer look, he discovered that nearly 50 percent of cases involved domestic violence. Judge Shelton
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decided to take the approach of treating the parents like victims instead of perpetrators and placing additional focus on domestic violence in CPS cases in his court. Judge Shelton partnered with a family services organization to create a Victims Anonymous program. One challenge is finding sponsors, but the local sheriff is joining the cause and establishing a similar program at the local jail. The goal of the program is to approach domestic violence from a mental health perspective.
Judge Shelton concluded his report informing meeting attendees 2,000 prom dresses were collected to replace the prom dresses lost in the flood last year.
Ms. Paula Bibbs-Samuels from Slayton announced the Parent Collaboration Group continues to meet quarterly. The last meeting held addressed the topic of parental input related to services provided to children when the child is in substitute care.
Ms. Bibbs-Samuels also requested of judges and commissioners that when addressing parents in CPS cases, that their names be used rather than “bio mom” or “mom” or a case number as that type of reference diminishes the role of the parent.
Ms. Bibbs-Samuels also asked attendee to consider when mothers or fathers seek assistance at domestic violence shelters and a case is opened with CPS whether a decision can be made more quickly regarding the allegations. Ms. Bibbs-Samuels expressed concern that parents experiencing domestic violence may not seek assistance for fear of CPS involvement with their families. She advised that the fear of CPS involvement could hinder parents from gaining help and safety.
Hon. Selina Mireles from Laredo shared that she is working on a video presentation to explain the process of CPS to parents. Judge Mireles observed that when parents arrive at court, they are very anxious and when given the pamphlet from CPS, they either don’t read it or don’t fully understand it. Her video will explain the purpose of the hearing, legal terminology, and the process. The Parent Collaboration Group is assisting with this process.
Judge Mireles has also started an incentive called Wings of Hope for her Drug Court Committee. Anyone who goes beyond the call of duty, will be given wings. Lastly, Judge Mireles reported about the Supervised Independent Living Program, where students had an opportunity to tour the dormitories at Texas A&M International University.
Hon. Julie Countiss from Houston announced that she is still familiarizing herself with her new judges and is sharing what she learns from the Children’s Commission with the Houston judges. She plans to hold Brown Bag lunch sessions to offer support, training, and to be available to answer questions for her colleagues.
Representative Stephanie Klick from North Richland Hills informed meeting attendees that legislative committee hearings and conferences would start in the coming weeks.
Hon. Gary Coley from Waco announced the grand opening of the CASA headquarters in Waco in March. Also, that Unbound, a book authored with the help of local children to highlight the need for collaboration to prevent human trafficking is now available for purchase. Judge Coley also shared that Waco and Seattle’s model for Human Trafficking was recently used as a model in Colorado.
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Judge Coley reported that Senate Bill 2737, which focuses on restraints used on juveniles for court proceedings, and the attire of the child, is being evaluated for implementation. The goal is to have consistency and clarity around how to handle restraints, clothing, and procedural justice matters affecting the juvenile population. A round table for further discussion is scheduled for April.
Ms. Vicky Spriggs from Austin reminded meeting attendees the 2020 CASA calendar is available, with artwork contributed by a CASA staff member and cases that reflect actual cases. Judge Sakai was featured for April. Ms. Spriggs also invited members to view Texas CASA’s 2019 Annual Report. CASA is conducting focus groups to examine how it can serve local communities and the state in the most effective manner. A judicial focus group was hosted in January and facilitated by Judge Rob Hofmann.
Ms. Spriggs reported that the normalcy guide work is ongoing, which is a publication on how child welfare advocates can promote normalcy amongst youth, such as dating, social media, and liability concerns.
Ms. Spriggs reported that CASA participates in a few of the Children’s Commission workgroups including the Foster Care & Education Committee, Statewide Collaborative on Trauma Informed Care, Legal Representation Committee, and the Dual Status Task force. Ms. Spriggs introduced Mr. Andy Homer and Ms. Sarah Crockett as a part of CASA’s public policy team. She expressed her gratitude to Mr. Homer for carrying on her duties while she was out of the office. Ms. Spriggs completed her report announcing the CASA Primer would take place March 9, in Austin, and there is now a learning center offered on TexasCASA.org.
Hon. Piper McCraw from McKinney reported about a successful National Adoption Day that took place in Collin County in November. Judge McCraw had the opportunity to participate in the adoption of a child, who had his whole kindergarten class, the high school band, and the drill team in matching t-shirts cheering him on. Judge McCraw expressed her appreciation of all involved in the successful event.
Judge McCraw shared that the CASA Collaborative Family Engagement has begun in Collin County. For the children that were not able to be immediately placed with family, this tool has allowed them to be reunited with their siblings, which allows family to remain in the child’s life.
Judge McCraw has started offering Brown Bag lunches, inspired by Judge Darlene Byrne. Judge McCraw also spoke of a parent who received extraordinary support from the community which donated a car, assistance with obtaining a driver’s license, and funding for one year of car insurance. Judge McCraw relayed her optimism that this parent has a strong foundation to maintain a safe home for her children.
Judge McCraw announced that the Texas CASA office in McKinney that was undergoing renovations in February had a grand reopening on March 26. Judge McCraw concluded her update by expressing her appreciation to Ms. Kristene Blackstone for enabling a child to be placed with family a few days before Christmas rather than waiting an additional 30 days for approval.
Hon. Susan Brown from Houston reported attending the Child Welfare Judges Conference that took place in October and was able to see a presentation on data by Ms. Kristene Blackstone and Ms. Katie
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Elseth. When data was presented, Judge Brown was disappointed in the low numbers of permanency placement in her region. With the assistance of Mr. Dylan Moench and Katie Elseth, Judge Brown was able to take a closer look at the statistics and data in her area from associate judges and district court judges. Judge Brown hopes that by analyzing the data, judges in her region can explore permanency more quickly, while also keeping in mind the best outcome for all family members involved.
Judge Brown also holds Brown Bag lunches where judges discuss three cases and explore why those children remain in care, and the next steps to assist with exiting from care. Judge Brown announced that, with assistance from DFPS, service providers in Matagorda and Wharton Counties had a gathering to bring together families to increase access to meetings, drug treatment, and other services encourage continued progress. Judge Brown announced plans to expand this model to all six counties in her area, thus encouraging volunteerism in different areas of service and giving providers an opportunity to meet the judge and case worker.
Judge Brown also announced that a third CPC in her area was established in October 2019. Currently, the court hears cases from Harris County, but she anticipates that Matagorda County will join the docket soon. Judge Brown noticed a lack of communication between criminal courts, DFPS, and children’s court, and she is encouraging collaboration between the courts to better assist dual status youth. Judge Brown noted that with these changes, courts can better assist parents with services and that similar practices can be implemented in other counties to serve the same purpose.
Hon. Darlene Byrne from Austin addressed meeting attendees about an ongoing issue related to children in foster care whose parents are not U.S. citizens. She has observed there is not the same sense of urgency to obtain permanency for these children and she is interested in data regarding how long the adoption process takes for children whose parents are not citizens of the United States.
Ms. Cindy Patrick from Austin sent a survey to philanthropists across the state to gauge their interest on learning more about child welfare. Fifty responses were received from across the state. Ms. Patrick plans to convene this group to discuss Community Based Care basics and the Family First Prevention Services Act. DFPS Commissioner Jaime Masters will welcome the new group and speak at the first meeting. The goal is to provide opportunities for coordination and advance practices in the child welfare system with philanthropic support.
Ms. Katie Olse from Austin thanked the Commission and for the acknowledgement of Ms. Katie Elseth. Ms. Olse shared that Ms. Elseth is available to assist with data analysis and interpretation. She also commented on TACFS’ collaboration with the Children’s Commission on the SCTIC, working with Ms. Jocelyn Fowler and Judge Darlene Byrne.
Ms. Olse shared that collaboration with Texas Permanency Outcomes Project was awarded a $7 Million-dollar, five-year grant to the Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing. The grant focuses on how foster care agencies can serve in a more supportive role for families. A two-year, pilot program will be rolled out to three areas of the state: Harris County, Region 2 (Corpus Christi), and the Rio Grande Valley. Ms. Olse shared that the projects are slated to start in the fall of 2020. Multiple trainings are also being offered around the state with a focus on community organizations that have
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direct care of children, youth, and families, to support prevention and early intervention, with a focus on clinical work.
Ms. Olse expressed her gratitude to Judge Hofmann for his assistance to help educate judicial leaders, attorneys, youth, families, providers, and healthcare professionals about Community Based Care.
Ms. Olse also shared an update on the collaborative work with DFPS and Casey Family Programs, on the Families First Prevention Services Act, which has potential for significant change in Texas. Ms. Olse concluded her update with a request for meeting attendees to support the National Trauma Campaign urging Congress to adopt more trauma-informed policy.
Dr. Gary Blau from Houston expressed his gratitude to meeting attendees for incorporating youth voice, and the engagement of young people with lived experience in the child welfare reform process. Dr. Blau reported that primary care providers make up 75% of referrals for children who are referred to mental health services. he noted that at present pediatricians are primarily concerned with child mental health. As part of his job at the Hackett Center, Dr. Blau is exploring ways to broaden evidence-based practices and making use of the provisions of the federal FFPSA.
Dr. Blau also commented on the Building Bridges Initiative which started over 10 years ago in Nebraska, and is now in 17 states, including Texas. Dr. Blau expressed the importance of tracking young adults who have aged out of care and has conducted trainings with both DePelchin and Upbring focusing on necessary and timely supports for youth who have experienced residential treatment.
Dr. Blau concluded his report announcing a grant that was awarded to the City of Houston in partnership with the Baylor School of Medicine.
Ms. Elizabeth Farley from Austin introduced herself to meeting attendees. Ms. Farley represents Governor Abbott’s office, noting her most recent position with Representative Four Price. Ms. Farley also works closely with DFPS focusing on the implementation of bills and the budget for the next legislative session. Ms. Farley offered her assistance to anyone she could be helpful to, concluding her report to the Commission.
Presentation from Mr. Felix Herrera
Mr. Felix Herrera from Austin gave a presentation on the Consulate General of Mexico in Austin. Mr. Herrera shared in-depth information on the Consulate and how it can assist with community affairs. The Consulate offers programs in education, culture, health, economic development, leadership training, and community engagement.
COLLABORATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER UPDATES
Ms. Carolyne Rodriguez of Austin, updated Commission meeting attendees on the nonprofit ChangeOne. She announced that they will be holding a fundraiser on Saturday and all proceeds will be going to the organization. Ms. Rodriguez will chronicle the story of ChangeOne once her service on the board concludes. She announced that she may be reaching out to a few judges to answer interview questions and requested that anyone interested in submitting a quote for the chronicle to
8
contact her. The Community Based Care Program in Austin has reached out to the youth of ChangeOne for feedback, she thinks it would be great if all regions did this. Ms. Rodriguez closed out her update by speaking on the challenges of helping a small nonprofit with no staff and no funding. She asked that anyone interested in meeting or sitting at a roundtable to discuss how to sustain funding contact her. Ms. Barbara Elias-Perciful of Dallas expressed her gratitude to Governor Abbott for awarding the grant for two-day, 15-hour trainings on trauma for judges, attorneys, and stakeholders for the second year in a row. She announced that Dr. Bruce Perry will be the keynote speaker for the Child Protection Law Conference on March 26-27, 2020 in Houston. Ms. Elias-Perciful ended her update by requesting that the Children’s Commission put together a task force or workgroup that focuses on the issue of misdiagnosis of foster children. DFPS / CPS UPDATE
Ms. Sasha Rasco of Austin opened her update by speaking about the departure of Kristene Blackstone and how much she will be missed. She announced how excited the Department is about the new Family Connects Initiative, which allows nurses to visit new moms after birth. The Department has formed a framework group to figure out how to ensure that families have access to and are getting the necessary services under Family First. She announced to the group that they currently have an application out for their Texas Service Member Veteran Families Services and this year they opened it up statewide. Lastly, she announced they are planning a spring listening tour to get feedback on how things are going across the state. Ms. Kristene Blackstone of Austin announced that the Child Protection Investigation held a Domestic Violence Conference to help strengthen our knowledge on the issue. CPI was awarded a grant that gives them the opportunity to seek out leadership coaching to assist with decision making and management. The Office of the Governor and DFPS have been working together on strategies to address child sex trafficking in Texas. DFPS has been setting up response teams when children are recovered from sex trafficking situations. She was very proud to announce that DFPS has cut down call wait times to seven minutes, which is a significant improvement and has raised the efficiency within the department. Ms. Blackstone began her update on Child Protective Services by talking about the work they have been doing on Family First. They held a hearing on January 31 to talk about the intent of the bill, required conditions, and the work the department is doing. They were able to hear from stakeholders about services that the public would like to see. She was also able to meet with the Parent Collaborative Group and hear from parents with lived experience about services they feel could have helped them in their time of need. The Department is trying to partner with PEI and help them with evidence-based programs. They will give their recommendations to the legislature on September 1, 2020. Ms. Blackstone gave an update about the progress of Community Based Care by announcing they will be going live with Stage 2 on March 1, 2020 in the Fort Worth area. Stage 2 means that conservatorship management services will be turned over to the local SSCC which in this area is Our
9
Community Our Kids and referred attendees to the Department’s website for additional information, including the Department’s implementation plan. Ms. Blackstone closed her update by expressing how excited she is to meet with the new group of judges in Houston. OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION UPDATE
Ms. Anissa Johnson of Austin, on behalf of Mr. David Slayton, provided the update for Office of Court Administration. Ms. Johnson announced that they received funding to create new child protection courts across the state. The presiding judges will be meeting at their retreat next month to discuss the child protection courts across Texas.
JURIST IN RESIDENCE UPDATE
Hon. Rob Hofmann of Mason County announced that he and Judge Sage spoke at the Judicial Conference in Wyoming in October 2019. There is a lot of work being done with Community Based Care, when the program moves to your area there will be a program administrator that will serve as a liaison for that area. Judge Hofmann announced that the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is aware of the recommendation to double the current CIP budget. Judge Martinez-Jones will be going to Washington to discuss this request next week. Judge Hofmann stated that the 10th Annual Hill Country Ad Litem will be held next Thursday, February 27, 2020. Judge Hofmann commended Renee Castillo on the great work she has done transitioning into the new role of chair of the Foster Care and Education Committee. Judge Hofmann ended his update by announcing how proud he was of the work of Texas A&M University and their implementation of Supervised Independent Living Programs at five new campuses. Lastly, Judge Hofmann announced that the Education Reach Conference would be held June 3-5, 2020 and encouraged all judges to attend. NEW BUSINESS
Justice Guzman announced the next Commission Meeting date: May 21, 2020, at the State Bar of Texas. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:47 p.m.
INSERT - TAB 3
Repo
rt to
Com
mis
sion
May
22,
202
0
Chi
ldre
n’s
Com
mis
sion
®
SUP
RE
ME
CO
UR
T O
F T
EX
AS
PE
RM
AN
EN
T J
UD
ICIA
LC
OM
MIS
SIO
N F
OR
CH
ILD
RE
N, Y
OU
TH
AN
D F
AM
ILIE
S
Page
2 o
f 24
S
YSTE
MS
IMPR
OVE
MEN
T |
LEG
AL P
OLI
CY &
PRA
CTIC
E |T
RAIN
ING
|DA
TA |
DU
AL S
TATU
S
Goa
l I: E
ncou
rage
judi
cial
lead
ersh
ip, a
ccou
ntab
ility
, and
app
ropr
iate
ove
rsig
ht o
f chi
ld p
rote
ctio
n ca
ses t
o im
prov
e sa
fety
, per
man
ency
, and
wel
l-bei
ng o
f chi
ldre
n an
d fa
mili
es.
I.A. O
bjec
tive:
Sup
port
stat
ewid
e ef
fort
s to
ensu
re a
nd im
prov
e ch
ild sa
fety
.
I.A.1
. Str
ateg
y: C
olla
bora
te a
nd su
ppor
t age
ncy
and
part
ner e
ffort
s to
exam
ine,
secu
re, a
sses
s, a
nd im
prov
e ch
ild sa
fety
.
Back
grou
nd: T
he F
amily
Firs
t Pre
vent
ion
Serv
ice
Act (
FFPS
A) b
ecam
e ef
fect
ive
on F
ebru
ary
9, 2
018.
FFP
SA re
stru
ctur
es fe
dera
l chi
ld w
elfa
re fu
ndin
g, p
artic
ular
ly T
itle
IV-E
and
Ti
tle IV
-B o
f the
Soc
ial S
ecur
ity A
ct, w
hich
Tex
as u
ses t
o pa
y fo
r ser
vice
s for
chi
ldre
n in
fost
er c
are
and
thei
r fam
ilies
. FFP
SA se
eks t
o re
duce
ent
ry in
fost
er c
are,
to li
mit
the
use
of c
ongr
egat
e ca
re, a
nd to
incr
ease
acc
ess t
o su
bsta
nce
abus
e an
d m
enta
l hea
lth se
rvic
es. T
here
are
cer
tain
trai
ning
pro
visio
ns d
irect
ly im
pact
ing
the
cour
ts a
nd C
ourt
Im
prov
emen
t Pro
gram
s, b
ut b
eyon
d th
at, F
FPSA
also
man
date
s tha
t sta
tes s
eeki
ng T
itle
IV-E
fund
ing
crea
te a
nd p
rovi
de m
ore
robu
st p
reve
ntio
n se
rvic
es fo
r fam
ilies
in th
e st
ate’
s chi
ld w
elfa
re sy
stem
. Also
, with
the
FFPS
A an
d th
e Co
mpr
ehen
sive
Addi
ctio
n an
d Re
cove
ry A
ct (C
ARA)
am
endm
ents
to th
e Ch
ild A
buse
Pre
vent
ion
and
Trea
tmen
t Act
(C
APTA
), it
will
be
nece
ssar
y fo
r the
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n to
eng
age
with
stak
ehol
ders
mor
e de
eply
on
prev
entio
n ef
fort
s. T
he C
ARA
amen
dmen
ts to
CAP
TA re
quire
mor
e fo
cus o
n w
hat a
re k
now
n as
Pla
ns o
f Saf
e Ca
re, a
nd a
lthou
gh th
ere
is no
spec
ific
cour
t ove
rsig
ht o
f Pla
ns o
f Saf
e Ca
re, t
he ju
dici
ary
is be
ing
aske
d to
bec
ome
fam
iliar
with
the
CARA
am
endm
ents
and
par
tner
with
chi
ld w
elfa
re in
a m
anne
r tha
t mak
es e
xist
ing
and
new
Pla
ns o
f Saf
e Ca
re m
ore
mea
ning
ful.
The
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
is co
llabo
ratin
g cl
osel
y w
ith th
e De
part
men
t of F
amily
and
Pro
tect
ive
Serv
ices
(DFP
S) o
n th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of F
FPSA
, as i
s req
uire
d by
the
fede
ral A
dmin
istra
tion
for C
hild
ren
and
Fam
ilies
. Tex
as h
as e
lect
ed to
del
ay im
plem
enta
tion
of c
erta
in p
rovi
sions
rela
ted
the
use
of c
ongr
egat
e ca
re, w
hich
man
date
that
Co
urt I
mpr
ovem
ent P
rogr
ams p
rovi
de tr
aini
ng a
nd e
duca
tion
to ju
dges
and
oth
er le
gal s
yste
m st
akeh
olde
rs o
n th
e lim
itatio
ns o
n fu
ndin
g fo
r use
of n
on-fo
ster
fam
ily h
ome
plac
emen
ts. T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
is co
llabo
ratin
g w
ith C
asey
Fam
ily P
rogr
ams a
nd o
ther
nat
iona
l wor
kgro
ups o
n be
st p
ract
ices
for i
mpl
emen
tatio
n of
all
FFPS
A pr
ovisi
ons,
incl
udin
g th
e de
velo
pmen
t of I
V-E
prev
entio
n pr
ogra
ms,
cou
rt o
vers
ight
of c
ongr
egat
e ca
re p
lace
men
ts, a
nd c
ourt
invo
lvem
ent i
n en
cour
agin
g a
prim
ary
prev
entio
n ap
proa
ch. C
ongr
ess r
ecen
tly e
nact
ed th
e Fa
mily
Firs
t Tra
nsiti
on A
ct to
pro
vide
$50
0 m
illio
n in
one
-tim
e, fl
exib
le tr
ansit
ion
fund
ing
to h
elp
juris
dict
ions
with
FFP
SA
impl
emen
tatio
n. T
his f
undi
ng is
inte
nded
to h
elp
offs
et c
osts
ass
ocia
ted
with
pro
gram
star
tup,
IV-E
wai
ver t
rans
ition
, and
impr
ovem
ents
to fo
ster
car
e sa
fety
and
qua
lity.
The
le
gisla
tion
also
offe
rs g
rant
s to
juris
dict
ions
with
exp
iring
IV-E
wai
vers
if th
ey fa
ce si
gnifi
cant
fund
ing
loss
es, e
nsur
ing
stab
ility
and
con
tinui
ty o
f car
e fo
r the
chi
ldre
n in
car
e as
th
e tr
ansit
ion
cont
inue
s to
new
mod
els u
nder
FFP
SA. I
n ad
ditio
n to
thes
e ne
w fu
ndin
g re
sour
ces,
the
bill
crea
tes a
two-
year
del
ayed
pha
se-in
for F
FPSA
’s “
wel
l-sup
port
ed”
requ
irem
ent f
or p
reve
ntio
n se
rvic
es, w
hich
sets
the
evid
ence
thre
shol
d pr
even
tion
serv
ices
mus
t mee
t und
er F
FPSA
to b
e el
igib
le fo
r fun
ding
reim
burs
emen
t. Th
e de
lay
offe
rs st
ates
and
cou
ntie
s gre
ater
flex
ibili
ty to
pro
ceed
with
exi
stin
g, e
vide
nce-
base
d fo
ster
car
e pr
even
tion
prog
ram
s.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
On
Mar
ch 2
6, 2
020,
the
Child
ren’
s Bur
eau
anno
unce
d ne
w ra
tings
for a
dditi
onal
pro
gram
s and
serv
ices
add
ed to
the
Clea
ringh
ouse
, inc
ludi
ng C
hild
-Par
ent
Psyc
hoth
erap
y, F
amily
Beh
avio
r The
rapy
for A
dole
scen
t, Ad
ult,
and
Adul
t with
Chi
ld W
elfa
re S
uppl
emen
t, Ho
meb
uild
ers,
and
Sol
utio
n Ba
sed
Case
wor
k, to
go
alon
g w
ith th
e ot
her d
ozen
or s
o pr
ogra
ms a
lread
y in
clud
ed.
The
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
rece
ntly
join
ed a
sess
ion
of th
e Pr
even
tion
and
Early
Inte
rven
tion
(PEI
) List
enin
g To
ur to
eng
age
with
DFP
S an
d se
rvic
e pr
ovid
ers a
roun
d pr
even
tion
and
child
safe
ty. I
n ad
ditio
n, C
omm
issio
n st
aff w
ill p
artic
ipat
e on
the
PEI P
reve
ntio
n Fr
amew
ork
Wor
kgro
up m
ovin
g fo
rwar
d.
Page
3 o
f 24
S
YSTE
MS
IMPR
OVE
MEN
T |
LEG
AL P
OLI
CY &
PRA
CTIC
E |T
RAIN
ING
|DA
TA |
DU
AL S
TATU
S
I.B. O
bjec
tive:
Sup
port
the
impr
ovem
ent o
f edu
catio
n ou
tcom
es fo
r chi
ldre
n in
the
cons
erva
tors
hip
of D
FPS
to in
crea
se o
ppor
tuni
ties f
or e
duca
tiona
l pro
gres
s, le
adin
g to
a
mor
e pr
oduc
tive
and
stab
le a
dult
life.
I.B.1
. Str
ateg
y: Im
plem
ent t
he T
exas
Edu
catio
n Bl
uepr
int.
Back
grou
nd: S
ince
the
ince
ptio
n of
the
Educ
atio
n Co
mm
ittee
in 2
010
and
the
rele
ase
of th
e Te
xas B
luep
rint i
n 20
12, t
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
has c
onve
ned
a m
ulti-
disc
iplin
ary,
stat
ewid
e ef
fort
aim
ed a
t im
prov
ing
educ
atio
n ou
tcom
es fo
r chi
ldre
n an
d yo
uth
in fo
ster
car
e. T
he F
oste
r Car
e an
d Ed
ucat
ion
(FC&
Ed) C
omm
ittee
was
es
tabl
ished
in 2
015
to c
ontin
ue th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of th
e Te
xas B
luep
rint r
ecom
men
datio
ns. I
n FY
2019
, the
stru
ctur
e of
the
FC&
Ed c
olla
bora
tion
shift
ed fr
om a
wor
kgro
up
mod
el to
a p
roje
ct-c
ente
red
mod
el. T
he F
C&Ed
Com
mitt
ee w
ill c
ontin
ue to
dev
elop
prio
ritie
s and
pro
vide
ove
rsig
ht fo
r the
stat
ewid
e ef
fort
. As p
roje
cts a
re id
entif
ied,
smal
l gr
oups
will
eac
h m
eet p
erio
dica
lly w
ith a
def
ined
scop
e, d
eliv
erab
les,
and
a ti
mel
ine.
