ORDER NO. 31535 2009-2010 KERB COUNTY COMMUNITY PLAN Came to be heard this the 23rd day of November, 2009, with a motion made by Commissioner Williams, seconded by Commissioner Oehler, the Court unanimously approved by a vote of 4-0-0 to: Approve the Kerr County Community Plan for 2009-2010, and authorize the submission of the plan to the Alamo Area Council of Governments. ~ ~ s~ I ~ COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST (' PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND NINE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT. MADE BY: Rosa Lavender MEETING DATE: Nov. 23, 2009 OFFICE: Victim Services TIME PREFERRED: Anytime SUBJECT: Consider, Discuss and Approve the Kerr County Community Plan for Zp09- 2010 and authorize the submission of the plan to the Alamo Area Council of Governments. EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON) NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT: None ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: None IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE: Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows: Meeting scheduled for Mondays THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY: THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON: 5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday. All 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 you request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rules Adopted by Commissioners' Court. Kerr County Community Plan 2009 - 2010 Approved by Commissioners' Court on November 23, 2009 Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 1 Mission Statement Our mission is to protect Kerr County residents through quality services, especially in the areas of criminal justice, victims' services, juvenile issues, and mental health, health and family issues, and efficiently and effectively use all available public and private resources. Goal Statement Our goal is to identify major issues in our community that need to be addressed and to find funds and other resources for services that meet the priority needs of Kerr County residents as determined by broad community participation in the planning process. Geographic Areas Represented Incorporated Communities: Ingram Kerrville Unincorporated Communities: Center Point Hunt Mountain Home Independent School Districts: Center Point Hunt Divide Ingram County Demographics: Kerrville Kerr County is located in the South Central region of Texas and includes the cities of Kerrville and Ingram and unincorporated areas of Center Point, Hunt and Mountain Home. The county's geographic area measures 1,106 square miles and includes rich farmlands along creeks and the Guadalupe River in the eastern part of the county and more rugged ranchlands in the western part. The headwaters of the Guadalupe River spring from karst limestone formations in the western part of Kerr County. The 2008 population estimate according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 48,269 residents with almost 96% of the population made up of Caucasian and Hispanic residents. Because undocumented workers and families are not likely to be counted by the Census, the number Hispanics living in the county is probably higher than recorded. Growth in Kerr County has been steady over the past decade. Population has grown 10.6% in the past eight years from 43,653 in 2000 to 48,269 in 2008. In 2007 16.4% of the county population lived below the poverty level. The median household income in 2007 in Kerr County was $42,642. Kerr County is a retirement community drawing people from all over the United States to move here each year. The community's three hospitals, several Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 2 retirement homes, assisted living facilities and nursing homes plus a strong medical community, the climate and location, and organizations and services to meet the needs of retirees lead to the projection that this growth will continue. The Dietert Senior Center coordinates the Meals on Wheels program countywide and many other activities that appeal to seniors. Dietert Senior prepared and delivered 55,000 meals to qualified Meals on Wheels recipients during the most recent fiscal year and served an additional 20,000 meals to seniors in their dining facility at the center. Kerr County has three local law enforcement agencies. The Kerr County Sheriff's Department has 47 sworn deputies (including 44 regular and 3 reserve deputies), 31 jailers, 10 dispatchers and 11 clerk/secretary positions. There are 7 deputies in the Criminal Investigations Division and three in the Special Crimes Unit. One deputy serves as the D.A.R.E. officer for the county school districts. The Kerrville Police Department has 54 sworn officers including 6 officers in the Criminal Investigations Division and 4 officers in a Special Crimes Unit. The department has one SRO assigned to the Kerrville School District, 11 dispatchers and 6 people in the administrative and clerical support category. An additional SRO officer will likely be added in 2010. The Ingram Marshal's Department includes the marshal and 5 full-time deputies and 1 active part-time deputy. One deputy is a full-time investigator. The department has apart- time person who dispatches and serves as an administrative aid on weekdays. The Sheriff's Department dispatches for the department on weekends and nights. Additionally there are 4 constables and 2 deputy constables, 7 Department of TPublic Safety troopers plus one commercial vehicle enforcement trooper and 2 game wardens in Kerr County. The Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission agent for this region is based in Kerr County. One Texas Ranger also is based in Kerr County. The county is served by three prosecutor offices. The Kerr County Attorney's Office has the county attorney plus two assistant county attorneys and four administrative and clerical staff. The 216t" Judicial District that covers Kerr, Kendall, Bandera and Gillespie counties has one district attorney and three assistant DAs, plus 3 administrative/clerical positions. The 198t" Judicial District which serves Kerr, Kimble, Mason, Menard, and McCulloch counties has one district attorney and one assistant district attorney plus 4 administrative/clerical positions. Both the 216t" and 198t" district attorney offices also have commissioned special investigators in their offices. In 2008 the Kerr County Court at Law disposed of 2,261 misdemeanor cases, .down slightly from the previous year and but up almost 200 cases from five years ago. The first nine months of 2009 the CCL disposed of 1,889 cases but have 1,941 cases pending. The 216t" and 198t" district courts disposed of a total of 722 cases in 2008, up from 697 in '2007. There were 855 cases pending in the two district courts on January 1, 2009. As of Oct. 1, 2009, they have disposed of 565 cases in 2009 (up from 475 at the same time last year), but have 855 cases still pending (down from 866 cases in 2008). (Statistics according to reports submitted to the Texas Office of Court Administration) Kerr County has one Crime Victims Coordinator funded by a federal Victims of Crime Act Grant. The coordinator maintains an office in the courthouse and works with victims referred by all of the law enforcement agencies and the prosecutors' offices. The coordinator has also worked with felony victims in selected felony cases this year in Bandera and Gillespie counties at the request of the prosecutor. Bandera County currently has no CVC and this is the third year for Gillespie County to have a designated person in the county attorney's office who works with misdemeanor victims. Within the county there are 17 public school campuses in five school districts plus several smaller parochial and private schools. Growth in the county's school population is slower because of the demographics of people moving to Kerr County, many of which do not have Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 3 school-age children. School enrollment in the public schools in Kerr County in the fall of 2008 totaled 6,880 students, down a total of 49 students from enrollment in the fall of 2008. The largest school district is Kerrville ISD with an enrollment of 4,895 students, up from 4,808 students in the fall of 2008. The smallest, Divide ISD, began the 2008-2009 school year with 29 students, up from 19 students in the fall of 2008. Ingram ISD enrollment in the fall of 2009 totaled 1,150 students. Center Point ISD reported 618 students enrolled in the fall of 2009 and Hunt ISD reported 188 students in the fall of 2009. All of the Kerr County public .school campuses are rated either "Academically Acceptable" "Recognized" or "Exemplary" by the Texas Education Agency. The latest available (Class of 2007) school dropout rates, according to the TEA website, for Kerrville ISD was 1.3%, Ingram ISD was 2.4% and Center Point ISD was 1.6%. Statewide dropout rates for the Class of 2007 were 3.9%. Kerr County has three hospitals and several retirement, nursing and assisted living facilities. The three hospitals are Peterson Regional Medical Center, the Kerrville' State Hospital and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, a part of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. The City of Kerrville provides countywide Emergency Medical Services (EMS) plus designated fire services on a contract basis with the county. The county has an active First Responder Program that supports the EMS program in the rural areas. A total of 10 rural volunteer fire departments also provide fire and first responder services in various parts of the county. Two emergency service districts (ESDs) in the western part of Kerr County (Ingram and Mountain Home) have been approved and have taxing authority to help support the costs of the respective fire departments. The employment base in Kerr County is based on the growing healthcare industry and businesses that support healthcare services, a mixture of government jobs, retail businesses, service industry jobs, some manufacturing and the construction trades. The county's wage scale is lower than the state average but the unemployment rate is also low, currently at 6% (September 2009). A Workforce Solutions Alamo office and training center is located in Kerrville which draws persons from Kendall, Bandera, Gillespie and Kerr counties. The center provides information and guidance to persons who are looking for work or training to improve themselves in the job market. Both the Christian Women's Job Corps and Christian Men's Job Corps. have active programs in Kerr County helping adults upgrade their job skills, work ethic and prepare them for jobs in the community. Both programs also provide job placement services for their graduates. The Kerrville Independent School District through its Club Ed program provides a wide-ranging variety of community education classes that enhance job skills in many areas in Kerr and several surrounding counties. The vocational nursing program at Schreiner University also provides job training for Hill Country residents. Schreiner will add an R.N. program beginning in the fall of 2010. The Alamo Community College District also recently opened a satellite campus in Kerrville. Several groups in the community are working to identify educational needs of the unemployed and are working to address those needs in the future. There is no significant heavy industry in Kerr County. Several small corporations such as Acrotech Industries and James Avery Craftsmen have larger numbers of employees. Agriculture is still a notable part of the county's economic base but tourism, the summer camping industry and hunting are also significant parts of the economy in the county. Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 4 QuickFacts from U.S. Census Bureau People QuickFacts Kerr County Population, 2008 estimate ..................................................................... .........48,269 Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008 .......................................10.6% Population, 2000 ...........................................................................................43,653 Persons, under 5 years old, percent, 2008 ................................................ ............6.1% Persons, under 18 years old, percent, 2008 ............................................... ..........21.3% Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2008 .....................................................25.8% Female persons, percent, 2008 ............................................................... .........51.9% White persons, percent, 2008 .................................................................. .........95.6% Black persons, percent, 2008 .................................................................. .............2% American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2008 .......................... ...........0.7°/© Asian persons, percent, 2008 .................................................................. ...........0.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2008 .......................................0.0% Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2008 .................................... ..............1 Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2008 ...............................................22.6% White persons, not Hispanic, percent, 2008 .........................................................73.8% Living in same house in 1995 and 2000, pct age 5+, 2000 ......................................51.6% Foreign born persons, percent, 2000 ......................................................... ......... 6.6% Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+, 2000 .............................18.2% High School graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 ............................ .........81.2% Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000 ....................................23.3% Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000 ...................................................... .......10,156 Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+, 2000 ........................... ..........18.3 Housing Units, 2007 .............................................................................. ........21,335 Homeownership rate, 2000 ..................................................................... .........73.3% Housing units in multi-unit structures, percent, 2000 ..................................... 0 ........13.0 /o Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 5 Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2000 ........................... ...............$96,600 Households, 2000 ......................................................................... ................17,813 Persons per household, 2000 .......................................................... ...................2.35 Per capita money income, 1999 .....................................................................$19,767 Median household income, 2007 ...................................................... ..............$42,642 Persons below poverty, percent, 2007 ............................................... ................16.4% Business QuickFacts Kerr Coun Private non-farm establishments, 2006 ...............................................................1,440 Private non-farm employment, 2006 .................................................. ...............15,833 Private non-farm employment, percent change 2000-2006 ..................... .................10.6% Non-employer establishments, 2006 .................................................. .................4,719 Total number of firms, 2002 .............................................................. ................5,186 Manufacturers shipments, 2002 ($1000) ............................................. .............111,136 Retail sales, 2002 ($1000) ............................................................... .............528,960 Retail sales per capita, 2002 ............................................................. .............$11,801 Hispanic-owned firms, percent of total, 2002 ........................................ .................8.4% Women-owned firms, percent of total, 2002 ......................................... ................23.0% Building permits, 2008 ..................................................................... ....................69 Federal spending, 2007 ($1000) ........................................................ .............379,098 Geography QuickFacts Kerr County Land area, 2000 (square miles) .......................................................... ................1,106 Persons per square mile, 2000 .......................................................... .................39.5 FIPS Code .......................................................................................................265 Metropolitan or Miropolitan Statistical Area Kerrville, TX Micro Area Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 6 Community Planning Team In developing this Community Plan, members of the team were divided into four major taskforces for the purpose of narrowing the scope of research and data that are incorporated into the Plan. Some members served in multiple capacities and categories. Community Planning Chair Person: Name A enc Address E-mail Phone Rosa Lavender Kerr Count 700 Main St., BA 107 Kerrville, TX 78028 rlavender co.kerr.tx.us 830-792-2297 Juvenile Services: Name A enc Address E-mail Phone Kerr County Juvenile 700 Main BA 100 Jason Davis, Chair Probation De artment Kerrville, TX 78028 ~davis co.kerr.tx.us 830-896-9013 Kerr County Juvenile 3501 Legion Drive r Kevin Stanton Detention Facilit Kerrville, TX 78028 kstanton@co.kerr.tx.us 830-257-6110 700 Main Pat Tinle Kerr Count Jude Kerrville, TX 78028 ptinley@co.kerr.tx.us 830-792-2211 P.O. Box 290962 Vicki Barron Director K'Star Kerrville, TX 78029 kstar ktc.com 830-896-5437 P.O. Box 291817 Jud Sullivan Hill Count Cares Inc. Kerrville, TX 78029 ~ud sullivan@hccares.com 830-257-7088 P.O. Box 290493 Diane Oehler Hill Count CASA Kerrville, TX 78029 hccasa@ktc.com 830-896-2272 301 Junction Hwy Ste 341 Bill Blackburn Partners in Minist Kerrville, TX 78028 bill artnersinminist .com 830-792-3131 Baptist Child & Family 1105 E. Main Jerem Ta for Services Kerrville, TX 78028 ~erem t bcfs.net 830-896-0993 Victim Services: Name A enc Address E-mail Phone judysullivan aC?,hccares. Jud Sullivan Hill Count Cares Inc P.O. Box 291817 Kerrville, TX 78029 com 830-257-7088 Rosa Lavender Kerr County Victims Services De t. 700 Main BA 107 Kerrville, TX 78028 rlavender co.kerr.tx.us 830-792-2297 Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 7 P.O. Box 290965 Diane Oehler Hill Countr CASA Kerrville, TX 78029 dloehler(a~ktc.corn 830-896-2272 P.O. Box 291722 Crai Hensle Kids' Advocac Place Kerrville, TX 78029 KAP@ktc.com 830-895-4527 Criminal Justice (law enforcement, courts, corrections) Name Agency Address E-mail Phone Jeffrey Wendling, chair Kerrville Police De t. 429 Sidney Baker Kerrville, TX 78028 Jeffrey.wendling@kerrville tx. ov 83Q-739-2704 Bill Hill Kerr County Sheriffs De artment 400 Clearwater Paseo Kerrville, TX 78028 bhill co.kerr.tx.us 830-896-1216 Amos Barton 198th District Attorne 717 Sidney Baker Kerrville, TX 78028 amosb@198da.com 830-257-7575 Brad McCullouch 198th Asst. DA 717 Sidney Baker Kerrville, TX 78028 bradm 198da.com 830257-7575 Rowan Zach Ingram City Marshal's De artment 226 Hwy 39 In ram, TX 78025 rzachry@in ramtx.com 830'367-2636 429 Sidney Baker Mary.krebsCa~kerrvilletx. Ma Krebs Kerrville Police De t. Kerrville, TX 78028 gov 830-257-8181 Mental Health, Health and Family Issues Name Agenc Address E-mail Phone 309 Earl Garrett Diane Oehler, chair Hill Count CASA Kerrville, TX 78028 doehler@ktc.com 830-896-2272 Kaeli Dressler Peterson Regional Medical Center 551 Hill Country Dr Kerrville, TX 78028 kdressler@petersonrmc. com 830-258-7342 Kace Ra an Peterson Regional Medical Center 551 Hill Country Dr. Kerrville, TX 78028 kra an petersonrmc.com 830-258-7628 Doyle School 110 W. Barnett Me -Scott Johnson Communit Center Kerrville, TX 78028 me dscott@earthlink.net 830-257-0022 Laurie Ga ne Kerrville Independent School District 1009 Barnett Kerrville, TX 78028 Laurie.gagne@kerrvilleisd. net 830257-2200 P.O. Box 290188 Brenda Thom son Kerr Count YMCA Kerrville, TX 78029 Brenda ker mca.or 830-896-8000 Karen Workman Communit member 115 Ball Drive Kerrville, TX 78028 kbworkman@windstream. net 830-895-4523 Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 8 Alamo Area Council of Governments Count Communit Plannin Liaisons Name Agency Address E-mail Phone 8700 Tesoro, Suite 700 Alamo Area Council of San Antonio, Texas Marcela Medina Governments 78217-6228 mmedinaCa~aacog.com 210-362-5250 8700 Tesoro, Suite 700 Alamo Area Council of San Antonio, Texas Veronica Avalos Governments 78217-6228 vavalos(a7aacoq.com 210-362-5290 8700 Tesoro, Suite 700 Alamo Area Council of San Antonio, Texas Dean Danos Governments 78217-6228 ddanos(a~aacog.com 210-362-5208 8700 Tesoro, Suite 700 Alamo Area Council of San Antonio, Texas Nancy Gibbons Governments 78217-6228 ngibbons@aacoq.com 210-362-5242 The Kerr County Community Plan is available on-line at www.aacoq.com Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 9 Identification of Community Problems In each of the areas below, problems are identified and data is included that supports both the existence and severity of the problems as they are found in the County. Below is a discussion of the prioritized problems, data and statistics that explain the manner in which the problems are being reported, and strategically how responses to these community problems could be improved. Juvenile Issues (listed in order of priority, greatest need first) Priority 1: To continue existing services to the increasing number of Kerr County at-risk youth who are referred to the Kerr County Juvenile Probation Department because of truancy issues and other juvenile crimes. Supporting Data: Kerr County courts and the juvenile probation department have been overwhelmed by a sharp increase in truancy cases. During the past 18 months, Kerr County's four justice of the peace courts recorded 259 "failure to attend school" cases. The Kerr County Juvenile Probation Department has estimated that an additional 190 show cause hearings were .held during the same period. Truancy cases for the 2008-2009 school year were 27% greater than those for the preceding year. More alarming is the increase in family contributions to non- attendance. During the first five months of the current school year, Kerr County experienced a 27% increase in truancy cases over the previous year, and a 360% increase in the number of cases filed against parents for contributing to school nonattendance. For 2008, the recidivism rate for adjudicated juvenile offenders was 62%. During the past 12 months, Kerr County Juvenile Probation received 332 referrals for delinquent and CINS. There were 