HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Commission On Children And Youth - 01/09/1995 41►
MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH
January 9. 1995
MEMBERS PRESENT: Grace Rank, Chairperson,Mary Strickland,Vice-Chair, Burma Barnett,
Paige Dinn, Carl Lewis County Attorney,Julianna Rivera, Dr. Maria L. Garza,Jeff Jung, Veronica
Trevino,Orlando Tones,Cynthia Hurst,Dr.Philip Rhoades,Paula Rosenstein,Joey Sanchez, Rudy
Sosa, Robin West
MEMBERS ABSENT: Monica Stender
STAFF PRESENT: Malcolm Matthews,Director of Park&Recreation,Judy Dreyer, Recording
Secretary
APPROVAL OFIVHNUTES• Mr.Tones made the motion that the minutes of the regular meeting
of December 12, 1994, approved as received in the mail.
INTRODUCTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER: Chairperson Rank introduced Joey Sanchez,
newly appointed Committee student member, and asked that he supply information on his
background. Mr. Sanchez stated he has been involved with Teen Court for several years and felt
he could be of assistance to the Committee by providing a different prospective on various issues.
pISCUSSION OF LEGISLATIVE ISSUES. Chairperson Rank briefly discussed this item and
then called on Paige Dinn, Chairperson of the Legislative Subcommittee to present the proposed
legislative issues to the Commission.
Mr. Matthews explained that prior to the Commission's discussion of this item,he should point out
that the City Council had previously passed a Resolution dealing with legislation by advisory boards
and employees. If any of their recommendations involved lobbying,he would be required to present
them to the City Attorney prior to submittal to the City Council. He continued that the City receives
copies of all proposed bills and 48 pieces of legislation dealing with youth have already been filed
by the various legislators.
Ms. Dinn presented copies of several proposed legislative issues, various newspaper articles, and
other materials for the Commission's review.
Chairperson Rank opened the floor for discussion of the various legislative issues as presented by
Ms. Dinn.
The Commission held a lengthy discussion on proposed legislation (see attached details on
legislative issues). The items were acted upon individually, with the following motions.
'Rik) tt I 1 _. ; tu : fir t ' t
Vice-Chair Strickland moved that this statement be recommended by the Commission. Ms. Trevino
seconded and the motion passed with County Attorney Lewis abstaining.
V V
SERVICES FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN
Ms.Rivera moved to approve the statement in support of mental health. Mr.Jung seconded and the
motion passed unanimously.
PROMOTING EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH IN CHILDREN AND
ADOLESCENTS
County Attorney Lewis made the motion to accept the position statement. Mr. Jung seconded and
the motion passed unanimously.
FUNDING FOR SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE
After a lengthy discussion, Barnett moved to accept it. Ms. Trevino seconded and the motion
passed unanimously.
INTENSIVE HOME VISITATION PROGIjMM
Mr. Tones made the motion to accept this statement. Mr. Jung seconded and the motion passed
unanimously.
FUNDING TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS
Ms.Rivera moved to add this item to the list of recommended legislative actions to be recommended
by the Commission. Mr. Tones seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
♦ . . : u it 1 : . s :. : 1 1 ♦
FOR CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS
Chairperson Rank asked that the Commission also consider the inclusion of an additional item,
which would include provisions in the Texas Family Code to authorize the creation of, and liability
protection for,the Children's Advocacy Centers. Several of the members indicated that they could
not support this item. Mr. Matthews pointed out that if the issue was included, it would require that
the specific cities be listed. A brief discussion followed and the request was withdrawn.
(County Attorney Lewis left at 7:05 p.m.)
DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
Mr. Matthews passed out a list of individuals who attended the round table discussion on truancy
as requested by Chairperson Rank. He also passed out a flyer announcing a workshop sponsored
by Youth City.
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SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS:
Grants: Mr. Jung announced that the Grants Subcommittee would meet January 16th at 8:00 a.m.
in his office,406 N. Carancahua.
CURRENT CONCERNS:
Chairperson Rank reminded members of the retreat on February 17th and 18th.
HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC:
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
As there was no further business, Chairperson Rank adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m.
