~,-
r -_.
Item # 2.2 Request for permission to establish a voluntary system whereby jurors
on County juries may donate their jury fees to~the Il~ergency Fnnd of the
Kerr County Child Services Board.
This item was tabled and discussed but no decision was made.
CoMM I SS I oNERS~ COURT AGENDA REQUEST
*PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND FIVE COPIES OF THIS RED 1F T AND
DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT
MADE BY: Larry Arnold
MEETING DATE: February 23, 1993
OFFICE: President, Child Services Board
~. `moo ~..~
TIME PREFERRED:
SUBJECT: (PLEASE 8E SPECIFIC) Request for permission to establish a voluntary
sysCem whereby jurors on county juries may donate their jury fees to the Emergency Fund
of the Kerr County Child Services Board.
EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: YES _ NO xx
~' PLEASE STATE REASON FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION
ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: Five minutes
PERSONNEL MATTER - NAME OF EMPLOYEE:
NAME OF PERSON ADDRESS i NG THE COURT: Larry Arnold
Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted 1n accordance
with Article 6252-17 is as follows:
* Meetings held on Monday: 12:00 P.M. previous Wednesday
THIS	REQUEST	RECEIVED	BY:
THIS	REQUEST	RECEIVED	ON : _ ~
___ All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Ottlce to determine if
adequate information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action
at time of Court meetings. Your cooperation will be appreciated and contribute towards
your request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request
Guldel Ines.
Commissioner's Court Agenda Request
Synopsis
Several counties in Texas have established a procedure whereby jurors serving in the
county's courts may voluntarily donate their jury fees to the county Child Services Board.
As president of the Kerr County board I am asking your permission to set up such a
system here.
We have approached each of the District Court judges, the County Court at law judge,
and the Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace. We asked them if they would support such a
project. Each was in favor, and stated they were willing to work with us to set up as
simple a system as possible.
We envision giving each juror a simple form, with check boxes where they can indicate
whether they do or do not want to donate and space for their signature. After the forms
are turned in and jury service is complete, the court clerk would pay those jurors who
indicated they did not want to donate or who did not turn in forms, and send one check to
the Child Services Board for the amount that would have been paid to those jurors who
did submit forms saying they would contribute.
While this would initially add to the jury system paperwork, it would also reduce the
number of checks written to individual jurors, thus breaking even or reducing the
-- paperwork.
Whatever funds are raised in this project would be placed in the KCCSB emergency
fund. They would be used for worthwhile projects and expenses in behalf of Kerr County
children at risk not covered by federal, state, and county appropriations, which of course
are limited to necessary expenditures for those children in direct custody.
Coordinated efforts to set up similar systems are underway in the other counties
served by the 218th Judicial District. Copies of newspaper articles from Jefferson and
Orange Counties showing their participation are attached.
We feel that our position as a board appointed by, and under the supervision of, the
County Court makes it appropriate for the courts to encourage the jurors for trials held in
the county to assist us in this manner. We ask for your approval to proceed with this
worthwhile voluntary fundraising project.
J ~, r
''~
J+ ~, ~~ I
~~ 1 1.
T,,,,~, k~l~iY ~:b,;19.~~' ~,~ .`".~•' ~ ~~ Sari ~~`~ on ia~',d p~,l
j;' ~ a~ N~~Riva •gat4u4~~.s~tcx~
•. , ~~ C~ ~ a 4~ef 11M~ ~ {W'~l{,~wyNlrlW'~^ .e•I~ W~'~.G~' 1 ,,,,.
. ; f0~er ~ig~ t~ ' tam ~` g N~"
. ~` ~ n fin,., . ~ g ~ ~ n
~hlldfe. , ~ money ~ t bow tends vier,
~, '~~ ~ our.., ~ '! Idds• mca~• axamQ+cs p -,~gcts Pt0
,, ~~ .We ~~.~~K° n0~ ,. Judy NDit ° Ott ~ ~ Sew ~ fe~ aU a ~iaoh"~d„
20 w~ w the i
~o$tm~ c1~'f C8~ onlY testa cluldrer+ ham mou• atthehosP ~1;
a ~ fede~'i fu°a~ndgo' Stu cited n~ B+y tom inB f0~
gY ~iocwi, y*Y: ~ tub ~ ttau- at-d S144adaY a. foss ~~~thas t ends nP ~`y ~ktt...
~~~. ~ tat the ~ ven a e ~~ty'she~mnN6~~~u'nog u~ ~wha- sick child, the n~ofh~°r~~ ~biirh-
fosu~ ~ ~ ~st++~'~'Y t ex• ang aflat~pe18'x'pa daY fa a ng for ~ vnth a focothachildn l suPPha' ~~ts are aU
,sucb~ ~tof-po~aa ~' ass that,PaY' baby~~ ~,sc1-po fa
~ ~e a utde ~' ~~~ supPi~'~~ clod"°g ~~ ve1 ex4a' ev~~ ~ Holt sa-d• ~ 1
~~~ a-$Y ~~ tioPai cau• ,~vd b~Ba in -a~m~' Lamina ~ ~ts~a4rom ~ ~ t bud8~' ~cir S6'p~ o. .
