CJA TASK FORCE MEETING · 2015. 7. 24. · Collin County Sheriff Plano, TX 972-633-6626 [email protected] Isidro Alaniz District Attorney Webb Country District Attorney’s

CJA TASK FORCE MEETING

July 11, 2014, 9:00 am-1:00 pm Courtyard by Marriott – Austin Downtown

300 E 4th St. Austin, TX 78701

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Agenda……………………………………………………………………………… 1

Task Force Roster…………………………………………………………………. 2

Meeting Minutes (04/25/14)………………………………………………………… 4

Membership Committee Report…………………………………………………... 6

2014 Project Updates………………………………………………………………. 9

2014 Grant Summaries…………………………………………………………… . 15

2015 Grant Updates…………………………………………………………….. 36

2014 Budget………………………………………………………………………… 40

Committee Rosters…………………………………………………………………. 41

Committee Scope of Work………………………………………………………… 44

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Children’s Justice Act Task Force Quarterly Task Force Meeting

Rio Grande B, Courtyard by Marriott – Austin Downtown 300 E 4th St. Austin, TX 78701

July 11, 2014

9:00 AM- 1:00 PM

AGENDA

8:30 Networking Breakfast

9:00 Welcome and Introductions – Chris Oldner, Chair

9:10 Approval of April 25, 2014 meeting minutes – Action Item

9:15 Project Spotlight: Texas Council on Family Violence – Krista Del Gallo

9:45 Alternative Response: Better Outcomes Through Family & Community Partnering

– Gwen Gray, DFPS

10:15 Break

10:30 Membership Committee Report - FY 14 Recommendations for New Task Force

Members

Election of New Task Force Members – Action Item

Reelection of Task Force Members – Action Item

Election of Task Force Officers – Action Item

10:50 Recognition for Outgoing Task Force Members

11:00 Quarterly Task Force Education: The Defense Attorney’s Perspective – Jon Evans

11:30 Action Item: 2015 Grant Project Update

11:45 Three Year Assessment Update/Overview – Heidi Penix

12:00 Adjourn/Networking Lunch

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TX Children’s Justice Act Task Force Members 2013-2014

Chris Oldner, Chair District Judge 416

th Judicial District Court

McKinney, TX (972) 548-4520 [email protected]

Kriste Burnett, Vice-Chair Attorney at Law Cleburne, TX (817) 648-0002 [email protected]

Tony Bradley, Chair-Elect Lieutenant/Supervisor, Rural Child Abuse Task Force Collin County Sheriff Plano, TX 972-633-6626 [email protected]

Isidro Alaniz District Attorney Webb Country District Attorney’s Office Laredo, TX 956-523-4912 [email protected]

Ms. Lisa Black Assistant Commissioner for CPS Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Austin, TX 512-438-2562 [email protected]

Irene Clements Public Policy Chair Texas Foster Families Association Pflugerville, TX 512-775-1024 [email protected]

Cathy Crabtree Director of Chapter Development National Children’s Alliance Austin, TX (512) 971-2367 [email protected]

Jon Evans Attorney at Law Austin, TX (512) 476-4075 [email protected]

Kristen Foster Director of Employee Relations Austin Independent School District Austin, TX (512) 414-1431 [email protected] [email protected]

Aurora Martinez Jones Attorney at Law The Martinez Jones Law Firm, PLLC Austin, TX 512-452-1555 [email protected]

Randi King Assistant District Attorney Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office Beaumont, TX (409) 835-8615 [email protected] [email protected]

Kris Linenberger Training Manager Texas Homeless Network Austin, TX (512) 482-8270 [email protected]

Gabriel Martinez, Jr. Captain, Special Projects City of Laredo Police Department Laredo, Texas 956-795-2899 [email protected]

Lindsay Mullins Executive Director, State Government Affairs BNSF Railway Austin, TX 512-473-2823 [email protected]

Sandeep Narang Child Abuse Pediatrician University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 6410 Fannin St, Ste 1425 Houston, TX 77030 [email protected]

Daniela Ontiveroz Midland, TX (432) 686-2297 (432) 557-3400 cell [email protected]

Julie Prudhome Clinical Director Garth House, Mickey Mehaffy CAC Beaumont, TX 409-838-9084 [email protected]

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mailto:[email protected]
















TX Children’s Justice Act Task Force Members 2013-2014

Joy Rauls Executive Director Children Advocacy Centers of Texas Austin, TX 512-258-9920 [email protected]

Monica Reyes Parent Liaison The Children’s Partnership/Travis County Health and Human Services Austin, TX 512-854-7872 [email protected]

Dean Rucker District Judge 318

th Family District Court

Midland, TX (432) 688-4390 [email protected]

Craig Spinn Superintendent of Schools Thorndale ISD Thorndale, TX 830-798-7311 [email protected]

Vicki Spriggs CEO Texas CASA, Inc. Austin, TX (512) 473-2627 [email protected]

Nhung Tran Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician Scott and White Healthcare Department of Pediatrics Temple, TX 254-724-6060 [email protected]

Laura Wolf Executive Director CASA of Travis County Austin, TX 512-539-2665 [email protected]

LaRu Woody Former Director, Family Justice Division Travis County District Attorney’s Office 1801 Santa Clara St. Austin, TX (512) 779-9013 [email protected]

Staff

Heidi Penix Program Director (512) 482-8986 (517) 974-8009 cell [email protected]

Katie Jackson Program Administrator 512-482-8986 [email protected]

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MINUTES of Texas Children’s Justice Act Task Force Meeting Date: April 25, 2014

Call to order: A regular meeting of the Texas Children’s Justice Act (CJA) Task Force was held at the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Austin, TX on April 25, 2014. The meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. with the Honorable Chris Oldner, CJA Task Force Chair, presiding. Members in attendance: Isidro Alaniz, Tony Bradley, Kriste Burnett, Cathy Crabtree, Jon Evans, Randi King, Kris Linenberger, Gabriel Martinez, Chris Oldner, Daniela Ontiveroz, Julie Prudhome, Joy Rauls, Monica Reyes, Vicki Spriggs, Nhung Tran, Laura Wolf, LaRu Woody Members not in attendance: Lisa Black, Irene Clements, Kristen Foster, Aurora Martinez Jones, Lindsey Mullins, Sandeep Narang, Dean Rucker, Craig Spinn Also in attendance: Mark Atkinson, Catherine Bass, Dan Capouch, Katie Jackson, Heidi Penix Welcome and Introductions by the Honorable Chris Oldner. Judge Oldner welcomed members and guests. Introductions were made around the room. Approval of past meeting minutes: CJA meeting minutes from January 10, 2014 were disseminated to the Task Force members via email on 4/23/14. Minutes were approved without objection. Grant Committee Report: Applications and Recommendations for Grant Funding: CJA Program Administrator, Katie Jackson, presented the FY15 applicants and the Grants Committee Recommendations. All Task Force members agreed that Texas CJA should approach TMPA to discuss the issues we are having with their project (i.e. fewer and fewer trainings being held). If Texas CJA and TMPA cannot find a mutually satisfactory solution, then Texas CJA will approach other organizations about offering the curriculum that was developed by TMPA with CJA funding in a previous grant year. Gabriel Martinez and Tony Bradley offered to work with CJA staff on this issue. Several Task Force members expressed concern about UH-CL’s proposed project, “Beacon for Youth in Court.” Many believed the issue that the project aimed to address was more of a local court / DA’s office issue rather than an issue that should be addressed by Texas CJA. Task Force members provided examples of offices that either had already worked on this issue or are currently working on it. There was also some concern expressed about whether the needs assessment piece of the project was necessary or worth the funding. It was suggested that UH-CL possibly include civil courts in the needs assessment if we end up moving forward with the project. CJA staff will follow up with UH-CL regarding these issues. The Task Force unanimously approved funding for the 3 recommended grants: CACTX, UT Health Science Center – Houston, and Harris County. The Task Force also unanimously agreed to decline funding for the following applicants: UT Child and Family Research Center, SCAN, and TOPDD. CJA staff will continue discussions with SafePlace, TCFV, DFPS, TMPA, UH-CL and UT Health Science Center about the questions we had regarding their proposed projects, and they will relay any information to the Task Force via email. The Task Force will address whether or not to fund these projects at the July Task Force meeting. Quarterly Task Force Education - Prenatal Substance Exposure: by Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician, Dr. Nhung Tran of Scott & White Healthcare. Dr. Tran presented on the effects of drugs and alcohol on prenatal development, as well as the mental, physical and social health symptoms that those who were prenatally exposed to drugs or alcohol exhibit throughout their childhood and later youth.