Alth
ough
the
stru
ctur
e w
ill c
hang
e, th
e co
re p
rinci
ples
of s
tren
gthe
ning
col
labo
ratio
n be
twee
n ed
ucat
ion,
cou
rts,
and
chi
ld w
elfa
re sy
stem
s, d
evel
opin
g cr
oss-
trai
ning
opp
ortu
nitie
s, a
nd e
ncou
ragi
ng d
ata-
driv
en d
ecisi
on-m
akin
g re
mai
n fu
ndam
enta
l to
the
FC&
Ed C
omm
ittee
mod
el.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
FC&
Ed C
omm
ittee
met
on
May
1, 2
020
and
rece
ived
upd
ates
on
wor
kgro
up p
roje
cts t
his y
ear.
The
next
FC&
Ed C
omm
ittee
mee
ting
will
occ
ur o
n Au
gust
21,
202
0.
• Th
e Ed
ucat
ion
in R
esid
entia
l Tre
atm
ent C
ente
rs (R
TCs)
Wor
kgro
up h
as b
een
draf
ting
a se
ries o
f col
or-c
oded
, one
-pag
e re
sour
ces f
or le
gal p
rofe
ssio
nals,
pro
vide
rs,
and
educ
ator
s. T
he o
ne-p
ager
add
ress
ed to
lega
l pro
fess
iona
ls is
in th
e de
sign
phas
e an
d an
onl
ine
vers
ion
will
be
mad
e av
aila
ble
soon
with
a h
ardc
opy
to fo
llow
. The
w
orkg
roup
ant
icip
ates
that
the
prov
ider
and
edu
catio
n on
e-pa
gers
will
be
com
plet
ed b
y Au
gust
1, 2
020.
•
The
Reso
urce
s for
Hig
her E
duca
tion
Prof
essio
nals
Wor
kgro
up is
cre
atin
g a
Pow
erPo
int s
lide
deck
with
acc
ompa
nyin
g on
e-pa
gers
and
refe
renc
e do
cum
ents
(e.g
. Hi
gher
Edu
catio
n Re
sour
ces C
hart
, Edu
catio
n &
Tra
inin
g Vo
uche
r (ET
V) in
form
atio
n, T
uitio
n an
d Fe
e W
aive
r pro
cess
map
) aim
ed a
t pro
vidi
ng h
igh
leve
l tra
inin
g,
tool
s, a
nd re
sour
ces f
or p
rofe
ssio
nals
in h
ighe
r edu
catio
n in
clud
ing,
but
not
lim
ited
to, a
dmin
istra
tors
, fin
anci
al a
id o
ffice
rs, a
dmiss
ions
, fos
ter c
are
liaiso
ns, a
nd
othe
rs w
ho m
ay a
ssist
or p
rovi
de se
rvic
es to
fost
er c
are
alum
ni o
n ca
mpu
s. T
he w
orkg
roup
is o
n ta
rget
to c
ompl
ete
the
proj
ect b
y M
ay 2
020
and
will
disc
uss
pres
enta
tion
optio
ns a
t its
nex
t sch
edul
ed m
eetin
g in
May
. •
The
Non
-tra
ditio
nal P
ost-
Seco
ndar
y Ed
ucat
ion
Wor
kgro
up is
com
pilin
g in
form
atio
n re
late
d to
the
Tuiti
on a
nd F
ee W
aive
r, ET
V fu
nds,
and
oth
er a
vaila
ble
fund
ing
for
fost
er c
are
alum
ni se
ekin
g no
n-tr
aditi
onal
pos
t-se
cond
ary
educ
atio
n pa
thw
ays s
uch
as tr
ade
and
cert
ifica
te p
rogr
ams.
The
info
rmat
ion
will
be
conv
erte
d in
to
flow
char
ts, a
glo
ssar
y of
term
s, a
n in
tera
ctiv
e el
igib
ility
det
erm
inat
ion
tool
, and
a o
ne-p
ager
hig
hlig
htin
g im
port
ant i
nfor
mat
ion
for s
tude
nts.
The
wor
kgro
up h
as a
ta
rget
del
iver
able
dist
ribut
ion
date
of S
epte
mbe
r 202
0.
• Th
e Re
cord
s & In
form
atio
n Sh
arin
g W
orkg
roup
pla
ced
its p
roje
ct o
n ho
ld u
ntil
the
end
of th
e 20
19-2
020
acad
emic
scho
ol y
ear.
The
wor
kgro
up re
conv
ened
on
May
12
, 202
0 to
disc
uss c
hang
es to
the
deliv
erab
le ti
mel
ine
and
whe
ther
any
add
ition
al re
cord
s and
info
rmat
ion
shar
ing
issue
s hav
e be
en id
entif
ied
durin
g th
e CO
VID-
19
crisi
s tha
t nee
d to
be
addr
esse
d.
• Th
e Ev
ery
Stud
ent S
ucce
eds A
ct W
orkg
roup
pla
ced
its p
roje
ct o
n ho
ld u
ntil
the
end
of th
e 20
19-2
020
acad
emic
scho
ol y
ear.
The
wor
kgro
up w
ill re
conv
ene
in M
ay to
di
scus
s cha
nges
to th
e de
liver
able
tim
elin
e an
d to
iden
tify
addi
tiona
l top
ics,
if a
ny, t
o ad
dres
s as a
resu
lt of
CO
VID-
19 c
risis.
I.C. O
bjec
tive:
Pro
mot
e aw
aren
ess o
f and
em
bed
a cu
lture
and
pra
ctic
e am
ong
the
judi
ciar
y an
d le
gal c
omm
unity
aro
und
Trau
ma-
Info
rmed
Car
e so
that
the
lega
l and
ju
dici
al c
omm
unity
is a
war
e, e
duca
ted,
and
supp
ortiv
e of
the
conc
ept a
nd a
pplic
atio
n.
Page
4 o
f 24
S
YSTE
MS
IMPR
OVE
MEN
T |
LEG
AL P
OLI
CY &
PRA
CTIC
E |T
RAIN
ING
|DA
TA |
DU
AL S
TATU
S
I.C.1
. Str
ateg
y: P
artn
er w
ith tr
aum
a an
d m
enta
l hea
lth a
dvoc
ates
and
age
ncie
s to
impl
emen
t and
app
ly p
rinci
ples
of T
raum
a-In
form
ed C
are
in th
e re
spec
tive
disc
iplin
es.
Back
grou
nd: I
n Ju
ly 2
017,
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
laun
ched
the
Stat
ewid
e Co
llabo
rativ
e on
Tra
uma-
Info
rmed
Car
e (S
CTIC
), to
ele
vate
trau
ma-
info
rmed
pol
icy
and
prac
tices
in th
e Te
xas c
hild
wel
fare
syst
em b
y cr
eatin
g a
stat
ewid
e st
rate
gy to
supp
ort s
yste
m re
form
, org
aniza
tiona
l lea
ders
hip,
cro
ss-s
yste
ms c
olla
bora
tion,
and
com
mun
ity-
led
effo
rts w
ith d
ata-
info
rmed
initi
ativ
es. T
he S
CTIC
ado
pted
four
bro
ad g
oals
with
spec
ific
stra
tegi
es a
nd d
efin
ition
s for
its y
ear o
ne p
lan.
The
SCT
IC e
ndea
vors
to ra
ise
awar
enes
s abo
ut T
raum
a-In
form
ed C
are
thro
ugh
trai
ning
and
edu
catio
nal o
ppor
tuni
ties;
lead
a S
CTIC
to c
reat
e a
trau
ma-
info
rmed
and
trau
ma-
resp
onsiv
e ch
ild w
elfa
re
syst
em th
at b
ette
r mee
ts th
e ne
eds o
f chi
ldre
n w
ho h
ave
expe
rienc
ed tr
aum
a; a
nd p
artn
er w
ith o
ther
Tex
as a
nd n
atio
nal t
raum
a-in
form
ed w
orkg
roup
s and
col
labo
rativ
es.
Base
d on
the
wor
k of
the
SCTI
C, th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n pu
blish
ed a
fina
l rep
ort i
n Fe
brua
ry 2
019:
Bui
ldin
g a
Trau
ma-
Info
rmed
Chi
ld W
elfa
re S
yste
m: A
Blu
eprin
t. Th
e Bl
uepr
int p
rovi
des a
fram
ewor
k fo
r the
stat
e to
adv
ance
trau
ma-
info
rmed
car
e pr
actic
es in
the
child
wel
fare
syst
em. T
he S
CTIC
con
tinue
s und
er th
e gu
idan
ce o
f an
Impl
emen
tatio
n Ta
sk F
orce
and
util
izes t
he B
luep
rint t
o di
rect
the
SCTI
C’s w
ork.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
Cha
ired
by Ju
dge
Darle
ne B
yrne
of t
he 1
26th
Dist
rict C
ourt
, the
SCT
IC Im
plem
enta
tion
Task
For
ce la
st m
et o
n Fe
brua
ry 2
8, 2
020
and
will
mee
t aga
in o
n Ju
ne 1
2, 2
020
via
vide
ocon
fere
ncin
g. O
n Fe
brua
ry 2
8, T
ask
Forc
e m
embe
rs h
eard
upd
ates
from
its t
hree
wor
kgro
ups a
nd d
eter
min
ed n
ext s
teps
. Dur
ing
the
COVI
D-19
cris
is,
all w
orkg
roup
s hav
e m
et a
t lea
st o
nce
to to
uch
base
with
mem
bers
and
ass
ess p
riorit
ies f
or S
CTIC
wor
kgro
ups.
Polic
y &
Pra
ctic
e W
orkg
roup
: The
Pol
icy
and
Prac
tice
Wor
kgro
up’s
firs
t prio
rity
has b
een
to a
ddre
ss B
luep
rint S
trat
egy
1.1
calli
ng fo
r the
ado
ptio
n of
def
initi
ons t
o cr
eate
a
com
mon
lang
uage
am
ong
stak
ehol
ders
. DFP
S in
tend
s to
adop
t def
initi
ons o
f “tr
aum
a” a
nd “
trau
ma-
info
rmed
” by
rule
. DFP
S re
ques
ted
that
the
SCTI
C se
rve
as a
stak
ehol
der
feed
back
gro
up. T
he P
olic
y an
d Pr
actic
e W
orkg
roup
took
into
con
sider
atio
n ex
istin
g an
d co
mm
only
use
d de
finiti
ons a
nd a
gree
d on
dra
ft la
ngua
ge ta
ken
prim
arily
from
the
Subs
tanc
e Ab
use
and
Men
tal H
ealth
Ser
vice
s Adm
inist
ratio
n bu
t with
add
ition
al la
ngua
ge fr
om N
atio
nal C
hild
Tra
umat
ic S
tres
s Net
wor
k to
mor
e fu
lly ro
und
out t
he c
once
pt
of “
trau
ma-
info
rmed
.” T
he w
orkg
roup
subm
itted
thei
r rec
omm
enda
tions
to th
e SC
TIC
Task
For
ce o
n Fe
brua
ry 2
8. A
fter
a m
inor
add
ition
to th
e “t
raum
a-in
form
ed”
defin
ition
, Ta
sk F
orce
mem
bers
vot
ed to
app
rove
the
wor
kgro
up’s
reco
mm
enda
tions
. A fi
nal r
epor
t with
the
reco
mm
enda
tions
was
sent
to D
FPS
lead
ersh
ip o
n M
arch
13th
. DFP
S’ le
gal
depa
rtm
ent i
s cur
rent
ly e
valu
atin
g th
e be
st lo
catio
n in
the
Texa
s Adm
inist
rativ
e Co
de to
add
this
defin
ition
and
is e
xpec
ted
to in
itiat
e th
e fo
rmal
rule
mak
ing
proc
ess i
n th
e ne
ar fu
ture
. The
orig
inal
agr
eed-
upon
tim
elin
e fo
r thi
s pro
cess
has
bee
n di
srup
ted
due
to C
OVI
D-19
prio
ritie
s. T
he o
ffici
al ru
lem
akin
g pr
oces
s to
adop
t def
initi
ons w
ill li
kely
ta
ke n
ine
mon
ths t
o on
e ye
ar.
Trai
ning
Wor
kgro
up: A
t the
Feb
ruar
y 28
Tas
k Fo
rce
mee
ting,
the
Trai
ning
Wor
kgro
up p
rese
nted
a fi
nal d
raft
of t
he o
ne-p
ager
exp
lain
ing
the
goal
s of t
he S
CTIC
. Tas
k Fo
rce
mem
bers
pro
vide
d ad
ditio
nal f
eedb
ack
and
the
wor
kgro
up w
ill a
im to
hav
e a
revi
sed
draf
t ava
ilabl
e fo
r rev
iew
at t
he n
ext f
ull T
ask
Forc
e m
eetin
g. T
he w
orkg
roup
has
pa
rtne
red
with
staf
f fro
m th
e So
uth
Sout
hwes
t Men
tal H
ealth
Tec
hnol
ogy
Tran
sfer
Cen
ter (
MHT
TC) t
o de
velo
p a
trai
ning
dat
abas
e (fo
rmer
ly re
ferr
ed to
as a
n en
viro
nmen
tal
scan
) of c
urre
nt a
vaila
ble
trau
ma-
info
rmed
trai
ning
s. W
orkg
roup
mem
bers
are
ass
istin
g M
HTTC
staf
f in
iden
tifyi
ng tr
aini
ngs r
elev
ant t
o ch
ild w
elfa
re. O
nce
the
data
base
is
near
ly c
ompl
ete,
the
wor
kgro
up w
ill fi
lter t
he li
st fo
r cer
tain
aud
ienc
es su
ch a
s car
egiv
ers a
nd p
aren
ts, l
egal
com
mun
ity, a
nd se
rvic
e pr
ovid
ers a
nd m
ake
this
info
rmat
ion
avai
labl
e on
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
web
site.
The
trai
ning
dat
abas
e m
ight
also
hel
p id
entif
y ga
ps in
trai
ning
acr
oss t
he st
ate
and
dire
ct th
e w
orkg
roup
’s e
ffort
s.
The
wor
kgro
up a
lso se
rved
as t
he c
urric
ulum
adv
isory
gro
up fo
r the
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n st
aff i
n de
velo
ping
the
Judi
cial
Tra
uma
Inst
itute
(JTI
) con
fere
nce
whi
ch w
as
sche
dule
d fo
r lat
e M
arch
202
0 bu
t pos
tpon
ed d
ue to
CO
VID-
19. T
he w
orkg
roup
pro
vide
d fe
edba
ck o
n th
e id
ea o
f tra
nsiti
onin
g th
e JT
I to
a vi
rtua
l for
mat
and
will
con
tinue
to
supp
ort C
omm
issio
n st
aff i
n id
entif
ying
the
best
ave
nue
for t
rain
ing
the
judi
cial
cou
rt te
ams f
or w
hom
the
JTI w
as d
esig
ned.
Page
5 o
f 24
S
YSTE
MS
IMPR
OVE
MEN
T |
LEG
AL P
OLI
CY &
PRA
CTIC
E |T
RAIN
ING
|DA
TA |
DU
AL S
TATU
S
Info
rmat
ion
Shar
ing,
Dat
a, &
Fun
ding
Wor
kgro
up: T
he In
form
atio
n Sh
arin
g, D
ata,
and
Fun
ding
Wor
kgro
up is
focu
sed
on S
trat
egy
7.2
of th
e Tr
aum
a Bl
uepr
int w
hich
cal
ls fo
r a
stat
ewid
e w
ebsit
e to
serv
e as
a p
rimar
y so
urce
of r
elev
ant i
nfor
mat
ion
and
trai
ning
on
trau
ma-
info
rmed
car
e an
d pr
actic
es. A
t the
Feb
ruar
y 28
Tas
k Fo
rce
mee
ting,
the
wor
kgro
up p
rese
nted
a d
raft
web
site
conc
ept p
aper
whi
ch id
entif
ies t
he g
ener
al re
quire
men
ts a
nd p
roce
ss fo
r ide
ntify
ing
a ho
st o
rgan
izatio
n to
dev
elop
the
Texa
s-sp
ecifi
c sit
e. A
goa
l is f
or th
e ho
st o
rgan
izatio
n to
also
secu
re fu
ndin
g to
mai
ntai
n th
e da
y-to
-day
ope
ratio
ns o
f the
site
. The
prim
ary
site
audi
ence
will
be
fam
ily a
nd c
areg
iver
s, c
hild
w
elfa
re p
rofe
ssio
nals,
dire
ct a
nd n
on-d
irect
serv
ice
prov
ider
s, a
nd c
omm
unity
col
labo
rativ
es. T
he w
orkg
roup
is a
lso d
evel
opin
g a
“Ret
urn
on In
vest
men
t” d
ocum
ent t
o ill
ustr
ate
the
pote
ntia
l lon
g-te
rm b
enef
its fo
r inv
estin
g in
trau
ma-
info
rmed
pol
icie
s and
pra
ctic
es.
I.D. O
bjec
tive:
Pro
mot
e aw
aren
ess o
f and
pro
vide
trai
ning
, res
ourc
es, a
nd su
ppor
t for
add
ress
ing
Hum
an T
raffi
ckin
g an
d sp
ecifi
cally
dom
estic
chi
ld se
x tr
affic
king
so th
at
the
judi
cial
syst
em c
an a
ssis
t in
prev
entin
g an
d re
spon
ding
to th
e co
mm
erci
al se
xual
exp
loita
tion
of c
hild
ren
in D
FPS’
con
serv
ator
ship
.
I.D.1
. Str
ateg
y: C
olla
bora
te w
ith st
ate
and
loca
l par
tner
s to
prev
ent a
nd a
ddre
ss c
omm
erci
al se
xual
exp
loita
tion
of y
outh
in fo
ster
car
e.
Back
grou
nd: T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
part
ners
with
man
y ke
y st
akeh
olde
rs w
ith a
goa
l of p
reve
ntin
g an
d ad
dres
sing
com
mer
cial
sexu
al e
xplo
itatio
n of
chi
ldre
n an
d yo
uth
in fo
ster
car
e. In
add
ition
to se
rvin
g on
the
Texa
s Hum
an T
raffi
ckin
g Pr
even
tion
Task
For
ce, t
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
also
wor
ks w
ith th
e O
ffice
of t
he T
exas
Gov
erno
r’s
Child
Sex
Tra
ffick
ing
Team
, the
DFP
S Hu
man
Tra
ffick
ing
and
Child
Exp
loita
tion
team
, and
the
Offi
ce o
f Cou
rt A
dmin
istra
tion
to d
evel
op st
rate
gies
to im
prov
e ju
dici
al h
andl
ing
of c
hild
wel
fare
cas
es w
here
chi
ldre
n or
you
th a
re a
t hig
h ris
k of
bec
omin
g tr
affic
king
vic
tims.
The
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n is
focu
sed
prim
arily
on
prov
idin
g in
form
atio
n to
ju
dges
and
att
orne
ys re
spon
sible
for c
hild
wel
fare
cas
es to
raise
aw
aren
ess a
bout
hum
an tr
affic
king
as i
t im
pact
s chi
ldre
n in
volv
ed w
ith th
e ch
ild w
elfa
re sy
stem
. The
Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n al
so p
artic
ipat
es in
the
stat
e an
d na
tiona
l tra
inin
gs o
n hu
man
traf
ficki
ng to
stay
info
rmed
abo
ut su
cces
sful
stra
tegi
es to
com
bat t
raffi
ckin
g an
d de
velo
p ex
pert
ise to
rela
y in
form
atio
n to
judg
es a
nd a
ttor
neys
as n
eede
d.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
Com
miss
ion
will
con
tinue
to w
ork
with
chi
ld w
elfa
re a
nd c
ourt
stak
ehol
ders
to b
uild
cap
acity
to a
ddre
ss tr
affic
king
thro
ugho
ut th
e st
ate.
In A
pril,
Co
mm
issio
n st
aff p
rovi
ded
inpu
t in
the
Texa
s Hum
an T
raffi
ckin
g Pr
even
tion
Coor
dina
ting
Coun
cil s
urve
y ai
med
at c
aptu
ring
anti-
traf
ficki
ng e
ffort
s thr
ough
out t
he st
ate.
Co
mm
issio
n st
aff p
artic
ipat
es in
the
Adm
inist
ratio
n fo
r Chi
ldre
n an
d Fa
mili
es (A
CF) R
egio
n VI
Hum
an T
raffi
ckin
g W
orkg
roup
to sp
read
bes
t pra
ctic
es a
nd b
ette
r coo
rdin
ate
with
oth
er st
ates
on
com
batt
ing
hum
an tr
affic
king
. The
wor
kgro
up c
onve
ned
on A
pril
7 to
disc
uss p
ossib
le e
ffect
s of C
OVI
D-19
on
yout
h vu
lner
abili
ty to
traf
ficki
ng.
Goa
l II:
Prom
ote,
exp
and,
and
shar
e be
st a
nd p
rom
isin
g ch
ild w
elfa
re a
nd c
ourt
pra
ctic
es a
nd re
sour
ces t
o im
prov
e ju
dici
al a
dmin
istr
atio
n an
d st
reng
then
the
child
w
elfa
re sy
stem
.
II.A.
Obj
ectiv
e: C
reat
e op
port
uniti
es to
brin
g to
geth
er su
bjec
t mat
ter e
xper
ts, j
udic
ial a
nd e
xecu
tive
bran
ch le
ader
s, a
nd k
ey p
olic
y m
aker
s so
that
impo
rtan
t and
urg
ent
issu
es a
re e
xam
ined
, and
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
solu
tions
are
iden
tifie
d.
II.A.
1. S
trat
egy:
Wor
k w
ith D
FPS
and
othe
r sta
keho
lder
s to
iden
tify
topi
cs fo
r Rou
nd T
able
disc
ussio
ns.
Page
6 o
f 24
S
YSTE
MS
IMPR
OVE
MEN
T |
LEG
AL P
OLI
CY &
PRA
CTIC
E |T
RAIN
ING
|DA
TA |
DU
AL S
TATU
S
Back
grou
nd: R
ound
Tab
le d
iscus
sions
are
des
igne
d to
add
ress
key
, urg
ent i
ssue
s affe
ctin
g th
e Te
xas c
hild
wel
fare
syst
em th
roug
h a
half-
day
prog
ram
that
is fa
cilit
ated
by
a su
bjec
t-m
atte
r and
lega
l exp
ert.
The
topi
cs v
ary
year
to y
ear a
nd th
e nu
mbe
r of R
ound
Tab
les h
oste
d ea
ch y
ear a
lso v
arie
s acc
ordi
ng to
the
inte
rest
of s
take
hold
ers a
nd
issue
s dem
andi
ng a
tten
tion.
The
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n’s r
ole
usua
lly c
onsis
ts o
f for
min
g a
smal
l wor
kgro
up to
disc
uss t
he o
vera
ll pu
rpos
e, c
reat
ing
an in
vita
tion
and
dist
ribut
ion
list,
secu
ring
a ve
nue,
han
dlin
g al
l inv
itatio
ns, R
SVPs
, and
trav
el re
imbu
rsem
ents
, and
pro
duci
ng a
writ
ten
repo
rt o
r pap
er w
ithin
abo
ut 4
to 6
mon
ths f
ollo
win
g th
e ev
ent.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n ha
d to
pos
tpon
e th
e Ro
und
Tabl
e on
Sha
cklin
g in
Juve
nile
Cou
rt sc
hedu
led
for A
pril
13, 2
020
in A
ustin
due
to th
e CO
VID-
19
crisi
s. A
futu
re d
ate
is st
ill to
be
dete
rmin
ed a
nd C
omm
issio
n st
aff i
s exp
lorin
g m
ultip
le w
ays t
o en
gage
stak
ehol
ders
on
this
issue
. No
othe
r Rou
nd T
able
disc
ussio
ns a
re
sche
dule
d at
this
time.
II.B.
Obj
ectiv
e: E
nsur
e av
aila
bilit
y of
qua
lity
judi
cial
reso
urce
s suc
h as
the
Benc
h Bo
ok, J
uris
t in
Resi
denc
e (J
IR) s
uppo
rt a
nd JI
R co
rres
pond
ence
and
com
mun
ique
to
ensu
re ju
dges
are
equ
ippe
d to
mak
e in
form
ed, e
duca
ted
deci
sion
s, a
nd u
se b
est p
ract
ices
in c
ondu
ctin
g he
arin
gs th
at w
ill c
ontr
ibut
e to
bet
ter o
utco
mes
for c
hild
ren
and
fam
ilies
.
II.B.
1. S
trat
egy:
Pro
vide
JIR
supp
ort t
o th
e ju
dici
ary
and
the
lega
l and
chi
ld w
elfa
re sy
stem
s.
Back
grou
nd: T
he Ju
rist i
n Re
siden
ce (J
IR) p
ositi
on w
as c
reat
ed to
fost
er ju
dici
al le
ader
ship
and
pro
mot
e gr
eate
r exp
ertis
e am
ong
child
pro
tect
ion
judg
es. T
he JI
R de
velo
ps
rela
tions
hips
with
retir
ed a
nd si
ttin
g ju
dges
, act
s as a
con
sulta
nt, t
rain
er, a
nd sp
eake
r to
prov
ide
expe
rt a
nd se
ason
ed ju
dici
al a
dvic
e on
mat
ters
affe
ctin
g co
urts
and
lega
l sy
stem
han
dlin
g of
chi
ld w
elfa
re c
ases
and
issu
es, a
nd p
ublis
hes i
nfor
mat
iona
l let
ters
and
ele
ctro
nic
com
mun
ique
s (“e
-bla
sts”
) con
cern
ing
item
s of i
nter
est,
such
as c
hang
es
in p
olic
y, la
w, p
ract
ice,
and
trai
ning
eve
nts.