~'~ 4~u' a ~ A ooh fete for iniualra~ • said. daY g. „ >~ a donate. rst
P~ foe f~ gahas ~r-~"s~gon ~ of ~ iafostarca~e~~'d by M ~e nor "s4ec~ ~~ the e44°~(unds can bed to ail,
~ ~. ,s~,rd of f~ ~attt~ ado- whila n~ ~ to f ~n~ve," Offain6~ area m which untY
~~~w~~ ~~ itY~ tson~e w~pnr chime t~ bndg~'We~n t ostar ~dren, xalt sai aid bcYo"d what ~ ~ , .
q~ia ~gd~~y aa4~'f a iscur~-dYW U metw~ ."a '~~~'~n Ce~•~ ~to{thingsf°r "nris will SY~C° she said.
natet~ cau• M~~ tingduY go1t~4 ~ of ~ ~anr-m ne sPcc~ s budBct can pa
~ ~ taaux ter D ~y Aga ir~c~ n fosta c'am' do for ~ nil~iet~round ~' ~ abarRt C°~
cavst~ thatl~~ fo<gus~ ~ golt~ ~ ~ a Yea`r~~~ywhen
vd+~'tbc a uA a be>~ srper~-~' f tis ann-~`Ct~
d~ etfofi is'exPp6 've set'!`ces Qt. Ft0?~ ...~/~-
S~udY K° ~ psang~ tom ~ 11°w'n
I the~~~ut61 c
.~. .
~~~~
•~t~~,~,,r+~en":r '_l2t ~.mr° °:~crl °ntcpcn~~ •.•• .
S.ix ~af thy; r ~~ nu:,-~btrc of tlic;.'T'exascommission are
ind~xspy insiders. tlth~t statC:, ha gencics hcadcdby a
single administr•atat ar boards with more public
m ern hers.
The GAO criticism of the Texas regulatory scheme
comes at the conclusion of a major review of most of
Texas' state-chartered credit unions by the National Cr+~
dit Union Administration as part of the program to con-
concerned about the independence of the board when he
was appointed to se _ u a public member by [ormer
Gov, Bili Clemente . 1489.
He Bald when he or other public members speak up,
the industry members of the board have been willing to
listen to the outsiders' views o[ credit union issues.
"O['tendmos„the industry members have to be re-
minded that issuCS important to them may bt perceived
differently by the public; ' ht said.
,ju.i•y duty fee donation measure approved
from ~mftandrrlr• r•porrs • ' a -;.
Jefferson Coturty. Commissioners In Beaumont have
approved a measure allowing jurors to donate their daily
pay for Jury duty to children in foster care; following a
lead set InrOrange last month. ~ .
In Orange County. the board of judges, consisting of
district judges, the county court-at-law judge and county
judge, . alroady has approved a similar ~ rrieasirre ;with
Court Administrator I3ebra Montague saying jurois hue
should be chit to donate their S6 per day pay..bcgituiing
Aug. 12,~ ~ ,
Orange County eommissioncrs, who do not approve
measurrs the board of judges pass, Monday recorded the
action in their mceting minutes.
Monday's action could mean as much as S3,370 per
week for foster care for Jefferson County -the amount
the county spends on jurors at a rate of S6 per day. Or-
ange County spends an average of S2,100 per month on
jury foes, according to County Auditor Tod i4iixson.
WIth the new measure, jurors will be able to designate
whether they want the district clerk to send thew money
to the welfare board. '
in Orange County currently, more than 61 children are
in foster ctlrt.with state and federal funds'only paying s
flat fee per day for the children.
' Bxtias such as birthday presents or even some neussi-
ties, such as txrtain tnedicalexpenses orschool supplies,
are not covered by tither state or federal funds or local
budgets; Judy Holt of child protective services earlier
told The Leader.
Extra funds raised through the jury fee donation is ex-
pected to go toward those "extras."
•County commissioners have busy meeting
Co~Bnued from oaas i e Road in 1?recinct 1 and on North
reimbursement for road damages to Tram Road in Pnxinct 4,
Bailey Road.
• Travel expenses.
• Line item transfers.
• Setting an Aug. 5 dace for a
public hearing to discuss and pos-
sibly act on lowering the speed lim-
its on Dawnwood Road and Starks
• Officially designating a county
road off Farm Road 105 that Is cur-
rently known as Black Road.
• Submission of Texas Depart-
ment of Commerce grant for sewer
• Accept for nxordittg minutes of
juvutilt board, board of judges and
board of district judges melting held
June 13.
• Accept for recording in court
minutes the recent approval by the
board of judges to allow petit jurors
to donate the S6per day they arc paid
for serving to the Orange County
child welfare board.
ACCENT ON HAPPENINGS; FRIDAYS IN
The Orange Leader
Four PackaQe~
T6ru.___. Amt
Watch for Our
SENIOR
SPECIAL
JuIY !dM fMrAuQ. Jraf
::t~~::
4,'CE O~
~~ :~, Tom,
.~.