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Review & Discussion of CJA 3-Year Assessment Process: Heidi Penix presented the plan for the 3-Year Assessment process. The 3-Year Assessment Report is due May, 2015. Information gathering for the 3-Year Assessment Report has already begun. CJA staff will send Task Force members a survey that aims to gather leads that will help CJA staff to research the topics that must be included in the Report. Texas CJA will potentially be setting up Work Groups consisting of current Task Force members as well as outside experts to help the Assessment Committee with the Report. The ideal members of the work groups will be those who have expertise AND the time to commit to this project. Once the Assessment Committee has gathered all necessary information from the Work Groups, CJA staff will compile the Assessment Committee’s findings and recommendations along with information from Task Force surveys, literature reviews, interviews with key stakeholders, etc. Heidi will arrange a meeting with the Executive Committee within the next few weeks to discuss the Assessment Committee and Work Groups. There was a short discussion about, and general support for, a change in the CJA grant process during the next 3-year cycle that moves away from an RFP process and towards approaching organizations with specific projects in mind. The discussed benefits of this change included the ability to closely align CJA projects with the recommendations we put forth in the 3-Year Assessment Report, as well as increasing the efficiency of the grants process for both Texas CJA and future grantees. FY2014 Quarterly Updates & Budget Report: Heidi Penix reviewed the project outcomes for the first and second quarter from the FY2014 CJA grantees, as well as the budget and expenditure for the second quarter. All but 3 grantee projects are on target to meeting their proposed outcomes and are meeting predicted spending levels. SCAN and Texas Tech are both struggling with getting people enrolled in their trainings, and CJA staff is working with them on strategies to increase enrollment. It is likely that CJA will have funds leftover from both of these grantees. TMPA has not been meeting its training objectives, though they are maintaining a high level of project spending. There are serious concerns about the management of the grant project, which were discussed at length during the Grant Committee Report on FY2015 funding recommendations. CJA staff will set up a meeting as soon as possible with TMPA supervisors to discuss the necessity of getting the project back on track in order to continue funding. It has been a record year for individuals seeking CJA scholarships for professional development conferences, and we are already out of scholarship funding for the year. Committee Breakouts: Each committee met to discuss their next steps. The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 pm

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CJA TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT

COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Randi King (Chair), Isidro Alaniz, Cathy Crabtree, Gabriel Martinez, Daniela

Ontiveroz, Joy Rauls, Monica Reyes

I. Committee Scope of Work

A. Recruitment of new Task Force members

1. Identify Primary and Secondary Categories for Task Force member recruitment

2. Strategic Recruitment of 5-8 new Task Force Members for 2014-2015

B. Determine training needs of Task Force and develop training plan for 2014

1. Review of Task Force Orientation Process

2. Develop training for Task Force throughout the year consistent with Task Force

priorities

C. Present recommendations for membership and officer positions

II. Member Recruitment

A. Background

1. April 25th – Committee determined primary and secondary priorities for Task

Force Recruitment

2. May 12th – Committee Chair approved Task Force recruitment memo

3. May 12th – Staff emailed recruitment memo to full Task Force

4. May 12th - May 30th– Committee solicited recommendations from members to

fulfill identified priority criteria

5. May 30th – Deadline for candidate recommendations.

6. June 30th – Committee determined which candidates to nominate for Task

Force Membership. Nominations were based on primary expertise/secondary

expertise as well as Task Force priority for membership diversity.

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B. Status - Nominees:

1. Primary Priority Areas of Expertise

a) Criminal Defense Attorney – Jesse Gonzales, Jr

b) Adult former victim of child abuse/neglect – Tymothy Belseth

2. Secondary Priority Areas of Expertise (representing gaps that will present

beyond 2015 or other desired categories) include:

a) Government Affairs/Relations Professional – Diana Martinez

b.) Mental Health Professional – Dan Powers

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III. Recommendations for Membership and Officer Positions

A. Background:

1. Bylaws direct the Membership Committee to recommend candidates to fill Task

Force member and officer vacancies.

2. Committee shall present nominations for new and renewing Task Force

members at the final Task Force meeting of the fiscal year. Recommendations

shall be provided in writing and shall be voted on.

3. The position of Chair Elect and Vice Chair will be vacant in FY2015.

4. Eight current Task Force members are up for re-election for either their third or

second terms and would like to be nominated for an additional term. Judge

Rucker‘s second term has expired but his schedule will not permit him to

continue with a third term at this time. Kristen Foster’s second term has also

expired but her new position with Austin ISD will also not allow the time to

continue to serve on the Task Force for a third term.

B. Status:

1. June 24th – Committee nominated Kris Linenberger for Chair Elect and Laura

Wolf for Vice Chair. Committee recommended all current Task Force

members for re-election.

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CJA Third Quarter Program Updates Organization: CACTX

Project: Enhancing Multidisciplinary Team Response Through Expanded Programming

Total Award: $124,000

Held Advanced Family Advocate Training (21 participants)

Held one Semi-Structured Narrative Process – Practical Application for Forensic Interviewers (Block I) Training (14 participants)

Held one 1-day training on Supervising Mental Health Professionals and Forensic Interviewers (20 participants)

Held six Regional Forensic Interviewer Peer Review Sessions (quarterly 1-day events)

Held four Regional Family Advocate Peer Review Sessions (quarterly events for 4 of the 6 regions)

Held One 2-day Spanish-Speaking Forensic Interview Peer Review session (15 participants)

Held one Cultural Competence & Diversity Training (18 participants)

Held one Advanced Multidisciplinary Team Training in Houston. The training was attended by 70 MDT team members. Though the size was challenging to the interactive nature of the training, it was a successful session with meaningful discussion among participants.

Held a Board Training in Longview (19 participants). During the Strong Boards, Successful CACs training, participants were given an in-depth presentation on the CAC movement in Texas and how board members contribute to the success of local CACs through oversight and fundraising. While some board members were familiar with this information, a significant number were not. This is helpful information for targeting technical assistance efforts and determining types of materials needed to better orient and engage board members.

During the third quarter, CACTX began to develop web-based training that CAC staff and MDT members can access remotely. There will be four modules – CPS, law enforcement, prosecution, and an MDT orientation. CAC developed the scripts, shot videos in Austin, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Houston, and edited the footage.

Organization: CACTX Project: Ensuring Access to Justice for Child Maltreatment Victims with Disabilities or Special Healthcare Needs Total Award: $30,000

Conducted the second MSFI training to forensic interviewers. There were 24 participants.

CACTX is continuing to develop a web-based training for CAC and staff members on the MSFI process. The video footage has been shot and videos are being edited. It is anticipated that the video training will be completed by August.

CACTX conducted a short training event on the MSFI for MDT partners at the San Antonio CAC. Although two of the tenured interviewers at the center participated in the MSFI training and were able to convey much of what they had learned to their MDT partners, the team still wanted staff from the state chapter to provide information on the process. This reinforced the need for the MSFI video being developed under this grant. It will not only educate members on the process but it will also support the local centers as they work to implement this process.

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CJA Third Quarter Program Updates Organization: Harris County Project: Development of a Method to Evaluate Bone Health of Infants and Young Children in the Medical Examiner and Emergency Department Total Award: $118,942

All interim project goals have been met. The standardized protocol for taking SOS readings, radiographs and histological samples have been established and are being followed. The histological method has been revised to insure target variables are being collected to validate the method for converting x-ray attenuation values to BMD measures.

The samples continue to expand. As of June 30th, there are 65 cases included in the study. Prior medical histories have been collected on all cases. Radiographs of the radius and tibia were taken. SOS data was collected from the tibia. Histological samples of the ribs and the iliac crests were collected.

CT scans have been received for 4 infants and are being used to validate the radiographic method for converting x-ray attenuation values to BMD measures. Also, the radiographic data are being converted into BMD measurements. Progress continues on the automation of this process. Histological slides are being analyzed and the observations are being converted into scores. Radiographs are also being qualitatively assessed. This information is being entered into the Infant Injury Database.

Organization: SafePlace Project: Strategies for Change – Enhancing Response to Children with Disabilities Total Award: $50,000

Provided a webinar training on June 25th to increase the capacity of Texas child maltreatment professionals to interact with, respond to, and advocate for the needs of child victims with disabilities and their families and caregivers. Webinar attendance was lower than expected. SafePlace is working with Texas Association against Sexual Assault (TAASA) and CPS to assist in circulating information about the next webinar which will be scheduled in late August or early September.

SafePlace is continuing to work with subject matter experts to develop the resource guide. They completed the core content of the guide, sought, received and implemented feedback on the core curriculum, conducted literature research to ensure that they are including up-to-date best practice information and content in the resource guide, and continued to work with the subject matter experts on the draft.

After interviewing subject matter experts, project staff determined that they were not obtaining the breadth of information they had hoped for related specifically to child victims of maltreatment with disabilities. In order to correct for this, staff conducted additional research to make sure that best practice/evidence-based information was included. SafePlace intends to

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CJA Third Quarter Program Updates

develop two versions of the resource guide. One will be a more abbreviated “in-the-field” guide with tabbed information for easy access and the other will be a more in-depth version for the internet with expanded information.

Organization: Serving Children and Adults in Need Project: Transforming Trauma Treatment for Texas Children Total Award: $168,500

Held initial two-day Culturally-Modified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CM-TF-CBT) in Corpus Christi (40 participants) and Brownsville (48 participants).

Completed consultation calls with Edinburg and Laredo cohorts and began consultation calls with Corpus Christi cohort.

Held advanced training on Culturally-Modified Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Laredo (11 participants).

Developed and delivered two 90 minute webinars. The first was entitled “Developing Clinical Competence in Working with LGBTQ Youth and Families” and the second was “Human Trafficking as it Intersects with Polyvictimization and Complex Trauma”. Each of the webinars had 40 participants from the Laredo and Edinburg cohorts.

Delivered one live 4 hour training in Corpus Christi on “Psychological First Aid” that was attended by 16 from the Corpus Christi cohort.

Nineteen resources have been posted and disseminated to participants during the first three quarters. Consultation calls have generated more discussion than anticipated so it has been necessary to post additional resources in order to provide participants with additional information.