Add
ition
ally
, the
JIR
assis
ts w
ith th
e de
velo
pmen
t of c
urric
ulum
for t
he a
nnua
l Chi
ld W
elfa
re Ju
dges
Con
fere
nce,
and
mod
erat
es
and
pres
ents
at t
he c
onfe
renc
e, a
s nee
ded;
revi
ews u
pdat
es to
the
Child
Pro
tect
ion
Law
Ben
ch B
ook;
and
att
ends
and
par
ticip
ates
in e
vent
s on
beha
lf of
the
Child
ren’
s Co
mm
issio
n, in
clud
ing
Roun
d Ta
bles
, oth
er c
onfe
renc
es, a
nd T
rial S
kills
Tra
inin
gs.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
Sup
rem
e Co
urt h
as tw
o Ju
rists
in R
esid
ence
: Jud
ge D
ean
Ruck
er a
nd Ju
dge
Rob
Hofm
ann.
The
JIR
activ
ities
will
rem
ain
muc
h th
e sa
me
for F
Y202
0, w
ith
addi
tiona
l em
phas
is on
ele
vatin
g ju
dici
al le
ader
s with
exp
ertis
e an
d in
tere
sts r
elat
ed to
pre
vent
ion
of re
mov
al to
fost
er c
are,
chi
ld a
nd fa
mily
wel
l-bei
ng, a
nd im
prov
ing
child
an
d fa
mily
voi
ce in
chi
ld w
elfa
re sy
stem
refo
rm. S
ince
late
Feb
ruar
y, b
oth
JIRs h
ave
assis
ted
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
in h
andl
ing
the
COVI
D-19
cris
is an
d its
effe
ct o
n co
urts
an
d ju
dici
al p
roce
sses
acr
oss t
he st
ate.
Juris
t in
Resid
ence
(JIR
) Let
ters
and
Judi
cial
and
Att
orne
y Re
sour
ce L
ette
rs (J
ARLs
) iss
ued
betw
een
Febr
uary
202
0 an
d M
ay 2
020
incl
ude:
• 5/
21/2
020:
Ben
efits
of U
tilizi
ng T
echn
olog
y in
Chi
ld W
elfa
re C
ases
•
5/13
/202
0: A
nnou
ncem
ent r
egar
ding
the
Child
ren’
s Com
mis
sion
web
site,
CO
VID-
19 w
ebpa
ge a
nd re
sour
ce li
nks
• 5/
8/20
20: R
egist
er N
ow: W
ebca
st o
n Ef
fect
ive
Advo
cacy
in th
e Vi
rtua
l CPS
Cou
rtro
om o
n M
ay 2
2nd
•
5/1/
2020
: Sav
e th
e Da
te! U
pcom
ing
Web
cast
on
Effe
ctiv
e Ad
voca
cy in
the
Virt
ual C
PS C
ourt
room
•
4/28
/202
0: R
esou
rces
to S
uppo
rt E
duca
tiona
l Suc
cess
for S
tude
nts i
n Fo
ster
Car
e Du
ring
COVI
D-19
•
4/20
/202
0: R
esou
rces
for P
aren
ts a
nd F
amili
es In
volv
ed w
ith C
PS
Page
7 o
f 24
S
YSTE
MS
IMPR
OVE
MEN
T |
LEG
AL P
OLI
CY &
PRA
CTIC
E |T
RAIN
ING
|DA
TA |
DU
AL S
TATU
S
• 4/
14/2
020:
Apr
il is
Nat
iona
l Chi
ld A
buse
Pre
vent
ion
Mon
th
• 4/
8/20
20: H
andl
ing
Sens
itive
or P
rote
cted
Info
rmat
ion
in C
hild
Pro
tect
ion
Hear
ings
; Int
ervi
ew o
f Chi
ld in
Cha
mbe
rs
• 4/
1/20
20: G
uida
nce
for S
ervi
ces a
nd S
ervi
ce P
lans
• 3/
25/2
020:
DFP
S Is
sues
Virt
ual C
onta
ct G
uide
lines
for C
asew
orke
rs
• 3/
23/2
020:
Cur
rent
Sug
gest
ed B
est P
ract
ices
for F
amily
Visi
tatio
n Du
ring
the
COVI
D-19
Cris
is •
3/20
/202
0: C
OVI
D-19
Res
ourc
es R
elat
ed to
CPS
Cas
es
• 3/
19/2
020:
Sup
rem
e Co
urt E
mer
genc
y O
rder
s Sus
pend
ing
Dead
lines
and
Pro
cedu
res
• 3/
2/20
20: D
FPS
New
s Rel
ease
on
Com
mun
ity-B
ased
Car
e •
2/19
/202
0: H
ands
-on
Tria
l Ski
lls T
rain
ing
Appl
icat
ions
Ext
ende
d to
Frid
ay, F
ebru
ary
21st
• 2/
13/2
020:
MCL
E on
Ess
entia
ls of
Fam
ily R
epre
sent
atio
n in
CPS
Cas
es N
ow A
vaila
ble
in th
e Te
xasB
arCL
E O
nlin
e Cl
assr
oom
II.B.
2. S
trat
egy:
Mai
ntai
n, u
pdat
e, a
nd su
ppor
t a h
igh-
qual
ity C
hild
Pro
tect
ion
Law
Ben
ch B
ook
for C
PS Ju
dges
(Ben
ch B
ook)
.
Back
grou
nd: T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
mai
ntai
ns a
Ben
ch B
ook
that
out
lines
the
stat
e an
d fe
dera
l sta
tuto
ry re
quire
men
ts fo
r jud
ges h
andl
ing
child
pro
tect
ion
case
s,
incl
udin
g to
pica
l sec
tions
and
che
cklis
ts. T
he B
ench
Boo
k al
so in
clud
es ti
ps a
nd b
est a
nd p
rom
ising
pra
ctic
es. I
t is u
pdat
ed a
nnua
lly w
ith n
ew in
form
atio
n, a
s nee
ded,
and
is
diss
emin
ated
to ju
dges
at t
rain
ing
even
ts a
nd u
pon
requ
est.
The
Benc
h Bo
ok is
also
hos
ted
on th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n w
ebsit
e an
d th
roug
h La
wBo
x, w
hich
can
bot
h be
ac
cess
ed th
roug
h th
e Co
mm
issio
n w
ebsit
e.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
Tex
as C
hild
Pro
tect
ion
Law
Ben
ch B
ook
was
last
upd
ated
in O
ctob
er 2
019
to in
corp
orat
e st
atut
ory
chan
ges r
esul
ting
from
the
86th
Tex
as L
egisl
ativ
e Se
ssio
n an
d to
incl
ude
upda
tes t
o al
l top
ical
cha
pter
s. N
ew se
ctio
ns o
n de
nov
o he
arin
gs a
nd jo
int m
anag
ing
cons
erva
tors
hip,
as w
ell a
s new
topi
cal c
hapt
ers o
n ch
ildre
n w
ith
disa
bilit
ies,
Mex
ican
Con
sula
r rel
atio
ns, a
nd su
bsta
nce
use
diso
rder
s wer
e ad
ded.
The
Ben
ch B
ook
is cu
rren
tly u
nder
goin
g up
date
s for
dist
ribut
ion
in O
ctob
er 2
020.
The
cu
rren
t ver
sion
of th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n’s B
ench
Boo
k is
mai
ntai
ned
onlin
e he
re: h
ttp:
//be
nchb
ook.
texa
schi
ldre
nsco
mm
issio
n.go
v/. T
he B
ench
Boo
k is
also
hos
ted
by
Law
Box
onlin
e se
rvic
es fo
r FY2
020.
II.C.
Obj
ectiv
e: E
nsur
e av
aila
bilit
y of
hig
h-qu
ality
att
orne
y re
sour
ces s
uch
as A
ttor
ney
Reso
urce
Let
ters
, an
atto
rney
web
page
on
the
Child
ren’
s Com
mis
sion
web
site
, and
ot
her r
elev
ant e
vent
s to
impr
ove
cour
t-re
late
d ou
tcom
es fo
r chi
ldre
n an
d pa
rent
s thr
ough
lega
l rep
rese
ntat
ion
that
is tr
aine
d an
d in
form
ed.
II.C.
1. S
trat
egy:
Dev
elop
and
dist
ribut
e in
form
atio
n to
att
orne
ys th
at c
omm
unic
ate
or a
nnou
nce
chan
ges i
n la
w, p
olic
y, o
r pra
ctic
e an
d in
form
att
orne
ys o
f tra
inin
g an
d ot
her
even
ts.
Back
grou
nd: S
ince
May
201
6, th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n ha
s mai
ntai
ned
a di
strib
utio
n lis
t to
help
info
rm le
gal p
ract
ition
ers o
f tra
inin
g an
d sc
hola
rshi
p op
port
uniti
es a
nd to
re
lay
pert
inen
t chi
ld w
elfa
re-r
elat
ed in
form
atio
n. T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
publ
ishes
att
orne
y re
sour
ce le
tter
s abo
ut e
mer
ging
, rel
evan
t, an
d ch
angi
ng p
olic
y, la
ws,
pr
actic
e, a
nd tr
aini
ng o
ppor
tuni
ties t
hat a
re o
f int
eres
t to
atto
rney
s han
dlin
g Ch
ild P
rote
ctiv
e Se
rvic
es (C
PS) c
ases
. All
lett
ers a
re p
oste
d on
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion’
s w
ebsit
e.
Page
8 o
f 24
S
YSTE
MS
IMPR
OVE
MEN
T |
LEG
AL P
OLI
CY &
PRA
CTIC
E |T
RAIN
ING
|DA
TA |
DU
AL S
TATU
S
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n’s d
istrib
utio
n lis
t has
gro
wn
to m
ore
than
4,1
00 T
exas
att
orne
ys, j
udge
s, c
ourt
staf
f, an
d st
akeh
olde
rs. S
ee S
trat
egy
II.B.
1 fo
r a
listin
g of
Judi
cial
/ At
torn
ey R
esou
rce
Lett
ers (
JARL
s) d
istrib
uted
bet
wee
n Fe
brua
ry a
nd M
ay 2
020.
II.D.
Obj
ectiv
e: M
aint
ain
and
enha
nce
the
Child
ren’
s Com
mis
sion
web
site
to p
rovi
de a
n ea
sily
acc
essi
ble,
use
r-fr
iend
ly re
sour
ces f
or th
e ju
dici
ary,
att
orne
ys, a
nd th
e ch
ild
wel
fare
com
mun
ity to
obt
ain
info
rmat
ion
and
best
pra
ctic
es in
thei
r int
erac
tions
with
chi
ldre
n an
d fa
mili
es.
II.D.
1. S
trat
egy:
Mai
ntai
n an
d en
hanc
e us
abili
ty a
nd fu
nctio
n of
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
web
site.
Back
grou
nd: T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
mai
ntai
ns a
web
site
that
feat
ures
pub
lishe
d re
port
s, g
uide
s, a
nnou
ncem
ents
, and
trai
ning
opp
ortu
nitie
s. C
IP g
rant
app
licat
ions
and
gr
ant r
ecip
ient
info
rmat
ion
are
also
incl
uded
on
the
web
site.
The
web
site
links
to a
Tw
itter
acc
ount
, @TX
Child
rens
Com
m th
roug
h w
hich
JIR
and
JARL
com
mun
ique
s are
an
noun
ced
once
they
are
pub
lishe
d.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
Com
miss
ion
web
site
was
upd
ated
in F
ebru
ary
2020
to re
flect
rece
nt C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
Com
mitt
ee st
ruct
ure
chan
ges a
nd is
rout
inel
y up
date
d fo
r co
nten
t and
new
ly re
leas
ed re
port
s and
reso
urce
s. A
web
page
ded
icat
ed to
CO
VID-
19 re
sour
ces a
nd a
nnou
ncem
ents
incl
udin
g em
erge
ncy
cour
t ord
ers r
elat
ed to
chi
ld
prot
ectio
n ca
ses w
as c
reat
ed in
Mar
ch 2
020.
Whi
le th
e w
ebsit
e is
spec
ific
to ju
dges
and
att
orne
ys, w
ebsit
e vi
sitor
s hav
e fu
ll ac
cess
to th
ese
onlin
e to
ols a
nd c
an su
bscr
ibe
to
join
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n el
ectr
onic
mai
ling
lists
to re
ceiv
e an
noun
cem
ents
.
II.E.
Obj
ectiv
e: S
uppo
rt c
ount
y, st
ate,
and
nat
iona
l chi
ld w
elfa
re le
ader
s and
org
aniz
atio
ns to
enh
ance
kno
wle
dge
and
com
pete
ncy
and
shar
e ex
perie
nce
and
expe
rtis
e w
ith a
nd th
roug
hout
Tex
as.
II.E.
1. S
trat
egy:
Pro
vide
ass
istan
ce to
and
col
labo
rate
with
loca
l jur
isdic
tions
, DFP
S, a
nd st
ate
and
natio
nal p
artn
ers a
nd o
rgan
izatio
ns.
Back
grou
nd: T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
prov
ides
var
ious
type
s of s
uppo
rt fo
r chi
ld w
elfa
re p
artn
ers a
nd st
akeh
olde
rs in
clud
ing
mee
ting
faci
litat
ion
and
supp
ort,
trav
el
reim
burs
emen
t for
mee
ting
and
trai
ning
eve
nt a
tten
dees
, pre
sent
atio
ns b
y Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n st
aff a
s req
uest
ed, a
nd a
ssist
ance
secu
ring
spea
kers
for l
ocal
, reg
iona
l, or
na
tiona
l eve
nts,
as a
ppro
pria
te.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
In M
arch
202
0, th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n of
fere
d a
scho
lars
hip
for o
ne a
ttor
ney
who
staf
fs th
e Tr
avis
Coun
ty D
rug
Cour
t (Pa
rent
ing
in R
ecov
ery)
to a
tten
d th
e an
nual
Nat
iona
l Ass
ocia
tion
of D
rug
Cour
t Pro
fess
iona
ls (N
ADCP
) con
fere
nce
on M
ay 2
7-30
, 202
0 in
Ana
heim
, CA.
The
NAD
CP B
oard
of D
irect
ors h
as d
eter
min
ed th
at
RISE
20 c
an n
o lo
nger
be
held
in p
erso
n. T
he c
onfe
renc
e w
ill n
ow b
e he
ld v
irtua
lly o
n M
ay 2
6-29
, 202
0. T
opic
s at t
he c
onfe
renc
e in
clud
e dr
ug te
stin
g, su
bsta
nce
abus
e,
pare
ntal
eng
agem
ent,
trea
tmen
t pla
nnin
g, in
cent
ives
, san
ctio
ns, a
nd b
est p
ract
ices
gle
aned
thro
ugh
rese
arch
on
drug
cou
rt p
rogr
ams.
II.F.
Obj
ectiv
e: S
uppo
rt th
e us
e of
bes
t pra
ctic
es in
cou
rt c
ase
man
agem
ent.
II.F.
1. S
trat
egy:
Par
tner
with
Offi
ce o
f Cou
rt A
dmin
istra
tion
(OCA
) to
supp
ort t
he m
aint
enan
ce, e
nhan
cem
ents
, im
pact
, and
usa
bilit
y of
the
Child
Pro
tect
ion
Case
Man
agem
ent
Syst
em (C
PCM
S), a
s wel
l as e
ffort
s to
enha
nce
child
and
fam
ily e
ngag
emen
t in
cour
t pro
ceed
ings
.
Page
9 o
f 24
S
YSTE
MS
IMPR
OVE
MEN
T |
LEG
AL P
OLI
CY &
PRA
CTIC
E |T
RAIN
ING
|DA
TA |
DU
AL S
TATU
S
Back
grou
nd: C
PCM
S is
a ca
se m
anag
emen
t sys
tem
that
is u
niqu
e to
Chi
ld P
rote
ctio
n Co
urts
(CPC
s) th
at h
as b
een
in u
se si
nce
2009
. CPC
MS
is cu
rren
tly in
mai
nten
ance
mod
e.
OCA
staf
fs a
CPC
MS
Advi
sory
Cou
ncil
of C
PC ju
dges
, OCA
staf
f, an
d Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n st
aff t
o id
entif
y an
d di
scus
s var
ious
enh
ance
men
ts a
nd is
sues
. Use
r-ge
nera
ted
prob
lem
s and
enh
ance
men
ts a
re ro
uted
thro
ugh
the
Advi
sory
Cou
ncil,
whi
ch a
lso a
dvic
es o
n da
ta c
olle
ctio
n an
d re
port
ing
feat
ures
of C
PCM
S. T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
regu
larly
col
labo
rate
s with
OCA
on
the
stat
ue o
f CPC
MS’
func
tioni
ng, p
robl
ems,
and
enh
ance
men
ts.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
CPC
Adv
isory
Cou
ncil
met
on
Mar
ch 6
, 202
0, to
disc
uss p
lann
ed u
pdat
es fo
r CPC
MS.
The
Adv
isory
Cou
ncil
revi
ewed
the
new
Dua
l Sta
tus f
lag
indi
catin
g Ju
veni
le C
ourt
invo
lvem
ent a
nd w
elco
med
mem
bers
of t
he C
omm
issio
n’s D
ual S
tatu
s Tas
k Fo
rce
to p
artic
ipat
e in
the
Advi
sory
Cou
ncil.
The
cou
ncil
disc
usse
d pr
ogre
ss o
n th
e cu
stom
izabl
e “D
ata
Dash
boar
d” a
nd re
ques
ts fo
r enh
ance
men
ts a
nd fi
xes.
Sin
ce th
e Ad
viso
ry C
ounc
il m
eetin
g an
d th
e ou
tbre
ak o
f the
CO
VID-
19 c
risis,
the
Advi
sory
Cou
ncil
has t
aken
step
s to
insu
re C
PCM
S ad
apts
to th
e cr
isis a
nd th
e tr
ansit
ion
to v
irtua
l cou
rt ro
oms,
incl
udin
g sw
itchi
ng to
a si
x m
onth
’s fo
rwar
d vi
ew o
f cou
rt d
ocke
ts a
nd a
ddin
g a
CPC
dire
ctor
y of
You
Tube
cha
nnel
s to
the
CPCM
S po
stin
g do
cket
web
page
. The
targ
et d
ate
for t
he n
ext C
PCM
S up
date
will
be
Augu
st 2
020
and
will
incl
ude
the
Judi
cial
Da
shbo
ard
feat
ure
afte
r fee
dbac
k th
e ju
dici
al fo
cus g
roup
hel
ped
narr
ow th
e pa
ram
eter
s. T
he n
ext m
eetin
g of
the
CPCM
S Ad
viso
ry C
omm
ittee
is sc
hedu
led
for e
arly
June
20
20.
II.F.
2. S
trat
egy:
Col
labo
rate
with
and
pro
vide
supp
ort f
or sp
ecia
lty c
ourt
s, d
ocke
ts, o
r pro
gram
s.
Back
grou
nd: T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
part
ners
with
or s
uppo
rts i
ndiv
idua
l cou
rt e
ffort
s see
king
to a
dopt
spec
ializ
es p
ract
ices
or p
rogr
ams.
For
exa
mpl
e, in
FY2
019,
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
prov
ided
seed
mon
ey th
roug
h O
CA to
em
ploy
an
Asso
ciat
e Ju
dge
and
Cour
t Coo
rdin
ator
to a
ssist
in h
andl
ing
child
abu
se a
nd n
egle
ct c
ases
file
d in
Da
llas C
ount
y Fa
mily
Cou
rts t
o pr
omot
e ac
hiev
ing
perm
anen
cy fo
r chi
ldre
n in
the
Perm
anen
t Man
agin
g Co
nser
vato
rshi
p of
the
Depa
rtm
ent o
f Fam
ily a
nd P
rote
ctiv
e Se
rvic
es.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
re a
re n
o ne
w sp
ecia
lty c
ourt
par
tner
ship
s or f
undi
ng re
ques
ts to
con
sider
cur
rent
ly, b
ut si
nce
Mar
ch 2
019,
the
Dalla
s Cou
nty
Child
Pro
tect
ion
&
Perm
anen
cy C
ourt
has
ass
isted
you
th in
the
long
-ter
m c
are
of C
PS. P
artic
ipat
ing
cour
ts in
clud
e th
e 25
4th,
256
th, 3
01st
, 303
rd D
istric
t Cou
rts.
Effo
rts a
re u
nder
way
for a
n ev
alua
tion
of D
alla
s Per
man
ency
Cou
rt m
odel
to e
xam
ine
the
perm
anen
cy a
nd w
ell-b
eing
out
com
es in
the
cour
t and
iden
tify
whi
ch p
ract
ices
pro
mot
e po
sitiv
e ou
tcom
es fo
r ch
ildre
n an
d yo
uth.
II.F.
3. S
trat
egy:
Con
vene
a T
ask
Forc
e to
exa
min
e th
e iss
ues r
elat
ed to
you
th in
volv
ed b
oth
in th
e ju
veni
le ju
stic
e an
d ch
ild w
elfa
re sy
stem
s.
Back
grou
nd: T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
has w
orke
d sin
ce it
s inc
eptio
n to
stre
ngth
en c
ourt
s for
chi
ldre
n an
d fa
mili
es in
the
Texa
s chi
ld p
rote
ctio
n sy
stem
. Fed
eral
Cou
rt
Impr
ovem
ent f
unds
requ
ire a
focu
s on
child
ren
who
are
abu
sed
and
negl
ecte
d bu
t chi
ldre
n in
volv
ed in
the
juve
nile
just
ice
syst
em p
rese
nt w
ith m
any
of th
e sa
me
chal
leng
es
and
need
s. T
he T
exas
Judi
cial
Cou
ncil
reco
mm
ende
d to
the
Supr
eme
Cour
t in
2018
that
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
shou
ld c
onve
ne a
task
forc
e to
stud
y an
d re
port
on
issue
s re
latin
g to
you
th w
ith in
volv
emen
t in
the
juve
nile
just
ice
and
child
wel
fare
syst
ems.
The
task
forc
e w
as fo
rmed
to e
stab
lish
a co
mm
on, s
tate
wid
e de
finiti
on(s
) for
the
popu
latio
n, id
entif
y re
sour
ces n
eede
d to
mee
t the
nee
ds o
f dua
l sta
tus y
outh
, and
mak
e ot
her r
ecom
men
datio
ns a
s may
be
nece
ssar
y to
impr
ove
outc
omes
for d
ual s
tatu
s yo
uth.
The
task
forc
e w
as d
irect
ed a
lso to
add
ress
trai
ning
nee
ds fo
r jud
ges a
nd o
ther
nec
essa
ry p
artie
s on
hand
ling
case
s inv
olvi
ng y
outh
invo
lved
in b
oth
syst
ems.
The
Tas
k Fo
rce
is co
-cha
ired
by Ju
dge
Gary
Col
ey o
f the
74t
h Di
stric
t Cou
rt in
Wac
o an
d Ju
dge
Lisa
Jarr
ett o
f the
436
th D
istric
t Cou
rt in
San
Ant
onio
. On
July
24,
201
9, th
e Ch
ildre
n’s
Com
miss
ion
conv
ened
the
first
Dua
l Sta
tus T
ask
Forc
e (D
STF)
mee
ting.
The
DST
F pl
ans t
o m
eet 4
-6 ti
mes
ove
r an
18-m
onth
tim
e pe
riod
to d
evel
op d
efin
ition
s of d
ual s
tatu
s yo
uth
and
reco
mm
enda
tions
for i
mpr
oved
han
dlin
g of
dua
l sta
tus c
ases
.
Page
10
of 2
4
SYS
TEM
S IM
PRO
VEM
ENT
| LE
GAL
PO
LICY
& P
RACT
ICE
|TRA
ININ
G |D
ATA
| DU
AL S
TATU
S
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
DST
F cr
eate
d fiv
e w
orkg
roup
s to
stud
y an
d m
ake
reco
mm
enda
tions
on
seve
ral a
spec
ts o
f ser
ving
dua
l sta
tus y
outh
. The
Tas
k Fo
rce
appr
oved
two
defin
ition
s pre
sent
ed b
y th
e De
finiti
ons W
orkg
roup
, one
for d
ual s
tatu
s you
th w
ho a
re c
oncu
rren
tly in
volv
ed in
bot
h sy
stem
s and
ano
ther
for d
ual s
yste
m y
outh
who
hav
e a
hist
ory
of in
volv
emen
t in
eith
er o
r bot
h sy
stem
s. T
he Ju
dici
al P
ract
ices
Wor
kgro
up w
ill e
xplo
re is
sues
rang
ing
from
doc
umen
ting
wha
t wor
ks in
juris
dict
ions
that
alre
ady
have
cr
osso
ver d
ocke
ts to
exp
lorin
g th
e im
plic
atio
ns o
f SB
1887
(86t
h Te
xas L
egisl
ativ
e Se
ssio
n). T
he T
rain
ing
Wor
kgro
up w
ill id
entif
y tr
aini
ng n
eeds
for j
udge
s, la
wye
rs, a
nd
advo
cate
s as w
ell a
s oth
er in
tere
sted
stak
ehol
ders
. The
Leg
al R
epre
sent
atio
n &
Adv
ocac
y W
orkg
roup
will
focu
s on
addr
essin
g et
hica
l iss
ues i
n re
pres
entin
g du
al st
atus
you
th,
raisi
ng a
war
enes
s abo
ut th
e du
al st
atus
pop
ulat
ion
amon
g pr
osec
utor
s, a
nd d
efin
ing
the
role
of a
gua
rdia
n ad
lite
m in
a d
ual s
tatu
s cas
e. T
he T
rans
ition
Pla
nnin
g &
Loc
al
Coor
dina
tion
will
add
ress
how
to st
reng
then
supp
ort f
or d
ual s
tatu
s you
th d
urin
g tr
ansit
ions
bet
wee
n sy
stem
s (e.
g. re
-ent
ry) a
nd id
entif
ying
oth
er o
ppor
tuni
ties f
or
colla
bora
tion
at th
e lo
cal l
evel
. The
Tas
k Fo
rce
last
met
on
Mar
ch 3
, 202
0 an
d w
ill c
onve
ne a
gain
on
July
31,
202
0. A
t the
Mar
ch m
eetin
g, th
e Ta
sk F
orce
diss
olve
d th
e De
finiti
ons W
orkg
roup
and
app
rove
d th
e cr
eatio
n of
a D
ata
Wor
kgro
up to
ass
ess w
hat d
ata
curr
ently
exi
sts t
o ge
t a b
ette
r und
erst
andi
ng o
f bot
h th
e po
pula
tion
size
and
the
outc
omes
for d
ual s
yste
m a
nd d
ual s
tatu
s you
th in
Tex
as.
