CRCG Newsletter 2016 v 2.2

Community Resource Coordination Groups of Texas Newsletter

Version 2.2

Published by: State CRCG Office (512) 206-5256

Table of Contents

Child
Adults

Events Calendar

July 12

Bridge Call 2-3PM CDT

July 21

Webinar 2-3PM CDT: Local CRCG Data Collection

August 9

Bridge Call 2-3PM CDT

September 20

Webinar 2-3PM CDT: CRCG, TDCJ, and TCOOMMI

September 21-23

Texas Conference on Ending Homelessness

September 28-30

Partners in Prevention Conference

November 1-4

International Conference on Innovations in Family Engagement

November 7-10 

Strengthening Youth and Families Conference

Resources

Legislative Report

The State CRCG Office and Workgroup submitted a biennial legislative report to the Governor and 84th Texas Legislature.  The report provides information about the experiences of local CRCGs, services barriers, and next steps to strengthen CRCG initiatives.  The report is available here.

Webinar Recordings

The State CRCG Office launched a webinar series in March 2015 to bring valuable resources and information to CRCG partners and members.  Webinars are generally held bimonthly. Click the links below to view the previous recordings.

March, 2015: State CRCG Office CRCG Overview

April, 2015: Department of Family Protective Services and Child Protective Services Transformation 

May, 2015: Department of State Health Services and the YES Waiver

July, 2015: Health and Human Services Commission and Texas Juvenile Justice Department with Legislative Updates on Mental Health and Juvenile Justice

September, 2015: Texas Education Agency and Non-educational Community-based Support Services (Non-ed funds) 

January, 2016: Texas Workforce Commission and Adult, Youth, and Child Care Services

February, 2016: CRCGs and the Texas System of Care & Wraparound Services

March, 2016: Identifying and Responding to Trauma Among Refugee and Vulnerable Populations

May, 2016: CRCGs and DADS Permanency Planning

Sharing Is Caring!

Please feel free to share our newsletter with your colleagues or anyone that might benefit from this information.  Just use the SHARE button at the bottom left of the newsletter.


Contact Us

We would love to hear from you!  If you have thoughts, concerns, comments, ideas, or anything else you'd like to share, please contact the State CRCG Office by email at
CRCG@hhsc.state.tx.us.

New Resources Available

The State CRCG Office is pleased to announce the publication of our "One Page Series."  These are one page documents about resources frequently accessed by local CRCGs.  This month we are excited to release one pagers on the YES Waiver and Non-educational funds developed in partnership with State Workgroup members at the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Texas Education Agency (TEA).  The State CRCG Office is circulating these resources to all CRCG Leaders in the June leadership email.

In the months ahead, the State CRCG Office will develop more one page documents on resources such as permanency planning, the Waco Center for Youth, and the North Texas State Hospital. 

To suggest other topics, please email the State CRCG Office at: CRCG@hhsc.state.tx.us.

Local CRCG Spotlight: Llano County

This quarter, the State CRCG Office visited Llano County to provide training and technical assistance.  Llano County was formerly a part of a two-county CRCG that decided to establish their own group.  In light of this decision, Llano contacted the State CRCG Office for support. 

The State CRCG Office trains counties who are launching, maintaining, and re-vamping local CRCGs.  These trainings are conducted through site visits, conference calls, and video conferencing.  The State CRCG Office presented a 101 on CRCGs, which provides a thorough review of the CRCG model, sample cases, and the program. 

Llano CRCG Chair, Kimberly Harris, shared that members who never participated in a CRCG found the training to be very helpful.  The State CRCG Office also observed and participated in a staffing.  After the site visit, the State CRCG Office provided feedback on the CRCG's strengths and suggestions to improve the process and experience for families.  Ms. Harris, stated that, "It was nice to know that we have a state representative to reach out to."

The State CRCG Office recently created tools for local CRCGs like Llano County. The CRCG Checklist helps prepare new or expanding CRCGs to serve clients. The CRCG Checklist was shared with all CRCG Leaders in the June leadership email.

If your CRCG is in need of support, please contact the State CRCG Office by email at: CRCG@hhsc.state.tx.us.