226 unique youth referred, and of these, 140 (62%) had prior referrals (source: Kerr County Juvenile Probation statistical report). Resources for status and first-time offenders are limited, particularly due to federal funding cuts that eliminated the probation department's capacity to provide mental health and drug/alcohol intervention. Supporting data for the rate of mental health problems and substance abuse incidence is from the OJJDP Fact Sheet, published on the World Wide Web, dated January 2, 2001, and titled, "Assessing Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Disorders in Juvenile Detainees." Proposed Objectives: The two objectives for the Youth Averted from Delinquency (YAD) project through the Baptist Child & Family Service program in Kerr County which began in October 2009 are to: 1) Increase the number of truancy cases that are successfully resolved by the youth's return to and completion of school; and 2) Decrease the incidence of recidivism for juvenile offenders. The proposed activities are modeled on the highly-successful KAPS (Kids Averted from Placement Services) program that BCFS Health and Human Services for Bexar County Juvenile Probation; that program has a 96% success rate. To our knowledge, no comparable program to the current BCFS program in Kerr County exists for a rural community. KAPS provides intensive wraparound services by a therapist, case manager, and case aid to adjudicated youth at high risk for institutionalization, along with their families. Because the project includes intense family involvement, youth must have at least on adult caregiver who Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 10 will commit to participation in the project. Activities include assessment and individualized case planning, as well as home-based services. The proposed outcomes for the project are that 85% of truant youth who complete the program will have no further truancy cases or juvenile offenses filed against them, and that 84% of first-time offenders will have no further delin uenc cases filed against them. Priority 2: To create a collaborative effort between the Doyle School Community Center board of directors, City of Kerrville, Kerrville ISD, Schreiner University, Partners in Ministry, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, local foundations and other agencies and non-profit organizations to reestablish the DSCC after school mentoring program for juvenile at-risk students and seek fundin to sustain the operation of the center and its programs in the future. Supporting Data: Prior to closure at the end of the 2008-2009 school year because of staffing and financial problems, the DSCC served between 40 and 50 children in their after school mentoring program every day. The children were primarily Black and Hispanic/low income children who live in the immediate area around the center. The center is located in a low income, high crime neighborhood. Having a safe, nurturing place for children to go after school is a major priority of parents in the area who have to work until 5 or 6 p.m. and who cannot afford to pay for after school da care offered by other agencies. Proposed Objectives: The board of the Doyle School Community Center will be re-organized with new members and a new focus. A coordinated plan for the use of the facility will be developed and short- term funding sought with the goal of re-opening the center's mentoring program in January 2010. The long-range objective will be to secure a new director for the center, upgrade the physical plant itself and establish a financial plan to assure funding availability in the future to keep the center open and providing the much needed services to the community. Other programs that support the needs of the community will be added when funding is available such as daytime senior-care, vocational training programs, and the availability of the cen#er for community events that strengthen the families in the area. The building, once the all-Black schaol in Kerrville, has great historic importance and can become a magnet of change in the future in a nei hborhood that needs so much help. Identify all trends, problems, and gaps in resources not mentioned in this section: The loss of federal funds to county juvenile probation departments in the State of Texas resulted in the Kerr County Juvenile Probation Department losing approximately 10% of its annual revenue. This combined with significant increases in referrals created a gap in the services available to at risk youth. Deficits in housing of youth programs remain a growing concern. Many locations that once allowed local agencies to provide services are not longer an option. While youth agencies may have limited programs in place for at risk youth, there exists few locations capable to conduct these activities. As juvenile criminal referrals increase, efforts to provide alternatives to detention and prosecution become increasingly significant. Early intervention programs appear to be the greatest hope in diverting youth from delinquent conduct. Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 11 Identify Achievements: The implementation on Oct 1, 2009, of the Youth Averted from Delinquency (YAD) project through the Baptist Child & Family Services program in Kerr County creates hope among those people who are involved in dealing with juvenile offenders that the rates of truancy and other criminal behaviors of adolescents in our community will be reduced. We feel getting the program going is a huge achievement and look forward to the positive results it will bring to our community. The Doyle School Community Center mentoring program has been a great success in years past and we are confident that the reorganization of the program will provide the services needed to provide the academic support and role modeling needed for that group of at-risk youth in the community. Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 12 Victim Issues (listed in order of priority, greatest need first) Priority 1: Continue to provide crime victims with information and services to aid in the recovery from the crime and trauma-related effects of victimization, with special emphasis in rural locations. Proposed Objectives: 1. To continue existing services for victims through the county's Victims Services Department, Peterson Regional Medical Center, Hill Country Cares, Kids' Advocacy Place, K'Star, Hill Country CASA, Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services '' and other private or religious based service organizations, including information, referral, personal and legal advocacy, counseling, emergency shelter and support. 2. To implement special outreach programs for rural residents and, if possible, address'the transportation needs of residents to receive services offered. 3. To accelerate prevention activities based on the Center for Disease Control guidelines for primary prevention (of intimate partner violence and sexual violence) initiatives in sexual assault, and Texas-based research on family violence programs. 4. To engage in community-wide initiatives for child abuse/neglect prevention. 5. To develop prevention programs for elder abuse/neglect/exploitation. Supporting Data: Number of crimes against children, (child abuse and neglect), have continued to rise in recent years. Hill Country CASA served 195 children in 99 Kerr County cases up from 182 children in 87 cases in FY 2007. Kids' Advocacy Place also saw an increase in numbers reporting 364 victims were served, with 208 forensic interviews of children and 151 non offending family members receiving referrals, crisis counseling, etc. K'Star housed 46 Kerr County children for a total of 709 days in 2008 and provided non-residential counseling services for 229 children for 1135 hours in Kerr County in 2007. Child Protective Services confirmed 151 cases of child abuse/neglect, out of 312 allegations of child abuse/neglect made in 2008. The Kerr County Victims Services Department provided services for 23 victims of child sexual assault or indecency with a child in 2008 and three victims of child abuse. Priority 2: Address increasing problem of child abuse in Kerr County with the goal to reduce incidence of abuse through prevention activities, to provide more intervention for child victims and their families where abuse or neglect has occurred, and to provide services to at risk families for more famil reservation and fewer child removals. Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 13 Supporting Data: Number of crimes against children, (child abuse and neglect), have continued to rise in recent years. Hill Country CASA served 195 children in 99 Kerr County cases up from 182 children in 87 cases in FY 2007. Kids' Advocacy Place also saw an increase in numbers reporting 364 victims were served, with 208 forensic interviews of children and 151 non offending family members receiving referrals, crisis counseling, etc. K'Star housed 46 Kerr County children for a total of 709 days in 2008 and provided non-residential counseling services for 229 children for 1135 hours in Kerr County in 2007. Child Protective Services confirmed 151 cases of child abuse/neglect, out of 312 allegations of child abuse/neglect made in 2008. The Kerr County Victims Services Department provided services for 23 victims of child sexual assault or indecency with a child in 2008 and three victims of child abuse. Proposed Objectives: 1. Target awareness campaigns to the causes/factors identified. 2. Identify model programs and foster/encourage local development of such programs to support families at risk 3. Encourage non-profit organizations to engage in cooperative ventures to most efficiently provide prevention and intervention services. Priority 3: Training for law enforcement, judicial and victims' service providers. Improved coordination of services for faster more effective response to crime victims. Supporting Data: Ongoing training is justified for multiple reasons: 1. Our small, rural law enforcement agencies experience turnover as many seasoned officers are attracted to higher salaries elsewhere or retire, and thus, continual training is required for new staff; 2. The ability to prosecute perpetrators and assist victims depends on first having more complete data collection in incident reports and such improved collection can occur with more training; and 3. Victim services providers and their partners in the criminal justice system (CJS) report inconsistent responses to crime victims within and across agencies. Improved coordination is needed to address these issues that result in delays in services to victims. The delay often frustrates victims and can put them further at risk. Also, a delay in prosecuting increases the chances victims and other significant parties will move. Once contact is lost, prosecution is stymied, which not only wastes time and resources on the case, but also raises the possibility that those who would have been prosecuted are free to offend more victims in the future. Proposed Objectives: 1. More training initiatives with assistance from AACOG. 2. Establish an interagency task force to meet monthly to coordinate criminal justice system and service provider activities in domestic violence and sexual assault cases. Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 14 Priority 4: Seek a solution to address the lack of housing alternatives for victims of intimate violence who feel they have no choice but to return to the abusive living environment where they may be at risk for re-victimization. Supporting Data: Kerr County had 51 families living in federally subsidized rental housing units in November 2009 (according to AACOG's housing office), with long waiting lists and narrow eligibility criteria (disability, age, income) Hill Country CARES reports that residents in the emergency shelter often have no safe alternative to returning to the abuser or becoming homeless. (National statistics show that 50% of all homeless women and women with dependant' children in their custody are homeless due to domestic violence.) Proposed Objectives: 1. Develop a transitional housing program for crime victims where the lack of alternate housing options exposes them to additional risks for re-victimization. 2. Couple the transitional housing with a case management program to better ensure the successful reintegration of such client/victims into independent living. Priority 5: Increase support services designed specifically for the Kerr County senior and disabled populations who are at high risk for crime victimization. Supporting Data: As a popular retirement destination, Kerr County has experienced growth in senior population--from 12,175 in 2007, to 12,453 in 2008 (a 1.5% annual growth and almost 12% since 2000)--and these seniors are largely imports to the area, lacking the family and social supports which can help prevent problems of senior abuse, neglect and self neglect, as well as early intervention and assistance following crime victimization. Similarly, the population (between 18 and 64 years of age) with a disability has continued to rise. Of particular concern are persons disabled by serious and persistent psychiatric and/or substance abuse disorders. Proposed Objectives: 1. Increase awareness of risk factors and prevention activities. 2. Coordinate planning and service delivery with Alamo Area Council on Aging and the Hill Country Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center. 3. Develop a social drop-in center for adults with serious and persistent mental illness, with daily availability to and support services for eligible participants. Identify all trends, problems, and gaps in resources not mentioned in this section: The important trends for Kerr County include overall population growth; the growth in crime victimization, especially family violence, sexual assault and abuse crimes against women and children; the growth in the senior population and in the population of adults with disabilities under 65. Primary problems include insufficient funding to fully address these Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 15 crime victim needs, which is exacerbated by the fact that rural service delivery can be considerably more expensive compared to metropolitan areas; insufficient resources to implement effective prevention programs, including funds to engage research on causes and effective prevention strategies; insufficient coordination among service providers and between service providers and the criminal justice system; and limited affordable housing/subsidized housing offering crime victims (primarily adult women and their dependent children) housing options safe from violence and abuse. Emergency shelter for crime victims is restricted to specific populations and limited in scope; transitional housing and permanent supportive housing is needed for at risk populations to avoid new victimizations; Kerr County lacks lead agency/organizations for key issues: homelessness, child abuse prevention, elder abuse/neglect prevention, elder abuse/neglect intervention, abuse/neglect of disabled populations, leading to less efficient services delivery; more clinical services are needed to address the trauma-related effects of crime victimization. Identify Achievements: Hill Country Cares has expanded the child focused prevention efforts through program implementation in area schools. They have hired staff specifically for primary prevention activities. These programs have expanded into five of the rural school districts in their service area. HCC has also expanded their program for seniors to include all four counties served. A large variety of topics are taught to seniors include but are not limited to Alzheimer's support groups, diabetes, sexual assault, cancer victims and domestic violence groups. Alsa, HCC facilitates training programs for law enforcement, EMS, and fire departments in the .above areas. The Kerr County Victim's Rights Coordinator helped 55 county victims file claims for the Texas Crime Victims Compensation Fund which provided $269,301 in benefits in 2008 which allowed medical providers to be paid, several victims to relocate to a safer location and provided counseling for victims of violent crime. Help with CVC applications were also provided for several out-of-county victims who sought help from the Victim Services Department. Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 16 Criminal Justice Issues (law enforcement, courts, corrections) (listed in order of priority, greatest need first) Priority 1: Enhance Technology-Based Support Systems available to area Law Enforcement, Prosecutors and Courts. Supporting Data: The Nine area law enforcement agencies, two judicial districts, and eight courts are perpetually updating and/or seeking new tools based on technology advancements. The use of personal computers, cell phones and digital devices to communicate and conduct business has become commonplace among criminals, and, Kerr County has no digital forensic capabilities to collect evidence from these devices. Computers submitted to State or Federal labs for analysis regularly take 6-12 months to be processed. Area law enforcement investigated eighty-eight crimes last calendar year in which computers or cell phones were used in the commission of the crime or contained evidence of the crime. Software for Computer Aided Dispatch, Reports Management system and similar areas is continually changing and being updated. Presently, the Sheriff's Office and Constables lack computer capability in their vehicles to receive sensitive and necessary information'. They also lack the ability to exchange data through in-car computers with local and regional law enforcement agencies. The Sheriff's Office, Constables and the Ingram City Marshal's Office, all lack the in-car computer capability to access NCIC and TCIC through the Omnix system managed by the Texas Department of Public Safety. At present, no Kerr County Law Enforcement agency possesses the ability to compare crime scene fingerprints in an AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System). Currently all lifted prints are sent to DPS in Austin to be run through their AFIS for possible matches, often resulting in unnecessary delays in an investigation. DPS has not historically and is only recently beginning to accept fingerprints on Class C arrests, meaning a significant portion of locally arrested offenders do not have fingerprints on file with DPS. Kerr County law enforcement needs a local AFIS system that will electronically export offender fingerprints to DPS as well as compare prints to a regional database built on five years of print submissions to DPS. Crime scene prints could then be scanned and checked against regional offenders for possible matches before having to be sent to DPS, thus cutting down the time to identify and arrest an offender.. This enhancement needs to include agencies in the counties contiguous to Kerr and take advantage of other print databases as they develop. The Police Department does not have any ability to enhance surveillance video, a challenge faced daily, collected from complainant individuals and businesses as it relate to crimes such as thefts or assaults. This challenge is compounded by the many different surveillance systems and platforms used by individuals and businesses. Last year, the Police Department had 720 cases involving thefts, from which 430 surveillance videos were recovered as evidence. Five separate video systems, each using different software, rendered efforts to enhance the content futile. Prosecutors and courts lack case management software; and they lack software and hardware to digitize case reports and supporting attachments such as audio statements and videos. Technology must be used to increase efficiency given that workloads are increasing yet budgets are not expanding to provide additional workforce. County law enforcement lacks modern tools to monitor traffic to detect stolen vehicles and wanted subjects. Every year tens-of-thousands of vehicles travel Interstate 10, US 87, and other highways in Kerr County. In Kerrville alone, State Highway 16 has a daily traffic count Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 17 of 35,000 vehicles. The deployment of newly designed computer aided camera systems that read license plates at speed would greatly enhance the agencies' enforcement capability. Proposed Objectives: 1. Secure funding to acquire two (2) Forensic Recovery of Evidence Devices, and, associated equipment and software. Simultaneously, obtain training, certification, and funding for two commissioned investigators in the use of the technology. 2. Secure funding to purchase the equipment to create a countywide computer information sharing system, including mobile data terminals for all law enforcement agencies in Kerr County. This would include the access to shared data bases and OMNIX. 3. Secure funding to purchase a local AFIS system at the Kerr County Sheriff's Office with satellite terminals at the Kerrville Police Department and the agencies in the contiguous counties to Kerr that are within the COG. 4. Secure funding to acquire necessary hardware and software to process the various surveillance videos recovered from crime events. 5. Identify and secure funding to acquire the software and hardware to make techinology improvements for our courts and prosecutors. 