~~Mttv1~
G~mn,is~i~ ~ncr
August 4, 1992
Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retarda~ion
Kerrville State Hospital
21 T1~ompson thrive • K..rrvil;e, Texans 7h(128 • (5121 896-?.,211
Luthrr N'. Russ, N1. D.
5uprri:rt;'ndent
Children's Services Council Board Members:
,, „
~:; auott.LO~i ~:, til2 u.l`.~CiiQur Wi1iCa1 1S slightly OUC Oi Gate, 1 aTTi
presently employed as the Director of Kerr County Community Service
Center. This center provides community mental health services for
the citizens of Kerr County. Please let me know if additional
information is needed.
Sincerely,
Richard Pow, Center Director
Kerr County Community Service Center
511 McFarland St .
Kerrville, Texas ?8028
(512) 257-6553
RP/jsm
Equal OpportunitylAfjirmative Activn Em~ioyer
PERSOr~AL
RICHARD POE
Age: 38
Birthdate: Dec.19,1952
Marital Status: ~*4arried
Address: P.O.Box 8111, Horseshoe Bay, Tx. 78654
Phone: (512) 598-5020
~tORK EXPEP.IENCE
School Psych./Counselor, Bluebonnet Coop, Burnet, Texas,
June 1990 to present. Duties involve: psychoeducational
assessment; consultation; initiation of day treatment
programs; group, individual and family counseling.
School Psychologist/Counselor, Balcones Coop, Austin, Tx.,
Aug. 1983 to present. Duties involve: assesment of I.Q.,
achievement, and psychomotor abilities; individual,
group, and family counseling; supervision of interns;
coordination of counseling program; consultation;
initiation of day treatment program; conducting
workshops. Supervision of counseling program/staff.
Private Practice, June, 1985 - Dec. 1987 contracted
with the Juvenile Probation Dept. of the 33rd
Judicial Dist. for counseling services; individual
and family counseling; contract with the Family
Crisis Center, 'garble Falls, for parenting skills
group.
University of Texas - Austin, Dept. of Ed. Psych.,
Jan. 1922 - Aug. 1983: Conducted research for
Dr. Guy Manaster; co-authored report on retirement
for the Tx. ?dept. on Aging; co-authored an entry
on retirement for ~~3iley's Enc_yclooedia of Psychology.
Research and Development Center, Austin, Tx., Aug.,
1981 - Jan., 1982: acted as consultant/observer
for research on teacher effectiveness.
O'Connell School, Galveston, Tx.,Aug., 1979 - June, 1980:
taught art and counseled re. personal issues.
Meridell Achievement Center/westwood Campus, Austin, Tx.,
Jan.,1978 - Aug., 1979: acted as instructor/counselor
with emotionally disturbed adolescents; co-led
groups for children of alcoholics; conducted art
therapy; performed psychological testing.
EDUCATION
University of Texas at Austin: M.Ed. in Counseling,
Dept. of Ed. Psych., Aug., 1983.
Phi Kappa Phi honor society for academic excellence,
grad. program, Dec., 1982.
University of Texas at Austin: B.A, with honors in
Art/Psych., May, 1977.
ORGANIZATIONS
American Association for Counseling and Development
National Association of School Psychologists
Texas Association for Counseling and Development
LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION
Psychological Associate, 1989.
Licensed Professional Counselor, 1985.
School Psychologist, 1989.
Controverting support for 2.2 from Judge Karl Prohl.
The attached is an opinion from the Judicial Ethic Committee.
~~
.~
~ ~
__ ~_~~~
ADVISORY OPIl~IONS ON JUDICIAL ETHICS
Rendered by the Judicial Ethics Committee
During the Year Ending August 31, 1992
The Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas has appointed a Committee on Judicial Ethics to render
advisory opinions on the Code of Judicial Conduct. The opinions of this committee that were handed down during
the fiscal year 1992 are reproduced below.
Political Activity of Judge's Staff
Opinion No. 145 (1992)
QUESTION: Should a judge permitmembers of the judge's
office staf/ to participate in political activities such as
publicly supporting a candidate for election, acting as a
campaign manager, and fund raising?
ANSWER: No. Canon 7(3) provides
that a judge shall not authorize the
public use of the judges's name to
endorse another candidate for any
public office. The reasons for that
rule are stated in the first paragraph
of the answer in Opinion 130. Canon
38(2) provides that a judge should
require the judge's staff, as well as
other court officials subject to the
judge's direction and control, to ob-
serve the standards of the Code.
The Committee concludes that such
political activity by a member of a
judge's office staff would imply, or
would be likely to give the appearance
of, the judge's support for the candi-
date.
Extrajudicial Recommendations to
Board of Pardons and Paroles
Opinion No. 146 (1992)
QUESTION: Should a judge who has no professional
connection with a criminal case make a recommendation
to the Board of Pardons and Paroles
RELATED QUESTIONS: The inquiring judge also asks
whether a judge should permit a staff member to contrib-
utemoney to acandidate. The Committee concludes that
to permit such a contribution would be appropriate only
under the circumstances that would allow the judge to
contribute, that is, when the judge is satisfied that neither
the contribution nor the public record thereof wiN receive
public attention before the election.
