Texprotects-The Texas Association For The Protection Of Children

TEXPROTECTS PROTECTS TEXAS CHILDREN FROM THE TRAUMA OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND EMPOWERS FAMILIES TO THRIVE THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY.

EDUCATION, RESEARCH, ADVOCACY/PUBLIC POLICY: TEXPROTECTS CONTINUES TO SPEARHEAD LEGISLATION THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY AND BUDGET AGENDAS PRIOR TO EACH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH AN EMPHASIS ON 1) CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION; 2) CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND EFFECTIVENESS; AND 3) IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. TEXPROTECTS IS ALSO LEADING THE CHARGE FOR A CPS DIVERSION HOTLINE FOR COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO BETTER CONNECT FAMILIES TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO MEET THEIR SPECIFIC AND IMMEDIATE NEEDS. TEXPROTECTS IS THE FOUNDER AND FACILITATOR OF THE CHILD PROTECTION ROUNDTABLE, THE LARGEST COLLABORATOR IN OUR EFFORTS. IT INCLUDES 80+ ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE THAT SHARE A COMMON INTEREST THAT SERVES THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL TEXAS CHILDREN AND ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE WHO ARE IN OR AT RISK OF ENTERING SUBSTITUTE CARE. TEXPROTECTS IS THE FOUNDER, FACILITATOR, AND CO-CHAIR OF THE HOME VISITING CONSORTIUM (HVC). THE HVC WAS FOUNDED IN 2012 TO EXPAND HOME VISITING IN TEXAS. THE HVC IS A CONSORTIUM OF EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING MODELS IN TEXAS AND IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES WHOSE GOAL IS TO DEVELOP A CONSENSUS HOME VISITING AGENDA, IMPLEMENT THE AGENDA THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY, AND COORDINATE ACTION TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND HOME VISITATION IN TEXAS. TEXPROTECTS HAS LAID THE GROUNDWORK TO LAUNCH THE TEXAS CHILD WELFARE DATA INSTITUTE IN COLLABORATION WITH CHILD TRENDS, A NATIONALLY KNOWN CHILD-CENTRIC RESEARCH FIRM, TO SUPPORT THIS WORK. THE DATA INSTITUTE WILL CREATE AN INDEPENDENT HUB OF INNOVATION THAT CAN ESTABLISH TEXAS AS A NATIONAL LEADER IN CHILD WELFARE DATA SYSTEMS AND ENABLE FRONTLINE AGENCIES TO BETTER SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF CPS. THE RESULT WILL BE A REAL-TIME DATA SYSTEM THAT IS BOTH TRANSPARENT AND OBJECTIVE AND THAT ADDRESSES THE STATE'S CHILD WELFARE CRISIS. ADDITIONALLY, DUE TO TEXPROTECTS' SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY, THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY (TEA) NOW REQUIRES ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO COMPLETE TRAINING ON RECOGNIZING, REPORTING, AND PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE, INCLUDING SEXUAL ABUSE, SEX TRAFFICKING, AND OTHER FORMS OF MALTREATMENT. SINCE A COMPREHENSIVE, EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING CURRICULUM DOES NOT EXIST, TEXPROTECTS IS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT AND BETA TESTING A CURRICULUM FOR RELEASE DURING THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR.

TEXAS PRENATAL TO THREE COLLABORATIVE: THE TEXAS PRENATAL-TO-THREE (PN-3) COLLABORATIVE WAS ESTABLISHED TO MEET THE CRITICAL NEED FOR A COORDINATED EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM OF CARE THAT EFFECTIVELY DELIVERS SERVICES TO INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE PN-3 COLLABORATIVE WANTS TO ENSURE EVERY CHILD IN TEXAS CAN BE BORN HEALTHY AND HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES, FAMILY SUPPORTS, AND EARLY LEARNING IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. THIS LEVEL OF COLLABORATION AND ALIGNMENT ON AN EARLY CHILDHOOD AGENDA ACROSS CHILD PROTECTION, HEALTH, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION IN TEXAS DID NOT EXIST BEFORE THE FORMATION OF THE PN-3 COLLABORATIVE. THE COLLABORATIVE HAS AN OVERARCHING GOAL TO ENSURE MORE THAN 400,000 ADDITIONAL INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND MOTHERS RECEIVE HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES BY 2026. TEXPROTECTS SERVES AS THE FISCAL/ADMINISTRATIVE BACKBONE, AS WELL AS ONE OF THE ADVOCACY ARMS IN CONJUNCTION WITH TEXANS CARE FOR CHILDREN AND CHILDREN AT RISK AND MORE THAN 120 SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS.

FAMILY CONNECTS NORTH TEXAS: TEXPROTECTS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED WAY OF METROPOLITAN DALLAS, MHMR OF TARRANT COUNTY, AND METROCARE SERVICES, HAS LAUNCHED FAMILY CONNECTS IN NORTH TEXAS. FAMILY CONNECTS, A UNIVERSAL, EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITATION PROGRAM, IS DESIGNED TO SERVE FAMILIES DURING THE VULNERABLE TIME IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING BIRTH TO IMPROVE MATERNAL/CHILD OUTCOMES. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT 94% OF FAMILIES HAVE AT LEAST ONE NURSE-IDENTIFIED RISK AND/OR NEED POSTPARTUM. YET, THERE WAS NO UNIVERSAL INTERVENTION TO TRIAGE THESE RISKS AND NEEDS IN DALLAS COUNTY. FAMILY CONNECTS ADDRESSES THIS LACK OF ALIGNMENT OF RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES WITH NEWBORNS AND CHILDREN THROUGH AGE 5. THE PROGRAM IS 100% VOLUNTARY AND SUPPORTS MOTHERS AND NEWBORNS POST-DELIVERY WITH MEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND CRITICAL NEEDS SCREENING OFTEN OVERLOOKED DURING VULNERABLE AND STRESSFUL TIMES FOLLOWING BIRTH. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO IMPROVE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH AND MENTAL WELL-BEING.