6. Secure funding a procure computer aided camera systems to be deployed by county law enforcement agencies to detect stolen vehicles and wanted subjects. Priority 2: Provide more agency training for law enforcement to meet mandate and specialized training. Supporting- Data: A well-trained better educated officer will not only better serve the public but will also enjoy a safer career in law enforcement. Because we are a rural community, training opportunities are limited and some local agencies cannot afford to send their officers across the state to attend courses. Support of local instruction is key to officer education and officer safety. Proposed Objectives: Offer more training opportunities through the Alamo Area Council of Government's existing training program, or other accredited training programs specifically for drug and gang awareness, School Resource Officer courses, crime prevention education, critical incident response, cyber crime, and digital forensics. Identify all trends, problems, and gaps in resources not mentioned in this section: Kerr County and the cities of Kerrville and Ingram continue to grow in population. This growth increases calls for service by the Police, Marshals and Sheriffs Departments; Firs; EMS; adult and juvenile courts, prosecutors; and, all other areas of our judicial/public safety system. Enhanced criminal justice information integration and sharing systems are essential to improving the quality and effectiveness of local, county and state agencies. Agencies not having access to critical information in the most comprehensive ways can create a potentially ineffective, even dangerous situation. Jurisdictions with full integrated information sharin systems can dramatically expand Kerr county Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 18 their ability to make informed more timely decisions; more effectively pursue criminal investigations, and prosecute criminal activity. To achieve this goal, modern technology must be leverage, updated, replaced, and enhanced on a routine basis. Identify Achievements: Criminal Justice agencies in Kerr County pride themselves on establishing trust and ensuring security regarding information shared between agencies. Kerr county law enforcement/judicial/public safety agencies continue to provide excellent service response to the community despite the lack of additional funding, personnel, technology enhancements and services to meet the growing demand. Homeland Security Issues Priority 1: The purchase of reliable interoperable communications equipment to include vehicle, handheld radios and mobile-data terminals to allow different emergency service agencies involved in a critical incident to communicate and share information effectively with each other. Supporting Data: After each critical incident in recent history, the most glaring indication of success or failure by various emergency service agencies has been their ability to effectively communicate with each other. If an agency waits until a critical incident occurs to consider how it will manage voice and data communications during that time; odds of failure are greatly magnified. Emergency service agencies, specifically public safety are mandated by the State of Texas to achieve narrow banding and interoperable communications by January 1, 2013. By January 1, 2015, the State and Federal governments will mandate the migration to a P25 Standards Based communications svstem. Proposed Objectives: 1. Secure funding to purchase equipment for all local emergency service agencies to achieve the goal of narrow banding by the end of 2012; and over the next several years. 2. To upgrade these agencies to P-25 standards-based equipment. 3. Establish a law enforcement information sharing program to create relationships and techniques for sharing the information securely across jurisdictional boundaries. Priority 2: To establish a countywide computer data based system for all law enforcement agencies in the Kerr County area, to give the agencies the ability to seamlessly share information via a common com uter system Supporting Data: At present, a fully integrated information sharing system does not exist between the county's criminal justice agencies. In 2009, the Kerrville Police Department employed 53 r~err county Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 19 commissioned officers; the Kerr County Sheriff's Department employed 45 commissioned officers; and the Ingram City Marshal's Office had 10 commissioned officers. The 2009 Uniform Crime Report showed the three agencies investigated 1280 cases in 2008 when UCR crimes were alleged but, the UCR does not reflect misdemeanor assault cases and family violence cases. The UCR does not differentiate sexual assault from aggravated sexual assault and indecency with a child. There is also no category in the UCR for injury to a child statistics. With an integrated system, we would be able to receive and exchange information accurately and in a timely manner across jurisdictional boundaries regarding these crimes and cases and to systematically improve the investigation and prosecution of criminal activity. Proposed Objectives: 1. Secure funding to purchase the equipment to create a countywide computer information system, including mobile-data terminals for all law enforcement agencies in Kerr County. 2. Make use of new resources to search, investigate, and exchange information across law enforcement jurisdictions. 3. Establish a law enforcement information sharing program to create relationships and techniques for sharing the information securely across jurisdictional boundaries. 4. To harness the power of new #echnological innovations and eliminate barriers to information sharina. Identify all trends, problems, and gaps in resources not mentioned in this section: The population in Kerr County and the cities of Kerrville and Ingram continues to grow. With this growth comes increased needs for emergency services. Enhanced criminal justice information integration and sharing systems are essential to improving the quality and effectiveness of local, county and state agencies. Agencies not having access can create a potentially ineffective, even dangerous situation. Jurisdictions with fully integrated information systems can dramatically expand their ability to make better-informed timelier decisions; more effectively pursue criminal investigations, and prosecute criminal activity. At present there is no repository were agencies are able to contribute and share law enforcement information with any other agency. Identify Achievements: Criminal Justice agencies in Kerr County pride themselves on establishing trust and ensuring security regarding information shared between agencies. Despite the barriers to information sharing between agencies, the Kerrville community continues to receive excellent service response from all law enforcement, judicial and public safety agencies. Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 20 Mental Health, Health and Family Issues Priority 1: Raise community awareness regarding the shortage of Primary Care Physicians in the area. Supporting Data: The medical professionals in Kerr County serve a percentage of the residents of 6 surrounding counties in addition to Kerr County: • Four of these counties are designated as Medically Underserved Areas. • One county is designated as a Whole County Health Professional Shortage Area (NPSA), and one is a partial HPSA. Many physicians practices are full: • The area PHO physician hotline currently reports that only two Internal Medicine and one Family Practice Physician in the community are accepting new patients. This information is updated quarterly. • Some physicians are forced to limit the types of patients they can accept, in order to prevent one payer type from becoming too large a percentage of their practice. • In the last 12 months, several primary care physicians have closed their practices, for various reasons (death, retirement, moved from the area). Community residents who are unable to find an accepting physician are forced to travel 30-60 minutes to neighboring counties/towns to seek primary health care. These physicians do not have privileges at Peterson Regional Medical Center (PRMC). Therefore, if acute health care services are required, Kerr county community residents must be hospitalized away from home. Their families must drive back and forth to out-of-town hospitals for the duration of the hospitalization. Likewise, pregnant residents who are not established with a local obstetrician are forced to travel to neighboring communities to see an obstetrician for prenatal care. These obstetricians do not have privileges at Peterson Regional Medical Center. Therefore, when the woman delivers, she and her family must travel 30-60 minutes from home for the delivery. Proposed Objectives: Develop acommunity-wide plan to recruit, incentivize and retain primary care physicians and other specialists. Priority 2 : Improve access to crisis mental health treatment and crisis substance abuse treatment in Kerr County for unfunded, underfunded, uninsured, and underinsured residents. (Detox facility, jail diversion program, psychiatrist on staff at hospital and more eligibility under the State of Texas' criteria for treatment in community MH centers ) Supporting Data: Kerr County had an excellent Regional Medical Center with active emergency medicine facilities. That ER sees many individuals who present with some type of mental health issue, substance abuse issue or combination of the two. There is one psychiatrist on contract with the hospital and that doctor has expressed concerns about effectively interfacing with law enforcement and MH workers given the current state protocol. The hospital has no dedicated psychiatric beds and no detox unit and looks to the local Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 21 MHMR authority and to law enforcement for assistance in these areas. Kerr County has a large community mental health clinic that is governed by Hill County MHMR; that mental health authority is a governmental nonprofit agency that administers mental health services in a 19 county catchment area. The Kerr County Mental Health Center employs a staff of 20 including 3 part time psychiatrists and serves over 550 clients. Hill Country MHMR has recently opened a 16-bed Crisis Stabilization Unit on the grounds of the Kerrville State Hospital to serve individuals from the 19 county catchment area who are in immediate crisis. The services that Hill Country MHMR can provide are limited by state policy. In the state of Texas, individuals with diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Major Depression are eligible for community mental health services. That limited eligibility means that many individuals with mental health needs (anxiety disorders, PTSD, OCD, etc.) are unserved. The local MH center and the Crisis Stabilization Unit are not equipped or able to provide detox care to individuals who have mental health treatment needs until the individual is sober. Hill Country MHMR offers out-patient substance abuse treatment for adults and in-patient treatment for adolescents after detox. Kerr County has excellent law enforcement and a large and well run jail facility. There is no detox unit and no psychiatric unit in the jail. There is a documented need for a jail diversion program to assist law enforcement, mental health providers and the hospital deal with the issue of incarceration, transportation and court time regarding individuals who are mentally ill and acting in ways that are disruptive to the community. All three of these service providers, the hospital, MHMR and law enforcement have unmet needs and all three are restricted by fundina. I Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 22 Resources Available Included below are resources identified by the County Community Planning Team that are available to provide services that could potentially help in closing gaps: Alamo Area Council of Governments r-~uw C~~. o ~ uu i esoro unve, Suite 700 San Antonio, Texas 78217-6228 (210) 362-5200 Counties Served: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, and Wilson Services: AACOG has active programs for regional planning in the areas of a in services, economic development, 9-1-1 systems, homeland security, criminal 'ustice, resource recovery, air quali~, transportation, and weatherization. We also administer the Bexar Mental Retardation Authority. Technical assistance is provided by the s#aff to local governments on matters related to a number of other program areas, including census, housing, tourism, and human services. In addition, AACOG sponsors special projects in response to local government needs or requests. Hours: Monday -Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Kerr County Juvenile Probation Department Address: 700 Main BA 100 Kerrville, Texas 78028 (830) 896-9013 Counties Served: Kerr County Services: Provides supervision for juveniles who have become involved in the juvenile justice system. Provides counseling, life skills classes and monitors students on the various school campuses around the county Eligibility: Youths between the ages of 10 