The inquiring judge also mentions the uncertain na-
ture of a judge direction and control" over a county
employee on the judge's office orcourt staff. The Commit-
tee does not reach the issue of how that direction and
control should be exercised, because it involves ques-
tions of law and because it arises in so many dl/ferent
situations and circumstances that it cannot be addressed
in genera! terms.
Therefore, this opinion is limited to the conclusion
that for a judge to permit or to condone such political
activity by a staf/member would be inconsistent with the
ethical standards of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
concerning parole of the defendant?
ANSWER: No. Canon 2B provides
that a judge should not use or permit
the use of judicial prestige for the
benefit of the judge or others. The
Committee concludes that if the judge
has no professional connection to the
case, such as recommendations by a
judge would be, or at least would give
the appearance of being, an attempt
to use judicial prestige for the benefit
of another. This would be true even if
the judge has some personal basis for
the recommendation, because there
is no realistic way to separate the
prestige of the judge's office from the
judge's personal affairs. Compare
Opinion 73.
~~ Participation in Plan to
Encourage Jurors to Donate Jury Pay
Opinion No. 147 (1992)
QUESTION: Should a judge participate in a plan to advise
jurors that they may make voluntary donation of their jury
pay to a "Children's Protective Services Fund?" '
ANSWER: No. Canon 5B(2) provides that a judge;~l1 not
solicit funds for any educational, religious, charitable, fra-
ternal, political, or civic organization. Canon 4c provides
that a judge should not personally participate in public fund
raising activities for an organization devoted to the improve-
ment of the law, the legal system, or the administration of
justice. Opinions 10, 58, 131, and 137 (Question 4)
construe this Canon 4c provision.
There is another consideration if the court on which the
judge serves has jurisdiction in cases involving the protec-
tion of children. Canon 2A provides that a judge should
promote public confidence in the impartiality of the judi-
ciary. The Committee concludes that a judge's participa-
tion in raising money for the protection of children would
create the appearance of partiality in cases involving accu-
sations of abuse of, or failure to protect, children. (Com-
pare Opinion 126.)
126
The Committee concludes tha. ~ judge should not
participate in advising jurors that they may donate their jury
pay to any cause.
Service on Both County Juvenile Board
and Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
Opinion No. 148 (1992)
FACTS ASSUMED: A district judge is the judge of a court
designated as a juvenile court and serves on the County
Juvenile Board, which has the statutory duty and authority
ro employ juvenile probation department staff members,
designate the titles of employees, and set their salaries.
The same judge also serves on the Texas Juvenile Proba-
tionCommission, which has the statutory duty and author-
ity to allocate and distribute to juvenile boards the funds
appropriated by the Legislature and to give technical
assistance and training to juvenile boards and juvenile
probation departments. A pertinent statute provides that
two members of the Commission shall be district judges
who are judges of juvenile courts.
OUEST/ON: When acting as a member of the Commission
should the judge vote on questions which affect /unding for
the juvenile probation department supervised by the Juve-
nile Board on which the judge serves and on questions
concerning funding formula and guidelines that apply to all
juvenile boards?
ANSWER: Yes. Canon 36(1) provides that a judge should
diligently discharge all administrative responsibilities. The
statutory arrangement manifests a legislative intent to co-
ordinate the Commission's work with that of local juvenile
boards, as well as a legislative assumption that the ar-
rangement itself does not create a conflict of interest.
However, this Committee observes that there may be
circumstances under which such a judge may decide that
it would be appropriate in order to avoid the appearance of
partiality for the judge to abstain from voting on a specific
matterthat would have an apparent and substantially greater
impact on the judge's own probation department than on
other departments generally.
Service As Justice of the Peace in One County
and As Reserve Deputy Sheriff in Another
Opinion No. 149 (1992)
rUESTION: Should a Justice of the Peace serve as a
Reserve Deputy Sheriff in another County?
ANSWER: No. The ~~mmittee concludes that service by
a Justice of the Peace as a law enforcement officer would
be inconsistent with the provisipns on Canons 1 and 2
concerning the impartiality and independence of the judi-
ciary.
Judge As Member of
Host Committee for Fund Raising Event
Opinion No. 150 (1992)
QUESTION: Should a judge permit the judge's name to be
included in a list of the members of the "Host Committee"
on an invitation to a fund raising event?
ANSWER: No. Canon 5B(2) provides thatajudge;~inot
solicit funds for any educational, religious, charitable, fra-
ternal, political, or civil organization.' Canon 10 provides
that the word "shall" when used in the Code means compul-
sion. The Committee concludes that if ajudge should agree
to be listed as a host in an invitation to a fund raising event,
that would constitute soliciting funds for the cause ben-
efited by the event and, therefore, would violate Canon
56(2). -
Canon 2B is also relevant. It provides that a judge
should not lend the prestige of judicial office to advance the
interests of others. Such use of a judge's name would use,
or at least would give the appearance of using, judicial
prestige for fund raising even if the invitation does not
identify the host judge as a judge, because a judge cannot
realistically separate the prestige of judicial office from the
judge's personal affairs. (Compare Opinions 73 and 136.)