Goa
l III:
Fac
ilita
te a
nd in
stitu
tiona
lize
colla
bora
tion,
com
mun
icat
ion,
and
resp
ect b
etw
een
the
judi
cial
syst
em a
nd c
hild
wel
fare
par
tner
s.
III.A
. Obj
ectiv
e: P
artic
ipat
e in
and
pro
mot
e in
stitu
tiona
l col
labo
ratio
n am
ong
high
-leve
l sta
te a
nd ju
dici
al le
ader
s, a
s w
ell a
s am
ong
mul
ti-di
scip
linar
y ch
ild w
elfa
re
stak
ehol
ders
to e
nsur
e op
en a
nd c
ontin
uous
dia
logu
e be
twee
n an
d am
ong
the
vario
us c
hild
wel
fare
par
tner
s aim
ed a
t im
prov
ing
the
child
wel
fare
syst
em fu
nctio
nalit
y,
prom
otin
g eq
uita
ble
serv
ices
, and
ens
urin
g ju
stic
e fo
r all
part
ies.
III.A
.1. S
trat
egy:
Par
ticip
ate
in a
nd p
rovi
de a
foru
m a
nd o
ppor
tuni
ty fo
r chi
ld w
elfa
re st
akeh
olde
rs to
col
labo
rate
, com
mun
icat
e, a
nd sh
are
info
rmat
ion
abou
t chi
ld w
elfa
re
prac
tices
, pol
icie
s, n
eeds
, and
stre
ngth
s.
Back
grou
nd: T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
help
s ins
titut
iona
lize
colla
bora
tion
by m
aint
aini
ng a
stat
ewid
e m
ulti-
disc
iplin
ary
judi
cial
com
miss
ion,
hol
ding
regu
lar m
eetin
gs th
at
incl
ude
child
wel
fare
stak
ehol
ders
, par
tner
ing
with
the
stat
e ch
ild w
elfa
re a
genc
y, a
nd p
artn
erin
g w
ith o
ther
stat
e an
d na
tiona
l lev
el e
xecu
tives
, par
tner
s, a
nd o
rgan
izatio
ns.
The
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
crea
tes a
n en
viro
nmen
t and
the
spac
e fo
r sta
keho
lder
s to
colla
bora
te, c
omm
unic
ate,
and
shar
e in
form
atio
n on
an
ongo
ing
basis
.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n he
ld it
s firs
t mee
ting
of F
Y202
0 on
Sep
tem
ber 2
7, 2
019
and
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
appr
oved
seve
ral f
undi
ng a
nd p
roje
ct
stra
tegi
es. T
he se
cond
mee
ting
of th
e fis
cal y
ear w
as h
eld
on F
ebru
ary
21, 2
020,
whe
re th
e Co
mm
issio
n w
elco
med
Dr.
Jerr
y M
ilner
, Ass
ocia
te C
omm
issio
ner o
f the
Chi
ldre
n’s
Bure
au a
nd h
is Sp
ecia
l Ass
istan
t Dav
id K
elly
, to
disc
uss f
eder
al p
ersp
ectiv
es o
n im
prov
ing
the
child
wel
fare
syst
em. C
olla
bora
tive
Coun
cil M
embe
r Fel
ix H
erre
ra m
ade
a sp
ecia
l pre
sent
atio
n ab
out t
he se
rvic
es a
vaila
ble
thro
ugh
the
Offi
ce o
f the
Con
sula
te G
ener
al o
f Mex
ico.
Ms.
Kar
la B
aker
and
her
att
orne
y, M
s. D
anna
May
hall
also
pre
sent
ed
on th
e im
port
ance
of p
aren
t eng
agem
ent a
nd h
igh-
qual
ity le
gal r
epre
sent
atio
n. T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
orga
nize
d a
team
of s
take
hold
ers,
incl
udin
g CP
S, P
EI, a
nd th
e Te
xas A
llian
ce o
f Chi
ld a
nd F
amily
Ser
vice
s to
atte
nd th
e St
ate
Team
Pla
nnin
g m
eetin
g in
Was
hing
ton,
DC
from
Mar
ch 1
1-13
.
Sinc
e th
e be
ginn
ing
of M
arch
, the
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n ha
s can
cele
d or
pos
tpon
ed m
ost,
if no
t all
even
ts, d
ue to
the
COVI
D-19
cris
is. T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
post
pone
d th
e Ro
und
Tabl
e on
Sha
cklin
g in
Juve
nile
Cou
rt th
at h
ad b
een
sche
dule
d fo
r Frid
ay, A
pril
13, 2
020.
The
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n ha
s con
tinue
d its
par
tner
ship
s with
its m
any
Page
11
of 2
4
SYS
TEM
S IM
PRO
VEM
ENT
| LE
GAL
PO
LICY
& P
RACT
ICE
|TRA
ININ
G |D
ATA
| DU
AL S
TATU
S
colla
bora
tors
, with
mos
t eve
nts t
akin
g pl
ace
onlin
e vi
a Zo
om o
r con
fere
nce
calls
. All
part
ners
hips
and
stak
ehol
der r
elat
ions
hips
are
inta
ct in
clud
ing,
but
not
lim
ited
to, t
he
Offi
ce o
f the
Gov
erno
r, O
ffice
of t
he A
ttor
ney
Gene
ral,
the
Judi
cial
Com
miss
ion
on M
enta
l Hea
lth, T
exas
Juve
nile
Just
ice
Depa
rtm
ent,
the
Texa
s Alli
ance
of C
hild
and
Fam
ily
Serv
ices
, The
Uni
vers
ity o
f Tex
as S
choo
l of S
ocia
l Wor
k, M
eado
ws M
enta
l Hea
lth P
olic
y In
stitu
te, a
nd th
e Ch
ild P
rote
ctio
n Re
form
Rou
nd T
able
. Also
, DFP
S le
ader
ship
has
a
stan
ding
pos
ition
on
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
and
at le
ast o
ne st
ate-
leve
l DFP
S st
aff m
embe
r is o
n ev
ery
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
com
mitt
ee. D
FPS
part
icip
ates
in a
bi-w
eekl
y co
llabo
rativ
e co
nfer
ence
cal
l with
chi
ld w
elfa
re st
akeh
olde
rs, w
hich
occ
urre
d w
eekl
y un
til M
ay 1
3, 2
020,
and
incl
ude
the
exec
utiv
e st
aff o
f DFP
S, O
CA, C
ASA,
the
Child
ren’
s Co
mm
issio
n’s C
olla
bora
tive
Coun
cil,
and
othe
r chi
ld w
elfa
re st
akeh
olde
rs.
III.B
. Obj
ectiv
e: C
onfe
r reg
ular
ly w
ith th
e De
part
men
t of F
amily
and
Pro
tect
ive
Serv
ices
on
the
Child
and
Fam
ily S
ervi
ce R
evie
ws,
Pro
gram
Impr
ovem
ent P
lans
, Chi
ld a
nd
Fam
ily S
tate
Pla
ns, a
nd th
e Co
urt I
mpr
ovem
ent P
rogr
am S
trat
egic
Pla
ns.
III.B
.1. S
trat
egy:
Con
fer w
ith D
FPS
on fe
dera
l pla
ns, a
udits
, and
requ
irem
ents
as m
anda
ted
by fe
dera
l pro
gram
inst
ruct
ions
.
Back
grou
nd: F
eder
al L
aw m
anda
tes t
hat s
tate
s rec
eivi
ng T
itle
IV-E
fund
s mus
t col
labo
rate
with
the
stat
e’s C
ourt
Impr
ovem
ent P
rogr
am (C
IP).
The
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
adm
inist
ers t
he C
IP fo
r Tex
as. A
s suc
h, th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n is
requ
ired
to c
olla
bora
te a
nd p
artn
er c
lose
ly w
ith th
e De
part
men
t of F
amily
and
Pro
tect
ive
Serv
ices
. Sp
ecifi
cally
, the
ent
ities
are
requ
ired
to c
olla
bora
te o
n th
e St
ate’
s fiv
e-ye
ar C
hild
and
Fam
ily S
tate
Pla
n (C
FSP)
, per
iodi
c Ch
ild a
nd F
amily
Ser
vice
Rev
iew
s and
ens
uing
Pro
gram
Im
prov
emen
t Pla
ns (P
IP),
and
the
annu
al C
ourt
Impr
ovem
ent P
rogr
am S
trat
egic
Pla
n an
d Se
lf-As
sess
men
t. Th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n ED
and
Sta
ff se
rve
on a
nd a
dvise
the
Stat
e PI
P Te
am.
The
Exec
utiv
e an
d As
sista
nt D
irect
ors o
f the
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n re
gula
rly c
onfe
r with
DFP
S to
disc
uss c
erta
in e
lem
ents
of t
he C
FSP
and
PIP.
Spe
cific
are
as o
f col
labo
ratio
n,
som
e of
whi
ch a
re in
clud
ed in
the
appr
oved
PIP
incl
ude:
• Pa
rtic
ipat
ion
in th
e Co
mm
issio
n’s a
nnua
l chi
ld w
elfa
re ju
dges
con
fere
nce
by jo
inin
g re
gion
al d
irect
ors a
nd ju
dges
to d
iscus
s dat
a, g
aps,
and
pro
cess
es. T
his P
IP e
lem
ent
was
com
plet
ed in
Oct
ober
201
9. (5
.1; 5
.5).
• Co
llabo
ratio
n on
impr
ovin
g no
tice
and
enga
gem
ent o
f par
ties b
eyon
d th
e CP
C Co
urts
and
the
CPCM
S sy
stem
. •
Colla
bora
tion
on R
ound
tabl
e di
scus
sions
abo
ut sy
stem
ic a
nd sp
ecia
lized
topi
cs.
• Co
nsid
erat
ion
of le
gal a
nd ju
dici
al in
put r
egar
ding
: o
W
orki
ng w
ith c
ourt
stak
ehol
ders
to e
nsur
e ef
fect
ive
and
appr
opria
te u
se o
f cou
rt in
volv
emen
t in
case
s with
cou
rt-o
rder
ed se
rvic
es (3
.6.6
);
o
Dete
rmin
ing
barr
iers
and
pos
sible
stra
tegi
es to
stre
ngth
en D
PFS
polic
y an
d pr
actic
e re
late
d to
inca
rcer
ated
par
ents
(4.1
.5; 4
.1.6
);
o
Shar
ing
prac
tice
guid
ance
rega
rdin
g ho
w to
bes
t eng
age
and
supp
ort p
aren
t vic
tims o
f fam
ily v
iole
nce
(4.5
); o
Co
ntin
uing
to ra
ise a
war
enes
s and
impr
ove
prac
tices
rega
rdin
g th
e im
port
ance
of f
amily
eng
agem
ent w
ith st
aff a
nd c
hild
and
par
ent r
epre
sent
ativ
es w
ho h
ave
dire
ct c
onta
ct w
ith p
aren
ts a
nd c
hild
ren
serv
ed b
y DF
PS (4
.6);
o
Co
nsul
ting
with
att
orne
ys w
ho re
pres
ent p
aren
ts to
det
erm
ine
barr
iers
and
stra
tegi
es to
stre
ngth
en D
FPS
polic
y an
d pr
actic
e re
late
d to
Fam
ily G
roup
Dec
ision
-M
akin
g 5.
4.3;
5.4
.4);
o
Po
lling
judg
es (t
hrou
gh C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
proc
ess)
abo
ut th
e ch
alle
nges
and
sugg
estio
ns fo
r im
prov
emen
ts to
enh
ance
and
spee
d pe
rman
ency
in c
ases
in
volv
ing
the
Inte
rsta
te C
ompa
ct o
n th
e Pl
acem
ent o
f Chi
ldre
n (t
he IC
PC) (
5.9.
4);
o
Shar
ing
info
rmat
ion
abou
t Col
labo
rativ
e Fa
mily
Eng
agem
ent (
CFE)
and
any
eva
luat
ions
and
nex
t ste
ps re
late
d to
exp
andi
ng C
FE (5
.10.
4).
Page
12
of 2
4
SYS
TEM
S IM
PRO
VEM
ENT
| LE
GAL
PO
LICY
& P
RACT
ICE
|TRA
ININ
G |D
ATA
| DU
AL S
TATU
S
o
Util
izing
the
Child
ren’
s Com
mis
sion
Lega
l Rep
rese
ntat
ion
Com
mitt
ee to
obt
ain
lega
l and
cou
rt st
akeh
olde
r fee
dbac
k (4
.6.1
1)
o
DFPS
will
par
tner
with
lega
l and
chi
ld w
elfa
re sy
stem
stak
ehol
ders
, inc
ludi
ng re
pres
enta
tives
of t
he c
ourt
syst
em o
n Tr
aum
a In
form
ed C
are
prac
tices
and
refo
rm
(6.4
.4)
In a
dditi
on to
the
item
s in
the
PIP,
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion,
at t
he su
gges
tion
of A
CF a
nd re
ques
t of D
FPS,
form
ed a
n At
torn
ey A
dviso
ry G
roup
(AAG
) com
prise
d of
se
ason
ed, e
xper
ienc
ed c
hild
wel
fare
att
orne
ys fr
om a
cros
s the
stat
e w
ho h
ave
agre
ed to
offe
r inp
ut a
nd p
ersp
ectiv
e on
an
ad h
oc b
asis
via
emai
l or c
onfe
renc
e ca
ll on
m
atte
rs o
f DFP
S po
licy
chan
ges w
hen
requ
este
d by
DFP
S, g
augi
ng th
e im
pact
of a
legi
slativ
e pr
opos
al, o
r pro
vidi
ng fe
edba
ck o
n tr
ends
or p
ract
ice
issue
s and
con
cern
s.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
In Ja
nuar
y 20
20, C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
staf
f att
ende
d an
Ado
ptio
n Su
mm
it sp
onso
red
by th
e fe
dera
l Chi
ldre
n’s B
urea
u to
con
tinue
mom
entu
m fr
om th
e fir
st A
dopt
ion
Call
to A
ctio
n su
mm
it he
ld in
Aug
ust 2
019
and
focu
sed
on a
chie
ving
per
man
ency
for c
hild
ren
in c
are
with
out a
per
man
ent f
amily
. The
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n,
in p
artn
ersh
ip w
ith D
FPS,
also
par
ticip
ated
in a
n Ad
optio
n / P
erm
anen
cy W
orks
hop
spon
sore
d by
the
Capa
city
Bui
ldin
g Ce
nter
for C
ourt
s in
Febr
uary
focu
sing
on th
e pe
rman
ency
goa
ls an
d ac
hiev
emen
ts o
f the
Dal
las P
MC
Cour
t whi
ch w
as la
unch
ed in
Dec
embe
r 201
8. T
he C
BCC
wor
ksho
p el
emen
ts in
clud
e: u
nder
stan
ding
the
proj
ect a
nd
sett
ing
inte
ntio
ns/g
oals
for t
he n
ext 1
2 m
onth
s; e
xplo
ring
data
and
how
to u
se it
effe
ctiv
ely;
con
duct
ing
a ro
ot c
ause
ana
lysis
and
dev
elop
ing
a th
eory
of c
hang
e;
impl
emen
tatio
n su
cces
ses;
iden
tifyi
ng a
ppro
pria
te p
rogr
am/p
ract
ice
chan
ge a
nd im
plem
enta
tion
plan
s; fi
delit
y an
d ou
tcom
e as
sess
men
ts; a
nd p
roje
ct e
valu
atio
n. T
he
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
subm
itted
info
rmat
ion
to D
FPS
rela
ted
to th
e co
mpl
etio
n of
seve
ral P
IP it
ems o
n 4/
2/20
and
4/2
3/20
and
pro
vide
d an
upd
ate
to th
e DF
PS S
tate
Pla
n on
4/2
9/20
. The
AAG
pro
vide
d fe
edba
ck o
n th
e De
part
men
t’s P
erm
anen
cy P
lann
ing
Reso
urce
Gui
de in
Apr
il 20
20.
Goa
l IV:
Pro
mot
e hi
gh q
ualit
y co
urt p
roce
edin
gs th
at sa
fegu
ard
due
proc
ess,
ens
ure
child
and
fam
ily in
volv
emen
t, an
d su
ppor
t effe
ctiv
e le
gal r
epre
sent
atio
n of
par
ties.
IV.A
. Obj
ectiv
e: Im
prov
e le
gal r
epre
sent
atio
n so
that
par
ents
, chi
ldre
n, a
nd th
e St
ate
of T
exas
exp
erie
nce
high
-qua
lity
cour
t hea
rings
.
IV.A
.1 S
trat
egy:
Con
vene
and
mai
ntai
n a
Lega
l Rep
rese
ntat
ion
Com
mitt
ee to
supp
ort e
ffort
s to
ensu
re h
igh
qual
ity le
gal r
epre
sent
atio
n fo
r par
ties.
Back
grou
nd: W
hen
a fa
mily
is in
volv
ed in
a c
hild
pro
tect
ion
proc
eedi
ng, q
ualit
y le
gal c
ouns
el is
ess
entia
l for
all
part
ies t
o en
sure
that
the
cour
t str
ikes
the
appr
opria
te b
alan
ce
betw
een
the
right
s and
dut
ies o
f all
part
ies i
nvol
ved.
The
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n ha
s mai
ntai
ned
a Le
gal R
epre
sent
atio
n Co
mm
ittee
(LRC
) sin
ce it
s inc
eptio
n. T
he C
omm
ittee
ex
ists t
o id
entif
y tr
aini
ng n
eeds
, adv
ise c
hild
wel
fare
syst
em st
akeh
olde
rs o
n be
st le
gal a
nd ju
dici
al sy
stem
pra
ctic
es, e
valu
ate
prop
osed
stat
utor
y am
endm
ents
, ass
ess t
he
qual
ity o
f leg
al re
pres
enta
tion
thro
ugho
ut th
e st
ate,
and
hel
p en
sure
that
cou
rt p
roce
edin
gs sa
fegu
ard
due
proc
ess,
pro
mot
e ch
ild a
nd fa
mily
eng
agem
ent,
and
prod
uce
qual
ity le
gal r
epre
sent
atio
n ou
tcom
es fo
r the
chi
ldre
n an
d fa
mili
es in
volv
ed.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
pro
ject
s disc
usse
d at
the
Janu
ary
30, 2
020
LRC
mee
ting
cont
inue
d to
adv
ance
des
pite
the
COVI
D-19
cris
is. C
omm
issio
n st
aff c
ontin
ued
to re
fine
the
Tool
Kit
for R
epre
sent
ing
Pare
nts a
nd C
hild
ren
in C
PS C
ases
in re
spon
se to
the
feed
back
from
the
LRC
Com
mitt
ee a
nd th
e To
ol K
it W
orkg
roup
. How
ever
, the
cris
is an
d th
e ca
ncel
atio
n of
the
Stat
e Ba
r of T
exas
Chi
ld P
rote
ctio
n La
w S
ectio
n Ad
vanc
ed C
LE o
n M
arch
26,
202
0 fo
rced
an
adju
stm
ent t
o th
e tim
elin
e fo
r pub
lishi
ng th
e To
ol K
it. T
he
Com
miss
ion
hope
s to
have
an
onlin
e ve
rsio
n of
the
Tool
Kit
avai
labl
e in
June
and
har
d co
pies
ava
ilabl
e in
Aug
ust f
or th
e Ad
vanc
ed F
amily
Law
Chi
ld A
buse
wor
ksho
p. T
he
wor
k of
the
Task
For
ce o
n Co
urt-
Appo
inte
d Le
gal R
epre
sent
atio
n co
ntin
ued
with
eac
h of
subc
omm
ittee
hol
ding
virt
ual m
eetin
gs to
disc
uss w
hat a
djus
tmen
ts n
eede
d to
be
Page
13
of 2
4
SYS
TEM
S IM
PRO
VEM
ENT
| LE
GAL
PO
LICY
& P
RACT
ICE
|TRA
ININ
G |D
ATA
| DU
AL S
TATU
S
mad
e du
e to
the
crisi
s. T
he T
ask
Forc
e ag
reed
to d
ivid
e th
e Ap
ril 2
4, in
-per
son
mee
ting,
into
thre
e vi
rtua
l mee
tings
from
Apr
il 24
-May
1. T
he m
eetin
gs fe
atur
ed a
que
stio
n an
d an
swer
sess
ion
with
gue
st re
pres
enta
tives
from
diff
eren
t mod
els o
f rep
rese
ntat
ion
from
Cal
iforn
ia, N
ew Y
ork,
Pen
nsyl
vani
a, N
orth
Dak
ota,
Mas
sach
uset
ts, a
nd
Was
hing
ton.
The
Tas
k Fo
rce
will
hol
d its
nex
t mee
ting
in e
arly
June
202
0 an
d th
e ne
xt m
eetin
g of
the
Lega
l Rep
rese
ntat
ion
Com
mitt
ee w
ill b
e on
Aug
ust 2
8, 2
020.
IV.B
. Obj
ectiv
e: D
evel
op, a
dopt
and
pro
mot
e st
anda
rds o
f pra
ctic
e fo
r att
orne
ys re
pres
entin
g pa
rtie
s in
child
pro
tect
ion
case
s so
that
att
orne
ys a
re e
ncou
rage
d to
gai
n a
high
er le
vel o
f exp
ertis
e an
d pr
ovid
e hi
gh-q
ualit
y le
gal r
epre
sent
atio
n.
IV.B
.1. S
trat
egy:
Sup
port
dev
elop
men
t and
ado
ptio
n of
Sta
ndar
ds o
f Rep
rese
ntat
ion
for a
ttor
neys
repr
esen
ting
child
ren
and
pare
nts i
n ch
ild p
rote
ctio
n ca
ses.
Back
grou
nd: T
houg
h at
torn
eys f
or p
aren
ts a
nd c
hild
ren
are
requ
ired
by th
e Fa
mily
Cod
e to
bec
ome
fam
iliar
with
the
ABA
stan
dard
s of p
ract
ice
for a
ttor
neys
who
repr
esen
t pa
rent
s and
chi
ldre
n in
abu
se a
nd n
egle
ct c
ases
, Tex
as d
oes n
ot re
quire
com
plia
nce
with
the
ABA
stan
dard
s as a
con
ditio
n of
app
oint
men
t, no
r has
Tex
as a
dopt
ed it
s ow
n st
anda
rds o
f pra
ctic
e fo
r cou
rt-a
ppoi
nted
att
orne
ys. T
he 2
018
Lega
l Rep
rese
ntat
ion
Stud
y su
rvey
ed st
akeh
olde
rs re
gard
ing
the
effe
ct th
at th
e la
ck o
f enf
orce
able
stan
dard
s of
pra
ctic
e ha
s on
the
lega
l rep
rese
ntat
ion
of p
aren
ts a
nd c
hild
ren.
Acr
oss s
take
hold
er g
roup
s, p
artic
ipan
ts d
emon
stra
ted
a hi
gh le
vel o
f con
fiden
ce th
at th
e cr
eatio
n an
d en
forc
emen
t of s
tand
ards
wou
ld im
prov
e th
e qu
ality
of r
epre
sent
atio
n, in
clud
ing
70%
of r
espo
ndin
g co
urt-
appo
inte
d at
torn
eys i
ndic
atin
g th
at st
anda
rds w
ould
hav
e a
posit
ive
effe
ct.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
Tas
k Fo
rce
on C
ourt
-App
oint
ed L
egal
Rep
rese
ntat
ion’
s sub
com
mitt
ee o
n qu
ality
, sta
ndar
ds, a
nd a
ccou
ntab
ility
for a
ttor
neys
met
on
April
3 to
disc
uss
wha
t rol
e st
anda
rds o
f rep
rese
ntat
ion
will
pla
y in
the
Task
For
ce’s
Rep
ort t
o th
e Te
xas L
egisl
atur
e in
Nov
embe
r 202
0. T
he su
bcom
mitt
ee is
wor
king
to id
entif
y Te
xas-
spec
ific
requ
irem
ents
that
any
stan
dard
s mus
t inc
lude
to e
nsur
e qu
ality
lega
l rep
rese
ntat
ion.
IV.C
. Obj
ectiv
e: E
ncou
rage
att
orne
ys w
ho w
ish
to a
chie
ve a
hig
her l
evel
of u
nder
stan
ding
and
exp
ertis
e to
pur
sue
child
wel
fare
spec
ializ
atio
n th
roug
h th
e Te
xas B
oard
of
Lega
l Spe
cial
izat
ion
to p
rovi
de a
hig
her c
alib
er o
f leg
al re
pres
enta
tion.
IV.C
.1. S
trat
egy:
Sup
port
the
Texa
s Boa
rd o
f Leg
al S
peci
aliza
tion
Advi
sory
and
Exa
m C
omm
ittee
s and
the
Nat
iona
l Ass
ocia
tion
of C
ouns
el fo
r Chi
ldre
n in
effo
rts t
o ce
rtify
Tex
as
atto
rney
s as s
peci
alist
s in
Texa
s and
nat
iona
l chi
ld w
elfa
re la
w.