Upcoming Events

Bridge Call Announcement - NEW UPDATES

In an effort to improve the quality of our monthly bridge call series, the State CRCG Office is piloting GoToWebinar technology this summer.  We hope to decrease the time spent on introductions, increase discussion time, improve sound quality, and collect accurate participation records.  Participants will continue to have the opportunity to share thoughts, ask questions, and provide support to their peers.

To participate, click here to register for the July and August bridge calls.

Our next bridge call is scheduled on Tuesday July 12, 2016, at 2:00 PM - 3:00PM CDT/1:00 PM - 2:00PM MDT.  We hope you can join us to participate in the discussion.

Upcoming Bridge Call Schedule:

  • Tuesday, July 12, 2016 from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CDT/1:00 PM - 2:00 PM MDT
  • Tuesday, August 9, 2016 from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CDT/1:00 PM - 2:00 PM MDT

CRCG Webinar Series

The State CRCG Office offers a webinar series for local CRCG Leaders, members, and other interested persons, to highlight state agency partners and provide training on key statewide initiatives and programs that help serve individuals involved with CRCGs.  Each webinar focuses on a topic relevant to local CRCGs.

This July, the State CRCG Office will reveal a survey to collect local CRCG service delivery information from the 2015 calendar year.  On the webinar we will review the survey, provide a "how-to" tutorial, and discuss how the information that is collected will be used.  This survey will provide valuable information for the upcoming Legislative Report and is critical in highlighting how local CRCGs across the state are working with persons and families in their communities.

Upcoming Webinar Schedule:

Mark your calendars for these upcoming webinars and join in on the learning and discussion.  If you have suggestions for future webinar topics, please email us your ideas.

Announcements

Changing of the Interns

It is that time of year again – when we say goodbye to our current interns and welcome a new group.  The State CRCG Office sincerely thanks Marilee Ponangi and Moriah Holmes for their contributions to our Program.  Marilee accepted a position as Evaluation Specialist III at DSHS and Moriah is moving to Los Angeles to become an Education Pioneers Fellow.  We wish them the best of luck. 

We welcome our new interns, Sarah Fiorenza and Robert Carroll.  Sarah graduated in 2011 with a Master's degree in Global Policy Studies from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.  She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Austin College.  Robert is currently working on his Ph.D. in Interpersonal Communication at The University of Texas at Austin.  He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia in Communication and Higher Education.

HHSC's First Foster Care Ombudsman

If a child in foster care has a question or complaint about how they are being treated or how their case is being handled, they can now call Clarice Rogers, an 11-year veteran of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).  Clarice is HHSC's first Foster Care Ombudsman; a position created by Senate Bill 830, 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015.  Working in the Office of the Ombudsman, she will act as a neutral party to help children in foster care with their questions and concerns.

"If there is a child who is calling for help, I come in," Rogers said.  "I'll look to see if Child Protective Services has made appropriate findings and taken appropriate actions.  If they have questions about other HHS services, I can help with that, too."

There are 20,000 young Texans in foster care at any given time, and while DFPS's Office of Consumer Affairs handles complaints from anyone involved in a child's case, this is the first time someone has been dedicated solely to the children and youth themselves.

For more information about the program, visit the HHSC Ombudsman's website

Free Summer Meals Available for Kids

The Summer Food Program, sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), provides nutritious lunches, and occasionally breakfast, to children 18 and younger when school is not in session.  The meals are provided at no cost at various community locations across the state.

The HHSC 2-1-1 Texas Information and Referral Network is working with TDA to provide information on how children can find free meal sites during the summer months.

For more information about summer meals near you, call 2-1-1 or visit www.summerfood.org.

Texas Conference on Ending Homelessness, September 21-23, 2016, in Austin, TX

The Texas Annual Conference on Ending Homelessness is scheduled for September 21-23, 2016, at the Austin Omni Hotel at Southpark in Austin, Texas.  This conference is designed for people who represent a product or service that benefits homeless service agencies or the people they serve.  For more information about conference registration or hotel rates, click here to access the conference website.