Canon 2B also provides that a judge should not permit
others to convey the impression that they are in a special
position to influence the judge. By hosting a fund raising
event a judge would create an opportunity for a litigant to
attempt to curry favor by contributing generously, and then
to convey such an impression.
The applicable principles are also addressed in Opin-
ions 11 (1976), 16 (1977), 41 (1979), 51 (1980), 59 and 60
(1982), and 131 (1989). The same rules apply to judges'
personal participation in public fund raising activities for
organizations devoted to the improvement of the law, the
legal system, or the administration of justice. Canon 4C.
'Committee Footnote: As the Canon 5B(2) distinction between soliciting
funds, and being a speaker or guest of honor as such an event, is quite
specific, the CommittBe does not reach or consider the rationale for that
distinction.
127
COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST
*PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND FIVE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND
DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT
MADE BY: l_.~r~GuE aF' t/amE,y yc7-F~s
MEETING DATE: J~Pi~'I ~ ~7
OFFICE: t'~~GRAm V~c.~-t~2eS~a-nr-
TIME PREFERRED: 9~ vo >gvrl
SUBJECT:	(PLEASE BE	SPECIFIC) ~nl~ A ~ ~~~ rK ~'~'=	~`-,e>~v"~~ - -~n'G~e~"~
L'~12/T~2	~~f~ ~~E19,	h~~ WISf-t 7-U ~'~LS~tz/r' /~ CU.~~/	OF R~CLr/>ZY LOMP~k'.ii.iV
STuO~i~	~i.=P0~7: 1„/E	1~t/1t_C .SRI ~-r- ~v H!G-r~ 1-I G/-~ T PF	IIZTS ~F f`Nt= S7-c~t~y
			
EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: YES NO X
PLEASE STATE REASON FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION
ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: ~3 /n~n'uT~ s
PERSONNEL MATTER - NAME OF EMPLOYEE:
NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT: BRr293R~H 1..0+.~J~r/Ti~/~~--
~qG -~~9~
Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance
with Article 6252-17 is as follows;
* Meetings held on Monday: 12;00 P.M. previous Wednesday
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY:
THIS REDDEST RECEIVED ON : ~
Ali Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if
adequate information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action
at time of Court meetings. Your cooperation will be appreciated and contribute towards
your request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request
Guidelines.
League of Women Voters Kerrville Area

A Study of-Child Care in
the Kerrville Area, 1991
Introduction
The League of Women Voters of the Kerr-
ville Area (LWVKA) has undertaken a study of
child caze in the Kerrville-Ingram-Center Point
azea to determine Availabllity and Need, Afford-
ability and Quality of child caze. The focus group
was made up of pre-school children. Two areas of
care which were not included but need evaluation
are: after-school care and summer care for
elementary age children.
Background
The importance of the child care issue
prompted the LWVKA to conduct a survey of
parents, businesses and child care providers to
determine the child care needs in the Kerrville-
Ingram-Center Point area. The results of this
survey are included in this report.
The survey targeted pazents of children four
years and under, since this group is the most likely
to use child care. Single parents were targeted
because the cost burden of child care plays a sig-
nificant role in the level of child care available to
these families.
Businesses were surveyed to determine the
extent of involvement in dependent caze assis-
tance programs, i.e., providing child care on the
premises, subsidizing child caze, utilizing avail-
able tax advantages or including child care-related
items as part of an employee benefit package.
Caregivers were contacted to determine -the cur-
rent availability of child care, training of staff,
turnover of personnel and operating costs.
Availability and Need for child caze was
determined from the current population in day-
care facilities plus an examination of waiting lists,
vacancies and information from the Texas
Department of Human Services (DHS) and the
Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG).
Affordability of child caze was looked at in
terms of cost per child compared to average
income, available subsidies and numbers of paz-
ents not in training programs due to cost of child
caze.
Quality child care was defined in terms of
training of caregivers, staff/child ratio, materials/
activities, turnover among employees, and an
environment which is safe and healthy.
Definitions of Child Care Facilities
(based on Texas Department of Human Services definitions)
Child Day-Care Center (commonly called Child Care Center): A facility that provides care for more i
than 12 children under 14 years of age for fewer than 24 hours a day.
Group Child Day-Care Home (commonly called Group Child Care Home): A facility that provides
care for 7-12 children under 14 years of age for fewer than 24 hours a day.
Registered Family Home (commonly called Family Day Home}: A home that regularly provides care
in the caretaker's own residence for not more than 6 children under 14 years of age, and that provides
care after school hours .for not more than 6 additional elementary school children. The maximum
number of children, including the caretaker's own, does not exceed 12 at any given time. No more
than 4 infants (0-17 months old) may be in care and the maximum number of children allowed is
reduced depending on the number of infants.
Child Care in the Kerrville Area
Availability/Need
The 1990 census reports 2,273 children in
Kerr County four years and under, of which
75% reside in the study area. It is recognized
that not every child is in need of child care.