Malcolm Matthews,Director
Park&Recreation Department
att.
jumin95`!y
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RECOMMENDATIONS
COMMISSION ON CFIILDREN4ND YOUTH
January 9. 1995
1. The Commission approved that the City Council support legislation on the following
children's issues:
a. Promotion of Firearm Safety and Responsibility
b. Services for Abused and Neglected Children
c. Promoting Emotional and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents
d. Funding for Subsidized Child Care
e. Intensive Home Visitation Program(Healthy Start/Healthy Families)
£ Funding to Support Children's Advocacy Centers,one of which is in Corpus
Christi.
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RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS BY THE COMMISSION ON CHILDREN
AND YOUTH
At their regular monthly meeting of January 9. 1995. the Commission on Children and Youth
recommended that the following issues be forwarded for legislative action.
1. PROMOTING FIREARM SAFETY AND RESPONSIBILITY
Statement of Need:
Access to guns is a major factor in the escalation of teen violence in the United States. A
gun is produced every 10 seconds in this country and is available to almost anyone who
wants one, including children. Not surprisingly, more than half the children and teens
surveyed in a Newsweek Children's Defense Fund poll of youths ages 10 through 17 said
they could get a gun if they wanted one. From 1985 to 1992,the rate of death from firearms
among 15 to 19 years olds in Texas doubled. In Nueces County between 1990 and 1993,
fifteen children under the age of 18 died as a result of gun shot wounds.
As more children are slain in unintentional and intentional shootings, cities across
Texas(Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Fort Worth, Pasadena and Sugar Land) have
passed firearm safety and responsibility ordinances designed to penalize adults who
allow children unsupervised access to firearms.
Since the enactment of a city ordinance in Houston mandating responsible juvenile access
to firearms, overall gun access by juveniles has been reduced and juvenile shootings have
decreased by 50%. A statewide law against a child's unsupervised access to firearms is
another step toward keeping guns out of the hands of children, solving juvenile crime and
protecting the health and well-being of all Texas citizens.
Action Needed:
The Commission recommends that the Texas Legislature pass legislation to reduce
unintentional shootings in Texas, and reduce children's unsupervised access to
firearms, through the use of safety devices, safety education programs, and
encouragement of personal responsibility of gun owners.
2. SERVICES FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN
Statement of Need:
Reports of abuse and neglect to Children's Protective Services(CPS)have greatly increased
in recent years while the financial capability of CPS has not. This increase has resulted in
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expenditure of scarce existing resources on the investigation of new reports and the provision
of services to children removed from their own homes. Services designed to prevent removal
and to prevent further abuse and neglect have not been available for all cases needing them
in all parts of the state.
CPS lacks sufficient resources to provide follow-up protective services to 40 to 50 percent
of children needing protective services in Texas. CPS's inability to meet the current demand
for service leads to disappointment by the public, who does not understand why children are
not protected.
Action Needed:
The Commission recommends that the Texas Legislature appropriate increased
funding for Children's Protective Services to 100 percent of Texas' children identified
as needing protective services by the Year 2000. This increase is needed in order to
provide protective service delivery to all children who suffer or are at risk of abuse and
neglect by: continuing to support implementation of a risk-based service delivery
approach; providing intense family preservation services to allow children to remain
in their own home when appropriate; expanding the automated information system to
support protective services and decrease administrative overhead; reducing work load
to levels which would make successful casework possible and curtail staff turnover.
3. ERQMOTING EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH IN CHILDREN AND
ADOLESCENTS
Statement of Need:
The New York Times reporting on a Carnegie Corporation study on young children recently
stated:
"Millions of American children and toddlers are so deprived of
medical care,loving supervision and intellectual stimulation that their
growth into healthy and responsible adults is threatened...The report
paints a bleak picture of disintegrating families, persistent poverty,
high levels of child abuse, inadequate health care, and child care of
such poor quality that it threatens youngsters' intellectual and
emotional development."
An increasing number of children and adolescents throughout the state of Texas are in need
of mental health services from mental health agencies, the juvenile justice system, the
schools, and the medical community.