SCAN has started to facilitate registration with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Learning Center so that therapists are able to view live webinars hosted by the developers of the TF-CBT model and other resources being disseminated to them.

Participation in the discussion forum has increased each quarter.

Organization: Texas CASA Project: Strengthening Our Response Through Informed Advocacy Total Award: $65,000

Texas CASA completed a draft of the toolkit narrative on July 5th. The narrative is currently being reviewed by members of the workgroup consisting of representatives from CPS, TEA, Disability Rights, the judiciary, and the Supreme Court Children’s Commission. Tiffany Roper of the Children’s Commission will be coordinating the changes from the workgroup.

CASA has contracted with a production company to coordinate the production of the video

Timeline for the completion of the toolkit has been extended to December 30, 2014.

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CJA Third Quarter Program Updates Organization: Texas Council on Family Violence Project: Advocacy for Survivors of Family Violence and Their Children In CPS Total Award: $50,000

In collaboration with CPS Region 8 and statewide FBSS staff, TCFV presented on the DV pilot, history of collaboration, the initial findings of the pilot unit and next steps to Commissioner Specia’s staff and others in CPS leadership.

TCFV submitted to CPS proposed edits and feedback on draft FGDM procedures in cases involving domestic violence.

TCFV participated in a workgroup conference call meeting with CPS staff regarding the creation of a curriculum regarding working with batterers training for CPS staff in San Antonio pilot and statewide.

TCFV staff traveled to Denton to participate and assist in facilitation of a meeting with FV Program representatives who will be on the CPS disposition guidelines workgroup set for June 18th.

TCFV staff created an alternative version of disposition guidelines and explanation of changes document, including feedback from other DV program stakeholders, to present to CPS.

TCFV staff worked collaboratively with other DV stakeholders to create a PowerPoint for the disposition workgroup meeting which provided an overview of the DV response / suggested changes to the draft guidelines.

During this quarter, TCFV continued to offer its expertise to CPS on the development of the guidelines and procedures for alternative response for survivors of family violence.

Day-long Summit on Disposition Guidelines for cases involving Domestic Violence was held between CPS leadership, Domestic Violence stakeholders and HHSC as facilitator

Throughout this quarter, TCFV staff diligently worked with HHSC Family Violence Program (FVP) and CPS staff to get the updated liaisons for the CPS regions and from HHSC’s FVP FY 14 Plans of Operation for the HHSC-funded FV programs.

On April 9th, TCFV staff provided a 4-hour training on promoting resiliency among children exposed to DV and understand the CPS system to FV Program staff and CPS liaisons for CPS regions 7 and 8 in San Antonio. On May 7th, TCFV provided the same training in Sherman.

On May 28th, TCFV staff conducted a 1.5 hour webinar for FV program liaisons (Webinar #2 in series) on the Liaison Role. This webinar is now available online “on demand” for programs who were not able to attend.

On June 3rd, TCFV staff provided a 2.5-hour training to FV Program staff and CPS liaisons for CPS Region 6 in Houston. The training was also on promoting resiliency.

TCFV presented a workshop at the Crimes Against Women Conference in Dallas on Emerging Practices Responding to Families with Intersecting Domestic Violence and Child Protection Issues.

Organization: Texas Municipal Police Association Project: Child Abuse and Neglect Training for Law Enforcement Total Award: $164,055

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Held 10 three day Advanced Child Abuse Investigation trainings that trained 145 law enforcement officers. The officers attending trainings represented 21 counties.

The new legislatively mandated training for law enforcement on attempted child abduction (SB 742) will go into effect on January 1, 2015. Child Abuse and Neglect Training curriculum already contains information about attempted child abductions. The program is planning to meeting with Department of Public Safety (DPS) staff to understand what exactly will be mandated for officers to learn. Then the program will ensure that required content is included in the Child Abuse and Neglect Training curriculum, so that officers attending our training will also satisfy the legislatively mandated training on attempted child abductions.

The program has had to close 3 regular 3-day classes due to the online registration being full. The program typically max each class at 30 students, unless the hosting agency requests to accommodate more students.

The program hired a full-time Program Instructor that will replace the part-time Program Assistant’s position as well as provide trainings. The Program Instructor is a law enforcement officer.

TMPA is actively working with CPS to try and get CPS caseworkers to attend the Advanced Child Abuse Investigation trainings in order to improve CPS/Law Enforcement collaboration. Nicole Martinez met with Angela Goodwin, Director of Investigations for DFPS to discuss possibilities for collaboration.

Organization: Texas Tech University Project: Training in Evidence-Based Assessment of Abused Youth Total Award: $198,669

The proposal calls for four “cycles” of training spread across the funded year. We have now completed three cycles of training and completed Training 2 at the submission of this report—leaving one last Training and 3 Consultation sessions.

The primary challenge continues to be the number of participants enrolled in each cycle. Despite our best efforts at “marketing,” the number of participants has remained much lower than expected. As stated in a previous report, the original target of 240 clinician/learners was based on the Project Director’s involvement with the efforts of Cenpatico and the Department of Family and Protective Services to create a trauma-informed approach to assessment. While the measures used in the grant have been formally recommended by DFPS to the Texas Commission on Health and Human Services (HHS) as a requirement for future assessments, HHS did not implement this requirement as quickly as expected. Additionally, after the award of the grant, DFPS through Cenpatico reduced the rate of reimbursement for psychological evaluations by about 20%. Together, these two events may have impacted the interest/necessity in becoming proficient in the use of EBAs. Alternatively, the Project Director may be misjudging the actual interest or seeking enrollees from unproductive sources. The Project Director has worked with CJA (i.e., Heidi Penix) in an attempt to remedy the lower than expected enrollment. With our increased outreach efforts during and following Cycle 1, we had hoped to increase the enrollment during each of the subsequent cycles. Unfortunately, this has not occurred. The total number trained in the first three cycles is 36.

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Overall participants have been pleased with the training and have showed statistically significant increases in their understanding of assessments. However, a common problem was that students underestimated the workload involved in the training and felt overwhelmed.

Organization: University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Project: Patterns and Locations of Bruises in Children with Congenital Bleeding Disorders Total Award: $8,500

As of June, the study has enrolled 40 patients with inherited bleeding disorders. The study aims to enroll 35 additional patients in the study to reach 75 patients by September but will not reach the proposed target of 150. Although more patients in the study is helpful, given the paucity of literature in this field, even with fewer patients enrolled, this study will contribute important information in assessing bruises in children with and without congenital bleeding disorders.

UTHSCSA is working to increase the healthy control population. The aim is to enroll 225 healthy patients. The increase is to ensure that demographic characteristics make the groups comparable.

Currently 100 total patients have been enrolled in the study. 16/96 recalled pattern bruising. 13 patients have bleeding disorders. 3 did not. 13/16 recalled patterns were linear. The other three recalled patterns involved patients with bleeding disorders and resulted from forceful hitting/grabbing. No patterned bruises have been seen on physical exam.

There remains a large gap in the medical literature for assessing bruises in this population. Families have thanked us for doing more research in this area, as they are afraid they will wrongfully be accused of physical abuse.

Organization: CACTX Project: Increasing Access to Medical Evaluations for Child Maltreatment Victims Total Award: $81,000

CACTX worked with accredited medical associations and institutions to develop statewide criteria that define when a referral should be made for a child of alleged abuse to receive a medical evaluation. In April, CACTX disseminated these guidelines to all CACs in Texas.

CAC is developing toolkits on medical evaluations to distribute to CAC staff, MDT members and local medical community members.

In August and September, CACTX will provide regional trainings in rural and mid-sized communities to CAC staff, MDT members and local medical community members on child sexual abuse and the medical evaluation process.

Worked with three of Texas’ Certified Child Abuse Pediatricians to develop interactive online training videos on the medical evaluation process and benefits to the child, caregiver and case.

CACTX has reached out and is scheduling meetings with representatives in the OAG’s office responsible for implementation of both the SANE and CVC programs.

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CACTX – Ensuring Access to Justice for Child Maltreatment Victims with Disabilities or Special Health Care Needs

Grantee: Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, Inc.

Project Title: Ensuring Access to Justice for Child Maltreatment Victims with Disabilities or Special

Health Care Needs

Task Force Priority: Improve Multidisciplinary Response to Child Maltreatment Victims with Disabilities

or Special Healthcare Needs

Project Budget: $30,000

Summary: Children with developmental disabilities have a heightened risk for sexual abuse compared

to those children without disabilities and they are also more likely to delay disclosure than non-disabled

children. Because of delayed disclosure, the likelihood of finding any physical evidence is significantly

reduced, often leaving the child’s statement as the sole evidence available to investigators.

Unfortunately, the combination of circumstances all too often results in children with disabilities not

having full access to justice. Investigators and prosecutors who do not have specialized training in

working with children with disabilities doubt the efficacy of these cases and may not believe they can be

pursued to a satisfactory end. However, studies indicate that children with disabilities are able to

explain what happened to them and can be reliable witnesses when appropriate measures are taken to

understand their conditions and implement alternative options that are useful for gathering forensic

evidence and building a case. In order to effectively investigate an abuse case that involves a child with

disabilities, it is imperative that forensic interviewers and child protection officials have the proper

training and resources.