Preschool Children, Kerr
County
Persons by age
Under 1 year ................................... 371
1 & 2 years ..................................... 934
3 & 4 years ..................................... 968
Total ............................................ 2, 27 3
Kerr County Population ('90 U.S. Census)
36,300
In the study area there are currently
(December 1991} eight licensed day-care
centers, two group day-caze homes and 31 regis-
tered family homes. The combined capacity of
these facilities is 861 children. There is also an
undetermined number of unregistered family
homes.
Three day-care centers and several regis-
tered family homes accept infants under six
months. Severely handicapped and developmen-
tally delayed children up to age three are main-
streamed into several day-care centers from
Home Spun, an early child development inter-
vention program.
Operating hours for child care facilities
range anywhere from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. No
facility operates on a 24-hour basis to accom-
modate parents on shift work and no facilities
exist for children who become ill.
Fifteen percent (15%) of applicants for the
federally funded Job Opportunity and Basic
Skills (JOBS) program, a training program to
get people off welfare, cannot enter the program
because of lack of subsidized child care.
The Alamo Area Council of Governments
(AACOG), the agency that oversees placement
of children from low income families, has 90
children from the Kerrville-Ingram-Center Point
area on its waiting list. It should be noted that a
name cannot be placed on this list until the paz-
ent is actually employed. The fact that a parent
has placed the child's name on this waiting list
is an indication that there is dissatisfaction with
the child's current placement.
Teen parents need special attention. Tivy
High School has received a $100,000 Preg-
nancy, Education and Parenting (PEP) grant to
begin a program for teen parents. This program
will include child care services for approxi-
mately 30 children while the mothers continue
their education. The program is scheduled to
begin operation in August 1992.
Types of Facilities in Kerrville Area
Classification	No.	Kids
'Child Day-Care Center	8	657
Registered Family Home	31	180
Group Day-Care Home	2	24
Affordability
Funding sources for child care include:
tuition, scholarships, United Way, USDA food
subsidy, state subsidies, grants and tax benefits.
Cost to Parents
In the Kerrville area the commercial rate
for registered homes and day-care centers
ranges from $45 to $60 /week/child. Cost for a
second child is generally lower.
Sixty-six percent (66%) of the single par-
ents and 21 percent of the non-single parents in
the survey earn $10,000 or less. Parents in this
group are having to spend nine to eleven per-
cent of their monthly wage for child care.
Operating Costs
The survey of child care providers indicates
that their annual budgets range from $20,000 for
registered homes to more than $150,000 for
licensed day-care centers.
Child Care Management Services (CCMS),
the program through which the Texas Depart-
ment of Human Services has contracted with the
city of San Antonio to manage state and federal
child care subsidies, requires licensed day-care
centers and registered homes to carry $300,000
liability insurance if the facility is going to
accept contract (state or federally subsidized)
children.
2
League of Women Voters Kerrville Area
During the course of this study two day-
care centers, including the only 24 hour service,
have closed their doors due to cost. There are no
for-profit day-care centers in the Kerrville area.
Subsidies
The Texas Department of Human Services
in Austin subsidizes self-arranged care, a pro-
gram where low income pazents place their
children with relatives or in registered homes in
order to enter training programs. The reim-
bursement to these particular caregivers is often
delayed by up to three months which places a
financial burden on the caregiver and discour-
ages potential caregivers from entering the
program.
Ken County Day Care and Sunshine Inn
Day Care centers, the only two centers that
Quality
The Texas Department of Human Services
establishes minimum standards for child care
facilities to insure the health and safety of chil-
accept contract children, use a sliding scale rate
fee based on family income for their private
clients. Child Care Management Services
(CCMS) reimburses both centers at this private
rate. United Way partially funds Kerr County
Day Care Center. Church related child caze
facilities are dependant upon some church assis-
tance to keep their doors open.
Many of the centers take advantage of the
USDA food subsidy program. Although there
are tax incentives available for private business
to assist employees with dependent care, the
business survey showed either a lack of awaze-
ness of or interest in such incentives. Such tax
benefits could help ease the high cost of day-
care.
dren. These standazds by law must be reviewed
and updated every six yeazs.
Characteristics of Quality Child Care
(adapted from those of the National Association for the Education of Young Children; copied from
League of Women Voters of Texas Education Fund Facts and Issues: Child Care in Texas, August 1990)
* A caregiver with job-related training in early childhood education, including child development and
safety; a warm, nurturing personality that encourages positive interaction between each child and the
adult; and a philosophy that integrates all areas of young children's development--social, emotional,
cognitive, and physical.
* Staff-child ratios with sufficient staff to provide frequent individual contact between staff and children
and ongoing communication with the parents.
* Developmentally appropriate activities and equipment for each child provided by good teachers who
combine knowledge about child development with understanding about the individual child's growth
pattern, strength, interests, and experiences to design the most appropriate learning environment
* Continuity of relationship between a child and caregiver. (A recent report from the National Child
Staffing Study tells us, "The shortage of trained child-care teachers threatens the existing child-care
delivery system...Teachers' salaries are so low at many day-care centers that personnel are leaving to
work at fast-food establishments for better pay...Turnover of day-care staff tripled during the past,
decade to 41°Io annually." Continuity of care is threatened both by frequent turnover of caregivers'
and by shifting of children among programs when funding sources change.)