In response to the critical, unmet needs of children and adolescents, the Texas Children's
Mental Health Plan(TCMHP)was established in 1990 to create a collaborative,community-
based system of mental health services for children and their families. The TCMHP is
family focused and child-centered to address the services necessary for children to remain
safely in their home and schools and to participate in their community. This program is a
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collaborative effort of the nine major public agencies which serve children: Early Childhood
Intervention. Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Texas Department of Health.
Texas Department of Human Services.Texas Education Agency. Texas Juvenile Probation
Commission. Texas Rehabilitation Commission. Texas Mental Health and Mental
Retardation System and the Texas Youth Commission. and is administered locally by
representatives of those agencies.
Action Needed:
The Commission recommends that greater emphasis be placed on prevention and early
intervention services with the intent of reaching more severely disturbed children at an
earlier age and ultimately reducing the number of children and adults with severe
mental illness, and that the Texas Legislature provide the additional resources
necessary to address this recommendation.
4. FUNDING FOR SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE
Statement of Need:
Cuts in state appropriations to the Texas Department of Human Services(TDHS) in the last
Legislative Session have resulted in a significant reduction in the number of children and
families receiving child care subsidies. The most severely effected by these cuts are low
income families who work. This group is designated by TDHS as the lowest priority to
receive child care assistance. Child care dollars that are currently available are being used
to assist families considered to be a higher priority (families referred by CPS, JOBS, and
AFDC families).
A typical"income eligible", or low-income working family in Texas, is a single mother with
two children in day care, with a monthly gross income of$958. With subsidy,this family
pays $105 monthly for child care. Without subsidy, the average cost is $470 monthly
(approximately 50% of gross income). Clearly, this family cannot pay for rent, utilities,
food. clothing and taxes with the other half of their income. A parent working at a low
paying job who cannot receive day care assistance faces limited choices:
• Stop working and receive welfare
♦ Leave the children unsupervised while at work
• Leave the children poorly supervised while at work
• Reduce the number of hours worked in order to care for the children
Action Needed:
The Commission recommends that the Texas Legislature increase state general revenue
funding for low income working families who need child care subsidies to accept or
maintain employment. An additional $23 Million in Federal dollars (Title IV-A)will
be available to Texas, but requires the State to match with S9 Million before the funds
can be released.
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5. INTENSIVE HOME VISITATION PROGRAM
Statement of Need:
Preventing child abuse saves children's lives, avoids future social problems and costs less
than treating the effects of child maltreatment. A growing and impressive body of literature
supports the cost-effectiveness of such early intervention. An intensive home visitation
program. Healthy Start/Healthy Families, which has been successful in other states, will
result in a number of other positive outcomes for children and families including 100%
immunization rate and increased school readiness. It is estimated that 8.5% of Texas'
children are at risk of abuse or neglect. These are the children and families who can benefit
from an intensive home visitation program to break this cycle of abuse.
Healthy Start/Healthy Families is an intensive home visitation program,as recommended by
the TCAP (Texas Cities Action Plan for Crime Prevention), targeted to at-risk families of
newborns which promotes positive child development and prevents child abuse and neglect
among children from birth to age five.
In Texas, the Comptroller's Office recommended a five-year statewide phase-in (of the
Hawaii Healthy Start model) in Texas in its 1993 budget proposal"Against the Grain" The
U. S. Government Accounting Office has delineated home visitor programs and,specifically,
the Hawaii Healthy Start Program as a model for cost effective results.
Action Needed:
The Commission recommends that the Texas Legislature support an intensive home
visitation program as patterned after the Healthy Start program in Hawaii and
recommended by the Texas Cities Action Plan (TCAP) and the Comptroller's Office.
6. FUNDING TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS
Statement of Need:
Provide funding to support the efforts of the 20 Children's Advocacy Centers(of which one
is in Corpus Christi) projected to be in operation in 1996-97. Children's Advocacy Centers
help children who have been severely physically or sexually abused. These are " child
friendly",cost effective centers that provide multi-agency collaboration for investigation and
treatment. This issue was also recommended by TCAP.
Action Needed:
The Commission recommends that the Texas Legislature provide funding to support
the efforts of the 20 Children's Advocacy Centers (of which one is in Corpus Christi)
projected to be in operation in 1996-97.
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