united methodist women jan 2012

8/3/2019 United Methodist Women Jan 2012

1/21

1/23/2012


2/21

Our mission is to improve

the lives of Texas children by

building commitment and

action for improved publicpolicy and programs.

Issue areas:

Family Financial Security Juvenile Justice Childrens Mental Wellbeing Child and Maternal Health Child Welfare


3/21

So what happened?


4/21

HB 1/SB 1

The state appropriations bill for FY 2012-2013

was the most critical piece of legislation in the

session, impacting services and supports

across systems and agencies.

The State Budget:


5/21

Juvenile Justice

Budget CutsTexas Youth

Commission

Budget cut by 26%

($117million)

Closed 3 secure

facilities

Merged two more

facilities

Texas JuvenileProbation

Commission

Budget cut

by2%($7 million)


6/21

KEY

Neutral Good Bill

Bad

Bill


7/21

Juvenile Justice

SB 653 by Whitmire Sunset bill

Structure: merger of TYC and TJPC into new Texas Juvenile JusticeDepartment

Purpose: create a continuum of effective services, prioritizing

community based programs

Goals: support a county-based system that reduces the need for out-of-home placement and uses secure facilities sized for effective

rehabilitation

New Responsibility: delinquency prevention/intervention

Texas Restructured and Fiscally Realigned


8/21

Youth in the Adult Justice System

New Laws

Extend juvenile probation

age

Juvenile detention for

certified youth

Adult certification if charge

increased

Failed to Pass

Determinate sentence age

in TYC

Limiting adult certificationoffenses

Housing certified youth in

youth facilities until adult

Retroactive removal ofjuvenile life without

parole


9/21

New Laws Regarding Court Involvement

Allow payment of fines in

installments, through community

service

Allow payment of fines through

tutoring/community service

Lower age for automatic record

sealing


10/21

School Discipline

Eliminate tickets at school for 6th

grade and younger Eliminate truancy tickets for ages

10-11 and 18-21

New Measures to Address Ticketing

Failed to Pass:

Eliminate ticketing for

misbehavior at school


11/21

School Responses to Children

Became Law

School resource officer reporting of use ofrestraints

Failed to Pass

School plans for addressing disproportionate

disciplinary referral

Reporting of tickets, restraints and force

New Transparency for School Discipline


12/21

School Discipline

Parent notification for DAEP

placement

Defines serious and persistentmisbehavior, a category that

allows for DAEP expulsion

New Laws on Removal from Classroom & Expulsion


13/21

School Responses to Children

Supports for schools implementing

PBIS school-wide

Missed Opportunities:

Youth-focused training for schoolpolice


14/21

What should we do now? Support the implementation of statewide, school-wide Positive Behavior

Interventions and Supports

Prioritize delinquency prevention.

Eliminate school ticketing.

Eliminate DAEP referrals for elementary school children.

Require school districts that over refer specific populations of students todevelop and implement a plan to fix the problem.

Limit police presence in schools and require that any officers in schools

are trained to work with kids.

Keep youth out of adult facilities.

Ensure that youth in county and state care are safe and have the services

they need to be successful outside the system.

Ensure reforms happen in practice not just on paper.


15/21

But what can Ido?

Volunteer at juvenile justice facilities in your community.

Visit, call or write a letter to your legislators now to let them

know about the issues you are seeing in your community.

Testify at hearings to let your policymakers know what is orisnt working in your community.

Visit, call or write letters to your legislator during the legislative

session to let them know how you feel about proposed

policies.

Sign up for alerts to stay informed of issues and opportunities.


16/21

Why Me?

You are an EXPERT in your community and in

your experience.

You are a constituent.

You are a Texan who cares.


17/21

But WhatWould I Say?

Introduce your expertise

State the problem that you see

State the change you would like to see happen

Ask for action

Provide background information


18/21

But Really, What Would I Say?

SAMPLE

Introduce your expertise:

I am NAME, a constituent in your district and someone who volunteers with youth in my community.

State the problem that you see:

At SCHOOL where I volunteer, children who should be redirected when misbehaving are instead receivingtickets. One child I work with was even given a ticket for X.

State the change you would like to see

School should be a place where we help kids succeed, not a place where we funnel them into the criminal

justice system.

Ask

Will you support legislation that prohibits school ticketing for misbehavior?


19/21

Will anyone listen to me?


20/21

Eileen [email protected]

512-473-2274

www.texanscareforchildren.org


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JUVENILE JUSTICE

Lauren Rose: [email protected]

CHILDRENS MENTALWELL BEING

Josette Saxton: [email protected]

CHILD & MATERNAL HEALTH

Lauren Dimitry: [email protected]

CHILD PROTECTION

Ashley Harris: [email protected]

united methodist women jan 2012

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