* A space environment that provides ample room for indoor and outdoor activities and is cheerful and
interesting.
* A safe and healthy environment that includes staff trained in health, nutrition, and emergency
Garegiver Training
The Minimum Standards vary depending
upon the type of facility. A detailed description
is available in section 2100 of the Minimum
Standards set by DHS.
In general, a director of a day-care center
must be at least 21 years of age, have a high
school diploma or its equivalent plus experience
in early childhood development. The director
must participate yearly in at least 20 clock hours
of training. Staff must take at least 15 hours of
training per year.
The registered home caregiver must be at
3
Child Care in the Kerrville Area
least 21 years old and have a high school
diploma or its equivalent; exceptions allow 18-
20 year olds to register. The caregiver is
required to take a minimum of 15 clock hours
annually of training in child care related areas.
There are additional health and safety require-
ments which are described in the Minimum
Standards set by DHS. Since there is only ran-
dom on site monitoring of registered homes it is
uncertain if minimum standards are being
maintained.
The majority of licensed facilities in the
Kerrville area require additional (beyond Mini-
mum Standards) training for their staff.
The Texas Agricultural Extension Service
through the Ken County Extension Office offers
the following programs for child care providers:
A seven hour training course for child care
providers each year.
A home study (20 hours) course through
which day-care providers may earn Con-
tinuing Education Units from Texas
A&M University.
Pazenting Young Children (16 hours) course.
Additional teaching aids and resources are
provided free to child care providers for
in-house training.
Since Schreiner College does not offer
course work in eazly childhood development
most of the caregivers must travel to San Anto-
nio for such courses.
Staff/Child Ratios
The Minimum Standards require specific
staff/child ratios depending upon the age range
of the children. Many Kerrville directors stated
a need to reduce the number of children each
caregiver is responsible for, noting the difficulty
in providing quality Gaze with the current
staff/child ratios.
Developmentally Appropriate
Activities
The Minimum Standards encourage use of
developmentally appropriate activities. Basi-
cally, providing such activities is left up to the
director.
Continuity of Relationship
The wages paid to caregivers has a direct
bearing on the continuity of relationship.
Reseazch shows there is a direct relationship
between low wages and frequency of staff
turnover.
A survey of the five largest child care cen-
ters in the Kerrville area showed that 73% of the
employees earned between $5,000 and $10,000;
of these, 76% were employed for two or fewer
years and 48°!0 of these employed one year or
less. The one facility that had a higher starting
salary also had less turnover of staff.
Space Environment, Safety and
Health Environment
The Minimum Standards spell out require-
ments for space, and for a safe and healthy envi-
ronment for child care facilities. According to
many of the Kerrville day-caze center directors,
space requirements are inadequate to provide
quality care. In general, these directors felt the
safety and health requirements were adequate.
The Department of Human Services (DHS)
uses a monitoring plan to oversee the compli-
ance of Minimum Standards. Aday-care center
is listed under one of three plans.
Facilities which are inspected every 3-5
months are in Plan 1. These facilities
usually have health and safety violations
which are of risk to children and have
difficulty maintaining the Minimum
Standards.
Facilities which are inspected every 6-9
months are in Plan 2. These facilities
usually are able to maintain Minimum
Standards but still have some health and
safety risks to children.
Facilities which are monitored every 10-12
months are in Plan 3. They have few if
any non-compliance citations and have
virtually no health and safety risks to
children.
Parents and interested citizens may request
to see the most recent inspection report for paz-
ticular day-care facilities either from the local
DHS office or from individual directors.
Beginning in 1992 DHS will have an initial
inspection and will increase the random moni-
toring of registered homes to 30 percent.
Both licensed and registered facilities are
required to provide parents a handbook which
gives them infosznation to help evaluate the
quality of care provided. The parent has the
primary responsibility to insure the health and
safety of their children.
The League survey indicated that the paz-
ents' primary concerns in seeking child care
were cost and safety. Forty percent (40%) of the
parents who responded to the survey indicated
that they did not believe quality care was avail-
able in the Kerrville area.