Partners in Prevention Conference, September 28-30, 2016, in Austin, TX

The annual Partners in Prevention (PIP) Conference will be held September 28-30, 2016, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Austin, Texas.  PIP is the largest gathering of prevention and early intervention specialists and aligned professionals in Texas.  Now in its 16th year, PIP is an education and networking event for community-based providers, advocates, civic leaders, researchers, and professionals with an interest in child welfare, social, emotional and cognitive development, parenting, juvenile justice, and pro-social adolescent development.

Visit the conference website for more information. Registration opens in August.

International Conference on Innovations in Family Engagement, November 1-4, 2016, in Fort Worth, TX

For two decades, the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect has been supporting the implementation of innovation in systems and communities that work with vulnerable children, youth and families. Three of these more well-known innovations are family group decision making (FGDM), family engagement and differential response. The Kempe Center fuels leaders’ quests to adapt systems to center on achieving safety, permanency and well-being through family engagement.

CRCG will present at the International Conference on Innovations in Family Engagement! Check for updates, the conference schedule, and information on nearby hotels at the conference website.

Strengthening Youth and Families, November 7- 10, 2016, in Arlington, TX

SYF Conference

The Strengthening Youth and Families Conference is Texas’ only interagency-funded annual conference for youth-serving professionals, attracting over 300 attendees who come together for several days of networking and professional development.

Additional information, including room rate and reservation options, can be found on the conference Facebook page.  CRCG Leadership Trainings are planned at this event, so mark your calendars and stay tuned for more updates!

Registration and scholarship applications for attendance will be available on August 1st.  To request a scholarship application after August 1st, please contact Rebecca Garza, Family Supports Administrator for TJJD at rebecca.garza@tjjd.texas.gov.

CRCG Website

CRCG Leader Contact Information:  The CRCG website now has an online form to update your local CRCG leadership contact information.  Please help us keep our contacts up-to-date by filling out this form when you have leadership changes in your CRCG.  Accurate contact information is very important so that local CRCGs and other agencies can make appropriate referrals.  Through these efforts, we can make sure every CRCG receives the news and information they need.

In May, we also updated the county contacts under "Find a Local CRCG."  Please make sure your county's contact information is accurate.  If you see an inaccuracy, please fill out the "Update CRCG Leader" form or send us an email.

CRCG State Agency Partner Updates

In this section we highlight updates from the eleven CRCG State Agency partners to hear about opportunities, new resources, and policy changes.

Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)

HHS Transformation: Where Are We Now?

Senate Bill 200, 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015 is known as the Sunset bill. The bill lays the groundwork for the HHS transformation and takes a phased approach to restructuring. The following content provides updates on some of the Health and Human Services Commission's (HHSCs) organizational changes that will begin Sept. 1, 2016.

The organizational charts produced by the transformation cross-agency workgroups are now being considered and approved for implementation.  The majority of the transformation changes will serve to populate the new Medical and Social Services division.  This division will be a blending of programs, services, and benefits offered by:

  • Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
  • Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)
  • Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
  • Department of State Health Services (DSHS)  

The new Medical and Social Services division will be comprised of the following three departments:

  • Access and Eligibility Services
  • Community Services
  • Medicaid and CHIP Services


Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)

The Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) continues to work with HHSC and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) on the transition of programs.

DARS recently announced a new Resource Page that will provide the latest information on activities and news related to the transfer of DARS programs and services to the TWC and HHSC.

H.B. 2463, 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015 directs DARS to consolidate the Independent Living (IL) programs of the Division for Blind Services and of the Division for Rehabilitation Services and to outsource the consolidated IL program to Centers for Independent Living (CILs) or other organizations by August 31, 2016. Contract applications were released to CILs with a due date of Thursday, April 28, 2016.  DARS anticipates all contracts will be signed by the end of June 2016.

Additionally, the final capacity report from the Public Consulting Group is posted on the IL Outsourcing webpage.