and 17 years Hours: Office: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Probation officers available 24/7, contact through law enforcement. Kerr County Juvenile Detention Facility Haaress: ~5u~ t_egion Drive Kerrville, Texas 78028 (830) 257-6110 Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 23 Counties Served: Kerr County and on contract basis to other counties in Texas Services: Short-term residential housing, education services, behavior modification Eligibility: Youth who have been identified by faw enforcement as juveniles in need of supervision or court-ordered to be detained Hours: Office: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Facility open 24/7 BCFS Health and Human Services Address: 1105 E. Main Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-0993 (830) 896-1071 fax Counties Served: Kerr, Gillespie, Kendall, Medina, Bandera, Bexar Services: Transition Services to foster youth and young adults ages 15-24 Juvenile Justice Rehabilitation and prevention program ages 10-17 Transitional Living Apartments for foster youth and young adults ages 18-25 Green & Clean Services-small business and job training program ages 18-25 Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Young Life r~ucares5: t'.V. tSOX 1110 Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-7565 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Christian youth program for area juveniles Hours: Vary... meetings in evenings but activities at other times Kerr 4-H Programs Hcacaress: ouu~ San Hntonio Hwy Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 257-6568 Counties Served: Kerr Services: agricultural related activities for area youth, judging teams, shooting sports, annual junior livestock show competition Hours: Office: Monday -Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Meetings in evenings but activities also at Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 24 other times YMCA Kerr County Address: P.O Box 290188 Kerrville, TX 78029-0188 (830) 986-8000 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Child Care (18 mos.- 5 years) at 1220 Jefferson Street After School Child Care and Day Camps (Kinder through 5th grade) Youth Sports Programs (ages 4-18) Hours: Admin Office: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Pre-School: Monday-Friday 6:15 a.m. to 5: 30 p.m. After School Day Camps 7:30 - 5:30 based on holiday schedule Youth Sports Programs -most games played on Saturdays Hill Country Crisis Council, Inc. dba Hill Country Cares Address: P.O. Box 291817 Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 257-7088 Counties Served: Kerr, Kendall, Bandera, Gillespie Services: Crisis Intervention (Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Child Abuse, Elder Abuse) and Prevention, Emergency Shelter, Kids' Advocacy Place Hours: Office: 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday -Friday Shelter and crisis intervention services available 24/7 Hill Country Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) rluuress: r.V. CiOX 1yU4y3 Kerrville, TX 78029-0493 (830) 896-2272 Counties Served: Kerr, Kendall, Bandera and Gillespie Services: Legal advocacy for children Hours: Office 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday -Friday K'Star r,uuiCS,. r. V. tsOX LJUybL Kerrville, TX 78029-0962 (830) 896-5437 Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................ Page 25 Counties Served: Kerr, Bandera, Kendall, Kimble, Mason, Menard, Edwards, Medina, Uvalde, Real, Gillespie, Burnet, Blanco, Llano Services: Emergency children's shelter Hours: Office 8:00 am to 5 p.m. Monday -Friday. Shelter services available 24/7 Kerr County Victim Services Department r+caaress: ~uu Main tiH 1U7 Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 792-2297 Emergency: (830) 329-6402 Counties Served: Kerr, felony victims in Bandera & Gillespie, anyone seeking services from other counties in this area Services: Crisis intervention, help with completing Texas Crime Victim Compensation applications, help with relocation, referrals to counseling, court advocacy and help with completing and delivering victim impact statements Hours: Office 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Emergency after hours, if needed. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program hucaress: oo-i r-iui Lountry Dr Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 258-6464 (Peterson Regional Medical Center) Counties Served: Kerr and surrounding counties Services: Forensic sexual assault examinations for adult and child victims Hours: As needed Kerr County Sheriff s Department hcaaress: 4uu c;learwater Paseo Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-1216 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Law enforcement, jail Hours: Office: 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Criminal investigations, patrol and Kerr County Jail 24/7 Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 26 Kerrville Police Department Address: 429 Sidney Baker Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 257-8181 Counties Served: Kerr (City of Kerrville) Services: Law enforcement Hours: Office: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday Criminal investigations and patrol 24/7 Ingram City Marshal's Department .,uuiCaS. ~~n hwy sy Ingram, TX 78025 (830) 367-2636 Counties Served: Kerr (City of Ingram) Services: Law enforcement Hours: Office: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday Criminal investigations and patrol 24/7 Texas Department of Public Safety Address: 311 Sidney Baker South Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 258-5700 Highway Patrol (830) 258-5750 Driver License (830) 258-5711 Vehicle Inspection (830) 258-5640 Narcotics (830) 258-5731 Auto Theft (830) 258-5724 Criminal Investigation (830) 258-5720 Texas Ranger Counties Served: Kerr, Kendall, Kimble Services: Law Enforcement, Driver License Renewal, Investigation of Criminal Activities, Traffic Enforcement, and Accident Investigation. Hours: Office 8:00 a.m. to 5: 00 p.m. Monday through Friday Patrol 24/7 Kerr County Court at Law Address: 700 Main Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 792-2207 Counties Served: Kerr Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................ Page 27 Services: Adjudicates Class A & Class B Misdemeanor cases and handles appeals from justice of the peace courts Hours:8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Address: 700 Main Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 792-2230 Counties Served: Kerr, primarily residents of Precinct 1 Services: Handles Class C Misdemeanors, small claims court, evictions Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 Friday Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Address: 400 Clearwater Paseo Ste 103 Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 792-6444 Counties Served: Kerr, primarily residents of Precinct 2 Services: Handles Class C Misdemeanors, small claims court, evictions Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 Address: 700 Main Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 792-2233 Counties Served: Kerr, primarily residents of Precinct 3 Services: Handles Class C Misdemeanors, small claims court, evictions Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Address: 3324A Junction Hwy Ingram, TX 78025 (830) 367-2245 Counties Served: Kerr, primarily residents of Precinct 4 Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................ Page 28 Services: Handles Class C Misdemeanors, small claims court, evictions Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday 198th District Court Address: District Attorney Amos Barton 717 Sidney Baker Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 895-4480 Counties Served: Kerr, Kimble, Mason, Menard and McCulloch Services: Prosecution of felony crimes Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday 216th Judicial District Address: District Attorney Bruce Curry 521 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-4744 Counties Served: Kerr, Gillespie, Kendall, Bandera Services: Prosecution of felony crimes Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Kerr County Jail Address. 400 Clearwater Paseo Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-1257 Counties Served: Kerr and contract basis with other counties Services: Corrections facility for adults Hours: Open 24/7 Any Baby Can Address: 624 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 792-4222 Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 29 Counties Served: Kerr and surrounding counties Services: Intervention with families of children born with physical or emotional disablities Hours: Office: 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Hill Country Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse Address: 102 Business Drive Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-8884 Counties Served: Kerr and surrounding Hill Country counties Services: Intervention and treatment of persons with substance abuse issues and mental health related issues Hours: Office hours Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Specialized group activities in evenings. La Hacienda Treatment Center Address: P.O. Box 1 (145 La Hacienda Way) Hunt, TX 78024 (830) 238-4222 Counties Served: Kerr, statewide referrals and some out-of-state Services: Substance abuse treatment, privately owned and funded Hours: Office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays Services 24/7 Starlight Treatment Center Address: P.O. Box 317 Center Point, TX 78010 (830) 634-2212 Counties Served: Kerr, referrals from other counties Services: Substance abuse treatment, privately owned and funded Hours: Office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Services 24/7 Villa Del Sol Address: 520 Witt Rd. Center Point, TX 78010 (830) 634-3370 Counties Served: Kerr, referrals from other counties Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 30 Services: Substance abuse treatment for juveniles Hours: Office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Services 24/7 Kerrville State Hospital Address: 721 Thompson Dr. Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-2211 Counties Served: Statewide Services: Long term hospital care for individuals who are mentally ill and have been charged with a crime. Most are transferred from North Texas State Hospital in Vernon after being determined to be not manifestly dangerous. Eligibility: Based on having an appropriate court order from a Texas criminal court with jurisdiction. Hours: Office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Services 24/7 Kerr County Mental Health Center Address: 500 Thompson Dr. Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 257-6553 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Counseling, intervention and monitoring of MHMR clients Hours: Office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays Hill Country MHMR Center Address: 819 Water Street Ste 300 Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-0400 Counties Served: Kerr and surrounding counties Services: Caseworkers for MHMR clients Hours: Office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 31 Special Opportunity Center Address: 200 S. Lemos St. Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-4606 Counties Served: Kerr, Bandera, Kendall Services: Services to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities Hours: Office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays Peterson Hospice Address: 1121 Broadway Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 258-7799 Counties Served: Kerr, Gillespie, Kendall, Bandera and Real Services: Hospice services plus bereavement support for both adults and children Hours: Office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays Vista Care Hospice Address: 1001 Water St. Ste B-100 Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 792-6200 Counties Served: Kerr, Kendall, Gillespie, Bandera, Kimble, Mason, Medina, Real Services: Hospice services Hours: Office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays Peterson Regional Medical Center Address: 551 Hill Country Dr Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-4200 Counties Served: Kerr and surrounding counties Services: Medical, surgical, emergency medicine. Adjacent ambulatory care center owned by the hospital provides a variety of out-patient services to clients Hours: Office 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Services available 24R Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 32 Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program Address: 551 Hill Country Dr. Kerrville, Tx 78038 (830) 896-4200 (then page Janeth Del Toro) Counties Served: Kerr, Kendall, Gillespie, Edwards and Real Services: Forensic sexual assault exams for children and adults Hours: As needed, 24/7 Raphael Free Community Clinic Address: 1807 Water St. Kerrville, TX 78028 Counties Served: Kerr & surrounding Services: Clinic services for low income persons who qualify Hours: Mon, Tues & Wed, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed Fridays and weekends Texas Department of Health Address: 819 Water St. Ste 290 Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-5515 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Immunizations, Tuberculosis management & treatment, communicable disease Investigations, including STDs Hours: Monday- Friday 8 a.m. to 12 and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. City of Kerrville EMS Address: 87 Coronado Dr Ste 200 Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 257-5333 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Emergency medical services, first responder training for county Hours: Office 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekdays. EMS services 24/7 Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 33 Kerr County Indigent Health Haaress: 7U0 Main BA 107 Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 792-2239 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Astate-mandated program to assist persons who qualify for the program with health care costs for basic health care needs only on a temporary basis. Eligibility: Determined by residence, household, resources and income. Must be a Kerr. County resident to qualify. Hours: Office 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekdays Christian Assistance Ministry Address: 624 Clay St. Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 257-4222 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Food bank, utility assistance, clothing, prescriptions (limited basis) Hours: Monday -Friday 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Salvation Army Address: 855 Hays St. Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 2573620 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Financial assistance with rent and utilities, prescriptions, limited transportation, food pantry, clothing vouchers, dental services, emergency shelter, men's recovery program, disaster services, soup kitchen available at 5:30 p.m. seven days a week Hours: Office Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Shelter open 5 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. daily New Hope Christian Counseling Center Hddress: 616 Barnett Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 257-3009 Counties Served: Kerr Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 34 Services: Counseling and crisis management Hours: Office 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays Partners in Ministry Address: 301 Junction Hwy. Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 792-3131 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Focus on children, youth and those in poverty. Provide mentoring through the schools, provide mentoring for mothers of newborns, and work with troubled youth. Also coordinate a coalition to identify and build on the assets of the youth in Kerr County. Coordinate efforts of seven agencies who help families in financial crisis. Two teams do home repairs for the elderly and disabled. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Habitat for Humanity- Kerr County Address: P.O. Box 292104 (mailing) Kerrville, TX 78029 Office: 550 Earl Garrett, Ste 210 (830) 792-4844 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Partners with qualified families and community volunteers to build decent, affordable housing for lower income families. Houses are sold to the families with interest free mortgages. Eligibility: Must be at or below 60% of area family median income and currently living in overcrowded or substandard living conditions. Must have lived in Kerr Counter at least one year before applying and provide verification of employment and rental history, and be willing to partner with Habitat by providing "sweat equity hours." Hours: Office Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Families & Literacy Inc. Address: 1006 C Junction Hwy Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-8787 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Adult Education Classes: GED Preparation, English as a Second Language, Personal Finance, Citizenship, Parenting and GED Test Registration Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 35 Hours: Office: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Class times vary: Morning and Evening usually four hours per week Christian Women's Job Corps Address: 1140 Broadway Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 895-3660 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Job skills, life skills and employment support (12-week program...fall and spring) Eligibility: Women who meet criteria such as age, education, financial need Hours: Office 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday Christian Men's Job Corps Address: 301 Junction Hwy Ste 333-A Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 257-2545 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Job training, life skills, faith-based activities Eligibility: age and education Hours: Evening classes Tues, Wed and Thurs 5:30 p.m. -9:30 p.m. Kerr County Child Services Board Address: 700 Main Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 792-2211 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Oversee and manage donated funds for the use on children under the care of Child Protective Services in Kerr County. Funds cover expenses not provided for by state or other funding such as eyeglasses, doctor bills, sports program physicals, orthodontic work, school supplies, birthday and Christmas gifts. Oversees the Rainbow room, a clothes closet where CPS caseworkers can get clothing, diapers, toiletries and other essentials children need after they are removed from home with nothing but the clothes on their back. Hours: As needed Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 36 Art2Heart Address: 623 Myrta Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 459-4590 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Children's fine arts program Hours: After school program/hours vary Dietert Center Aaaress: 451 Guadalupe St. Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 792-4044 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Senior Nutrition (Meals on Wheels and congregate dining, Recreational/Educational Activities and Independent Living. Services provided through the Independent Living Program include Dietert PAL Emergency Response devices; "Take Five Club" caregiver respite; a caregiver resource library; loan of medical equipment; reassurance calls and information and referral to area resources. Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; some evenings and weekends, depending on activities scheduled Doyle School Community Center Address: 110 West Barnett Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 257-4446 Counties Served: Kerr Services: After school mentoring program for at-risk students, senior citizen activities during the day Hours: Currently the center is closed but hopes to reopen in January 2010 Texas Department of Family 8~ Protective Services Address: 819 Water St. Ste. 204 Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 792-4303 Counties Served: Kerr, Gillespie, Bandera, Uvalde and Real Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 37 Services: Legal services, family-based safety services and investigations of child abuse or neglect Hours: Office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Haaress: 516 Sidney Baker Kerrville, TX 78028 (830)257-7556 Counties Served: Kerr, Gillespie, Bandera Services: Adults with disabilities who can go back to work, if assisted. Assist persons who are physically, mentally or hearing-impaired. Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Workforce Solutions Alamo Haaress: ~ ~UU Sidney Baker Ste 500 Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 257-3171 Counties Served: Kerr, Kendall, Bandera & Gillespie Services: Job seekers employment or searches, help individuals apply for unemployment insurance and people on public assistance with job searches or training programs. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid Inc. Address: 1111 North Main Ave San Antonio, TX 78212 (210) 212 3700 or (800) 369-0489 Hotline: intakes only 888-988-9996 Counties Served: Kerr, Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Medina and Wilson Services: Routine family law counseling to complex litigation in state and federal courts, from the local Justice of the Peace to the United States Supreme Court. There are three dozen different practice areas in which TRLA attorneys specialize, including community economic development, federal taxation, colonias and real estate, civil rights, environmental justice, low-wage workers, displaced workers, workers compensation, public benefits, disaster assistance, federal subsidized housing, mortgage foreclosure, bankruptcy, wills and estates, torts and genetal civil litigation, border issues, immigration, human trafficking, international child Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 38 abduction, elder law, children's rights and foster youth. Eligibility: Clients who are eligible for TRLA's services must generally be at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; at or below 187.5% of those guidelines if the case is eligible under Crime Victims Compensation funding; or at or below 200% of guidelines if the applicant or household member has one of the following factors: limited income prospects or seasonal variations in income; fixed debts or obligations; unreimbursed medical expenses, including medical insurance premiums; expenses such as dependent care, transportation, or equipment necessary for employment, job training, or educational activities in preparation for employment; non-medical expenses with age or disability; responsibility for paying current taxes. The 200% guidelines also apply if (a) the applicant is seeking legal assistance to obtain benefits provided by a government program for low-income individuals or families; or (b) if the applicant is seeking legal assistance to obtain or maintain governmental benefits for persons with disabilities. In addition, if the applicant meets the appropriate asset ceiling (or the asset ceiling is waived) and the income of the applicant's household is above the 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, the applicant is financially eligible for LSC-funded legal assistance if: the applicant is seeking legal assistance to maintain benefits provided by a governmental program for low-income individuals or families; or TRLA's executive director or designee has determined that the income of the applicant's household is primarily committed to medical or nursing home expenses and that, after deducting such expenses, the applicant would be otherwise financially eligible for legal assistance. Some grants allow TRLA to accept a limited number of cases on behalf of domestic violence and the elderly without regard to income guidelines. Hours: Office: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Intake Hotline: Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hill Country Chapter of the American Red Cross Address: 333 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 257-4677 Counties Served: Kerr, Blanco, Gillespie, Kimble, Mason, Menard, Sutton Services: Disaster relief, health and safety, services to armed forces Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Kerrville Independent School District Address: 1009 Barnett St. Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 257-2201 Counties Served: Kerr Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 39 Services: Public education- Head Start, Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade Hours: Central Office: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Ingram Independent School District Address: 510 College St. Ingram, TX 78025 (830) 367-5517 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Public Education-Head Start, Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade Hours: Central Office: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Center Point Independent School District Address: P.O. Box 377 Center Point, TX 78010 (830) 634-2171 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Public Education-Head Start, Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade Hours: Central Office: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Hunt Independent School District Address: 115 School Lane Hunt, TX 78024 (830) 238-4893 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Public Education-Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade Hours: Office: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Divide Independent School District Address: 120 Divide School Rd. Mountain Home, TX 78054 (830) 640-3322 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Public Education-Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade Hours: Office: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 40 Schreiner University Hadress: 2100 Memorial Blvd. Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-5411 Counties Served: All counties in the state Services: Post secondary-bachelor and master's degrees, vocational nursing program and RN program beginning in the fall of 2010 Hours: Office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Alamo Community College-Kerrville Address: 1607 Sidney Baker Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-0042 Counties Served: Hill Country counties Services: Post secondary classes-limited course offerings at this time Hours: Evening classes Monday-Thursday Kerr County Crime Stoppers Inc. /Campus Crime Stoppers Address: P.O. Box 290772 Kerrville, TX 78029 (830) 896-1216 Counties Served: Kerr Services: Crime prevention and rewards for crime information Hours: Hotline answered 24R Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 41 Interagency Cooperation The Kerr County Juvenile Probation Department works with law enforcement, prosecutors, and all of the school districts to identify and monitor juvenile offenders in school environments and in the community. Once a month meetings between law enforcement representatives, school administrators, victim services, Crime Stoppers, and prosecutors are held to discuss problems in the community related to juvenile activity, identification of gang activity and what can be done to prevent juvenile problems from developing. Victims Services organizations work closely together to provide crime victims with quick and complete intervention when needed. The Hill Country Cares provides counseling, shelter and other services to both adults and children in crisis. K'Star provides shelter for children who have been displaced by criminal incidents or other events that create a dysfunctional family environment. Kids' Advocacy Place, now a division of Hill Country Cares, provides law enforcement aone-stop location for investigating crimes perpetrated against children and provides support for child victims and their non-offending family members. Hill Country CASA provides legal advocacy for children during the court process both for children who are victims and children who have been removed from their homes for other reasons. The Kerr County Victims Services Department works with all of the programs listed above and provides additional legal advocacy, support and referral for adult victims of crime. Included in the program is the filing of Crime Victim Compensation claims for victims, if needed, plus preparation of the Victim Impact Statement for the courts and working with both law enforcement and prosecutors to see that the rights of victims are protected during the process from the criminal incident through the adjudication of the case in a court of law. The Kerr County Sheriff's Department and the Kerrville Police Department have amulti- agency Special Operations Unit to respond to critical incident events. Members of the SOU are trained negotiators in addition to other special training to defuse such situation. The two departments also have a combined drug task force (Special Crimes Unit) that was formed after the 216th Judicial District lost grant funding. The task force has been very successful in taking narcotics off the streets of Kerr County and in collaboration with local prosecutors, successfully prosecuting several high-profile drug cases in recent years. Kerr County Crime Stoppers has also worked closely with law enforcement to provide funding for tips that have led to several large drug busts in the community. Kerr County Crime Stoppers also works with the Kerrville, Ingram and Center. Point school districts to sponsor very effective Campus Crime Stoppers Programs on all of the secondary campuses in the districts. In 2008 Kerr County Crime Stoppers paid out $2,470 for rewards in the campus programs and $25,000 in rewards in the adult program. Crime Stoppers receives funding from a Crime Stoppers fee paid by persons adjudicated in the County Court at Law and both district courts in Kerr County. The money is used for rewards for both the adult and school programs plus in recent years, Kerr County Crime Stoppers has purchased over $50,000 worth of radio equipment, computers, video surveillance equipment, and other items for local law enforcement agencies through their Excess Funds Account. In Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 42 January 2010 Kerr County Crime Stoppers will begin accepting tips by email and text messaging. The Kerrville Area Rural Firefighters Association is made up of all of the volunteer fire departments. They meet monthly to discuss common issues. The county includes some funding for the VFDs in their annual budget but the VFDs must depend on donations and fundraisers to pay for most of their expenses. They cooperate with each other actual responses to fires but also in training, equipment purchases and other cooperative efforts. The Kerr County Child Services Board uses funds provided by the county and from donors to purchase birthday gifts, school supplies and Christmas gifts for children who are in foster homes under Child Protective Services placements in Kerr County. Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid provides legal advocacy and intervention to victims of crime identified through Hill Country Cares and the Kerr County Victims Services Department. TRLA attorneys have been a great asset to help deserving families, not only crime victims, in this community for many years. Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ......................................... ................Page 43 ....................... Historical Information (optional) A complete description of Kerr County and its rich history can be found on the county's official website. Go to www.co.kerr.tx.us/historical This plan is formally known as the Kerr County Criminal Justice Community Plan, the purpose of which is to identify gaps in services regarding criminal justice issues and other related issues that impact the lives of the people of our county. The Criminal Justice Division of the Governor's Office (CJD) requires that each county in Texas have a Criminal Justice Community Plan and that it be updated on an annual basis with community input. The document represented here reflects the efforts of many people and organizations in Kerr County that are concerned with assuring that any gaps in services that are identified are closed in a way that will solve the problem and provide as great a benefit to the community as possible. This year we have included a category for Health and Family issues again and added Mental Health to the category. So many times mental health, health issues and family issues are entwined with the criminal justice issues in a community therefore we elected to integrate those issues with goals into our 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 community plans and have done so again this year. We know funding for many of those issues is not available from CJ sources but hope to seek grants through other resources to address those needs and gaps in services. The final draft of this plan was completed for Kerr County in the fall of 2009. This plan is a work in progress. New criminal justice goals have been identified and changes lin the participants in the planning group are reflected by this year's goals. The makeup of any county plan must change from year to year to reflect the changes in the county demographics and the needs of these people within the scope of criminal justice. The 2009-2010 Kerr County Community Planning Committee welcomes anyone interested to join in this ongoing effort to address the needs of the residents of Kerr County and those who may seek help who do not reside here on a permanent basis. Any questions you may have can be addressed to either Rosa Lavender, Community Plan Coordinator for Kerr County, or to the Criminal Justice Program of the Alamo Area Council of Governments. Contact information is provided in this document. The Kerr County Commissioners' Court supports the concept of community planning by providing staff support and resources for development and implementation of the Kerr County Community Plan. Additionally the Commissioners' Court supports grant applications from county departments, other governmental entities within Kerr County as well as community organizations that address gaps in services identified in the Community Plan. Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 44 Kerr County Community Plan 2009-2010 ................................................................................Page 45