Back
grou
nd: O
n Fe
brua
ry 1
4, 2
017,
the
Texa
s Sup
rem
e Co
urt o
ffici
ally
reco
gnize
d Ch
ild W
elfa
re L
aw a
s the
20t
h ar
ea o
f cer
tifie
d le
gal s
peci
aliza
tion.
Judg
e De
an R
ucke
r se
rves
as t
he c
hair
of th
e Ad
viso
ry C
omm
issio
n w
hich
con
sider
s app
licat
ions
to b
ecom
e bo
ard
cert
ified
in c
hild
wel
fare
law
and
has
the
auth
ority
to re
view
and
sugg
est
chan
ges i
n st
anda
rds.
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n st
aff s
erve
as t
he c
hair
of E
xam
Com
miss
ion,
whi
ch is
resp
onsib
le fo
r dra
ftin
g an
d gr
adin
g th
e ce
rtifi
catio
n ex
am. A
lso, f
or
seve
ral y
ears
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
has o
ffere
d re
imbu
rsem
ent o
f eith
er th
e Ap
plic
atio
n Fe
e or
the
Cert
ifica
tion
Exam
Fee
for T
exas
att
orne
ys a
nd ju
dges
who
su
cces
sful
ly q
ualif
y fo
r and
pas
s the
Nat
iona
l Ass
ocia
tion
of C
ouns
el fo
r Chi
ldre
n’s C
hild
Wel
fare
Law
Spe
cial
ist E
xam
. The
scho
lars
hip
incl
udes
the
NAC
C Re
d Bo
ok T
rain
ing
to
help
app
lican
ts p
repa
re fo
r the
exa
m a
nd a
cop
y of
the
Red
Book
. Add
ition
ally
, ass
istan
ce is
ava
ilabl
e to
Tex
as a
ttor
neys
and
judg
es w
ho a
re se
ekin
g re
-cer
tific
atio
n of
thei
r CW
LS e
very
five
yea
rs. A
s of J
une
2017
, the
pro
gram
is o
pen
in 4
3 st
ates
and
ther
e ar
e ov
er 6
00 C
WLS
acr
oss t
he c
ount
ry. T
exas
is c
urre
ntly
in th
e to
p fiv
e st
ates
for n
umbe
r of
cer
tifie
d at
torn
eys/
judg
es.
Page
14
of 2
4
SYS
TEM
S IM
PRO
VEM
ENT
| LE
GAL
PO
LICY
& P
RACT
ICE
|TRA
ININ
G |D
ATA
| DU
AL S
TATU
S
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
Due
to th
e CO
VID-
19 c
risis,
the
Texa
s Boa
rd o
f Leg
al S
peci
aliza
tion
has e
xten
ded
the
dead
line
to su
bmit
appl
icat
ions
for 2
020
cert
ifica
tion
until
May
18,
20
20. T
he e
xam
will
be
held
Oct
ober
12,
202
0 an
d th
e Bo
ard
of L
aw E
xam
iner
s is m
eetin
g re
gula
rly to
est
ablis
h sa
fety
pro
toco
l and
pro
cedu
res f
or th
e ex
am. T
he E
xam
Co
mm
issio
n w
ill c
ontin
ue to
mee
t thr
ough
out t
he y
ear t
o re
vise
exi
stin
g ex
am q
uest
ions
and
dra
ft n
ew q
uest
ions
in p
repa
ratio
n fo
r the
Oct
ober
202
0 Ex
am.
IV.D
. Obj
ectiv
e: C
reat
e, d
istr
ibut
e, m
aint
ain,
supp
ort,
and
eval
uate
reso
urce
s for
par
ents
invo
lved
in C
PS c
ases
so th
at p
aren
ts c
an g
ain
mor
e eq
ual f
ootin
g an
d su
ppor
t fo
r the
ir rig
hts o
nce
they
bec
ome
invo
lved
with
CPS
.
IV.D
.1. S
trat
egy:
Mai
ntai
n a
Pare
nt R
esou
rce
Wor
kgro
up a
nd th
e Pa
rent
Res
ourc
e Gu
ide.
Back
grou
nd: T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
supp
orts
a P
aren
t Res
ourc
e Gr
oup
whi
ch is
mad
e up
on
pare
nt m
ento
rs, p
aren
t adv
ocat
es, p
aren
t att
orne
ys, D
FPS
pers
onne
l, an
d ot
her i
nter
este
d st
akeh
olde
rs. P
rior t
o es
tabl
ishin
g th
e Fa
mily
Hel
plin
e, th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n pa
rtne
red
with
the
Uni
vers
ity o
f Tex
as a
nd o
ther
stak
ehol
ders
to p
rodu
ce
the
Pare
nt R
esou
rce
Guid
e, w
hich
is a
vaila
ble
in p
rint a
nd o
nlin
e on
the
Child
ren’
s Com
mis
sion
web
site
as w
ell a
s man
y on
oth
er C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
part
ner a
nd a
dvoc
ate
web
sites
, in
Engl
ish a
nd S
pani
sh.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
Par
ent R
esou
rce
Grou
p m
et o
n M
arch
6, 2
020
to d
iscus
s how
to su
ppor
t par
ents
exp
erie
ncin
g a
CPS
case
and
how
to m
ake
the
best
use
of t
he P
aren
t Re
sour
ce G
uide
as w
ell a
s the
“W
hat D
oes a
Par
ent’s
Att
orne
y Do
?” p
amph
let.
In re
spon
se to
the
COVI
D-19
cris
is, th
e Co
mm
issio
n co
llabo
rate
d w
ith v
ario
us st
akeh
olde
rs to
id
entif
y re
sour
ces a
vaila
ble
to h
elp
pare
nts n
avig
ate
the
COVI
D-19
cris
is an
d pu
blish
ed a
Res
ourc
e Le
tter
to ju
dges
and
att
orne
ys w
ith a
n ex
tens
ive
list o
f res
ourc
es fo
r pa
rent
s and
fam
ilies
in C
PS c
ases
. The
Par
ent R
esou
rce
Grou
p w
ill h
old
its n
ext m
eetin
g M
ay 1
9, 2
020
to id
entif
y fu
rthe
r nee
ds a
nd su
ppor
ts fo
r par
ents
.
IV.D
.2. S
trat
egy:
Sup
port
effo
rts t
o pr
ovid
e ac
cess
to in
form
atio
n an
d re
sour
ces f
or T
exas
fam
ilies
thro
ugh
the
Texa
s Leg
al S
ervi
ces C
ente
r Fam
ily H
elpl
ine.
Back
grou
nd: S
ince
201
7, th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n ha
s par
tner
ed w
ith A
cces
s to
Just
ice
and
the
Child
ren’
s Jus
tice
Act t
o fu
nd th
e Te
xas L
egal
Ser
vice
s Cor
pora
tion
to
esta
blish
the
Fam
ily H
elpl
ine,
whi
ch p
rovi
des e
asy,
stat
ewid
e ac
cess
for p
aren
ts a
nd fa
mily
mem
bers
to b
asic
info
rmat
ion,
edu
catio
n, a
nd re
sour
ces a
ddre
ssin
g pa
rent
al
right
s as t
hey
rela
te to
CPS
Inve
stig
atio
ns, t
he p
rovi
sion
of F
amily
Bas
ed S
ervi
ces,
Par
enta
l Chi
ld S
afet
y Pl
acem
ents
, Cha
pter
34
non-
pare
nt a
gree
men
ts, t
erm
inat
ion
of
pare
ntal
righ
ts, c
usto
dy, a
cces
s, v
isita
tion,
serv
ice
plan
s, th
e co
urt’s
role
in c
ondu
ctin
g he
arin
gs a
nd o
vers
ight
, rig
ht to
lega
l cou
nsel
, non
-offe
ndin
g pa
rent
s, m
inor
par
ents
, in
carc
erat
ed p
aren
ts, s
urvi
vors
of f
amily
vio
lenc
e, in
terg
ener
atio
nal i
ssue
s, a
nd o
ther
var
iatio
ns o
f the
se si
tuat
ions
.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
CO
VID-
19 c
risis
has r
equi
red
the
Fam
ily H
elpl
ine
to a
dapt
in se
vera
l way
s. T
exas
Leg
al S
ervi
ces
Corp
orat
ion
has f
roze
n al
l hiri
ng, i
nclu
ding
the
Help
line’
s ope
n st
aff a
ttor
ney
posit
ion.
The
Hel
plin
e ha
s cea
sed
all i
n-pe
rson
out
reac
h ac
tiviti
es, e
duca
tiona
l act
iviti
es, a
nd tr
avel
for t
he sa
fety
of t
heir
staf
f and
the
gene
ral
publ
ic a
nd is
eva
luat
ing
call
volu
me
to d
eter
min
e if
elec
tron
ic o
utre
ach
wou
ld b
e a
feas
ible
and
an
alte
rnat
ive
to in
-per
son
outr
each
. The
Hel
plin
e al
so sa
w a
dro
p in
cal
l vo
lum
e in
the
mid
dle
of M
arch
, as t
he C
OVI
D-19
cris
is be
gan
to c
ause
mul
tiple
cha
nges
and
clo
sure
s thr
ough
out t
he st
ate.
How
ever
, in
April
the
redu
ctio
n in
cal
ls di
ssip
ated
an
d ca
ll vo
lum
e is
now
stea
dy. I
n th
e se
cond
qua
rter
of F
Y202
0, th
e He
lplin
e ai
ded
over
430
indi
vidu
al c
alle
rs a
bout
chi
ld w
elfa
re le
gal i
ssue
s acr
oss t
he st
ate
of T
exas
. The
ca
lls in
volv
ed 4
63 a
dults
and
724
chi
ldre
n, a
nd c
over
ed q
uest
ions
rega
rdin
g 10
8 di
ffere
nt is
sues
rela
ted
to C
PS. D
espi
te th
e re
duct
ion
in st
aff a
nd th
e di
srup
tions
due
to th
e cr
isis,
the
Fam
ily H
elpl
ine
was
abl
e to
pro
vide
con
tinuo
us se
rvic
e to
Tex
as fa
mili
es d
ue to
the
crea
tion
of a
wor
k-fr
om-h
ome
prog
ram
that
was
impl
emen
ted
befo
re th
e ou
tbre
ak b
egan
. The
pro
gram
allo
wed
staf
f to
tran
sitio
n to
a re
mot
e w
ork
envi
ronm
ent w
ithou
t any
disr
uptio
n in
serv
ices
and
rem
ain
avai
labl
e to
ass
ist th
e pu
blic
at t
heir
regu
lar h
ours
of o
pera
tion.
Page
15
of 2
4
SYS
TEM
S IM
PRO
VEM
ENT
| LE
GAL
PO
LICY
& P
RACT
ICE
|TRA
ININ
G |D
ATA
| DU
AL S
TATU
S
IV.E
. Obj
ectiv
e: Im
prov
e an
d ex
pand
eng
agem
ent o
f fam
ilies
and
car
egiv
ers i
n co
urt h
earin
gs so
that
cou
rt h
earin
gs a
re h
ighe
r qua
lity
and
mor
e m
eani
ngfu
l for
the
fam
ilies
and
chi
ldre
n in
volv
ed.
IV.E
.1. S
trat
egy:
Pro
mot
e an
d im
prov
e av
aila
bilit
y an
d us
e of
the
OCA
Not
ice
and
Enga
gem
ent t
ool.
Back
grou
nd: A
ll pa
rtie
s inv
olve
d in
CPS
cas
es c
ontin
ue to
stru
ggle
with
secu
ring
cons
isten
t and
tim
ely
notic
e of
sche
dule
d he
arin
gs fr
om D
FPS.
Thi
s iss
ue in
clud
es th
e fo
ster
pl
acem
ents
and
DFP
S se
rvic
e pr
ovid
er fa
cilit
ies w
here
the
child
ren/
yout
h ar
e in
pla
cem
ent a
nd re
sults
in m
any
part
ies n
ot b
eing
abl
e to
att
end
sche
dule
d co
urt h
earin
gs. T
he
proj
ect i
nvol
ves u
sing
non-
conf
iden
tial c
ase
data
to p
rovi
de e
mai
l not
ice
to u
sers
abo
ut u
pcom
ing
hear
ings
. OCA
will
mar
ket t
he re
sour
ce a
nd p
erio
dica
lly re
-issu
e an
noun
cem
ents
, sur
vey
user
s on
the
usef
ulne
ss a
nd e
ffect
iven
ess o
f the
syst
em a
nd m
onito
r the
syst
em lo
gin
and
sear
ch in
form
atio
n. N
otic
es w
ill b
e m
onito
red
to e
valu
ate
whe
ther
the
corr
ect h
earin
g da
ta is
pop
ulat
ing
acco
rdin
g to
sear
ch c
riter
ia. R
epor
ts/d
ata
will
be
prod
uced
and
pro
vide
d to
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
On
May
8, 2
020,
OCA
exp
erie
nced
a se
curit
y br
each
in it
s net
wor
k, d
isabl
ing
seve
ral O
CA w
ebsit
es a
nd d
ata
syst
ems i
nclu
ding
CPC
MS
and
its n
otic
e an
d en
gage
men
t too
l. Si
nce
that
tim
e, O
CA h
as b
een
wor
king
tire
less
ly w
ith la
w e
nfor
cem
ent,
cybe
rsec
urity
pro
fess
iona
ls, a
nd th
e Te
xas D
epar
tmen
t of I
nfor
mat
ion
Reso
urce
s to
get t
he sy
stem
s up
and
runn
ing
as so
on a
s pos
sible
. OCA
and
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
rem
ain
com
mitt
ed e
xpan
ding
and
impr
ovin
g th
e no
tice
and
enga
gem
ent t
ool o
nce
the
syst
em is
rest
ored
.
IV.F
. Obj
ectiv
e: P
rom
ote
the
valu
e of
med
iatio
n in
CPS
cas
es, w
hich
may
, in
turn
, hel
p ch
ildre
n an
d fa
mili
es e
xit t
he c
hild
wel
fare
syst
em m
ore
quic
kly.
IV.F
.1. S
trat
egy:
Est
ablis
h an
und
erst
andi
ng a
nd fr
amew
ork
rega
rdin
g av
aila
bilit
y, q
ualit
y, su
ppor
t, co
st, t
rain
ing,
and
use
fuln
ess o
f med
iatio
n in
CPS
cas
es.
Back
grou
nd: M
edia
tion
is us
ed in
CPS
cas
es th
roug
hout
Tex
as a
nd c
an b
e an
effe
ctiv
e an
d fin
anci
ally
pru
dent
met
hod
of re
solv
ing
case
s. O
ne b
enef
it of
med
iatio
n is
that
it
can
enha
nce
part
icip
ants
’ sen
se th
ey w
ere
trea
ted
fairl
y. S
tudi
es sh
ow th
at a
n en
hanc
ed se
nse
of fa
ir tr
eatm
ent i
ncre
ases
bot
h ac
cept
ance
and
com
plia
nce
with
cou
rt
deci
sions
. Tho
ugh
the
use
of m
edia
tion
to re
solv
e CP
S ca
ses p
rior t
o tr
ial h
as b
ecom
e w
idel
y ac
cept
ed, t
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
is in
tere
sted
in e
xplo
ring
whe
ther
m
edia
tion
is be
ing
unde
r-ut
ilize
d in
CPS
cas
es b
ecau
se it
oft
en o
ccur
s too
late
in th
e ca
se ti
mel
ine
for t
he b
enef
its o
f inc
reas
ed c
ompl
ianc
e to
be
real
ized.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
Com
miss
ion
host
ed a
Rou
nd T
able
on
Med
iatio
n in
CPS
cas
es o
n Fe
brua
ry 2
2, 2
019
at th
e U
nive
rsity
of T
exas
at A
ustin
. The
Rou
nd T
able
bro
ught
to
geth
er 4
5 m
edia
tors
, att
orne
ys, j
udic
ial l
eade
rs, s
ubje
ct m
atte
r exp
erts
, and
pol
icym
aker
s fro
m a
cros
s Tex
as to
disc
uss i
ssue
s affe
ctin
g m
edia
tion
in c
hild
pro
tect
ion
case
s.
Part
icip
ants
exc
hang
ed e
xper
ienc
es a
nd id
eas r
egar
ding
how
to c
reat
e co
nditi
ons f
or su
cces
sful
med
iatio
n, w
hen
and
how
to u
se m
edia
tion
as a
n ef
fect
ive
tool
, as w
ell a
s the
ch
alle
nges
faci
ng d
iver
se ju
risdi
ctio
ns in
est
ablis
hing
effe
ctiv
e m
edia
tion
prog
ram
s. T
he C
omm
issio
n w
ill b
e pu
blish
ing
the
repo
rt fr
om th
e Ro
und
Tabl
e in
June
202
0 an
d is
form
ing
a w
orkg
roup
to a
naly
ze th
e iss
ues t
hat a
rose
from
the
disc
ussio
n an
d to
dev
elop
act
ion
item
s tha
t can
be
impl
emen
ted
to ra
ise th
e qu
ality
of m
edia
tion
in C
PS c
ases
ac
ross
the
stat
e of
Tex
as. I
n re
spon
se to
the
COVI
D-19
cris
is, th
e Co
mm
issio
n is
mak
ing
effo
rts t
o co
nnec
t exp
erie
nced
CPS
med
iato
rs w
ho a
re a
ble
to c
ondu
ct m
edia
tion
rem
otel
y w
ith c
ourt
s who
may
lack
acc
ess t
o ex
perie
nced
med
iato
rs in
thei
r loc
al ju
risdi
ctio
ns o
r who
are
look
ing
to e
xpan
d ho
w th
ey u
tilize
med
iatio
n.
IV.G
. Obj
ectiv
e: Im
prov
e an
d ex
pand
eng
agem
ent o
f you
th in
cou
rt h
earin
gs a
nd re
late
d de
cisi
on-m
akin
g so
that
you
th fe
el m
ore
invo
lved
and
ass
ured
that
thei
r voi
ce is
he
ard
and
impo
rtan
t to
the
deci
sion
s bei
ng m
ade
abou
t the
ir liv
es.
Page
16
of 2
4
SYS
TEM
S IM
PRO
VEM
ENT
| LE
GAL
PO
LICY
& P
RACT
ICE
|TRA
ININ
G |D
ATA
| DU
AL S
TATU
S
IV.G
.1. S
trat
egy:
Ele
vate
the
impo
rtan
ce o
f you
th v
oice
, you
th p
rese
nce,
and
you
th in
put i
n th
e ou
tcom
e of
thei
r cas
e, in
clud
ing
the
use
of v
ideo
con
fere
ncin
g se
rvic
es to
fa
cilit
ate
yout
h pa
rtic
ipat
ion
in c
ourt
hea
rings
, and
supp
ort n
orm
alcy
stra
tegi
es a
nd a
ctiv
ities
.
Back
grou
nd: I
n FY
2018
, the
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n he
lped
Tex
as N
etw
ork
of Y
outh
Ser
vice
s (TN
OYS
) est
ablis
h a
Stat
ewid
e Yo
ung
Adul
t Lea
ders
hip
Coun
cil (
YALC
) des
igne
d to
el
evat
e an
d in
corp
orat
e yo
uth
voic
e in
stat
ewid
e po
licy
and
adm
inist
rativ
e pr
oced
ure
disc
ussio
ns, p
artic
ular
ly in
the
area
of t
he c
hild
wel
fare
syst
em. T
he C
hild
ren’
s Co
mm
issio
n al
so g
rant
ed T
NO
YS fu
ndin
g to
ass
ist w
ith P
hysic
al a
nd E
nviro
nmen
tal A
ctiv
ities
for K
now
ledg
e an
d Sk
ills (
PEAK
S) A
dven
ture
Pro
gram
whi
ch h
elps
tran
sfor
m th
e liv
es o
f par
ticip
ants
, whi
ch in
clud
e yo
uth
and
youn
g ad
ults
livi
ng in
shel
ters
, hal
fway
hou
ses,
and
juve
nile
just
ice
faci
litie
s to
help
you
th b
uild
resil
ienc
y sk
ills t
hrou
gh
stru
ctur
ed e
xper
ient
ial l
earn
ing
and
posit
ive
inte
ract
ions
with
adu
lts a
nd y
outh
pee
rs. T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
also
con
tinue
s to
supp
ort a
vid
eo c
onfe
renc
ing
proj
ect
whi
ch e
nabl
es c
hild
ren
invo
lved
in c
hild
abu
se a
nd n
egle
ct c
ases
to p
artic
ipat
e in
per
man
ency
and
pla
cem
ent r
evie
w h
earin
gs w
ithou
t bei
ng p
hysic
ally
pre
sent
in th
e co
urtr
oom
. The
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n pr
ovid
es fu
ndin
g to
OCA
via
a g
rant
to h
ost a
nd su
ppor
t the
har
dwar
e an
d so
ftw
are
requ
ired
to fa
cilit
ate
vide
o co
nfer
enci
ng b
etw
een
cour
ts a
nd re
siden
tial p
lace
men
ts (p
rimar
ily R
TCs)
. In
furt
hera
nce
of th
e Pr
even
ting
Sex
Traf
ficki
ng a
nd S
tren
gthe
ning
Fam
ilies
Act
(P. L
. 113
‒183
), th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n he
ld a
Rou
nd T
able
in F
ebru
ary
2019
and
pro
vide
d fu
ndin
g to
Tex
as C
ASA
to e
xpan
d un
ders
tand
ing,
ava
ilabi
lity,
and
impl
emen
tatio
n of
nor
mal
cy c
ultu
re a
nd a
ctiv
ities
th
roug
hout
the
child
wel
fare
sys
tem
. The
Com
miss
ion
also
pro
vide
s fun
ding
eac
h ye
ar to
prin
t the
Fos
ter Y
outh
Agi
ng O
ut G
uide
pub
lishe
d by
Tex
as R
ioGr
ande
Leg
al A
id.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
PEAK
S: T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
mis
sion
prov
ided
$20
,000
in g
rant
fund
ing
to T
NO
YS to
supp
ort t
he p
artic
ipat
ion
of y
outh
and
you
ng a
dults
at i
ts F
Y202
0 PE
AKS
cam
p. D
ue to
CO
VID-
19, T
NO
YS w
ill b
e un
able
to h
ost P
EAKS
as
plan
ned
in fi
scal
yea
r 202
0. T
NO
YS d
id in
cur $
5,00
0 in
sun
k co
sts
for s
taff
and
cont
ract
or ti
me
in p
repa
ratio
n fo
r PEA
KS w
hich
the
Com
miss
ion
will
rei
mbu
rse.
TN
OYS
and
Com
miss
ion
staf
f ar
e di
scus
sing
poss
ible
rea
lloca
tion
of t
he b
udge
t to
sup
port
you
th m
ore
appr
opria
tely
und
er t
he c
urre
nt
circ
umst
ance
s.
Vide
ocon
fere
ncin
g: T
he v
ideo
-con
fere
ncin
g pr
ogra
m re
mai
ns a
vaila
ble
to th
e co
urts
to in
clud
e yo
uth
in h
earin
gs a
nd fo
r RTC
s an
d CA
SA w
orke
rs to
con
duct
visi
tatio
n. In
the
first
qua
rter
of F
Y202
0, th
ere
wer
e 53
vid
eo h
earin
gs c
ondu
cted
. In
the
seco
nd q
uart
er o
f FY2
020,
ther
e w
ere
30 v
ideo
hea
rings
con
duct
ed. T
he d
ecre
ase
is lik
ely
due
to c
ourt
s us
ing
Zoom
for a
ll he
arin
gs d
urin
g CO
VID-
19 cr
isis.
OCA
has
crea
ted
a w
ebpa
ge w
ith li
nks t
o ea
ch C
hild
Pro
tect
ion
Cour
t’s li
vest
ream
hea
ring
page
. Vid
eo co
nfer
enci
ng a
ctiv
ities
fo
r FY
2020
are
focu
sed
on u
ser
supp
ort a
nd e
ffort
s to
incr
ease
aw
aren
ess
of a
nd h
ow to
use
the
prog
ram
. OCA
is d
evel
opin
g an
onl
ine
sche
dulin
g to
ol to
mak
e sc
hedu
ling
hear
ings
mor
e co
nven
ient
for t
he c
ourt
, pla
cem
ent f
acili
ties,
and
DFP
S ca
sew
orke
rs. T
o fa
cilit
ate
deve
lopm
ent o
f thi
s to
ol, O
CA h
oste
d a
call
in M
arch
with
the
focu
s gr
oup
of
Child
Pro
tect
ion
Cour
t Ass
ocia
te Ju
dges
and
Cou
rt C
oord
inat
ors
to p
rovi
de in
put o
n fu
nctio
nal r
equi
rem
ents
. Thi
s to
ol w
ill a
ccom
mod
ate
any
vide
o pl
atfo
rm, i
nclu
ding
Zoo
m.
OCA
staf
f pla
n to
hav
e a
pilo
t of t
he sc
hedu
ler t
ool r
eady
in A
ugus
t.