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, Inc. (CACTX) recognized the need for this kind of capacity building

in their programming for the forensic interview, which is a critical piece of the investigative and

prosecutorial processes. In fiscal year 2013 (FY13), CACTX was awarded a CJA grant to create an

extended, multiple-session forensic interview (MSFI) process for interviewing children with disabilities

so that the child’s statement could be taken in a non-suggestive and non-leading way, but without the

constraints of the standard one-session forensic interview format. CACTX is currently implementing this

grant and has made significant progress in developing the training curriculum and a toolkit that outlines

when a MSFI is warranted and how to implement the process. In fiscal year 2014, CACTX will provide

the MSFI training to the field, develop technical assistance materials for multidisciplinary team (MDT)

members and expand CACTX training capacity.

The goal of this project is to build the capacity of and educate forensic interviewers and MDT members

across the state to understand the multiple-session forensic interview process and how it can be useful

in working with children with disabilities.

CACTX will meet this goal by completing the process that began with the FY13 CJA grant. The objectives

for this portion of the project include:

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CACTX – Ensuring Access to Justice for Child Maltreatment Victims with Disabilities or Special Health Care Needs

Delivery of training to forensic interviewers and other MDT members on the utilization of the

multiple-session forensic interview technique; and

Development of a web-based training to educate CAC staff and MDT members on the use and

effectiveness of multiple-session forensic interviews.

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CACTX-Enhancing Multidisciplinary Team Response Grantee: Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas (CACTX)

Project Title: Enhancing Multidisciplinary Team Response through Expanded Programming for Texas

Children’s Advocacy Centers

Task Force Priority: Enhance Multidisciplinary Team Response and Coordination

Project Budget: $124,000.00

Summary: The goals of children’s advocacy centers (CACs) are to reduce the re-victimization of child

victims of abuse, facilitate prosecution through effective fact-finding and strong case development, and

provide a comprehensive array of services to help abused children and their non-offending family

members/caregivers recover from the trauma. A comprehensive, child-centered approach that includes

a high functioning multidisciplinary team (MDT), a strong advocacy component, and evidence-based

mental health programming is critical to ensuring the realization of these goals. Children’s Advocacy

Centers of Texas recognizes that CACs and MDTs must also evolve over time to keep pace with current

research and best practices. Therefore, it has recently completed a comprehensive revision of its

standards for Texas CACs to strengthen infrastructure and emphasize key components for a quality

system. The new standards, which will go into effect on September 1, 2013, are each supported by

evidence-based practices and will lead to more in-depth coordination of services to children and a more

comprehensive level of care. As the membership association for the 66 CACs in the state, CACTX assists

centers by providing high quality professional training, technical assistance, and support designed to

strengthen the skills, functioning, and leadership of their multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) and highly

specialized professionals employed by local centers. CACTX’s activities and offerings will expand in FY14

as the newly revised standards for CACs go into effect. Texas centers will have one year to become fully

compliant with the revised standards and new and enhanced training will be needed to ensure all CACs

are equipped to meet the more comprehensive requirements.

In fiscal year 2014, CACTX will continue to offer in-depth training for all CAC staff and MDT members, as

well as provide new training offerings – both in-person and online - aimed at enhancing MDT

coordination and operation. Further, it will expand its capacity in forensic interviewing by adding

additional instructors to provide core and advanced courses. This expansion will help alleviate wait lists

which can often impair a center’s ability to get new interviewers on board and interviewing.

In FY2014, CACTX has the goal of expanding its programming for CACs and MDTs to address the evolving

needs in the field and requirements under the revised, elevated standards as well as the need for

continuous improvement. As research in the field continuous to evolve, all CACTX programming will be

revised to reflect recommended best practices. The overall goal of this project is to ensure the

accessibility, stability and quality of a coordinated, victim-centered, multidisciplinary approach to

services for child victims throughout the state and their non-offending family members/caregivers. To

reach this goal, CAC staff and MDT members must have training and technical assistance.

17

CACTX-Enhancing Multidisciplinary Team Response CACTX will meet this goal by achieving the following objectives:

1. Develop and/or provide in-depth, relevant and accessible training and technical assistance that

will improve and support:

a. Case coordination and functioning of MDTs addressing the issues of child abuse

investigation, prosecution and intervention;

b. Evidence-based/trauma-informed intervention and treatment services for child victims

and their non-offending family members/caregivers; and

c. Coordination of advocacy services to achieve the best outcomes for children and their

non-offending family members/caregivers.

2. Build additional capacity to provide introductory and advanced training for forensic interviewers

that is specific to Texas CACs.

3. Develop new online capabilities that will allow MDT members and CAC staff to access specific

cross-training modules from remote locations. Web-based modules will be developed on the

topics below to address cross-training needs and improve understanding of team members’

core functions:

a. CPS – who they are and the mandates they must follow in investigating child abuse

cases;

b. Law enforcement – the various entities that serve on MDTs and the mandates they must

follow in investigating child abuse cases;

c. Prosecutors – the various entities that serve on MDTs and the mandates they must

follow in prosecuting child abuse; and

d. MDT Orientation – training for new team members on the CAC model.

18

Harris County IFS- Method of Evaluation of Bone Health in Infants and Young Children

Grantee: Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences

Project Title: Development of a Method to Evaluate Bone Health of Infants and Young Children in the

Medical Examiner Setting and Emergency Department

Task Force Priority: Improve Multidisciplinary Response to Suspected Child Maltreatment Related

Fatalities


Summary: Child abuse cases form one of the most contentious areas of medicolegal investigation.

Physicians are responsible for determining with reasonable medical certainty the cause of a specific

injury pattern observed in a child. This opinion must be rendered with comprehensive knowledge of the

case, including: medical history, events surrounding the injury, and police and/or child protective

services reports. Often the diagnosis of child abuse is based on the absence of evidence to support

alternative hypotheses.

Often skeletal trauma in children is considered non-accidental injury (i.e. child abuse) when the bone is

in good health and the injury history is inconsistent with the fracture type and/or pattern. Clinically, “in

good health” means the bone is of normal bone mineral density (BMD). Highly accurate and precise

instruments are available to measure BMD in adult bones: dual energy X-ray absorption (DXA) and

quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Additionally, biochemical assay can show serum levels

indicative of poor bone quality. However, assessment of BMD in the emergency department and

medical examiner setting is hindered by several obstacles. Blood chemistry analysis is not applicable to

postmortem specimens. DXA and QCT scans require advance scheduling in the hospital setting, and

installation of DXA and QCT equipment is not practical, nor is it realistically available, within a medical

examiner budget. Yet, even with access to DXA and QCT equipment, the standards for infants are poorly

defined.

In the absence of blood chemistries and QCT and DXA scans, physicians assess bone health

through visual evaluation of skeletal radiographs. Atypical bony features, such as sparse and

rarefied trabeculae, thinned cortical bone, bowed shafts, flared metaphyses, and ringed epiphyses are

recognized as signatures of low BMD. However, recent research shows that there is high interobserver

error associated with this qualitative analysis. Also, approximately 30% of BMD loss is required before

manifestation of gross radiological changes, and even this can vary depending on the radiograph

technique. Therefore, subtle radiological changes may go unrecognized or low levels of BMD loss may be

undetectable using this common method, creating the potential for the misidentification of pathologic

fractures as non-accidental injury.

The goal of the proposed study is to develop and validate analytical tools that will improve the

thoroughness of the medical evaluation assisting in the recognition of non-accidental skeletal injury in

infants and children. The study presents a quantitative method for pediatric bone health evaluation

using standard radiographs and QUS. Evaluating pediatric radiographs for abnormalities is common

19

Harris County IFS- Method of Evaluation of Bone Health in Infants and Young Children

practice in clinical and medical examiner settings. However, current methodology is qualitative and

experience based. The proposed study would replace the methodology with a quantitative and validated

method. The use of QUS for evaluating pediatric bone health is an emerging field in pediatrics and

neonatology. Standard protocols and normal bone thresholds have not been developed. The proposed

study would fill this knowledge gap enabling the medical community to serve the target population

through effective and efficient diagnosis of child physical abuse and sound scientific testimony.

The proposed study is designed to answer two questions. First, can units of x-ray attenuation be

converted to equivalent BMD to precisely and accurately measure bone health in infants and young

children? Second, can a threshold for normal SOS values be measured using QUS be established for

infants and young children? To answer these questions, the Institute of Forensic Sciences has designed

a six month study to evaluate digital radiographs and SOS values of decedents under the age of two

years. The radiograph analysis and SOS values of each decedent will be compared to the bone health

evaluated by histological analysis. Furthermore, the significance of sex, age, race, and health status will

be measured using linear regression analysis. If the method is successful, a threshold between normal

and abnormal radiographic parameters and SOS values will be defined. Once abnormal and normal

readings have been established, the rate of false positives (histologically healthy bone with abnormal

readings) and false negatives (normal readings with histologically unhealthy bone) will be measured.

20

SafePlace- Strategies for Change: Enhancing Response to Children with Disabilities

Grantee: SafePlace

Project Title: Strategies for Change – Enhancing Response to Children with Disabilities

Task Force Priority: Improve Multidisciplinary Response to Child Maltreatment Victims with Disabilities

or Special Healthcare Needs


Summary: Children with disabilities are at increased risk of abuse and neglect and they delay reporting

abuse longer than peers without disabilities (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2012). Yet, child

maltreatment practitioners typically lack the skills and training to respond effectively to reports of child

abuse/neglect in this population. Children with disabilities are also largely perceived to be unreliable

witnesses to their own abuse by child protective services and criminal justice staff, meaning that these

abuse cases are less likely to be prosecuted. However, when workers have skills for responding to the

needs of child victims with disabilities and their cases are fully investigated and/or referred to law

enforcement or the court systems, children with disabilities who are abused are more likely to have a

legal remedy for the abuse they have experienced. The under-prosecution of perpetrators of abuse

against children and youth with disabilities can then be improved.