4
League of Women Voters Kerrville Area
Licensed Day-care	Facilities	
Kerrville -Ingram -Center Point	
December 1991		
(Texas Department of Human Services, Licensing Division)	
Name of Facility	Ages Capacity
Group (Child) Day-care Home		
City: Center Point		
Susie's Day-care ...........................................	2 yrs to 13 yrs..............12
City: Ingram		
Younger Years .............................................	3 yrs to 6 yrs................12
ACCEPTS CG/Y'TiE'g LT CHi~~eeN		
City: Kerrville		
None		
Day-care Centers -Five Day		
City: Center Point		
None		
City: Ingram		
Proud Crowd ...............................................	0 yrs to 10 yrs..............34
City: Kerrville		
Children's Ark ..............................................	0 yrs to 5 yrs..............	140
First Assembly Child Development Center ..	6 mos to 13 yrs ............34
Holy Cross Lutheran School Study Care......	4 yrs to 13 yrs ..............50
Kerr Countv Day Care Center ......................	18 mos to 12 yrs ..........66
St. Peter's Episcopal Day School ..................	2yrs to 12 yrs............	116
Sunshine Inn Day Care Center .....................	Oyrs to 13 yrs............	102
Zion Lutheran Church Children's Center......	~yrs to 1~.yrs............	115
Day-care Centers -Three Day		
Cities: Ingram, Center Point		
None		
City: Kerrville		
Children's Corner First Presbyterian .............	Oyrs to 13 yrs.......,....	..75
First Baptist Church Preschool .....................	Oyrs to 5 yrs................85
5
Child Care in the Kerrville Area
Summary Conclusions:
There are no facilities that are open 24 hours or
on weekends. Parents on shift work have no
access to organized child care outside ordi-
nary weekday work hours.
There are no facilities devoted to the child with
special needs. Only a few developmentally
delayed children are mainstreamed into
some of the day-case centers. Not all such
children are being served.
There are no facilities to care for children who
become ill.
Day-care budgets range from $20,000 for regis-
tered homes to $150,000 for day-care cen-
ters. Virtually all day-care centers need
some type of subsidy to remain open.
There are no for-profit day-care centers in the
Kerrville area.
Only two day-care centers, Kerr County Day
Care Center and Sunshine Inn Day Care
Center, accept state subsidized children.
Fifteen percent (15%) of applicants for the
federally funded JOBS program cannot
begin training because of a lack of child
care. Child Care Services of the Alamo
Area Council of Governments has a child
care waiting list containing names of 90
children of low income working parents
who need child care.
The Texas Department of Human Services in
Austin has delayed payment by up to three
months to caregivers in the self- arranged
care program. This discourages eligible
persons from entering the program.
Only 30% of registered homes are inspected
annually after the initial inspection.
Staff/child ratio is too great to allow for quality
care.
Staff training is minimal and difficult to receive
because of lack of local training programs.
There is a high ttunover in day-care staff. Sev-
enty-three (73%) of caregivers in the five
largest day-care centers earn between
$5,000 and $10,000; of these, 76% have
been in their current employment two years
or less with 48% being employed one year
or less.
Businesses are not currently involved in work-
ing with their employees to take advantage
of tax benefits through dependent care pro-
grams.
Sources
League of Women Voters Kerrville Area. (1989). Child Care Providers Survey; Business Survey; Parent
Survey
League of Women Voters of Texas Education Fuud, (1990). Facts and Issues: Child Care in Texas
Lein, Louise and Nosworthy, Carol. (1988). Employer Assisted Child Care in Texas. United Way of
Texas Child Care Working Group.
Texas Child Care Resources. Clearinghouse News, Volumes 1 and 2, 1989-1990.
Texas Child Care Resources. Clearinghouse News, Special Edition, "Dependent Care Options for Texas
Employers"
Texas Department of Human Services, Regulation of Child Care Facilities, Chapter 42, 1989.
Texas Department of Human Services, Registered Family Home Manual, 1990.
Texas Department of Human Services, Minimum Standards, Group Day-Care Homes, 1985.
Texas Work & Family. Clearinghouse News, Volume 3, 1991.
Copyright 1992.
Published by League of Women Voters Kerrville Arca, P.O. Box 303, Kerrville, Texas 78029-0303.
This study was conducted by the Lea~~ue of Women Voters Kerrville Area, Ruth Hall, President; Barbara
Lowenthal, Program V.P.; Jean Tally, Child Care Committee Chairman; Sue Dyke,
Consultant; Mary Lou Zachary, Consultant.
A special "drank you" to members of the LWV Child Care Committee, to the many directors and
specialists in the child care industry, to the parents and to the businesses who generously
gave of their time and expertise during the course of this study.
6
League of Women Voters Kerrville Area
ADpendix
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TEXAS
POSITION CHILD CARE IN TEXAS
Adopted November 11, 1990
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TEXAS SUPPORTS POLICIES,
LEGISLATION, AND PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ALL TEXAS
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOR ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND GOOD
QUALITY CHILD CARE.
The League believes that all children in child care are entitled to a safe, nurturing
environment and developmentally appropriate activities. Caring for children is a societal
as well as a family responsibility and the state should play a role in meeting child care
needs.
The League supports the development, adoption, and implementation of a comprehensive
state child care policy that includes, but is not limited to:
* minimum standards, effectively enforced, for child care services
* programs designed to provide an adequate supply of accessible child care
* measures to promote good quality child care
* programs designed to make child care affordable to all
* coordination of child care programs, services, and funding
* encouragement of cooperation among groups and agencies involved in child
care
* access to information that will help families recognize and choose good quality
child care
* a provision for parental choice in the selection of subsidized child care
* a state model-employer program that makes good quality, affordable child care
available to state employees
* consistent and reliable funding, administered efficiently, and used effectively
* financial support from a variety of sources including:
-federal grants and matching funds
-state funds
-local government funds
-employer contributions
-fees for service
-private philanthropy.
7