Nor
mal
cy: T
he C
omm
issio
n pr
ovid
ed $
26,0
00 in
FY2
020
for T
exas
CAS
A to
cre
ate
a ro
le-b
ased
gui
de re
gard
ing
norm
alcy
in F
Y202
0. T
he g
oal o
f the
gui
de is
to in
form
the
child
w
elfa
re sy
stem
par
ticip
ants
- at
torn
eys,
judg
es, C
ASAs
, fos
ter p
aren
ts, c
ongr
egat
e ca
re st
aff,
kins
hip
care
give
rs, c
omm
unity
par
tner
s, a
genc
y em
ploy
ees,
edu
catio
n pa
rtne
rs,
and
othe
rs -
abou
t nor
mal
cy a
nd a
bout
bes
t pra
ctic
es fo
r eac
h ro
le in
pro
mot
ing
and
atta
inin
g no
rmal
cy fo
r chi
ldre
n an
d yo
uth
in fo
ster
car
e. A
noth
er g
oal o
f the
gui
de is
to
addr
ess c
halle
ngin
g to
pics
rela
ted
to n
orm
alcy
, inc
ludi
ng li
abili
ty c
once
rns,
tran
spor
tatio
n, so
cial
med
ia, u
nsup
ervi
sed
activ
ities
, dat
ing,
etc
. Tex
as C
ASA
conv
ened
a
wor
kgro
up o
f chi
ld w
elfa
re sy
stem
par
ticip
ants
to h
elp
draf
t sec
tions
for e
ach
part
icip
ant’s
role
. The
wor
kgro
up’s
firs
t mee
ting
was
hel
d on
Janu
ary
31, 2
020
and
a se
cond
m
eetin
g w
as p
ostp
oned
due
to C
OVI
D-19
.
Page
17
of 2
4
SYS
TEM
S IM
PRO
VEM
ENT
| LE
GAL
PO
LICY
& P
RACT
ICE
|TRA
ININ
G |D
ATA
| DU
AL S
TATU
S
Fost
er Y
outh
Agi
ng O
ut G
uide
: The
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n pr
ovid
ed fu
ndin
g to
Tex
as R
ioG
rand
e Le
gal A
id to
re-d
esig
n an
d pr
int t
he 7
th E
ditio
n Fo
ster
You
th A
ging
Out
Gui
de.
The
Guid
e ha
s bee
n pr
inte
d an
d th
e on
line
vers
ion
can
be fo
und
on th
e Te
xas F
oste
r You
th P
roje
ct w
ebsit
e an
d is
shar
ed o
n th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n w
ebsit
e as
a re
sour
ce
for y
outh
voi
ce a
nd n
orm
alcy
.
Goa
l V: C
olle
ct a
nd a
naly
ze c
ourt
and
chi
ld w
elfa
re-r
elat
ed d
ata
to d
evel
op so
lutio
ns to
impr
ove
outc
omes
, qua
lity,
and
sust
aina
bilit
y of
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issi
on st
rate
gies
.
V.A.
Obj
ectiv
e: U
se c
hild
wel
fare
age
ncy,
cou
rt sy
stem
and
/or o
ther
dat
a to
impr
ove
perm
anen
cy o
utco
mes
for c
hild
ren
and
yout
h in
fost
er c
are.
V.A.
1. S
trat
egy:
Util
ize D
ata
Anal
yst t
o as
sist t
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
with
dat
a pr
ojec
ts to
iden
tify,
trac
k, a
nd m
easu
re o
utco
mes
, ide
ntify
bes
t pra
ctic
es, a
nd a
ddre
ss a
reas
in
nee
d of
impr
ovem
ent.
Back
grou
nd: I
n Ap
ril 2
019,
the
Texa
s Alli
ance
for C
hild
and
Fam
ily S
ervi
ces (
TACF
S), t
hrou
gh it
s Res
earc
h an
d Po
licy
Divi
sion
and
with
fund
ing
from
the
Child
ren
Com
miss
ion,
hi
red
a da
ta a
naly
st w
ho w
ill h
ave
the
resp
onsib
ilitie
s to
acce
ss p
ublic
ly a
vaila
ble
data
from
DFP
S, c
ourt
-spe
cific
dat
a, d
ata
from
the
TACF
S, a
nd a
naly
ze th
em in
a m
anne
r th
at p
rovi
des i
nfor
mat
ion
to th
e ju
dici
ary.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
The
Dat
a Co
mm
ittee
was
re-o
rgan
ized
in F
Y202
0 to
focu
s on
usin
g da
ta to
bet
ter u
nder
stan
d th
e re
latio
nshi
p be
twee
n ou
tcom
es a
nd p
ract
ices
and
to
deve
lop
way
s to
best
util
ize th
e da
ta a
naly
st p
ositi
on. T
he d
ata
anal
yst i
s sup
port
ing
the
Com
miss
ion’
s Dat
a Co
mm
ittee
by
anal
yzin
g pu
blic
ly a
vaila
ble
child
wel
fare
dat
a in
a
man
ner t
hat f
acili
tate
s disc
ussio
ns b
etw
een
DFPS
and
judg
es a
bout
dat
a, ju
dici
al p
roce
sses
and
pra
ctic
es, a
nd p
oten
tial s
yste
mic
impr
ovem
ents
. Dat
a Co
mm
ittee
pro
ject
s for
FY
2020
incl
ude
colla
bora
ting
with
Cas
ey F
amily
Pro
gram
s to
eval
uate
the
PMC
Spec
ialty
Cou
rts i
n Ho
usto
n an
d Da
llas,
wor
king
with
the
Offi
ce o
f Cou
rt A
dmin
istra
tion
to
crea
te a
“da
ta d
ashb
oard
” fo
r CPC
judg
es u
tilizi
ng C
PCM
S al
ong
with
a c
onde
nsed
and
use
r-fr
iend
ly g
uide
for u
nder
stan
ding
requ
ired
data
ent
ry, s
uppo
rtin
g th
e w
ork
of th
e Ta
sk F
orce
on
Cour
t-Ap
poin
ted
Lega
l Rep
rese
ntat
ion
data
and
fina
ncia
l ana
lysis
subc
omm
ittee
, and
supp
ortin
g ju
risdi
ctio
ns p
artic
ipat
ing
in th
e Ju
dici
al T
raum
a In
stitu
te to
tr
ack
the
impl
emen
tatio
n an
d ou
tcom
es o
f the
ir ac
tion
plan
s. T
he D
ata
Com
mitt
ee m
et o
n M
ay 1
4, 2
020
to d
iscus
s how
to e
valu
ate
and
prio
ritize
dat
a co
mm
ittee
pro
ject
s in
resp
onse
to th
e CO
VID-
19 c
risis.
Goa
l VI:
Deve
lop,
supp
ort a
nd fu
nd h
igh-
qual
ity, a
ppro
pria
te tr
aini
ng fo
r jud
ges,
att
orne
ys, a
nd c
hild
wel
fare
par
tner
s.
VI.A
. Obj
ectiv
e: P
rovi
de h
igh-
qual
ity a
nd e
asily
acc
essi
ble
trai
ning
reso
urce
s for
judg
es a
nd a
ttor
neys
.
VI.A
.1. S
trat
egy:
Pla
n, fu
nd, c
ondu
ct, a
nd e
valu
ate
judi
cial
trai
ning
con
fere
nces
and
eve
nts.
Page
18
of 2
4
SYS
TEM
S IM
PRO
VEM
ENT
| LE
GAL
PO
LICY
& P
RACT
ICE
|TRA
ININ
G |D
ATA
| DU
AL S
TATU
S
Back
grou
nd: T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
colla
bora
tes w
ith th
e Te
xas C
ente
r for
the
Judi
ciar
y (T
CJ) t
o de
sign
spec
ializ
ed ju
dici
al e
duca
tion
and
trai
ning
opp
ortu
nitie
s for
act
ive,
re
tired
, and
form
er T
exas
app
ella
te, d
istric
t, an
d co
unty
cou
rt a
t law
judg
es, a
s wel
l as a
ssoc
iate
judg
es a
nd c
ourt
per
sonn
el th
roug
h its
gra
nt w
ith T
CJ. E
ach
year
TCJ
pla
ns a
t le
ast o
ne a
nnua
l Chi
ld W
elfa
re Ju
dges
Con
fere
nce
in p
artn
ersh
ip w
ith th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n. T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
also
pro
vide
s par
tial f
undi
ng fo
r a h
alf-d
ay C
PS
Cont
inui
ng Ju
dici
al E
duca
tion
(CJE
) tra
ck a
t TCJ
’s a
nnua
l Fam
ily Ju
stic
e Co
nfer
ence
. Add
ition
ally
, the
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n us
ually
pla
ns a
nd fu
nds a
t lea
st o
ne
mul
tidisc
iplin
ary
conf
eren
ce o
r sum
mit
durin
g th
e fis
cal y
ear w
ith T
CJ. P
lann
ing
and
fund
ing
activ
ities
incl
ude
desig
ning
cur
ricul
um a
nd a
gend
a fo
r con
fere
nces
, det
erm
inin
g th
e bu
dget
and
num
ber o
f att
ende
es, p
artic
ipat
ing
in p
lann
ing
calls
, vet
ting
judi
cial
scho
lars
hip
appl
ican
ts, s
urve
ying
par
ticip
ants
, and
eva
luat
ing
the
proc
ess a
nd e
vent
for
futu
re p
lann
ing.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
Child
Wel
fare
Judg
es C
onfe
renc
e: T
he 2
020
Child
Wel
fare
Judg
es C
onfe
renc
e (C
WJC
), ho
sted
in p
artn
ersh
ip w
ith th
e Te
xas C
ente
r for
the
Judi
ciar
y (T
CJ),
is sc
hedu
led
to
conv
ene
over
Oct
ober
26-
28 at
the
Sher
aton
Aus
tin G
eorg
etow
n Ho
tel a
nd C
onfe
renc
e Ce
nter
. At t
his t
ime,
Com
miss
ion
and
TCJ s
taff
are
hope
ful t
hat t
his c
onfe
renc
e ca
n st
ill b
e he
ld in
per
son
and
are
plan
ning
acc
ordi
ngly
. Com
mis
sion
staf
f will
con
tinue
to c
onfe
r with
TCJ
to a
sses
s wha
t for
mat
is b
est a
s the
con
fere
nce
date
s app
roac
h an
d co
nsid
er sh
iftin
g to
a v
irtua
l con
fere
nce
if ne
eded
. On
April
28,
the
Com
miss
ion
conv
ened
a C
WJC
Cur
ricul
um C
omm
ittee
Cal
l with
19
judg
es fr
om a
cros
s the
stat
e, in
clud
ing
Child
Pro
tect
ion
Cour
t jud
ges,
Ass
ocia
te Ju
dges
, Dist
rict J
udge
s, a
nd a
Pre
sidin
g Ju
dge
to re
ques
t the
ir fe
edba
ck a
bout
wha
t the
y w
ould
like
the
CWJC
cur
ricul
um to
focu
s on.
Co
mm
issio
n st
aff,
OCA
staf
f, an
d TC
J sta
ff pa
rtic
ipat
ed in
this
call
as w
ell.
The
Com
miss
ion’
s pro
pose
d cu
rric
ulum
was
bas
ed in
par
t on
spec
ific
judi
cial
requ
ests
for f
urth
er
educ
atio
n in
the
2019
CW
JC p
ost-
even
t sur
vey
resu
lts c
olle
cted
by
TCJ a
nd th
e Co
mm
issio
n. T
he C
urric
ulum
Com
mitt
ee re
port
ed th
at th
ey w
ould
like
to h
ave
COVI
D-19
-re
late
d up
date
s on
judi
cial
pra
ctic
es a
nd st
atew
ide
data
, but
that
CO
VID-
19 sh
ould
not
ove
rsha
dow
the
conf
eren
ce. O
ther
sugg
estio
ns fo
r con
fere
nce
cont
ent f
rom
the
Curr
icul
um C
omm
ittee
incl
uded
the
follo
win
g pr
esen
tatio
ns: a
Cas
e La
w U
pdat
e, a
n up
date
on
Com
mun
ity B
ased
Car
e, a
pan
el h
onor
ing
retir
ing
judg
es, a
nd b
reak
out
sess
ions
with
judg
es to
revi
ew re
gion
al d
ata
with
DFP
S st
aff (
to in
clud
e Re
gion
al D
irect
ors,
Inve
stig
atio
ns st
aff,
and
Fam
ily B
ased
Saf
ety
Serv
ices
staf
f). C
omm
issio
n st
aff w
ill
refin
e th
e ag
enda
bas
ed o
n th
is in
put a
nd c
onfe
r with
the
Curr
icul
um C
omm
ittee
Mem
bers
to re
ceiv
e ad
ditio
nal f
eedb
ack
and
spea
ker r
ecom
men
datio
ns b
efor
e pr
ocee
ding
to
fina
lize
the
CWJC
Age
nda.
Judi
cial
Tra
uma
Inst
itute
: Bas
ed o
n a
stro
ng, o
ngoi
ng in
tere
st in
trau
ma-
info
rmed
trai
ning
indi
cate
d by
judg
es, C
omm
issio
n st
aff d
esig
ned
and
plan
ned
to h
ost a
Judi
cial
Tr
aum
a In
stitu
te in
par
tner
ship
with
the
Texa
s Cen
ter f
or th
e Ju
dici
ary
to m
eet t
his n
eed.
The
con
fere
nce
was
stru
ctur
ed to
follo
w a
“Be
yond
the
Benc
h” fo
rmat
, tra
ck th
e flo
w o
f a C
PS c
ase,
and
invo
lve
part
icip
atio
n w
ith c
ourt
team
s. T
wel
ve ju
dici
ally
-led
team
s of s
ix p
eopl
e ea
ch w
ere
sche
dule
d to
att
end
the
Judi
cial
Tra
uma
Inst
itute
ove
r M
arch
29-
31, 2
020,
at t
he S
hera
ton
Aust
in G
eorg
etow
n Ho
tel a
nd C
onfe
renc
e Ce
nter
, with
eac
h ju
dici
al te
am ty
pica
lly c
ompr
ised
of a
judg
e; a
cou
rt c
oord
inat
or; a
pr
osec
utor
; an
atto
rney
who
take
s app
oint
men
ts fo
r par
ents
and
for c
hild
ren
in C
PS c
ases
; a S
enio
r-le
vel C
asew
orke
r or S
uper
viso
r at D
FPS;
and
a C
ASA
Exec
utiv
e Di
rect
or o
r Pr
ogra
m D
irect
or. T
he g
oal o
f the
con
fere
nce
was
for e
ach
of th
e 12
judi
cial
team
s to
leav
e w
ith m
ore
info
rmat
ion
and
reso
urce
s abo
ut w
hat i
t mea
ns to
be
a tr
aum
a-in
form
ed a
nd tr
aum
a-re
spon
sive
cour
t on
CPS
case
s, a
nd to
hav
e a
fully
dev
elop
ed a
ctio
n pl
an a
bout
how
to im
plem
ent t
hese
gai
ns in
kno
wle
dge
in th
eir j
urisd
ictio
n up
on
retu
rn. U
nfor
tuna
tely
, due
to g
row
ing
conc
erns
abo
ut th
e sp
read
of C
OVI
D-19
, TCJ
and
the
Com
miss
ion
sent
not
ices
to a
ll at
tend
ees o
n M
arch
12t
h th
at th
e Ju
dici
al T
raum
a In
stitu
te w
ould
be
post
pone
d. G
iven
cur
rent
circ
umst
ance
s, th
e JT
I will
like
ly b
e re
sche
dule
d fo
r som
e tim
e in
202
1.
VI.A
.2. S
trat
egy:
Sup
port
spec
ializ
ed tr
aini
ng fo
r Chi
ld P
rote
ctio
n Co
urt p
rogr
am, j
udge
s, a
nd su
ppor
t sta
ff.
Page
19
of 2
4
SYS
TEM
S IM
PRO
VEM
ENT
| LE
GAL
PO
LICY
& P
RACT
ICE
|TRA
ININ
G |D
ATA
| DU
AL S
TATU
S
Back
grou
nd: C
hild
Pro
tect
ion
Cour
ts, a
lso k
now
n as
CPC
s in
Texa
s, w
ere
crea
ted
to a
ssist
tria
l cou
rts i
n ru
ral a
reas
with
man
agin
g th
eir c
hild
abu
se a
nd n
egle
ct d
ocke
ts. L
ike
the
child
supp
ort c
ourt
ass
ocia
te ju
dges
, the
se a
ssoc
iate
judg
es a
re a
ppoi
nted
by
thei
r reg
iona
l pre
sidin
g ju
dges
and
are
OCA
em
ploy
ees.
At t
he d
iscre
tion
of th
e pr
esid
ing
judg
e, v
isitin
g ju
dges
are
som
etim
es a
ppoi
nted
to h
ear t
hese
cas
es in
stea
d of
ass
ocia
te ju
dges
. The
judg
es a
ssig
ned
to th
ese
dock
ets h
ear c
hild
abu
se a
nd n
egle
ct c
ases
ex
clus
ivel
y. W
ith th
is ex
clus
ive
focu
s, c
hild
ren
on C
PC d
ocke
ts c
an a
chie
ve p
erm
anen
cy m
ore
quic
kly
and
the
qual
ity o
f pla
cem
ent d
ecisi
ons s
houl
d be
hig
her.
The
25 c
hild
pr
otec
tion
cour
ts o
pera
te in
ove
r hal
f of T
exas
cou
ntie
s. T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
prov
ides
fund
ing
to su
ppor
t CPC
MS
as w
ell a
s oth
er g
oods
and
serv
ices
requ
ired
by C
PC
judg
es a
nd c
oord
inat
ors t
o co
nduc
t hea
rings
and
man
age
case
s.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
Bas
ed o
n th
e su
cces
s of t
he Ju
ly 2
019
CPC
Conv
enin
g at
whi
ch C
PC Ju
dges
and
thei
r cou
rt c
oord
inat
ors w
ere
trai
ned
on c
ourt
man
agem
ent a
nd d
ata
colle
ctio
n by
the
Com
miss
ion
in p
artn
ersh
ip w
ith O
CA, t
he C
omm
issio
n pl
ans t
o ho
st a
sim
ilar c
onve
ning
in th
e su
mm
er o
f 202
1. In
the
mea
ntim
e, C
PC ju
dges
and
thei
r cou
rt
coor
dina
tors
will
rece
ive
trai
ning
from
OCA
at a
Pre
-Con
fere
nce
just
prio
r to
the
open
ing
of th
e fu
ll co
nfer
ence
at t
he u
pcom
ing
Oct
ober
26-
28, 2
020
Child
Wel
fare
Judg
es
Conf
eren
ce, r
efer
red
to u
nder
stra
tegy
VI.A
.1.
Also
, for
the
first
tim
e, C
omm
issio
n st
aff w
ill p
rodu
ce a
n in
-hou
se, j
udic
ially
-led
web
cast
des
igne
d fo
r jud
ges w
ho p
resid
e ov
er c
hild
pro
tect
ion
case
s. M
oder
ated
by
Judg
e Ro
b Ho
fman
n, JI
R fo
r the
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n, a
live
judi
cial
pan
el w
ill a
ddre
ss th
e m
any
bene
fits o
f util
izing
tech
nolo
gy in
chi
ld w
elfa
re c
ases
. The
web
cast
will
incl
ude
tips
on e
ffici
ent d
ocke
t pra
ctic
es in
CPS
cas
es a
s wel
l as s
ilver
lini
ngs a
nd su
cces
s sto
ries,
to e
ncou
rage
judg
es to
exp
and
thei
r use
of t
echn
olog
y to
con
tinue
hea
ring
CPS
case
s w
hile
hea
rings
are
con
duct
ed re
mot
ely.
The
web
cast
is sc
hedu
led
for J
une
5, 2
020
and
will
be
paire
d w
ith a
JIR
com
mun
ique
that
will
set f
orth
all
of th
e po
sitiv
e im
plic
atio
ns
for c
ontin
uing
to u
se te
chno
logy
in C
PS c
ases
.
VI.A
.3. S
trat
egy:
Pro
duce
hig
h-qu
ality
trai
ning
and
eva
luat
e de
liver
y an
d co
nten
t.
Back
grou
nd: T
rial S
kills
Tra
inin
g (T
ST) i
s a h
ands
-on
trai
ning
des
igne
d to
impr
ove
the
litig
atio
n sk
ills o
f chi
ld w
elfa
re la
w a
ttor
neys
in o
rder
to ra
ise th
e ca
liber
of l
egal
serv
ices
to
chi
ldre
n an
d fa
mili
es in
chi
ld p
rote
ctio
n ca
ses.
Dev
elop
ed a
nd in
itial
ly sp
earh
eade
d by
Just
ice
Mic
hael
Mas
seng
ale,
the
TST
is no
w le
d by
Judg
e Pi
per M
cCra
w. T
rial S
kills
Tr
aini
ng is
hel
d on
ce a
yea
r and
offe
rs a
ppro
xim
atel
y 17
-18
MCL
E ho
urs,
incl
udin
g et
hics
hou
rs. T
en T
STs h
ave
been
hos
ted
by th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n sin
ce it
s inc
eptio
n in
O
ctob
er 2
013.
Eac
h TS
T pr
ogra
m h
as a
com
petit
ive
appl
icat
ion
proc
ess a
nd is
lim
ited
to 2
1 le
ss-e
xper
ienc
ed a
ttor
neys
. It i
nclu
des a
fict
iona
l CPS
fact
pat
tern
, with
a c
ompl
ete
case
file
cov
erin
g al
l Tex
as-s
peci
fic st
atut
ory
hear
ings
bui
ldin
g up
to fi
nal t
rial.
TST
prov
ides
par
ent,
child
, and
stat
e at
torn
eys n
umer
ous l
itiga
tion
exer
cise
s in
the
CPS
cont
ext,
incl
udin
g le
ctur
es a
nd d
emon
stra
tions
from
trai
ned
facu
lty c
ompr
ised
of se
nior
att
orne
ys a
nd ju
dges
, fol
low
ed b
y pe
rson
al c
ritiq
ues a
nd c
oach
ing.
Cas
ewor
kers
, Pe
diat
ricia
ns, a
nd P
aren
t The
rapi
sts s
erve
as l
ive
witn
esse
s. M
ater
ials
are
upda
ted,
and
new
facu
lty is
recr
uite
d an
d tr
aine
d w
ith e
ach
even
t. Ex
tens
ive
inte
rnal
and
ext
erna
l CQ
I is i
nvol
ved
with
eac
h ev
ent.
The
Child
ren’
s Jus
tice
Act c
over
s the
cos
t of p
artic
ipan
ts w
ho re
pres
ent t
he st
ate
in C
PS p
roce
edin
gs. A
lso, i
n pa
rtne
rshi
p w
ith T
exas
BarC
LE,
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
mak
es se
vera
l onl
ine
cour
ses a
vaila
ble
to c
ourt
-app
oint
ed a
ttor
neys
and
stat
e an
d DF
PS a
ttor
neys
. Onc
e ea
ch y
ear t
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
wor
ks w
ith th
e CL
E br
anch
of t
he S
BOT,
Tex
asBa
rCLE
, to
broa
dcas
t a d
ay-lo
ng, 6
MCL
E ho
urs’
wor
th o
f tra
inin
g fo
r att
orne
ys w
ho re
pres
ent c
hild
ren,
par
ents
, and
the
stat
e of
Te
xas i
n CP
S pr
ocee
ding
s. T
exas
BarC
LE’s
Onl
ine
Clas
sroo
m o
f CPS
-rel
ated
web
inar
s is a
vaila
ble
at a
redu
ced
rate
to a
ttor
neys
repr
esen
ting
child
ren
and
pare
nts,
and
ther
e ar
e sc
hola
rshi
ps a
vaila
ble
thro
ugh
the
Com
miss
ion
and
thro
ugh
the
Bar f
or a
ttor
neys
who
repr
esen
t the
Sta
te o
f Tex
as a
nd n
eed
finan
cial
ass
istan
ce to
acc
ess t
his o
nlin
e tr
aini
ng. T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
colla
bora
tes w
ith th
e Tr
aini
ng C
omm
ittee
Cha
ir on
the
conf
eren
ce a
gend
a an
d de
velo
ps th
e co
nten
t bas
ed o
n CQ
I fro
m re
cent
co
nfer
ence
s and
feed
back
from
pos
t-ev
ent s
urve
ys w
here
scho
lars
hip
awar
dees
indi
cate
wha
t add
ition
al e
duca
tion
wou
ld a
ssist
them
in th
eir w
ork
on th
e CP
S do
cket
. The
Co
mm
issio
n al
so c
olla
bora
tes w
ith T
exas
BarC
LE re
gard
ing
audi
ence
, bud
get,
mar
ketin
g, a
nd e
valu
atio
n; h
elps
ens
ure
notic
e of
the
even
t to
judg
es a
nd a
ttor
neys
; ens
ures
CLE
is
avai
labl
e; a
naly
zes s
urve
y re
sults
from
eva
luat
ions
dist
ribut
ed b
y th
e or
gani
zers
; and
con
duct
s CQ
I of t
he p
roce
ss a
nd tr
aini
ng c
onte
nt.
Page
20
of 2
4
SYS
TEM
S IM
PRO
VEM
ENT
| LE
GAL
PO
LICY
& P
RACT
ICE
|TRA
ININ
G |D
ATA
| DU
AL S
TATU
S
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
Tria
l Ski
lls T
rain
ing:
Thi
s yea
r’s T
rial S
kills
Tra
inin
g (T
ST) w
as to
be
held
ove
r Jun
e 24
-26,
202
0 at
the
Emba
ssy
Suite
s Hot
el a
nd C
onfe
renc
e Ce
nter
in S
an M
arco
s, T
exas
and
w
ould
hav
e be
en th
e el
even
th it
erat
ion
of th
is un
ique
, effe
ctiv
e, a
nd ro
bust
han
d-on
litig
atio
n tr
aini
ng. T
he C
omm
issio
n re
ceiv
ed 5
8 ap
plic
ants
tota
l and
had
invi
ted
twen
ty-
one
final
ists t
o pa
rtic
ipat
e in
the
TST.
