Senfronia Thompson — Chair Thompson called the meeting to order and noted her presence.
Steve Allison — Steve Allison confirmed his presence in the roll call.
Giovanni Capriglione — Giovanni Capriglione confirmed his presence in the roll call.
Harold Dutton, — Harold V. Dutton, Jr. confirmed his presence in the roll call.
Brooks Landgraf — Chairman Landgraf was recognized during the meeting.
Senfronia Thompson — During a committee meeting led by Chair Thompson, Trina Iton provided testimony on various behavioral health services, with a focus on the Residential Treatment Center Project. Iton discussed the program's referrals, placements, and family services, emphasizing the significance of reserve capacity slots. She highlighted the youth crisis outreach teams' funding and their role in addressing family-defined crises, along with details about multisystemic therapy as a community-based support approach.
Chair Thompson acknowledged the challenges families face in accessing these services and noted the positive outcomes from the Children's Crisis Respite service and the expansion of community psychiatric beds. Iton also informed the committee about programs for children without placements and coordinated specialty care for first-episode psychosis, including the ACT team model aimed at supporting youth in crisis.
Following Iton's testimony, Valerie Mays presented an overview of Medicaid and CHIP in Texas, detailing the comprehensive list of behavioral health services covered, such as those for substance use disorders and collaborative care models. Mays introduced the coordinated specialty care program, highlighting its integration with existing mental health services and its importance within the STAR Health Program and the Turning Point Program.
Chair Thompson praised the collaborative efforts and legislative investments in behavioral health services for youth and families, specifically noting the goals of the Children's Mental Health Strategic Plan. He inquired about the accessibility of Multisystemic Therapy (MST) resources, especially concerning juvenile justice populations, while emphasizing the need for expanding these services and early intervention strategies in children's mental health care. The session concluded with Thompson thanking the panel for their contributions and inviting questions from attendees.
Senfronia Thompson — Chair Thompson introduced Stephanie Murth, Commissioner at DFPS, and welcomed her to discuss important topics regarding child protective services.
Steve Allison — Member Steve Allison was present during the introduction of the speakers, Justin Porter and Kelly Kravitz.
Harold Dutton, — It seems there are no specific documents available containing references to the discussion by Member Harold V. Dutton, Jr. regarding the reasons for RAPR (Rapid Assessment and Performance Review) implementation. If you provide me with more details or additional context, I can help create a cohesive summary based on that information. Additionally, if you upload the relevant documents or transcripts, I can assist in summarizing those as well.
Harold Dutton, — Lieutenant Ann Johnson sought clarification on the nightly costs discussed by a speaker, particularly related to the expenses incurred per child per night for youth care services. She underscored the significance of comprehending these costs in the context of the benefits of preventive measures in youth care.
Ann Johnson — Based on the provided summaries, here is a cohesive summary encapsulating all the key points:
Representative Ann Johnson expressed her support for the speaker's remarks concerning families in need of assistance during mental health crises, highlighting the importance of addressing these issues effectively. Additionally, she reiterated the connection between such crises and the troubling trend of child removals, underscoring the need for systemic support for affected families. Moreover, Lieutenant Ann Johnson sought clarification on the costs associated with nightly services mentioned by the speaker, indicating a need for transparency and detailed financial information within the discussion.
This summary effectively combines the sentiments and inquiries of Representative and Lieutenant Ann Johnson while contextualizing their relevance to mental health and child welfare discussions.
Lacey Hull — Member Lacey Hull welcomed the speakers, Justin Porter and Kelly Kravitz, to the committee meeting.
Senfronia Thompson — Chair Thompson attended the meeting.
Ann Johnson — Member Johnson was present during the meeting.
J. Lozano — Member Lozano was present during the meeting, indicating active participation in the proceedings discussed.
Senfronia Thompson — Chair Thompson introduced Rachel Gandy, Chief of Staff, for her testimony regarding facility construction plans.
Senfronia Thompson — Chair Thompson introduced Jamie Bernstein, Executive Director of the Supreme Court of Texas Children's Commission, for her testimony.
Giovanni Capriglione — Representative Capriglione asked about the terminology regarding referrals and admissions in the juvenile justice system.
Harold Dutton, — Lieutenant Johnson thanked for the briefing and expressed interest in implementing the recommendations.
Ann Johnson — Rep. Johnson inquired about the application of *MST* in juvenile justice.
Senfronia Thompson — Chair Thompson welcomed the participants and clarified the procedure for leaving after testimony completion.
Senfronia Thompson — Senfronia Thompson expressed concerns regarding exhausted parents and the need for effective services to keep kids out of the DFPS system.
Senfronia Thompson — Chairwoman Thompson made important comments during the discussions.
Senfronia Thompson — Chairwoman Thompson asked Ms. Scott about her thoughts on the solution.
Senfronia Thompson — Madam Chair was thanked for her authorship and leadership related to Child First.
Steve Allison — Representative Hall made important contributions during the hearing, particularly focusing on the challenges associated with the increasing influx of children experiencing various issues. His inquiries highlighted the necessity for addressing these problems effectively within the legislative framework.
Steve Allison — Representative Hall was acknowledged for his work on a bill aimed at limiting the time children spend in prison.
Harold Dutton, — Harold V. Dutton, Jr. emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of children within the CWOP and RAPPR programs under DFPS, highlighting the role of various organizations in supporting these youth. He also raised concerns about the insufficient attention given to the underlying causes of mental health issues faced by children. Additionally, he questioned the funding allocations for prevention efforts, underscoring the need for a more proactive approach to mental health in young populations.
Ann Johnson — Representative Johnson was handed the floor to continue the discussion.
Ann Johnson — Representative Johnson raised important issues during the meeting.
Ann Johnson — Representative Johnson highlighted the need for political will to implement effective solutions.
J. Lozano — Chairman Lozano acknowledged the setup for the camera before the discussion continued.
Senfronia Thompson — Chair Thompson welcomed Brittany Norman to start her testimony.
Ann Johnson — Representative Johnson was thanked for her contributions and focus on funding.
Lacey Hull — Vice Chair Hull was acknowledged in the meeting.
Lacey Hull — Vice Chair Hull was acknowledged during the meeting.
Ann Johnson — Representative Johnson emphasized the need for clarity on issues related to self-harming behaviors.
Ann Johnson — Representative Johnson acknowledged the witnesses and mentioned the discussions from the previous panel regarding youth challenges.
Lacey Hull — Vice Chair Lacey Hull raised an important question about future actions regarding the discussed issues.
Tracy King — Representative Tracy King moved for the approval of health, education, and resources programs in Texas.