SafePlace will develop and disseminate an easy-to-use, quick reference and resource guide with best

practice information for increasing the capacity of Texas child maltreatment service providers to interact

with, respond to, and advocate for the specific needs of abused and neglected children with disabilities

and their families and caregivers.

The goals of this project are to enhance practitioners’: 1) awareness and sensitivity to children with

visible and hidden disabilities and their families and caregivers; 2) ability to effectively respond to abuse

and neglect claims against children with disabilities; 3) willingness to more fully investigate and/or refer

cases of children with disabilities to law enforcement and/or the court system, and 4) understanding of

the complex relationship between abuse/neglect, and the behavioral and mental health of victims of

child maltreatment in Texas.

Objectives

Objective 1: Modify existing training materials as needed, based on evaluation information received

from training participants in previous CJA project (FY2013).

Objective 2: Deliver 1 multidisciplinary webinar to approximately 50-100 allied professionals in Texas.

Objective 2: Develop and disseminate a guide with best practices information for child welfare and

maltreatment service professionals to use in responding to cases of abuse and neglect of children with

disabilities.

21

SCAN – Transforming Trauma Treatment for Texas Children

Grantee: Serving Children and Adults in Need, Inc.

Project Title: Transforming Trauma Treatment for Texas Children

Task Force Priority: Improve Access to Quality Victim Advocacy and Mental Health Services for Child

Maltreatment Victims and Caregivers


Summary: This project will address the shortage of adequate, trauma informed mental health services

for abused and neglected children in the southern region of Texas. The southern border region of Texas

has a predominately Hispanic population with high rates of poverty and high rates of adults without a

high school education. This area suffers from fractured and inadequate behavioral health services and a

lack of training for existing mental health service providers on trauma informed treatment. Additionally,

to be effective, mental health treatment must be culturally sensitive to the people being served.

Clinicians working with Hispanic children and families may face problems with client engagement and

premature termination of treatment if they neglect to integrate the client’s cultural values into the

therapeutic process and relationship.

Serving Children and Adults in Need (SCAN) will develop a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

(TF-CBT) Learning Community for therapists working with trauma exposed youth and families in South

Texas. Therapists will be provided with training and consultation on the implementation of Trauma-

Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) with youth exposed to various traumas including

complex trauma and with an emphasis on implementation in special settings and with special

populations. Therapists will also be trained on Culturally-Modified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral

Therapy (CM-TF-CBT) which is an adaptation of TF-CBT tailored for Hispanic youth and families that

incorporates cultural constructs relevant to the Hispanic population. The project’s strategies are: to

provide initial and advanced training and consultation to therapists on the (Culturally-Modified) Trauma-

Focused Treatment (CM)-TF-CBT model; to provide live training and to develop webinars on special

trauma topics such as assessing organizational readiness for implementation of evidence-based

treatment, creating a trauma-informed system of care, implementing (CM)-TF-CBT in schools and

residential settings, implementing (CM)-TF-CBT with youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice

systems, implementing (CM)-TF-CBT with young children, and implementing (CM)-TF-CBT with youth

experiencing complex trauma, violence, and traumatic grief; and to disseminate National Child

Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) products that will enhance the delivery of trauma-informed services

to a medically indigent and underserved region.

Objectives:

1. Deliver an initial 2-day, 12 hour training on (CM)-TF-CBT to 50 therapists in each of the

targeted areas of Laredo, Corpus Christi, Edinburg, and Brownsville for a total of 200

therapists trained.

2. Upon completion of training, develop a listserv of therapists for the dissemination of

resources/training materials

22

SCAN – Transforming Trauma Treatment for Texas Children

3. Deliver an advanced 1-day, 6-hour training on the implementation of (CM)-TF-CBT to

therapists that received initial training.

4. Provide 12 hours of consultation on the implementation of (CM)-TF-CBT to therapists

that received the initial training with 75% of trained therapists completing all 12 calls.

5. Therapists will implement the model and successfully complete treatment with 2

youth for a total of 300 youth receiving treatment.

6. Develop and deliver four live four-hour trainings on special trauma topics such as

assessing organizational readiness for implementation of evidence-based treatment,

creating a trauma-informed system of care, implementing (CM)-TF-CBT in schools and

residential settings, implementing (CM)-TF-CBT with youth in the child welfare and

juvenile justice systems, implementing (CM)-TF-CBT with young children, and

implementing (CM)-TF-CBT with youth experiencing complex trauma, violence, and

traumatic grief.

7. Develop and deliver four 90-minute webinars on special trauma topics such as

assessing organizational readiness for implementation of evidence-based treatment,

creating a trauma-informed system of care, implementing (CM)-TF-CBT with youth in

the child welfare system, implementing (CM)-TF-CBT with young children, and

implementing (CM)-TF-CBT with youth experiencing complex trauma, violence, and

traumatic grief.

23

Texas CASA- Strengthening our Response Through Informed Advocacy

Grantee: Texas CASA

Project Title: Strengthening our Response Through Informed Advocacy

Task Force Priority: Improve the Recognition and Response by the Education System to Suspected Child

Maltreatment


Summary: In fiscal year 2012, over 47,000 children found themselves in the middle of an overburdened

and understaffed bureaucracy that is the child protection system in Texas. Abused or neglected by their

parents and already victims of unspeakable harm, these vulnerable children are at further risk of being

traumatized or hurt within the system charged with their safety care, and well-being. CASA volunteers

provide critical information to the courts about the children they serve, but their contribution goes well

beyond the courtroom. CASA volunteers also advocate in many other areas that contribute to the well-

being of the child. It is Texas CASA’s mission to support local programs with educational/training

opportunities and support to increase the knowledge base of advocates and collaborative stakeholders.

Providing children in CPS care with a quality education and chance of educational success has been

widely recognized as a need and challenge by the Texas Supreme Court Children’s Commission, Casey

Family Programs, the American Bar, the National Council of Family and Juvenile Court Judges, advocates,

attorneys, and foster youth themselves. The final report from the Children’s Commission, the Texas

Blueprint: Transforming Education Outcomes for Children and Youth in Foster Care, outlines specific

goals, objectives and training needs for CASA’s (GAL’s) , attorneys, CPS caseworkers, educators, parents

and many others to help children in foster care achieve educational success. Texas CASA will develop a

training toolkit to help CASA and collaborative stakeholders provide educational advocacy.

Through the operational support of this grant, Texas CASA will strengthen response to children in the

child protection system. The goal of the Educational Advocacy Toolkit and Training is to increase

individual and systems advocacy knowledge and skills to promote better outcomes for abused and

neglected children in the child protection system.

Objectives:

1. Training of Facilitator (TOF) Educational Advocacy Toolkit

Toolkit will include:

o Detailed facilitator guide

o 2-5 short videos with expert speakers, applicable commentaries, detailed

description of exercises or material debriefs, motivational stories from

children/parents/teachers/volunteers

o Replicable handouts, posters, templates for exercise

24

Texas CASA- Strengthening our Response Through Informed Advocacy

These strategies will include addressing school stability, school transitions, the role of extra-curricular

school activities in providing normalcy, and special education. The toolkit will also reference for use

as supplementary material, Children and Their Families, A Journey Through the Texas Child Welfare

System video case studies.

Toolkit training topics will include:

Education issues for applicable age groups in checklists and fact sheets

How to advocate within the school setting

Balancing educational well-being with permanency and safety considerations

Providing critical information to schools

Understanding the effects of schools discipline

Post-secondary support

Video of youth sharing hopes and dreams and reality of educational experiences

2. Two TOF Toolkit Trainings (1/2 day Trainings on the Educational Advocacy Toolkit and

resources)

25

TCFV – Children Within CPS: Promoting Resiliency and Preventing Future Maltreatment

Grantee: Texas Council on Family Violence

Project Title: Children Within CPS: Promoting Resiliency and Preventing Future Maltreatment




Summary: In homes where one parent is a victim of intimate partner violence, children often witness or

are impacted by the abuse. Families experiencing family violence are also two times as likely to have a

substantiated case of child abuse compared to families without family violence. In Texas, family

violence was indicated in almost one-third of Texas’ CPS investigations in 2012. However, a gap exists in

Texas in the implementation of specific policies and best practices to address the complex dynamics of

family violence, child witnessing of family violence, and child maltreatment. Family violence programs

often lack an understanding of the CPS system and how to best educate and advocate for survivors of

family violence and their children. There is also a lack of understanding among CPS workers about how

to work with parents who have been victims of family violence. To address this gap, the 82nd Texas

Legislature passed SB 434 creating a Task Force of stakeholders charged with recommending policy

changes to address the complexities and safety concerns when family violence occur. Texas Council on

Family Violence participated in that Task Force and the goals of this project stem from the

recommendations of the SB 434 Task Force.

The goals of this project are to provide support and technical assistance to all 100 family violence

programs across Texas to increase their capacity to serve victims of family violence with CPS

involvement as well as their children and improve the resources for building collaboration for services

for these families. Additionally, TCFV will provide support and expertise to CPS for the implementation

of recommended changes in CPS policy and procedure.