TST
facu
lty a
nd c
urric
ulum
pre
para
tions
as w
ell a
s coo
rdin
atio
n w
ith th
e ev
ent v
enue
wer
e un
derw
ay. H
owev
er, d
ue to
con
cern
s abo
ut
the
safe
ty a
nd h
ealth
of a
ll at
tend
ees,
as w
ell a
s res
tric
tions
on
gath
erin
gs, C
omm
issio
n st
aff i
n co
ncer
t with
the
Trai
ning
Com
mitt
ee C
hair
and
the
TST
Facu
lty d
ecid
ed to
po
stpo
ne th
e Ju
ne 2
020
in-p
erso
n TS
T to
202
1 an
d is
wor
king
with
the
conf
eren
ce h
otel
to se
cure
ear
ly sp
ring
2021
dat
es fo
r the
resc
hedu
led
June
202
0 pa
rtic
ipan
ts, a
s wel
l as
to id
entif
y da
tes f
or a
seco
nd T
ST la
ter i
n 20
21 fo
r our
yea
rly T
ST e
vent
. In
the
mea
ntim
e, C
omm
issio
n st
aff a
re c
onve
ning
a su
bcom
mitt
ee o
f TST
facu
lty to
disc
uss t
he
poss
ibili
ty o
f pro
duci
ng so
me
virt
ual t
rain
ing
in Ju
ne to
offe
r to
the
June
202
0 TS
T co
hort
.
SBO
T An
nual
One
-Day
Web
cast
with
Tex
asBa
rCLE
: Com
miss
ion
staf
f is c
oord
inat
ing
with
Tex
asBa
rCLE
to fi
nd a
dat
e fo
r thi
s yea
r’s d
ay o
f tap
ing
in th
eir s
tudi
o. T
opic
s will
be
sele
cted
in p
art f
rom
the
feed
back
whi
ch th
e Co
mm
issio
n re
ceiv
ed fr
om o
ur 2
019
post
-eve
nt su
rvey
s of s
chol
arsh
ip a
war
dees
. As i
n al
l prio
r yea
rs, a
ny w
ebca
st p
rodu
ced
by
the
Com
miss
ion
in p
artn
ersh
ip w
ith T
exas
BarC
LE w
ill b
e ar
chiv
ed a
nd m
ade
avai
labl
e as
web
inar
s for
vie
win
g at
the
sam
e di
scou
nted
rate
s pro
vide
d fo
r the
live
web
cast
s in
the
CPS
Prac
tice
Area
of t
he T
exas
BarC
LE’s
Onl
ine
Clas
sroo
m. T
exas
BarC
LE p
rovi
des d
iscou
nts t
o co
urt-
appo
inte
d at
torn
eys a
nd sc
hola
rshi
ps to
oth
er v
iew
ers,
whi
le th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n pr
ovid
es sc
hola
rshi
ps to
att
orne
ys re
pres
entin
g th
e De
part
men
t of F
amily
and
Pro
tect
ive
Serv
ices
. All
prio
r yea
rs’ w
ebca
sts p
rodu
ced
in p
artn
ersh
ip
betw
een
the
Com
miss
ion
and
Texa
sBar
CLE
have
bee
n ar
chiv
ed a
nd a
re a
vaila
ble
as w
ebin
ars f
or v
iew
ing
at th
e sa
me
disc
ount
ed ra
tes p
rovi
ded
for t
he li
ve w
ebca
sts i
n th
e Te
xasB
arCL
E’s O
nlin
e Cl
assr
oom
.
Onl
ine
Clas
sroo
m: T
hrou
gh it
s CLE
arm
, Tex
asBa
rCLE
, the
SBO
T cu
rren
tly o
ffers
a n
umbe
r of o
nlin
e co
ntin
uing
lega
l edu
catio
n (C
LE) c
ours
es in
the
CPS
Prac
tice
Area
of
Texa
sBar
CLE
rela
ted
to re
pres
enta
tion
of a
ll pa
rtie
s on
the
CPS
dock
et. A
tota
l of 2
4 w
ebca
sts h
ave
been
arc
hive
d in
the
CPS
prac
tice
area
of t
he T
exas
BarC
LE’s
Onl
ine
Clas
sroo
m, t
he v
ast m
ajor
ity o
f whi
ch w
ere
prod
uced
by
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
in p
artn
ersh
ip w
ith T
exas
BarC
LE. T
he to
pics
cov
er re
leva
nt a
nd ti
mel
y iss
ues o
f int
eres
t to
atto
rney
s who
wor
k in
the
area
of c
hild
wel
fare
. Som
e or
all
the
cont
ent o
f the
se w
ebca
sts a
nd a
rchi
ved
web
inar
s may
be
cons
ider
ed in
som
e ju
risdi
ctio
ns to
satis
fy th
e ed
ucat
iona
l req
uire
men
ts fo
r cou
rt-a
ppoi
nted
att
orne
ys u
nder
Tex
as F
amily
Cod
e Se
ctio
ns 1
07.0
04 a
nd 1
07.0
131.
All
of th
e co
urse
s can
be
foun
d at
the
follo
win
g lin
k:
http
://w
ww
.texa
sbar
cle.
com
/CLE
/OCS
earc
h2.a
sp. A
t the
requ
est o
f the
Com
miss
ion,
seve
ral c
ours
es fr
om th
e 20
19 A
dvan
ced
Fam
ily L
aw’s
Chi
ld A
buse
and
Neg
lect
1-D
ay
CLE
Trac
k ha
ve b
een
adde
d to
this
rost
er b
y Te
xasB
arCL
E.
In-H
ouse
Web
cast
s: C
omm
issio
n st
aff h
ave
deve
lope
d th
e ca
paci
ty to
hos
t a re
gula
r ser
ies o
f web
cast
s to
help
edu
cate
chi
ld w
elfa
re st
akeh
olde
rs a
cros
s the
stat
e. T
his w
ill
supp
lem
ent t
he 6
hou
rs a
yea
r des
crib
ed a
bove
whi
ch th
e Co
mm
issio
n is
grat
eful
to fi
lm in
par
tner
ship
with
the
Stat
e Ba
r in
Texa
sBar
CLE’
s stu
dio.
In re
spon
se to
cur
rent
ci
rcum
stan
ces a
nd th
e ne
ed fo
r virt
ual t
rain
ing,
Com
miss
ion
staf
f is d
evel
opin
g m
ore
regu
lar w
ebca
sts t
o he
lp e
duca
te c
hild
wel
fare
stak
ehol
ders
acr
oss t
he st
ate.
In a
dditi
on
to th
e ju
dici
al p
anel
web
cast
des
crib
ed a
bove
, the
Com
mis
sion
is pl
anni
ng to
hos
t a 9
0-m
inut
e w
ebca
st o
n Zo
om a
t noo
n on
May
22,
202
0 fo
r att
orne
ys, o
n Ef
fect
ive
Advo
cacy
in th
e Vi
rtua
l CPS
Cou
rtro
om. M
oder
ated
by
JIR Ju
dge
Rob
Hofm
ann,
a p
anel
con
sistin
g of
a p
rose
cuto
r, an
AAL
, and
a p
aren
t att
orne
y w
ill d
iscus
s bes
t pra
ctic
es
and
pitf
alls
to w
atch
out
for w
hen
prep
arin
g th
eir c
ases
and
clie
nts f
or a
virt
ual h
earin
g. T
his w
ill in
clud
e ho
w to
faci
litat
e th
e cl
ient
’s m
eani
ngfu
l par
ticip
atio
n in
a v
irtua
l he
arin
g; h
ow to
pro
perly
elic
it te
stim
ony
on Z
oom
; how
to p
rope
rly e
nter
evi
denc
e on
Zoo
m; a
nd h
ow to
revi
ew o
rder
s in
a vi
rtua
l set
ting.
The
web
cast
will
be
arch
ived
on
the
Com
miss
ion’
s web
site
and
is av
aila
ble
for f
ree
to a
ll vi
ewer
s. T
he C
omm
issio
n w
ill c
ontin
ue to
pla
n an
d ho
st w
ebca
sts a
s the
opp
ortu
nity
and
nee
d ar
ise a
nd h
as
esta
blish
ed a
You
Tube
Cha
nnel
for a
dditi
onal
edu
catio
nal v
ideo
s.
Page
21
of 2
4
SYS
TEM
S IM
PRO
VEM
ENT
| LE
GAL
PO
LICY
& P
RACT
ICE
|TRA
ININ
G |D
ATA
| DU
AL S
TATU
S
DFPS
Reg
iona
l Att
orne
y Tr
aini
ng: T
his a
nnua
l con
fere
nce
has t
wo
com
pone
nts:
the
2020
Leg
al S
uppo
rt P
rofe
ssio
nals
Trai
ning
will
be
held
on
Oct
ober
7, 2
020
in C
orpu
s Ch
risti,
Tex
as, a
nd th
e 20
20 R
egio
nal A
ttor
ney
Trai
ning
s will
be
held
at T
-Bar
-M in
New
Bra
unfe
ls, T
exas
as f
ollo
ws:
Oct
ober
26:
Tria
l Ski
lls; O
ctob
er 2
7-28
: Att
orne
y Co
nfer
ence
; Oct
ober
29:
Foc
used
trai
ning
TBD
(pos
sibly
Tra
uma
Info
rmed
Car
e). D
FPS
is cu
rren
tly w
orki
ng o
n an
age
nda
and
cont
ent f
or th
e co
nfer
ence
. The
Com
miss
ion
will
pr
ovid
e su
ppor
t for
this
trai
ning
with
a $
10,0
00 g
rant
($5,
000
will
be
allo
cate
d to
the
atto
rney
trai
ning
and
$5,
000
will
be
allo
cate
d to
the
lega
l sup
port
pro
fess
iona
ls’
trai
ning
).
VI.B
. Obj
ectiv
e: E
nsur
e th
at a
ttor
neys
and
judg
es a
re e
duca
ted
and
know
ledg
eabl
e in
ord
er to
em
ploy
bes
t pra
ctic
es in
pro
vidi
ng le
gal r
epre
sent
atio
n an
d in
con
duct
ing
hear
ings
.
VI.B
.1. S
trat
egy:
Sup
port
att
enda
nce
at st
ate
and
natio
nal j
udic
ial a
nd le
gal c
onfe
renc
es a
nd tr
aini
ng e
vent
s.
Back
grou
nd: T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
adm
inist
ers d
iffer
ent j
udic
ial a
nd a
ttor
ney
scho
lars
hip
oppo
rtun
ities
thro
ugho
ut th
e fis
cal y
ear,
incl
udin
g bu
t not
lim
ited
to: (
1) T
he
bien
nial
ABA
Par
ent A
ttor
ney
Conf
eren
ce a
nd C
hild
ren
and
the
Law
Con
fere
nce
held
in W
ashi
ngto
n D.
C.; (
2) T
he S
BOT
Adva
nced
Fam
ily L
aw C
hild
Abu
se a
nd N
egle
ct 1
-Day
W
orks
hop;
(3) t
he N
atio
nal A
ssoc
iatio
n of
Cou
nsel
for C
hild
ren
Annu
al C
onfe
renc
e; a
nd (4
) the
Nat
iona
l Cou
ncil
of Ju
veni
le a
nd F
amily
Cou
rt Ju
dges
Ann
ual C
onfe
renc
e. F
or
all s
chol
arsh
ips,
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
dete
rmin
es sc
hola
rshi
p cr
iteria
and
dep
loys
an
appl
icat
ion
proc
ess t
hat i
nclu
des p
re- a
nd p
ost-
conf
eren
ce e
valu
atio
ns to
iden
tify
or c
onfir
m th
e kn
owle
dge
gain
ed a
nd n
ew p
ract
ices
att
ende
es p
lan
to im
plem
ent a
nd/o
r a c
urre
nt p
ract
ice
they
pla
n to
cha
nge.
The
surv
eys a
lso in
quire
abo
ut a
dditi
onal
to
pics
of i
nter
est t
o he
lp in
form
pla
nnin
g fo
r fut
ure
conf
eren
ces.
All
atto
rney
app
lican
ts fo
r Com
miss
ion
scho
lars
hips
mus
t be
curr
ently
repr
esen
ting
DFPS
or t
akin
g ap
poin
tmen
ts o
n th
e CP
S do
cket
, be
in g
ood
stan
ding
with
the
SBO
T an
d w
ith th
eir p
rimar
y ju
dge
and
com
mit
to c
ompl
etin
g a
post
-eve
nt su
rvey
from
the
Com
miss
ion.
Ju
dges
with
app
lican
ts fr
om th
eir j
urisd
ictio
n ar
e no
tifie
d by
the
Child
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
and
aske
d to
con
firm
that
the
appl
ican
t is c
urre
ntly
repr
esen
ting
DFPS
or t
akin
g ap
poin
tmen
ts o
n th
e CP
S do
cket
.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
Due
to h
ealth
and
trav
el c
once
rns a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith th
e CO
VID-
19 c
risis,
man
y 20
20 e
vent
s hav
e be
en c
ance
lled
or p
ostp
oned
. The
Com
miss
ion
had
allo
cate
d fu
nds f
or ju
dici
al a
nd a
ttor
ney
scho
lars
hips
for s
ever
al c
onfe
renc
es, b
ut, g
iven
the
conc
erns
rega
rdin
g tr
avel
at t
his t
ime,
the
Com
miss
ion
is w
aitin
g to
see
if co
nfer
ence
par
tner
s will
con
tinue
with
sum
mer
eve
nts.
Sub
sequ
ently
, man
y sc
hola
rshi
p pr
oces
ses h
ave
been
del
ayed
.
The
3rd
Annu
al A
dvan
ced
Child
Pro
tect
ion
Law
Con
fere
nce:
The
Com
miss
ion
allo
cate
d $1
0,00
0 to
cov
er c
onfe
renc
e co
sts a
nd sc
hola
rshi
ps fo
r att
ende
es fo
r the
Sec
tion’
s th
ird A
nnua
l Adv
ance
d Ch
ild P
rote
ctio
n La
w C
ours
e, w
hich
was
sche
dule
d fo
r Mar
ch 2
6-27
, 202
0 in
Hou
ston
. Due
to th
e CO
VID-
19 c
risis,
the
3rd
Annu
al A
dvan
ced
Child
Pr
otec
tion
Law
Con
fere
nce
was
can
celle
d. T
his c
onfe
renc
e w
ill n
ot b
e re
sche
dule
d.
Texa
s Dist
rict a
nd C
ount
y At
torn
ey A
ssoc
iatio
n Tr
aini
ng: T
he T
exas
Dist
rict a
nd C
ount
y At
torn
eys’
Ass
ocia
tion
(TDC
AA) h
ad in
vite
d th
e Co
mm
issio
n to
aga
in p
rovi
de 1
2 ho
urs
of C
PS-r
elat
ed M
CLE
for t
heir
CPS
Trac
k at
thei
r bie
nnia
l Crim
es A
gain
st C
hild
ren
four
-day
con
fere
nce.
TDC
AA’s
Crim
es A
gain
st C
hild
ren
Conf
eren
ce is
des
igne
d fo
r Dist
rict
and
Coun
ty A
ttor
ney
Offi
ces a
cros
s the
stat
e. T
he C
omm
issio
n pr
ovid
ed sp
eake
rs a
nd sc
hola
rshi
ps fo
r DFP
S Re
gion
al A
ttor
neys
in 2
018
and
plan
ned
to d
o so
aga
in th
is Ap
ril.
Wor
king
with
the
TDCA
A tr
aini
ng d
irect
or a
nd a
pla
nnin
g co
mm
ittee
, Com
miss
ion
staf
f dev
elop
ed c
urric
ulum
for t
he 2
-day
bre
akou
t tra
ck o
n CP
S iss
ues a
nd h
ad c
ontr
acte
d w
ith T
DCAA
to re
gist
er u
p to
28
Regi
onal
Att
orne
ys o
n Co
mm
issio
n sc
hola
rshi
ps. C
OVI
D-19
con
cern
s led
the
TDCA
A to
can
cel t
heir
conf
eren
ce. N
o po
stpo
ned
date
has
bee
n an
noun
ced
yet.
If an
d w
hen
it w
ill b
e re
sche
dule
d, th
e Co
mm
issio
n pl
ans t
o pa
rtne
r with
TDC
AA to
pro
vide
spea
kers
and
scho
lars
hips
for D
FPS
Regi
onal
Att
orne
ys a
s de
scrib
ed a
bove
.
Page
22
of 2
4
SYS
TEM
S IM
PRO
VEM
ENT
| LE
GAL
PO
LICY
& P
RACT
ICE
|TRA
ININ
G |D
ATA
| DU
AL S
TATU
S
Adva
nced
Fam
ily L
aw O
ne-D
ay C
hild
Abu
se a
nd N
egle
ct W
orks
hop:
Thi
s yea
r’s C
hild
Abu
se a
nd N
egle
ct O
ne-D
ay W
orks
hop
is cu
rren
tly sc
hedu
led
for A
ugus
t 5, 2
020
and
will
be
hos
ted
by th
e SB
OT
Child
Pro
tect
ion
Law
Sec
tion.
The
Com
miss
ion
plan
s to
supp
ort t
his s
tate
wid
e M
CLE
effo
rt b
y pa
rtne
ring
with
the
SBO
T to
pro
vide
regi
stra
tion
scho
lars
hips
to q
ualif
ied
atto
rney
s fro
m a
cros
s the
stat
e. T
he C
omm
issio
n ha
s allo
cate
d $7
,500
to c
over
75
atto
rney
s at $
100
each
for r
egist
ratio
n to
the
live
one-
day
wor
ksho
p or
any
of t
he su
bseq
uent
repl
ays.
The
Com
miss
ion
hope
s to
anno
unce
the
atto
rney
scho
lars
hip
appl
icat
ion
proc
ess i
n th
e ne
ar fu
ture
.
NAC
C An
nual
Con
fere
nce:
The
NAC
C’s u
pcom
ing
43rd
ann
ual c
onfe
renc
e ha
s rec
ently
tran
sitio
ned
into
a v
irtua
l con
fere
nce
and
is sc
hedu
led
for M
onda
y, A
ugus
t 24
thro
ugh
Frid
ay, A
ugus
t 28,
202
0. T
he v
irtua
l pre
-con
fere
nce
is sc
hedu
led
for A
ugus
t 23r
d fo
r the
NAC
C’s R
ed B
ook
Trai
ning
(whi
ch is
hel
pful
trai
ning
esp
ecia
lly fo
r tho
se a
ttor
neys
and
ju
dges
wan
ting
to ta
ke th
e Ch
ild W
elfa
re L
aw S
peci
aliza
tion
exam
). Th
e Co
mm
issio
n ha
s allo
cate
d $1
0, 0
00 to
pro
vide
scho
lars
hips
to q
ualif
ied
Texa
s jud
ges a
nd a
ttor
neys
for
regi
stra
tion
cost
s. T
he C
omm
issio
n ho
pes t
o an
noun
ce th
e sc
hola
rshi
p ap
plic
atio
n pr
oces
s in
the
near
futu
re.
NCJ
FCJ A
nnua
l Con
fere
nce:
The
NCJ
FCJ’s
83r
d An
nual
Con
fere
nce
is cu
rren
tly sc
hedu
led
for J
uly
19-2
2, 2
020
in R
eno,
Nev
ada.
The
Com
miss
ion
has a
lloca
ted
$50,
000
to
prov
ide
reim
burs
emen
t sch
olar
ship
s for
qua
lifie
d ju
dges
upo
n re
ques
t to
cove
r reg
istra
tion
fees
and
con
fere
nce-
rela
ted
expe
nses
such
as t
rave
l, lo
dgin
g, a
nd m
eals,
up
to
the
amou
nt o
f $2,
000
per p
erso
n.
Goa
l VII:
Red
uce
raci
al a
nd e
thni
c di
spro
port
iona
lity
and
disp
ariti
es in
the
child
wel
fare
sys
tem
.
VII.A
. Obj
ectiv
e: S
uppo
rt e
ffort
s to
addr
ess d
ispr
opor
tiona
lity
and
disp
ariti
es in
the
Texa
s chi
ld w
elfa
re sy
stem
so th
at c
hild
ren
of c
olor
do
not e
xper
ienc
e di
spar
ate
effe
cts a
nd o
utco
mes
that
pro
long
thei
r sta
y in
fost
er c
are.
VII.A
.1. S
trat
egy:
Iden
tify
and
prom
ote
data
-driv
en, c
ross
-disc
iplin
ary
trai
ning
opp
ortu
nitie
s to
addr
ess d
ispro
port
iona
lity
and
disp
ariti
es a
mon
g ch
ildre
n an
d fa
mili
es in
volv
ed
in c
hild
pro
tect
ion
case
s.
Back
grou
nd: T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
is co
mm
itted
to th
e go
al o
f red
ucin
g ra
cial
and
eth
nic
disp
ropo
rtio
nalit
y an
d di
spar
ities
in th
e ch
ild w
elfa
re s
yste
m th
roug
h de
velo
pmen
t and
dep
loym
ent o
f jud
icia
l and
att
orne
y re
sour
ces a
imed
at i
ncre
asin
g aw
aren
ess,
shar
ing
data
and
info
rmat
ion,
as w
ell a
s bes
t pra
ctic
es fo
r dea
ling
with
di
spro
port
iona
lity
and
disp
ariti
es sy
stem
ical
ly a
nd lo
cally
.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
Com
miss
ion
staf
f con
tinue
to u
se a
n eq
uity
lens
whe
n de
velo
ping
trai
ning
s and
new
pro
ject
s. T
he S
CTIC
Impl
emen
tatio
n Ta
sk F
orce
em
phas
izes e
mpl
oyin
g th
e co
ncep
ts o
f equ
ity a
s vita
l and
nec
essa
ry to
impl
emen
ting
a tr
aum
a-in
form
ed c
hild
wel
fare
syst
em. T
he C
omm
issio
n co
ntin
ues t
o id
entif
y op
port
uniti
es to
enh
ance
ju
dici
al a
nd a
ttor
ney
awar
enes
s of d
ispro
port
iona
lity
issue
s and
tech
niqu
es fo
r red
uctio
n of
disp
arat
e im
pact
s in
the
child
wel
fare
syst
em. I
n Ap
ril 2
020,
Com
miss
ion
staf
f at
tend
ed a
trai
ning
by
Nur
turin
g Di
vers
ity, e
ntitl
ed “
Raci
sm a
s Tra
uma.
” Ad
dres
sing
cultu
ral d
iffer
ence
s and
equ
itabl
e se
rvic
es w
as a
focu
s of t
he Ju
dici
al T
raum
a In
stitu
te
whi
ch w
as p
ostp
oned
in M
arch
202
0 an
d an
y vi
rtua
l or i
n-pe
rson
ver
sion
of th
e JT
I will
incl
ude
this
focu
s.
Page
23
of 2
4
SYS
TEM
S IM
PRO
VEM
ENT
| LE
GAL
PO
LICY
& P
RACT
ICE
|TRA
ININ
G |D
ATA
| DU
AL S
TATU
S
Goa
l IX:
Ove
rsee
and
adm
inis
ter t
he C
ourt
Impr
ovem
ent P
rogr
am (C
IP) f
unds
to a
sses
s cur
rent
and
futu
re n
eeds
of t
he c
ourt
s, e
ndea
vor t
o in
crea
se fu
ndin
g av
aila
ble
to th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issi
on, a
nd le
vera
ge fu
nds w
ith st
rate
gic
and
stat
ewid
e pa
rtne
rs.
IX.A
. Obj
ectiv
e: E
xecu
te st
rate
gies
of t
he S
upre
me
Cour
t Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issi
on to
hel
p st
reng
then
cou
rts a
nd th
e ch
ild w
elfa
re sy
stem
to im
prov
e ou
tcom
es o
f saf
ety,
pe
rman
ency
, and
wel
l-bei
ng.
IX.A
.1. S
trat
egy:
Eng
age
in a
ctiv
ities
inte
gral
to th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n’s f
unct
ions
and
ope
ratio
ns.
Back
grou
nd: T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
is a
stat
ewid
e, m
ulti-
disc
iplin
ary
colla
bora
tive
body
that
incl
udes
hig
h-le
vel m
embe
rshi
p fr
om th
e ex
ecut
ive,
judi
cial
, and
legi
slativ
e br
anch
es o
f Tex
as g
over
nmen
t, al
ong
with
chi
ld w
elfa
re p
artn
ers i
n th
e pr
ivat
e se
ctor
. At t
he fo
unda
tion
of th
e Ch
ildre
n’s C
omm
issio
n is
a lo
ngst
andi
ng c
olla
bora
tion
with
the
stat
e ch
ild w
elfa
re a
genc
y, th
e Te
xas D
epar
tmen
t of F
amily
and
Pro
tect
ive
Serv
ices
. The
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n re
ceiv
es st
ate
appr
opria
ted
as w
ell a
s fed
eral
gra
nt fu
nds
whi
ch a
re u
sed
to o
pera
te th
e Co
mm
issio
n, fu
nd m
eetin
g fa
cilit
atio
n an
d tr
avel
reim
burs
emen
t, tr
aini
ng e
xpen
ses a
nd sc
hola
rshi
ps, a
s wel
l as p
ass-
thro
ugh
gran
ts to
sub-
Goa
l VIII
: Rec
ogni
ze a
nd re
spec
t trib
al so
vere
ignt
y, p
rote
ct th
e be
st in
tere
sts o
f Nat
ive
Amer
ican
chi
ldre
n an
d pr
omot
e st
abili
ty o
f Nat
ive
Amer
ican
chi
ldre
n an
d fa
mili
es.
VIII.
