County Board Training, Part I PCAT Conference, San Antonio, March 4, 2014 Nancy Preston, President

1. County Board Training, Part I PCAT Conference, San Antonio, March 4, 2014 Nancy Preston, President

2. The mission of the TCCWB is to support a statewide network of volunteers concerned with the welfare of children, especially those who are abused and neglected. •  The vision of the TCCWB is to lead a cohesive network of child welfare boards supporting services to vulnerable children and families and promoting prevention of child abuse and neglect, so that all children live in a loving, nurturing and safe environment.

4. CWB members advocate for children through: • encouraging legislation to prevent child abuse and to improve services available for abused and neglected children; • working with child protective services (CPS) staff to support programs that meet children’s needs; • networking with other agencies and organizations to secure the best practical advantages for abused and neglected children; • working to prevent abuse and neglect through local and statewide public awareness initiatives; and • raising funds to support children’s needs and CWB activities

5. Duties of a TCCWB Delegate: • Attend Texas Council meetings, functions & trainings • Keep abreast of current issues affecting CPS and the children & families it serves • Work in the Texas Council to educate & advocate to the broader audience of concerned Texans • Relay Texas Council information back to their respective regional council for the purpose of informing county CWB’s • Assist in formulating and evaluating Texas Council operations, goals & objectives that help improve outcomes • Inform the Texas Council of significant regional & local events or issues worthy of posting on its website

6. Partner Agencies Giving Texas Children Promise (GTCP) – helping CPS with Rainbow Rooms TexProtects– success with legislative initiatives CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) – judges’ darlings & guardians for CPS children Texas Foster Family Association – helping understand fostering issues Texans Care for Children, and more…

7. Regional Child Welfare Boards or Advisory Councils • Regional councils provide training and information on regional and statewide issues, especially issues impacting services to families and children • Each regional council operates according to the region’s needs and wishes. In most instances, each county CWB sends one or two delegates as their representative to the regional council • Each regional council elects two or three delegates to represent their region at the Texas Council of Child Welfare Board meetings

8. Local Child Welfare Boards • The Texas Family Code, §264.005, provides for the appointment of county residents to a child welfare board (CWB) by the county commissioners court • The CWB is an entity of DFPS for the purposes of providing coordinated state and local public welfare services for children and their families, and coordinating the use of federal, state, and local funds for those services • Since CWB members are appointed by their commissioners court, CWB's are also an extension of that entity

9. Local CWB Organizational Suggestions: An active and effective CWB possesses a clear sense of purpose and a strong organizational framework. Members are well-informed and able to commit the time required for CWB meetings and activities. Each CWB should have a: • Current roster of appointed members • Meeting agenda posted 72 hours in advance of each meeting • Mission statement • Set of Bylaws approved by the Commissioners Court with job descriptions for members, officers and committees • Budget annualized to the county fiscal year • Timely orientation for new members • Annual goal setting meeting

10. State Required Open Government Training of CWB Members All elected and appointed officials in Texas are required to receive Open Government Training within 90 days of the date of their taking office or of their appointment. A copy of course completion certificates must be printed and filed with the County Clerk.

11. Responsibilities of a CWB member: • Attending all board meetings and assigned committee meetings; • Serving on committees or task forces, and offering to take on special assignments; • Staying informed about the board’s mission, policies and services; and about the CPS program, staff , and child abuse/neglect issues; • Informing the community about the child welfare program; • Helping to develop, recommend and present a proposed annual budget to the Commissioners Court; • Adhering to annual background checks, conflict of interest and confidentiality policies; • Assisting with building an informed and supportive constituency; • Recruiting, training and developing new CWB members; • Serving as a liaison to other resources for abused and neglected children in the community; and • Facilitating the solution of child welfare-related problems in the community

12. Suggestions for Keeping Board Members Invested • Conduct CWB business in a professional, organized & timely manner. • Prepare new board members with an orientation with CPS staff & existing board members. New board members should be given collateral materials about the organization’s current & recent activities, as well as any information that will be useful in their position. • Thank & recognize board members to sustain job satisfaction for volunteer board members. • Lead by example through good attendance & active participation in board meetings. This can be an effective way to deal with inactive board members. • Conduct exit interviews for board members who leave to learn more about their board experience. • Provide information/feedback on how CWB decisions/activities are helping children.

13. RAINBOW ROOMS: A Place for Hope and a New Start The Rainbow Room is an emergency resource center available to CPS caseworkers to help them meet the critical needs of abused and neglected children. Rainbow Rooms stock new items that go directly to children entering foster or relative care and children in their own homes who live below the poverty line.

14. Fundraising Ideas • Promote TCCWB license plates!!! • (50% paid in gets back to your own county) • Think outside the box!!! • Illusionist or magic show • Purse Auction (online or show) • Bunko tournament • No Go Gala • Men’s Style Show • Seek fundraising ideas that relate to your mission or find others willing to fundraise for your mission (Go Blue promotional items, Logo t-shirts, Golfers always have tournaments, etc.) • Play the sympathy card to high rollers and high tech firms

15. IMPORTANT RESOURCES: • TCCWB Resource Manual and Operations Manual on TCCWB website http://www.tccwb.org • OAG Open Meetings training https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/open • Texas Adoption website http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Application/TARE/Home.aspx/Default • It’s Up To You – Child Abuse Awareness website http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/itsuptoyou/default.asp • National Foster Care website http://www.fostercaremonth.org

16. Questions And AnswersHow can TCCWB support your local board?Contact: TCCWB Executive Director, Shannon Ireland, at (512) 484-8598 sireland@tccwb.org