The objectives of the project are:

1. TCFV will provide statewide trainings, technical assistance, and capacity building for all liaisons

in the 78 HHSC funded family violence programs to CPS; all regional liaisons within CPS to family

violence programs and other community partners through the SB434 Task Force work. 85% of

programs and liaisons receiving support will increase their knowledge of the CPS system,

methods for increasing protective capacity of victims of family violence; methods for

building/increasing resiliency in children who have experienced family violence and methods to

increase community collaboration.

2. TCFV will provide webinars to train and provide technical assistance on the intersections of

family violence, child witnessing of family violence, and child maltreatment to regional liaisons

and community partners.

3. TCFV will create a resource (palm card or brochure) for victims of family violence to understand

more about the CPS system and their rights within it.

26

TCFV – Children Within CPS: Promoting Resiliency and Preventing Future Maltreatment

4. TCFV will provide expertise and support to CPS to assist in the implementation of the changes

identified in SB 434 Taskforce report when responding to cases involving family violence. TCFV

will provide assistance with the implementation of a flexible response system within CPS,

support CPS in the creation of disposition guidelines for families experiencing family violence,

provide support to shift how CPS staff documents victim of family violence’s protective capacity

and abusive partner’s responsibility, and provide assistance on the development of policies that

document specific protocols based on national best practices.

27

Texas Tech- Training in Evidence-Based Assessment of Abused Youth

Grantee: Texas Tech University

Project Title: Training in Evidence-Based Assessment of Abused Youth




Summary: While there has been widespread acceptance and endorsement of the need for evidence-

based treatments (EBTs) to serve children who have been victims of abuse or neglect, there has not

been much attention paid to the use of evidence-based assessments (EBAs). A failure to utilize EBAs

without EBTs may actually undermine treatment since most EBTs are designed for use with specific

disorders. Without proper evaluation, evidence-based treatments may not be matched to children who

are likely to benefit.

The primary goal of this project is to develop knowledge and improve skills among mental health

professionals as related to evidence-based assessment of abuse-related symptoms (including trauma)

among abused children.

The project will:

1. Provide training to mental health professionals in principles and techniques of tests and

measurements,

2. Provide training to mental health professionals in assessment using reliable, viable, and normed

instruments for the assessment of abuse-related and trauma-related symptoms

3. Provide training to mental health professionals in the identification of traumatic events using

existing best practices,

4. Provide training to mental health professionals in differential diagnosis and common

misdiagnoses made among professionals serving abused children,

5. Provide training to mental health professionals in matching assessment findings with evidence-

based practices,

6. Provide training in ethical principles related to the administration, scoring, interpretation, and

dissemination of assessment findings as related to abused and traumatized children.

7. Evaluate satisfaction and changes in practice implemented by mental health professionals in

response to achievement of goals 1-6 above.

Each of the goals is tied to specific learning objectives for the participants.

The project will train up to 240 licensed mental health professionals from across the state of Texas. In

order to teach the skills, a combination of 9 hours of synchronous and asynchronous online learning will

be required. Additionally, each participant will be required to administer three assessment instruments

to three different children. The LPs will receive up to 18 additional hours of consultation and

supervision in the administration, scoring and interpretation of findings, as well as preparing reports for

stakeholders (e.g., CPS). Each practitioner must pass a clinical case presentation.

28

TMPA – Child Abuse and Neglect Training for Law Enforcement Grantee: Texas Municipal Police Association

Project Title: Child Abuse and Neglect Training for Law Enforcement

Task Force Priority: Enhance Multidisciplinary Team Response and Coordination


Summary: Law enforcement agencies across Texas struggle to provide high quality training and

resources to officers to facilitate a consistent and effective response to victims of child abuse, neglect,

and exploitation. Specialized training on crimes against children is not readily available to most rural

agencies in Texas nor are there available funds to travel to attend such trainings. TMPA, with CJA

funding, has developed a comprehensive and free training to address this need.

The goal of the Child Abuse & Neglect Training Program for Law Enforcement is to improve law

enforcement’s response to child abuse and neglect, including child sexual abuse, exploitation, and

fatality cases and cases involving vulnerable populations. This training will be provided to agencies in

one of two ways, either a three day training model that the program has been using since its inception

or through a non-consecutive three-day modular version of the training developed during the FY13

grant period. The program curriculum covers topics such as law enforcement’s role in multidisciplinary

teams, victim advocacy and mental health resources through Children’s Advocacy Centers; dynamics of

abuse of vulnerable populations, including children with disabilities; child fatality investigations; and the

purpose and process of medical assessments for child maltreatment victims. This program utilizes a

network of certified instructors to deliver the trainings on a local basis thus enabling more officers to

take part. This project will offer free, up-to-date training for all Texas Peace Officers and will training

more than two hundred and fifty officers across the state.

The program goals will be achieved through the following activities:

Improve and update current Child Abuse & Neglect Training curriculum, specifically sections relating to cases involving child fatalities and children with disabilities.

Target rural areas that have been identified by program staff.

Hold 20 Regular 3 day classes. 10 classes will be held in Targeted Counties identified by program staff and 10 classes will be held in non-Targeted areas.

Hold 5 8-hour Modular classes taught over 3 non-consecutive days.

Train at least 250 officers on the Child Abuse & Neglect curriculum.

Assist instructors with the implementation of newly created Interactive Exercises and updated curriculum.

29

UTHSCSA-Patterns and Locations of Bruises in Children with Congenital Bleeding Disorders

Grantee: University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio

Project Title: Patterns and Locations of Bruises in Children with Congenital Bleeding Disorders

Task Force Priority: Improve Access to Quality Medical Assessments for Child Maltreatment Victims


Summary: Bruising is the most common manifestation of child physical abuse, and represents the most

common reason for reporting suspected child physical abuse. During the evaluation of a child with

bruises, the child is tested for an underlying bleeding disorder that may explain the child’s bruises.

There is currently no medical literature that describes how bruises appear (whether patterned or not),

and in what locations they occur, in children with known bleeding disorders. We plan to study how, and

where on the body, bruises occur in children diagnosed with a congenital bleeding disorder.

We plan to study how, and where on the body, bruises occur in children diagnosed with a congenital

bleeding disorder. The pattern and location of bruises will be documented by the caregiver in a log for a

period of one year. This data will be recorded in a secure database. Statistical analysis will be applied to

the data to describe the incidence of patterned bruises as well as the location of bruises in our study

population. The results of the study will be disseminated through leading peer-review journals. CJA

funding will allow us to compensate our subjects for their time in completing the study.

Data from this study will permit child abuse pediatricians to more confidently distinguish between

abusive and accidental bruising, more confidently testify in a court of law as to forensic conclusions

based upon evidence-based research, and, even diminish unnecessary medical workup for potential

bleeding disorders.

The goal of this project is to provide evidence-based medical literature on bruising in children, and

thereby improve the quality of medical evaluations in child abuse.

Objectives:

To provide incidence data on bruising appearance and location in children 0 to 18 years

old with a known congenital bleeding disorder.

Approach:

This will be a prospective study. We will prospectively recruit children, aged 0 to 18 years, from several

Hematology Treatment Centers in Texas who meet inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study.

Once enrolled, the child will undergo an “entrance physical” into the study—basically, a documented

detailed pediatric physical exam by a physician, with specific emphasis on neurologic and skin findings.

Any bruising will be documented on the sample log below and also be photo-documented. All photo-

30

UTHSCSA-Patterns and Locations of Bruises in Children with Congenital Bleeding Disorders

documentation will be kept on a separate, secure server, with appropriate de-identifying precautions.

Thereafter, the caregiver of the patient will be provided education (a short educational power-point) on

the identification of bruises, and appropriate documentation of them on the sample log below. They

will be provided specific examples of patterned bruises. At the end of the educational session, the

caregiver will take a short computer quiz to ensure they can adequately identify and log the attributes of

a bruise. Caregivers will be educated to contact study personnel or their hematologist (via email) with

any questions of potential bruises noted on their child. Caregivers will then be provided a log notebook

to document any bruises they see in between medical visits. Caregivers will be requested to photo-

document any patterned bruising and email such photos to study personnel (or their hematologist) as

soon as possible. Caregivers will be informed that they will be required to return to the Hematology

Center every 4 months for a one year period (3 visits) for a short visit with study personnel/their

hematologist to go over the log and for a physical exam by a physician. At that time, inquiry will be

made into any head trauma that occurred during the interim, and any that required them to seek

medical attention. Bruising logs will be submitted to study personnel and reviewed with the caregivers

for accuracy/discrepancy. The patient will have a total of 4 visits.

31

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas- Increasing Access to Quality Medical Assessments for Child Maltreatment Victims

Grantee: Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, Inc.

Project Title: Increasing Access to Medical Evaluations for Child Maltreatment Victims

Task Force Priority: Improve Access to Quality Medical Assessments for Child Maltreatment Victims


Summary: Child abuse medical evaluations are an important part of a comprehensive multidisciplinary

team (MDT) response when investigating allegations of abuse. The percentage of Texas CAC clients

receiving a medical evaluation is significantly lower than the national average, and for mid-sized and

rural communities, it is much more so. In fiscal year 2013, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas

(CACTX) worked with the University of Texas at Austin’s Child and Family Research Institute (CFRI) at

the School of Social Work to 1) examine current practices across Texas for obtaining medical

evaluations in alleged abuse cases, and 2) identify strategies to mitigate barriers and improve access to

medical evaluations.