A. O
bjec
tive:
Est
ablis
h, st
reng
then
and
supp
ort m
eani
ngfu
l and
resp
ectf
ul re
latio
nshi
ps w
ith tr
ibal
nat
ions
and
pro
mot
e aw
aren
ess,
edu
catio
n, a
nd a
pplic
atio
n of
the
Indi
an C
hild
Wel
fare
Act
so th
at In
dian
chi
ldre
n an
d fa
mili
es e
xper
ienc
e eq
uita
ble
and
resp
ectf
ul tr
eatm
ent i
n ke
epin
g w
ith th
eir c
usto
ms a
nd b
elie
fs.
VIII.
A.1.
Str
ateg
y: C
ontin
ue th
e m
utua
lly re
spec
tful
and
ong
oing
rela
tions
hips
with
Tex
as’ t
hree
fede
rally
-rec
ogni
zed
trib
es a
nd o
ther
trib
al n
atio
ns li
ving
in T
exas
.
Back
grou
nd: T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
supp
orts
par
tner
ing
with
syst
em st
akeh
olde
rs to
pro
mot
e on
goin
g kn
owle
dge
and
unde
rsta
ndin
g of
the
ICW
A an
d its
impo
rtan
ce.
The
Com
miss
ion
also
wor
ks w
ith n
atio
nal I
CWA
and
lead
ing
orga
niza
tions
on
unde
rsta
ndin
g an
d im
plem
enta
tion
of th
e Fe
dera
l Rul
e an
d Bu
reau
of I
ndia
n Af
fairs
(BIA
) Gu
idel
ines
. The
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n al
so p
artn
ers w
ith D
FPS
in su
ppor
ting
trib
al/s
tate
col
labo
rativ
e m
eetin
gs a
nd c
olla
bora
tes w
ith th
e Ca
paci
ty B
uild
ing
Cent
er fo
r Cou
rts
and
the
part
icip
ants
of t
he C
IP IC
WA
Cons
titue
ncy
Grou
p.
05/2
2/20
Upd
ate:
On
Augu
st 2
1, 2
019,
the
Com
miss
ion
sent
a JA
RL p
rovi
ding
an
upda
te in
the
case
cha
lleng
ing
the
cons
titut
iona
lity
of th
e In
dian
Chi
ld W
elfa
re A
ct (I
CWA)
, Br
acke
en v
. Ber
nhar
dt (f
orm
erly
Bra
ckee
n v.
Zin
ke).
On
Augu
st 9
, 201
9 a
thre
e-ju
dge
pane
l of t
he F
ifth
Circ
uit C
ourt
of A
ppea
ls iss
ued
an o
pini
on re
vers
ing
the
low
er c
ourt
’s
deci
sion
and
upho
ldin
g th
e IC
WA
as c
onst
itutio
nal.
On
Nov
embe
r 7, 2
019,
all
of th
e Fi
fth
Circ
uit’s
judg
es m
et a
nd v
acat
ed th
e Au
gust
9 d
ecisi
on su
a sp
onte
and
agr
eed
to
rehe
ar th
e ca
se e
n ba
nc. T
he fu
ll co
urt d
ecid
ed to
rehe
ar th
e ca
se o
n its
ow
n m
otio
n be
fore
dec
idin
g to
inst
ead
gran
t the
pla
intif
f’s m
otio
n fo
r reh
earin
g. O
ral a
rgum
ents
took
pl
ace
on Ja
nuar
y 22
, 202
0. C
omm
issio
n st
aff w
ill c
ontin
ue to
mon
itor t
his c
ase
and
prov
ide
rele
vant
upd
ates
. The
Com
miss
ion
is a
regu
lar p
artic
ipan
t in
the
CIP
ICW
A Co
nstit
uenc
y Gr
oup
mon
thly
cal
ls or
gani
zed
by th
e Ca
paci
ty B
uild
ing
Cent
er fo
r Cou
rts.
Com
miss
ion
staf
f mai
ntai
n co
ntac
t with
the
thre
e Te
xas T
ribes
dur
ing
the
COVI
D-19
cr
isis a
nd c
omm
unic
ate
any
reso
urce
s tha
t may
be
help
ful d
urin
g th
is tim
e. C
omm
issio
n st
aff a
ctiv
ely
recr
uit t
ribal
mem
bers
to p
artic
ipat
e in
Com
miss
ion
initi
ativ
es. A
be
havi
oral
hea
lth st
aff f
rom
the
Ysle
ta d
el S
ur P
uebl
o se
rves
on
the
Stat
ewid
e Co
llabo
rativ
e on
Tra
uma-
Info
rmed
Car
e.
Page
24
of 2
4
SYST
EMS
IMPR
OVE
MEN
T |
LEG
AL P
OLI
CY &
PRA
CTIC
E |T
RAIN
ING
|DAT
A |
DUAL
STA
TUS
gran
tees
such
as T
exas
Cen
ter f
or th
e Ju
dici
ary
and
Offi
ce o
f Cou
rt A
dmin
istra
tion.
The
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n ad
opte
d its
mos
t rec
ent S
trat
egic
Pla
n in
201
6. T
he C
hild
ren’
s Co
mm
issio
n al
so c
onfe
rs re
gula
rly w
ith n
atio
nal o
rgan
izatio
ns a
nd o
ther
CIP
s and
subm
its a
nnua
l rep
orts
and
CIP
stra
tegi
c pl
ans t
o th
e Ad
min
istra
tion
for C
hild
ren
and
Fam
ilies
and
to th
e Su
prem
e Co
urt o
f Tex
as. T
he C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
hold
s Com
miss
ion
mee
tings
eve
ry fo
ur m
onth
s thr
ough
out e
ach
year
of t
he fi
ve-y
ear p
lan
and
cond
ucts
a b
i-mon
thly
col
labo
rativ
e ca
ll w
ith D
FPS
and
othe
r chi
ld w
elfa
re st
akeh
olde
rs a
s wel
l as n
umer
ous o
ther
cal
ls an
d m
eetin
gs re
late
d to
Chi
ldre
n’s C
omm
issio
n w
orkg
roup
s. C
hild
ren’
s Com
miss
ion
Staf
f ser
ves o
n th
e Pu
blic
Priv
ate
Part
ners
hip,
Mea
dow
s Men
tal H
ealth
Pol
icy
Inst
itute
, Edu
catio
n Re
ach
for T
exan
s, a
nd m
any
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INSERT - TAB 4
1,668,768$ 91,924$
1,791,065$ 3,551,757$
Expenses OutstandingBudget To-date Obligations
Indirect 1,273,639$ $ 667,489 $ 606,150Staff Directed Projects 183,500$ $ 34,003 $ 149,497
Grants 1,021,569$ $ 312,432 $ 709,137Scholarships 96,500$ 2,728$ 93,772$
$ 2,575,208 $ 1,016,653 $ 1,558,555
88,358$ $ 2,446,746$ 1,558,555$ 976,549*
FY 2020 BUDGET
FY 2020 OBLIGATIONS
CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS
FY 2019 Carry Forward
Federal Fund Balance 5/15/20FY 2020 Outstanding Obligations
Estimated Unexpended/Carry Forward FY 2021
State General Revenue Balance 5/15/20
Children's CommissionFinancial Report
FY 2020 State General Revenue FY 2020 Federal Distribution
FY 2020 Available Funds
*Due to COVID-19 and resulting postponement/cancellation of conferences and meetings, the carry forward balance to FY 2021 will increase. The exact amount of this increase is not certain at this time. Actual numbers will be presented at the September 2020 Commission Meeting.
Insert Tab 5
Commissioner Updates May 2020
Ms. Paula Bibbs-Samuels - Statewide Parent Collaboration Group
The pandemic has caused many of us to have to cancel monthly meetings to adhere to the 6 feet of separation rule and recommendation. It is expected that there will be an increase in reported child abuse and domestic violence cases as a result of pandemic induced stress therefore parents are expecting to be supportive and helpful during this time. I am still talking to parents on the phone and we plan to schedule a Zoom Parent Support Group for May 21, 2020 and ensuing meetings until we are able to meet personally again.
Please remember parents of the Statewide Parent Collaboration Group and the parent liaisons in the different regions are available to you for input, advice, perspective, and to speak. We want to ensure information continues to be provided regarding parents involved in the Child Welfare system and their experiences as well as how procedures can be improved and modified to promote consistency, familial connections, and safe families.
Hon. Gary Coley - 74th District Court
Since our last meeting, I know that we have all been focused on trying to adapt and remain accessible in a remote manner. While many events were cancelled or postponed, the Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition went forward with a virtual meeting on April 16, 2020. Over 100 attendees heard Judge Robert Lung share his story at our Zoom meeting. While I wish we had been able to hear his story in person, one of the byproducts of the Zoom meeting was that we have a recording that I can share with everyone.
Webinar Recording from Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition Virtual Meeting
In April, our team in Waco hosted a webinar for the Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition with Judge Robert Lung from Colorado. Judge Lung is a survivor of sex trafficking and chair of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. You can hear him share his powerful story in the following webinar recording.
https://vimeo.com/408627094/24f8c5211f
Along those lines, Unbound also is opening a new drop-in center in Fort Worth and I am including the link to the video below.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=C955jSF0fno
Ms. Kate Olse - Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services
The Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services (TACFS) continues the important work of supporting direct service providers across the State. While COVID-19 presents many challenges to the entire child welfare system in Texas, the impact has been immediately felt by community organizations working directly with children, youth and families. Even through this pandemic, TACFS continues to progress our work involving
Community Based Care readiness, FFPSA, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Youth projects, the Texas Permanency Outcomes Project, work with our mental health cohort, and our partnership with the Children’s Commission. TACFS also continues to look for new, innovative ways support child and youth serving organizations during this challenging time through data, research, and clinical support.
TACFS Coronavirus Pandemic Response • The Texas Alliance for Child and Family Services, dedicated a page of their website for COVID-19
updates, shared protocols and state and federal information for members and stakeholders - https://tacfs.org/covid-19.php
• TACFS is facilitating communication through meetings that address new pandemic information including:
• Residential Child Care Licensing regulatory modifications to child visitations, background checks for new staff, and trainings for new foster parents and staff
• Emphasis on crisis interventions and escalating need for child maltreatment prevention • Public health shifts in service, including telehealth and telemedicine • The DFPS modifications to policy and procedures for family and court visits • Immediate COVID response expenses
• Distributing frequent updates to providers about federal financial relief and new changes to COVID-19 response and protection.
• TACFS mailed COVID care packages to child welfare organizations across the state.
And, with generous support from funders, TACFS has begun down-granting funds to child welfare direct service organizations to help address the immediate needs of children and families in response to COVID-19. We have already down-granted thousands of dollars and distributed approximately $17,000 in PPE supplies. Several thousand more dollars will be distributed over the next several weeks. Child welfare organizations have experienced varying changes in demand for services, quick adaptability to virtual services delivery, a lack of necessary PPE and protective/cleaning supplies to ensure safety of children, families, and staff, and funding challenges due to reductions in private funding, donations, volunteers, etc. Our hope is that this additional support will ensure children, youth, and families across Texas continue receiving access to high-quality services and support during this crisis.
Updates on events
TACFS recently hosted our Spring symposium on Resilience which was made up of speakers who shared their diverse perspectives and experiences on trauma and resilience in both child welfare and the healthcare sectors. They all presented impactful perspectives to inspire us as we all navigate through this uncharted territory.
May is foster care appreciation month and TACFS is honored to highlight and recognize our member organizations that have continued to provide essential services to at-risk youth in foster care and families all of the time, but especially in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Follow along on our social media platforms as we highlight their incredible work happening across Texas.
TACFS continues to plan for its annual Texas Child Care Administrators Conference, which is scheduled for October 19-21, 2020. TACFS is planning a training event not to be missed with great speakers, informative sessions, and cutting-edge training.
Ms. Vicki Spriggs - Texas CASA
Texas CASA appreciates all the hard work and innovation by the courts, Child Protective Services, attorneys and other system participants to enable us to continue our work with children and families during this public health crisis. State leaders should be proud of these combined efforts under such difficult circumstances. Texas CASA would like to share COVID-19 related resources that we have assembled and developed: We created a COVID-19 Resource page that can be found here: https://covid19.texascasa.org/.
We also created a short document identifying critical issues facing children, parents and families during the health emergency and CASA's response, which can be found here: https://covid19.texascasa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/60/2020/04/Texas-CASA-COVID19-Response-CASAs-Essential-Role_Final4.24.pdf. We look forward to seeing all of our partners and friends with the Children's Commission soon.
Collaborative Council Updates
Ms. Christine Gendron – Texas Network of Youth Services
TNOYS has been working hard to support youth service providers in responding to COVID-19 and adapting to the new reality the pandemic creates. We help our members stay informed and ensure their needs are met, so that they can continue to provide the highest quality of service to youth and families.
Emergency Response Resource Center: TNOYS expanded its Emergency Response Resource Center, which focuses on keeping children and youth safe during and after emergencies, to include a robust array of Resources and Information on COVID-19. These resources include guidance from state and federal agencies, guidance for community-based programs on providing virtual services, and guidance for residential programs on topics including securing bulk groceries and other needed supplies amidst scarcity, implementing emergency response protocols, and managing challenging youth behavior during a time of crisis.
Facilitate Collaboration and Coordination: TNOYS is facilitating information-sharing, collaboration, and coordination between service providers and state regulatory agencies. TNOYS is utilizing its established role as a cross-system convener to facilitate information-sharing and coordination of resources across systems.
Coordinate Distribution of Supplies and Funding: TNOYS has been distributing needed supplies, such as masks, hand sanitizer, and laptops and tablets for videoconferencing, to Texas’ emergency shelters and other child and youth-serving organizations. Additionally, TNOYS is providing small grants to member organizations to support their continued operations and service provision amidst the pandemic.
Impact Report from Youth Perspective: TNOYS is developing a report that examines the lasting impact of natural disasters and other emergencies on youths’ lives, from the youth perspective. TNOYS’ young adult staff are interviewing youth and young adults who are homeless or in foster care to gather information for the report.
Training to Build Texas’ Capacity to Keep Youth Safe During Emergencies: TNOYS is integrating training content relevant to the pandemic into its 37thAnnual Conference on Services to Youth and Families, which will take place virtually June 25-26. TNOYS will offer continuing education, including CLEs, to conference participants. Topics will include resilience, trauma-informed care, emergency preparedness and response, and more.
Ms. Mary Christine Reed – Texas Foster Youth Justice Project
The Texas Foster Youth Justice Project, a special project of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc., provides free legal representation and guidance to current and aged out foster youth across Texas and to those that work with them. Common legal issues we address include identification document problems, issues with accessing the Former Foster Care Children’s (FFCC) Medicaid Program, name changes, and obtaining CPS records. We also address immigration/citizenship issues, sibling access, foster youth rights, education issues, clearing criminal and juvenile history, unresolved Class C misdemeanor issues from their time in foster care, access to extended foster care and aged foster youth benefits, etc. This is but a small sample of the services we provide, and we are constantly adding to this list to be responsive to the incredibly diverse needs of individuals among the current and former foster youth population.
While our physical offices have closed due to the pandemic, our staff is working remotely, and we are continuing to accept new clients. We are especially concerned about the legal needs of our client community stemming from the impact of the pandemic on our economy and other systems. We’ve developed COVID-19 resources for foster youth and made them available on our website. In addition, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid’s website has a vast array of COVID-19 legal information and resources available that are helpful to youth and families involved in the child welfare system. Additional resources are added to these websites on an ongoing basis as new information becomes available. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid has also hosted a number of Facebook Live Q&A sessions on common issues such as economic stimulus payments, worker’s rights, and family law.
Our project developed and published A Guide for Those “Aging Out” of Foster Care in Texas, currently in its 7th Edition. In February 2020, thanks to the generous financial support of the Children’s Commission, we received a large shipment of printed guides, which can be ordered from us free of charge for distribution to youth. It also can be download from our website. Due to the pandemic, we have put shipments on hold, but will resume shipment once our office reopens. Email us at [email protected] if you would like to order guides.
The Texas Foster Youth Justice Project can be reached at:
1-877-313-3688 (toll-free) [email protected]
4920 N. IH 35 Austin, TX 78751 texasfosteryouth.org
We welcome referrals of youth to our Project for assistance. Even if we are unable to provide legal representation, we will always strive to give them legal advice regarding their specific issue or situation. You are welcome to contact us for initial guidance or to help facilitate the referral of the youth for services.
DFPS/CPS Updates
Ms. Deneen Dryden - Texas Department of Family & Protective Services, Child Protective Services
Thank you for the opportunity to submit a report on behalf of DFPS and Child Protective Services. I am the new CPS Associate Commissioner, as of May 2020. I am excited and humbled by this opportunity. My husband was born and raised in Texas and rejoiced in the chance to return home. I worked in the Kansas child welfare system for several years and worked in the area of Trauma Informed Care for a private agency. I also bring a residential provider perspective, with more than twenty years of experience as a foster parent and we adopted some of our foster children who were not able to return home. If you see me, I may have a “deer in the headlights” look, as there is so much to learn and I realize I have big shoes to fill. Kristene Blackstone provided tremendous leadership over the last four years and our child welfare system is much stronger because of her. I know the Children’s Commission will continue to support our work and I look forward to meeting each of you in person.
During this unprecedented pandemic, we worry about the stress that our children and families are experiencing. We are carefully monitoring their needs and will always do our part to help keep children safe.
Thank you for your continued collaboration during this challenging time. We continue to prioritize the important parent/child visitation when children are in out of home care, using face-to-face visits when possible and virtual visits when there is a standing court order related to visitation or health-related concerns. During the week of May 11, CPS staff resumed most face-to-face contacts after having relied predominantly on virtual contacts for two months. There are exceptions where we will continue to use a virtual method, such as contacts with children who have complex medical needs where our contact could jeopardize their fragile health. We are also working to reduce the contacts where possible, with practices to minimize multiple caseworkers coming into a facility or working with a family. For example, one caseworker will visit the child and the kinship caregiver, rather than both a child’s caseworker and a kinship development worker.
Our investment in a mobile workforce prior to the COVID-19 pandemic helped us be more prepared to adjust to this situation. Most of the staff are continuing to telework to increase physical distancing and reduce the viral spread. Our staff have and are using protective personal equipment in their contacts. We have closely tracked children and youth in conservatorship who have been tested for COVID-19, including
those who test positive. We have partnered with the medical community to provide guidance on how to best care for children who have tested positive or been exposed.
Our collaborative work with stakeholders has been critically important during the last few months and it has only strengthened our work together. Texas participates in several national calls and has been recognized for its creative efforts to continue court hearings through the use of technology in order to remove barriers to children and youth achieving permanency. The partnerships we share with the Children’s Commission stakeholders, advocates, residential and medical providers, faith-based organizations, governmental agencies, and other community groups have reminded us that even during such a widespread crisis, our focus on safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families is an important mission and we are not in it alone. Thank you for your valuable partnership during this difficult time.
Our ongoing work, such as the expansion of Community Based Care, the analysis of options for the Family First Act, the improvement of our support for youth transitioning to adulthood, preparation for an upcoming legislative session, and other critical areas remain. I look forward to future involvement with the Children’s Commission and the opportunity to update you on our strategic efforts to continue moving the Texas child welfare system forward.
Office of Court Administration Update
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic stay-at-home orders, in late March, the Office of Court Administration (OCA) established protocols to continue court activities by providing state judges the ability to stream and host court proceedings via Zoom and YouTube.
On Friday, May 8th, the Office of Court Administration (OCA), the information technology provider for the appellate courts and state judicial agencies within the Texas Judicial Branch, identified a serious security event in the branch network, which was later determined to be a ransomware attack. The attack is unrelated to the courts’ migration to remote hearings amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Work continues to bring all judicial branch resources back online. Critical judicial branch information, including updates concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, is available on the Texas Judicial Branch website.
Jurist in Residence Report
Hon. Rob Hofmann – Jurist in Residence and 452nd District Court
Since the last meeting:
• Attended the Texas HHSC Public Private Partnership meeting, October 11, Austin • Continued work as board member and committee chair for National Council of Juvenile and
Family Court Judges and attended Board Meetings, Nov 14, Pittsburg, PA and March 20, Virtual • Attended the Texas HHSC Public Private Partnership meeting, January 10, Austin • Chaired the Foster Care and Education Committee meeting, January 10, Austin • Chaired the Systems Improvement Committee meeting, February 11, Virtual
• Presented at the Concho Valley Foster Care Education Consortium, February 24, San Angelo • Assisted with planning and present at the Hill Country Ad Litem Training, February 28, Kerrville • Participated in Commission’s conference calls Re: Covid-19 Guidance Documents • Assisted with planning and prepared to moderate the Texas Judicial Trauma Institute, Postponed • Served as Subject Matter Expert for the Texas Office of Court Administration Uniform Case
Management System Virtual Workshops, March 30, April 13, 15, 17, 20, 21 • Participated in CIP-OCA-DFPS Stakeholder collaborative calls • Participated in Education Reach for Texans Higher Education Liaison Covid-19 calls, April 9, 13 • Participated in Children’s Bureau Covid-19 call, April 9 • Attended National Judicial College Constitutional Examination of Covid-19 Pandemic, April 14, Virtual • Participated in Commission’s conference calls Re: Emergency Orders/CPS Deadlines • Held conference call with One Accord for Kids Staff, April 22 • Participated in conference call with planning team for the Child Welfare Conference, April, 28 • Chaired the Foster Care and Education Committee meeting, May 1, Virtual • Chaired the Systems Improvement Committee meeting, May 12, Virtual • Planned/moderated Commission’s Best Practice in Virtual Hearings Seminar, May 22, Virtual • Planned for and prepared to moderate Commission’s Silver Linings Seminar, Late May, Virtual
Future events:
• Attend the Children’s Commission Staff Retreat, June • Attend the Texas HHSC Public Private Partnership Meeting, July 10, Austin • Continue work as board member and committee chair for National Council of Juvenile and Family
Court Judges and attend Board Meetings, July 18, Sparks, NV; and Nov 12, Pittsburg, PA • Attend the 83rd National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Annual Conference, July 19,
Sparks, NV • Attend the Concho Valley Foster Care Education Consortium, September 28, San Angelo • Attend the Child Welfare Conference, October 25-28, Georgetown • Present at the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers Annual
Conference, November 11, San Antonio • Present at the Education Reach for Texans Conference, postponed to Spring, 2021
Insert - Tab 6
COVID-19 in Texas and the Child Welfare System Response
On March 11, 2020, the novel coronavirus, also referred to as COVID-19, was declared a pandemic and efforts quickly went into place to protect the health and safety of children and families in Texas and throughout the United States. Texas Governor Greg Abbott first issued a declaration of a state of emergency on March 13, 2020. In general, measures to protect the community included orders to stay home in many jurisdictions, closure of schools through the end of the 2019-2020 school year, and guidance regarding protective equipment and masks, social distancing, and conducting essential business. Below is a summary of some of the most impactful changes to the Texas child welfare system.
Virtual Court Proceedings The Supreme Court of Texas has issued various Orders related to the judicial system response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Courts throughout the state have suspended in-person hearings and have been directed to convene court through the use of technology. The Office of Court Administration purchased Zoom licenses for all Texas courts and offered various webinars and technical support to ensure judges and court staff have tools at their disposal to provide access to the virtual courtroom. For more information, please visit OCA’s Zoom Information and YouTube Support webpage.
Child Abuse Prevention The spread of COVID-19 coincided with the observation of Child Abuse Prevention Month. The effects of the pandemic causing office, school, and childcare facilities to close underscores the importance of preventing child abuse and neglect and addressing the underlying issues that put children in danger. Supreme Court Justice and Chair of the Children’s Commission, Justice Eva Guzman, authored an editorial aimed at raising awareness about the need to prevent child abuse and emphasized the urgency of prevention efforts in the wake of the pandemic. The editorial entitled, “The Challenge to Protect Our Children Has Never Been Greater,” was released by multiple news sites, including the Austin American Statesman.
Guidance on Handling Child Welfare Cases The Children’s Commission has developed a series of communiques to assist Texas judges and lawyers handling child welfare matters in adjusting their practice and approach in response to
the pandemic. The following topics have been shared via guidance documents as well as webinars via Zoom: modifying service plans and expectations for compliance when services may be unavailable in person; handling sensitive matters and protecting privacy while upholding the open courts doctrine; maintaining a commitment to child abuse prevention when many mandated reporters are not in direct contact with children; identifying special needs for parents and accessing technology and support when parents lack resources; maintaining educational progress amidst school closures; encouraging strong legal advocacy in the virtual courtroom; and preventing case backlog by leveraging the available online and technology avenues available for resolution. For more information, please visit the Children’s Commission website.
Virtual Contact and Virtual Visitation The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) issued guidance regarding how caseworkers and staff can conduct case planning that involves children and families while observing health and safety precautions. The Department also developed virtual visitation guidelines to promote continued contact between children, families, caregivers, and caseworkers. DFPS has also closely monitored placements and tracked the spread of COVID-19 among the population of children and youth in DFPS managing conservatorship. For more information, please visit the DFPS Coronavirus Resources webpage.
Additional Links and Resources: • National Association of Council for Children: COVID-19 Resource Hub • National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Parent/Caregiver Guide To Helping Families
Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 • National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges: COVID-19 Resources and Updates • Texas Alliance of Child & Family Services: COVID-19 webpage • Texas CASA: Updates & Resources Regarding COVID-19 • Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium: COVID-19 Mental Health Resources
webpage • Texas Council on Family Violence: COVID-19 Resource Center • Texas Health and Human Services Commission: Statewide COVID-19 Mental Health
Support Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, toll-free at 833-986-1919. • Texas Network of Youth Services: Resources and Information on COVID-19 • Texans Care for Children: Coronavirus webpage • TexProtects: A Helpful Guide for Families to Thrive During COVID-19