ORDER NO. 17224 APPROVAL OF LINE ITEM - RE: CHILD WELFARE BOARD - IN 1987- KERR COUNTY BUDGET On this the 13th day of April 1987, upon motion made by Commissioner Ray, seconded by Commissioner Lich, the Court unanimously approved a Line Item - Re: Child Welfare Board - a non-reimbursable item in the 1987-1988 Kerr County Budget in the amount of $5,000.00. ORDER NO. 1~22~ ITEM - OVAL OF LINE ~ BOARD IN ApPR CKI~'D t~LF TY BUDGET RE: 'ERR OOUN .19a~ - ~~ ~-13-37 ~~ 3 VOL• Qr page EXAMPLES OF CHILDREN ASSISTED BY BOARDS - A sibling group of three were able to return to relatives in Nebraska who later adopted, due to Board funding for care and transportation. - A 13 y.o. MR/ED child was sponsored for a specialized summer camp for handicapped children. Also purchase new clothing regularly, which is vital to his self esteem. - Two sibling toddlers, left in the care of their grandmother due to parent's long term incarceration, have been enrolled in day care sponsored by the Board. This care provides respite for the grandmother who suffers from arthritis and is elderly. - A 17 year old moving into independent living was assisted with the purchase of a small t.v. and a bicycle (his entertainment and transportation). - A young mother with a handicapped three year old was assisted with medical expenses and transportation for new born twins with Spina Bifoda. The Gillespie County Board also liaisoned with other agencies to get heat and utilities, clothing resources, cribs and car seats. - All Boards have given funds to reproduce photographs for children who are moving into adoption and are compiling Life Books. - Funds for transportation provided for a 4 year old to return to his custodial parent in another state. - A 10 year old assisted with dental apparatus not covered by medicaid. - Two siblings in separate foster homes were given money to buy gifts for each other for Christmas and birthdays. - Kendall County Board purchased video equipment to be used for video taping children's statements regarding physical and sexual abuse and preparations for adoption. - The Comal County Board held a sit-down dinner, Christmas party for children institutionalized from Comal County. Parents and foster parents were also invited. Since January 1981, the Kerr County District Courts have found it necessary to remove 34 Kerr County children from the custody of their parents or caretakers. The Courts granted the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) temporary managing conservatorship of these children. The DHS has worked with the families of these children to improve the home situation for safe return of the children or has moved to terminate parental rights, so permanent plans can be made. To date 22 of these children have been placed in successful adoptions (7 with relatives), 2 have moved into in- dependent living (after their 18th birthday), 8 have returned to improved home situations, and 2 adoptions are pending. The above children, are those whose home situations threatened their life or safety. There are other children in Kerr County who have or are currently subjected to abuse or neglect, but are not in immediate danger. Since January, 1984, DHS has received 55 referrals of children suspected to be sexually abused in Kerr County. This averages to more than one per month over the past three years. Since 1983 the Kerr County DHS workers have accepted an average of 10 reports of suspected abuse and neglect reports per month. The children in Kerr County cannot vote. They need citizen advocates to address their needs and move to develop the resources to meet their needs. The Kerr County Commissioners' Court is currently considering a contract with the Texas Department of Human Services that would establish a Board of interested citizens (to be appointed by the commissioners) to advocate and raise private funds for the children in need in Kerr County. These children are not from low- income families. They come from many socio-economic backgrounds. The thing they have in common, is they are from Kerr County and they suffer from abuse and/or neglect. Kerr County is the largest in a 21 county region that does not have a County Child Services Board. We are moving to correct that. The Kerr County Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect has been asked to develop a list of potential Board members to be appointed by the County Commissioners. You have been suggested as someone who may be interested in participating on this Board. The amount of volunteer time this Board will require will be dependent on the final Board membership. Initially it will probably take from three to four hours each month to do an orientation and house- keeping, such as by-laws, officer election, etc. After the initial phase, it has been the experience of Board members from surrounding counties that monthly meetings take 12 hours each month. Special projects and/or fund raisers have been held about once every three to six months and require a maximum of 12 hours of time. Involvement in advocating for children is something you will find yourself doing on an ongoing basis with anyone you meet and talk to. Your impact can be great. BOARD PROJECTS OF EXISTING CPS BOARDS Comal Board: - Pays for medical examinations for child victims of sexual abuse who are not in DHS custody. - Recently raised $35,000 to use as matching funds for a $95,000 grant to open an emergency shelter for children under 10 y.o. Shelter will assist law enforcement and DHS and take placements from surrounding counties. - Assisted in the establishment of the Child Advocacy Program which recruits, and trains volunteers for court appointments to any civil or criminal case involving a child. - Acted as public relations and news release liaison for a recent child death case in New Braunfels. - Has raised funds via, walk-a-thons, softball tournaments, art shows, church donations, etc. - Regularly sends money to foster parents for Christmas, back-to-school, Easter and birthdays of foster children. - Sponsors summer camp tuitions. - Sponsors protective day care. - Advocates for State Legislation to improve services to children. - Does frequent public awareness campaigns on child abuse and neglect via, posters, utility bill mailers, bank statement mailers, library bookmarks, press releases. - Does twice a year public awareness for foster home recruitment. Kendall County: - Sponsored and opened a clothes closet for children to be accessed only by the school nurse and designated local agencies. = Sponsors regular parenting programs in conjunction with the County Extension office at little or no fee. Topics have dealt with parent effectiveness, teenage sexuality, discipline and nutrition. - Paid medical expenses for children not in DHS custody. - Coordinated community Christmas drive. - Sponsors protective day care for indigent children. - Purchased specialized telephone equipment for paralyzed youth. f. ,._ _. ~ Board Projects of Ez~isting CPS Boards Page 2 - Send regular donations to foster parents in the county, as appreciation at Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter. - Coordinate site visits for the Good News Club for His Hill Camp. - Sponsors summer camp tuitions. - Ongoing public awareness. Gillespie County: - Supported and assisted with a grant to establish a "Baby Buddies" program to follow up on high risk infants released from the hospital. - Ongoing public awareness campaign for child abuse and neglect and recruitment of foster homes. - Paid foster care for a sibling group of three who do not qualify for AFDC, due to out of state placement. - Assist with clothing for institutionalized 13 year old who is emotionally disturbed and mentally retarded. - Sponsors summer camp tuition. CHILD'WELFARE'BOARD 1987 1. GWENDOLYN RICHARDSON 2. LAURA HUCKTON 3. DENISE SWEENEY 4.. PHYLLIS APPLE - LEACH 5. BRUCE OEHLER 6. ELLEN DIGGS 7. ANNETTE BUTLER 8. PRISCILLA L ROZIER 9. DR. BRENDANLY DOUGLAS 10. LINDA RICKHOFF 11. DR. JIM MERCER ORDER N0. 17225 APPROVAL OF CHILD ~4ELFARE CON- TRACT, BETu`dEEId THE TEXP,S DEPARTP~NT OF HUP~~AN SERVICES AND ICERR COUNTY, TEXAS 4-13-87 VOL. Q, Page