The outcome data identified several barriers that prevent a higher percentage of children from receiving medical evaluations; however, addressing those issues effectively will require a multifaceted approach that involves local and state level stakeholders, legislators and community partners coming together to identify strategies and funding sources for implementation. Through this project, CACTX will develop and provide training and technical assistance materials to CAC staff, MDT members and local medical community members to lay the groundwork upon which future initiatives can further expand. CACTX will also work with the Office of Attorney General, legislators and subject matter experts to effect policy changes at the state level that would help to streamline processes and improve access to services.

This approach will help educate pertinent stakeholders and establish a consistent frame of reference for future action. It is anticipated that by developing and providing quality training and resources in a variety of formats to CAC staff, MDT members, and medical community partners, more children who are victims of maltreatment will have access to qualified medical professionals who can provide the needed services.

The goal of this project is to strengthen medical components within the 68 CACs across the state so that more children who are victims of maltreatment will have access to qualified medical professionals who can provide needed evaluations.

Objectives:

CACTX will meet this goal by taking the initial steps to operationalize at a systemic level the

recommendations from the CFRI study. This includes:

Providing educative resources in various formats to pertinent stakeholders in order to

establish a consistent basis upon which to further develop state and local capacity; and

32

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas- Increasing Access to Quality Medical Assessments for Child Maltreatment Victims

Working with state-level stakeholders to effect policy changes that will streamline current

procedures and expand access to needed services.

33

CJA 2015 Grant Project Update

Grantee: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Project: Whole Body MRI in Suspected Victims of Abusive Head Trauma

Update: Grants Committee approved funding with a revised indirect rate of 30% for a total

project cost of $171,054

Grantee: Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Project: Alternative Response: Better Outcomes Through Family and Community Partnering

Update: DFPS provided requested information (total project budget and copy of contract with

Kempe Center). Grants Committee approved funding of project at requested amount of

$200,000. DFPS will be presenting on Alternative Response at the July Task Force

meeting.

Grantee: Texas Council on Family Violence

Project: Advocacy for Survivors of Family Violence and Their Children Within CPS

Update: CJA staff spoke with Krista Del Gallo at TCFV about their project and application. We let

her know that the Task Force is interested in continuing to work with them on this

project but wanted to give them time to have a clearer picture of their plans for the

upcoming grant year before locking them into a timeline. We invited her to speak at the

July Task Force meeting and submit a revised proposal after the meeting.

Grantee: SafePlace

Project: Building Competencies Through Online Training

Update: CJA staff spoke with Shell Schwartz about the grant application and concerns that the

online training might not be the best use of resources. It was a very good conversation.

Safeplace would ideally like to focus their training resources on CPS investigators. We

thought this would be a perfect fit. We held a conference call with SafePlace staff and

Dan Capouch, Colleen McCall, and Tanya Rollins from DFPS. The call was productive and

SafePlace will work with DFPS on a needs assessment for disability training. SafePlace

will resubmit their CJA proposal to reflect this change in scope.

34

Grantee: Texas Municipal Police Association

Project: Child Abuse & Neglect Training for Law Enforcement

Update: Tony Bradley met with members of TMPA’s management staff shortly after the April

Task Force meeting. Mitch Landry, Deputy Executive Director, and Jeff Olbrich, Director

of Administration and Special Programs, met with CJA staff to discuss the problems with

the grant. After the meeting, CJA staff wrote a memo summarizing areas of concern.

TMPA sent back an action plan in early June to address our concerns and we met with

Jeff Olbrich again to review the steps taken. On June 26th, CJA staff went to TMPA and

met with Jeff Olbrich and Nicole Martinez, CJA Program Director, to continue to discuss

the project. At this point, we are optimistic about continuing our relationship with

TMPA and would be willing to revisit their proposal.

Grantee: University of Houston-Clear Lake

Project: Beacon for Youth in Court

Update: Need to work with Grant Committee to clarify next steps. It’s possible that the needs

assessment could be carried out in-house by CJA staff.

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CJA Grant Applications and Awards

Organization Project Title Priority Amount

Requested Grant Committee Recommendation

Project Description (Funded Activities)

Children’s Advocacy Centers of

Texas

Ensuring a Coordinated Investigation for All Abused

Children by Strengthening CAC MDTs Statewide

1,2,3,4,5,6,7 $200,000.00 Fund as requested

(1) Ensure that the professionals who serve child victims of abuse in Texas have access to training and technical assistance; (2) expand services from only CPS to include the other two DFPS investigative programs: Adult Protective Services (APS), who investigates maltreatment allegations involving children with developmental disabilities, and Child Care Licensing (CCL), (3) explore the possible development of a peer networking system to provide a forum for SANEs to discuss best practices, difficult cases, certification requirements, and other relevant issues, and (4) host a networking forum with local CACs that facilitate Child Fatality Review Teams to come together to explore strategies for better coordination of investigations and identifying efficiencies in the review process.

Harris County Institute of

Forensic Science

Evaluation of Cervical Spine Injuries in Infant Death

5,7 $80,164.00 Fund as requested

Published preliminary data support a relationship between cervical spine trauma and hyperflexion/hyperextension of the neck associated with violent shaking or other mechanisms of abusive trauma. However, the research is limited and study samples small. This project proposes a study to fill the current gap in medical evaluation of cervical spine injuries in infant death and delineate the relationship between cervical spine injury and abusive head trauma.

University of Texas Health

Science Center at Houston

Is Shaken Baby Syndrome Still a Valid and Generally Accepted

Medical Diagnosis: A Multi-Center Survey of Children’s

Hospitals

5,7 $8,950.00 Fund as requested

In Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma court cases, some experts have questioned the validity of SBS as a “generally accepted” medical diagnosis, thereby impacting judicial outcomes. This project will conduct a multi-center survey of

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physicians at the top 15 children’s hospitals in the United States as well as medical examiner’s offices within the jurisdictions of those hospitals. The survey will investigate whether the medical community considers SBS a scientifically valid and generally-accepted medical diagnosis.

Texas Department of

Family and Protective Services

Alternative Response: Better Outcomes Through Family &

Community Partnering 2,3 $200,000.00 Fund as Requested

Alternative Response is a new service delivery approach designed to engage families, parents, and caregivers in a manner that steers them away from traditional investigations and assists them in obtaining the needed community resources to allow them to successfully remain united as a family and out of the CPS system. With CJA support, Child Protective Services will team with The Kempe Center and Casey Family Programs to develop an Alternative Response model for Texas and pilot AR in three initial implementation sites in the state.

University of Texas Health

Science Center at Houston

Whole Body MRI in Suspected Victims of Abusive Head

Trauma 7 $171,054.00

Funding to reflect 30% indirect rate

This project proposes performing a Whole Body MRI on infants who are suspected victims of abusive head trauma (AHT). This strategy has the potential to identify injuries that have profound forensic implications (and would not otherwise be identified by current practice) but holds the promise of possibly changing the current standard of care in screening for additional abusive injuries.

SafePlace Building Competencies

Through Online Training 1, 4 TBD

SafePlace is working with CJA staff and will

resubmit proposal.

SafePlace proposes to develop, publicize and launch a 3-hour online training course for child maltreatment providers in Texas on completing accessible intake and investigations of cases of abuse of children with disabilities. This course will explore ethical dilemmas and professional responsibilities related to the effective intake and investigation of abuse allegations of children disabilities.

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Texas Council on Family Violence

Advocacy for Survivors of Family Violence and Their

Children Within CPS 1,2 $50,000.00

Grants Committee recommends reserving

funds in conditional support of this project.

TCFV wrote this proposal only six months in to its current CJA project and

therefore it reflects a number of unknowns about outcomes from

this year’s projects and needs for next year. This

grantee has been excellent and we are

optimistic about a project for next year. We

recommend allowing TCFV to resubmit the

narrative with more concrete

activities/objectives. TCFV will resubmit in

July.

Provide support and expertise to the San Antonio Pilot Unit to focus more on new practices with the Investigative unit and provide training and support to DFPS Intake regarding the SB434 Taskforce recommendations for DFPS Intake. TCFV will also provide intensive strategic training, through webinars and regional collaborative trainings, with family violence programs, family violence liaisons within CPS and family violence programs, and other stakeholders working with families with CPS involvement, to develop model reporting and documentation guidelines and templates when family violence is present and how to assess the unique safety issues for family experiencing violence.

University of Houston-Clear

Lake Beacon for Youth in Court 1,2 TBD

Need to revisit the parameters for this

project.

Most courthouses in Texas do not have dedicated rooms (e.g. SafeRooms) specifically organized for children and their families to wait in during court proceedings. SafeRooms allow children to prepare and with for their witness testimony in a quiet and protected environment that helps relieve some of the anxiety and fears associated with taking the witness stand. This project will work with courts in Texas to create designated SafeRooms as well as create trainings for professionals on these child-friendly court practices.

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Texas Municipal

Police Association

Child Abuse & Neglect Training for Law Enforcement

1, 4, 5 $200,000.00

TMPA has been working diligently with CJA staff to correct performance

issues. We have met with TMPA four times.

Performance issues have been corrected and

many of the problems working with this

organization have been corrected due to

improved communication and

corrective action plans. Recommend allowing

grantee to resubmit for 2015

Administer a comprehensive and free training program for Texas law enforcement to improve response to suspected child abuse and neglect.