For more information, contact your CRCG DARS representatives:


Texas Workforce Commission

TWC Welcomes Newly Appointed Commissioner Representing Labor, Julian Alvarez

Julian Alvarez III is the newly appointed Commissioner Representing Labor of the Texas Workforce Commission.  Governor Greg Abbott appointed him to the three-member Commission on February 22, 2016.  His Commission appointment expires February 1, 2017.  The Commissioner Representing Labor represents the interest of Texas workers with respect to TWC services and ensures that their concerns are considered in all Commission actions.

Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Alvarez served as president and CEO of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, fostering relationships and coordinating programs to advance regional economic development and employment opportunities.  He also served as a Texas regional director for the U.S. Senate and advised on legislative and policy issues related to South Texas. Prior to that, Commissioner Alvarez served on the South Texas Drug Task Force as a state trooper for the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

After his service with DPS, Alvarez inspired stewardship and leadership as the director of college information for Texas State Technical College in Harlingen.

For more information about the three-member Commission for the Labor of Texas Workforce Commission, please visit the TWC website at: http://www.twc.state.tx.us/commissioners.

For additional information, contact the following CRCG TWC representative:


Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)

On September 1, 2016, the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) will begin statewide use of the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) Assessment. All children and youth ages 3-17 years-old entering DFPS conservatorship on or after September 1, 2016, will have a CANS completed as part of their assessment and service planning process within 30 days of removal. 

CANS is a multi-purpose tool developed for children’s services to support decision-making, drive service planning, facilitate quality improvement initiatives, and allow for the monitoring of outcomes of services.  Versions of the CANS are currently used in 50 states and multiple countries in child welfare, mental health, juvenile justice, and early intervention applications. 

In Texas, CANS is currently used by:

  • The 3B Foster Care Redesign Catchment area
  • A DFPS IV-E waiver pilot program in Harris County
  • DSHS
  • Juvenile Justice Entities
  • Residential providers    

In coordination with the DSHS, DFPS, and Region 6a Harris County IV-E waiver program, the Texas Comprehensive version 2.0 CANS tool was developed specifically for children served by DFPS.

A CANS assessment will be administered by a Medicaid clinician who is certified to administer CANS.  For IV-E waiver children (administered by a caseworker) and some children placed in the 3B Foster Care Redesign Catchment area, the assessment will be administered by a CANS certified provider affiliated with the child placing agency.

To learn more about CANS, please visit praedfoundation.org.  For specific questions about DFPS CANS implementation, please email your inquiries to cans@dfps.state.tx.us.


    Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)

    Applications are available for people who are interested in serving on the Aging and Disability Resource Center Advisory Committee (ADRCAC) or the Texas Respite Advisory Committee (TRAC). Applications are due June 24, 2016. To help potential members better understand the purpose of the committees, letters to individuals interested in ADRC or respite issues have been added to the DADS site.


    E-mail questions to ADRC@dads.state.tx.us or TakeTime.Texas@dads.state.tx.us, as appropriate.



      Texas System of Care

      In May 2016, the Texas System of Care hosted a two-day intensive interagency leadership development and training seminar focused on complex systems change and community preparation.  Community and state leaders from a variety of agencies came together at the Texas Leadership Academy to learn and practice leadership skills in times of change and innovation.  

      In early June, the Texas Building Bridges Initiative:  Linking Families, Communities, and Residential Treatment Centers through Best Practices (TxBBI) was launched.  This initiative is a partnership between Texas System of Care, DFPS, DSHS, and the Building Bridges Initiative to promote practices and policies that encourage families, communities, and RTCs to collaborate effectively to improve the quality of life for children and families.  

      In conjunction with the Shifting Cultures Through Trauma Informed Care conference, teams from three residential treatment centers (Embracing Destiny, Krause Children’s Center, and Roy Maas Youth Alternatives) and one local mental health authority (Emergence Health Network, in El Paso) participated in an afternoon of strategic planning to select and implement specific TxBBI best practices in their organizations. 

      Finally, the Texas System of Care partnered with the Austin Youth Film Festival to award the first ever Standing Ovation award for the best video addressing teen mental health.  Check out the award winning video by Emma Rose Gill here.

      Subscribe to email updates and children’s mental health news and resources from the Texas System of Care to stay up to date! http://www.txsystemofcare.org/subscribe/