TOTAL

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CJA BudgetFiscal Year: October 1, 2013 - September 30, 2014

7/10/2014

GY 14

Unexpended Funds: 968,829.13$

Income

GY 12 Remaining Funds: 221,137.08$ Actual

GY 13 Grant Income: 1,368,899.00$

Program Income: -$

Total Grant Income 1,590,036.08$

Total Budgeted 1,516,318.00$ Funds Remaining for New Projects 73,718.08$

Expenses Budget Expenses to Date Balance

Grantees

CACTX - Training and Technical Assistance for CACs 124,000.00$ $ 79,338.09 44,661.91$

CACTX - Forensic Interview Curriculum for Children w/ Disabilities 30,000.00$ 29,527.42$ 472.58$

Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences 118,948.00$ 46,431.07$ 72,516.93$

SafePlace - Training for Effective Response to Child Maltreatment

Victims with Disabilities 50,000.00$ 30,283.56$ 19,716.44$

Serving Children and Adults in Need 168,500.00$ 88,114.17$ 80,385.83$

Texas CASA - Strengthening Our Response Through Informed

Advocacy 65,000.00$ 18,917.08$ 46,082.92$

Texas Council on Family Violence - Advocacy for Survivors of Family

Violence and their Children Within CPS 50,000.00$ 36,512.50$ 13,487.50$

TMPA - Law Enforcement Training 165,000.00$ 81,046.53$ 83,953.47$

Texas Tech University - Training in Evidence-Based Assessment of

Abused Youth 198,669.00$ 79,362.96$ 119,306.04$

University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio - Patterns

and Locations of Bruises in Children with Congenital Bleeding

Disorders 8,500.00$ 2,485.00$ 6,015.00$

CACTX - Increasing Access to Medical Assessments 81,000.00$ 23,671.66$ 57,328.34$

Placeholder -$ -$ -$

Small Training Grants 25,000.00$ 20,898.23$ 4,101.77$

Scholarships 100,000.00$ 24,830.24$ 75,169.76$

CJA Task Force 24,000.00$ 17,675.48$ 6,324.52$

Overhead

Salaries 170,234.00$ 83,115.10$ 87,118.90$

Fringe 46,966.00$ 20,516.22$ 26,449.78$

Travel 10,008.00$ 5,296.27$ 4,711.73$

Rent 36,383.00$ 17,848.36$ 18,534.64$

Equipment -$ -$ -$

Contractual (Audit) 8,000.00$ 7,666.66$ 333.34$

Supplies (Office Supplies, Shipping, Printing, etc) 8,500.00$ 2,026.82$ 6,473.18$

Other Admin (IT, Professional fees and services, Insurance, Phone,

etc) 27,610.00$ 14,509.04$ 13,100.96$

1,516,318.00$ 621,206.95$ 786,245.54$

Summary40

2013-2014 Children’s Justice Act Task Force Committees

Legislative Committee

Kris Linenberger, Committee Chair Irene Clements Training Manager Texas Homeless Network Austin, TX (512) 482-8270 [email protected]

President, Texas Foster Families Association President, National Foster Parent Association Pflugerville, TX (512) 775-9781 [email protected]

Aurora Martinez Jones Colleen McCall

Attorney at Law Austin, TX (512) 452-1555 [email protected]

Interim CPS Assistant Commissioner Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Austin, TX (512) 438-5776 [email protected]

Lindsay Mullins Sandeep Narang

Executive Director, State Government Affairs BNSF Railway Company Austin, TX (512) 473-2823 [email protected]

Child Abuse Pediatrician University of Texas Health Science Center Houston Houston, TX [email protected]

Dean Rucker Vicki Spriggs

District Judge 318th Family District Court Midland, TX (432) 688-4390 [email protected]

CEO Texas CASA, Inc Austin, TX (512) 473-2627 [email protected]

Tony Bradley – Ex-officio

Lieutenant/Supervisor, Rural Child Abuse Task Force Collin County Sheriff Plano, TX (972) 633-6626 [email protected]

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Grants Committee

Laura Wolf, Committee Chair Jon Evans Executive Director CASA of Travis County Austin, Texas (512) 539-2665 [email protected]

Attorney at Law Austin, TX (512) 476-4075 [email protected]

Kristen Foster Julie Prudhome

Director of Employee Relations Austin Independent School District Austin, TX (512) 414-1431 [email protected]

Clinical Director Garth House, Mickey Mehaffy CAC Beaumont, TX (409) 838-9084 [email protected]

Craig Spinn Nhung Tran Superintendent of Schools Thorndale ISD Burnet, TX (830) 798-7311 [email protected]

Asst. Professor of Pediatrics Texas A&M College of Medicine Scott & White Healthcare Department of Pediatrics Temple, TX (254) 724-6060 [email protected]

Kriste Burnett - Ex-officio

Attorney at Law Cleburne, TX (817) 648-0002 [email protected]

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Membership Committee

Randi King, Committee Chair Isidro Alaniz Assistant District Attorney Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office Beaumont, TX (409) 835-8615 (409) 835-8684 fax [email protected] [email protected]

District Attorney Webb Country District Attorney’s Office Laredo, Texas (956) 523-4912 [email protected]

Cathy Crabtree Gabriel Martinez, Jr.

Director of Chapter Development National Children’s Alliance Austin, TX (512) 971-2367 [email protected]

Captain City of Laredo Police Department Laredo, TX (956) 795-2899 [email protected]

Daniela Ontiveroz Joy Rauls

Midland, TX (432) 686-2297 (432) 557-3400 cell [email protected]

Executive Director Children Advocacy Centers of Texas Austin, TX (512) 258-9920 [email protected]

Monica Reyes LaRu Woody

Parent Liaison The Children’s Partnership/Travis County Health & Human Services Austin, TX (512) 854-7872 [email protected]

Former Director, Family Justice Division Travis County District Attorney’s Office Austin, TX (512) 779-9013 [email protected]

Chris Oldner – Ex-officio

District Judge 416th Judicial District Court McKinney, TX (972) 548-4520 (972) 548-4525 fax [email protected]

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CJA 2013-2014 COMMITTTEES SCOPE OF WORK

CJA 2013-2014 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Membership Recruitment The Membership Committee shall assess the composition of the Task Force to ensure compliance with mandated positions; diversity among its membership to include a variety of categories, including but not limited to, professional expertise/contacts, gender, ethnicity, race, and culture; as well as alignment with the current three-year plan priorities .

I. The committee will develop key criteria for 2014-2015 Task Force candidates and will enlist the other members of the Task Force in helping to identify potential candidates that meet one or more of the key criteria. (October – January; Report back at January 4th Task Force meeting)

II. Once potential candidates have been identified, the Committee, with staff support, will schedule meetings (in person if possible) with these individuals to further determine their eligibility and level of interest in being presented as official nominees. (February – May;)

III. The Committee will present a slate of candidates for member and officer positions to the Task Force prior to the July 12th Task Force meeting at which elections will be conducted for Task Force members and officers for the following grant year beginning October 1, 2014. (April – July; Report back at July 12th meeting)

Training and Education The Membership Committee is also responsible for building the capacity of Task Force members by:

I. Assessing and revising, as needed, the current Orientation process for new members. (July – September)

II. Developing and implementing, with staff support, training for the Task Force throughout the year. Training presentations should be designed to further Task Force knowledge pertaining to the three-year assessment priority areas (Ongoing).

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CJA 2013-2014 GRANTS COMMITTEE

I. The Committee shall meet with CJA staff to review the annual grants process and make recommendations for any needed changes. (October – January; Report back at January 4th Task Force meeting)

II. The Committee will review the Request for Applications (RFAs) drafted by staff to ensure the solicitations reflect the Task Force’s current priorities. (October-January; Report back at January 4th Task Force meeting)

III. The Committee shall review Letters of Intent (LOI) submissions as well as staff recommendations regarding LOIs to determine which applicants will be invited to submit full applications. (January - February)

IV. The Committee shall review all full grant submissions as well as staff recommendations related to grant submissions and make final recommendations to the full Task Force regarding grant approvals. (March-April; Report back at April 5th Task Force meeting)

V. The Committee will assist staff in identifying relevant grantee programs for possible presentations to the full Task Force throughout the year. (Ongoing)

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CJA 2013-2014 LEGISLATIVE COMMITTTEE

I. The Legislative Committee will, with staff support, identify, review and report to the full Task Force relevant Interim Session activity and release of related Interim Study reports of interest to the Task Force. (October – January; Report to Task Force at January 4th Task Force Meeting)

II. The Legislative Committee will, with staff support, identify, review and report to the full Task Force relevant national legislation (Ongoing).

III. The Committee shall provide legislative updates at each Task Force meeting regarding issues or activities that might impact, alter, or direct Task Force activities related to the three-year plan priorities. (Ongoing)

IV. The Committee will make recommendations regarding legislative positions or other policy considerations and related activity for approval by the Task Force. (Ongoing; Report to Task Force, as needed, at Task Force meetings)

V. The Committee shall identify, review and report to the full Task Force on any relevant policy changes within the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), the Attorney General’s office or other state agencies that might be of interest to the Task Force. (Ongoing)

VI. The Committee shall develop and maintain relationships with key legislators, their staff and/or committee chairs in order to serve as a resource regarding issues or activities related to the three-year plan priorities.

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Documents

CJA TASK FORCE MEETING · 2015. 7. 24. · Collin County Sheriff Plano, TX 972-633-6626 [email protected] Isidro Alaniz District Attorney Webb Country District Attorney’s