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[1. To discuss the FY23-24 budget requests submitted by non-profit organizations.]
WELCOME BACK.WE'RE HERE JULY THE FIFTH AT A BUDGET HEARING.
TODAY OR THIS AFTERNOON WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NONPROFITS THAT THE REQUEST HAVE COME IN.
AND SO WE WILL BE REVIEWING THOSE.
WE WILL NOT BE SAYING YES OR NO TO ANY OF THE VALUES TODAY OR DOLLARS REQUEST.
WE WILL SIMPLY GO OVER WHAT THEY'RE REQUESTING AND THEN GET BACK WITH THEM LATER AS WE KNOW WHAT OUR REVENUES ARE WHEN WE GET THOSE BACK FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
SO FIRST UP TODAY IS THE CHILD WELFARE WELFARE BOARD.
SO LADIES, MAY WE APPROACH? SURE.
HOPEFULLY Y'ALL HAVE HAD SOME LUNCH AND YOUR BELLIES ARE FULL AND YOU'RE READY TO HEAR ALL ABOUT MONEY.
SO TO REMIND Y'ALL, I'M COURTNEY REKA WORTHHAM.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE KAUFFMAN COUNTY CHILD WELFARE BOARD.
AND UM, WE ARE ASKING THAT THE COUNTY CONTINUE TO FUND OUR BOARD.
OBVIOUSLY WE ARE REQUEST THAT WE SUBMITTED WEST FOR 50,000.
UM, AND YOU CAN SEE FROM OUR FINANCIAL REPORT THAT WE HAVE THANKFULLY BUDGETED QUITE WELL, UM, OVER THE PAST YEAR WITH OUR FUNDS.
AND WE HAVE STILL BEEN ABLE TO SUPPLY THE KIDDOS IN OUR COUNTY WITH ALL OF THEIR NEEDS.
SO JUST TO REMIND Y'ALL, WE DO TAKE CARE OF THE KIDDOS WHO ARE IN THE CARE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CPS.
SO FROM INVESTIGATIONS TO REMOVAL, IF THEY NEED ANYTHING, WE SUPPLY.
AND THOSE REQUESTS COME FROM DIAPERS AND BOTTLES, CRIBS, BEDS, CLOTHING, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, YOU NAME IT, WE GET IT FOR THEM.
AND A LOT OF OUR FOSTER KIDDOS NEED TO GO TO CAMP, RIGHT.
BECAUSE THEY DON'T THEIR PARENTS WORK.
AND SO KIDDOS DON'T NEED TO BE LEFT HOME ALONE.
SO IT'S BEST FOR THEM TO GO TO CAMP.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN FUNDING AND WE'VE BEEN BLESSED BECAUSE OF Y'ALL TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M A FOSTER PARENT MYSELF AND SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY.
UM, AND WE DO HAVE PRIVATIZATION COMING DOWN THE PIKE.
UH, WE HAVE MEANING THAT CPS IS GONNA BECOME A PRIVATE AGENCY, WHICH IS KIND OF SCARY, RIGHT? BUT I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO BE ON THE REGION THREE CHILD WELFARE COUNCIL.
SO I'M THE SECRETARY OF THE COUNCIL THAT'S OVER ALL OF OUR REGIONS.
SO KAUFMAN COUNTY IS IN REGION THREE AND TARRANT COUNTY IS PART OF THAT.
THEY'RE ALREADY, UM, PRIVATIZED THROUGH O C O K.
SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT HOW THE CHILD WELFARE BOARDS CAN STILL EXIST WITH THAT PRIVATIZATION.
SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF OUR KIDDOS FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
THAT'S WHAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
WE'VE ALSO GROWN IN MEMBERS OVER THE PAST YEAR, THANKFULLY Y'ALL HAVE APPROVED THEM.
THEY'VE UNDERWENT THE BACKGROUND CHECKS AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY GREAT IN SUPPORTING US AS WELL, ENSURING THAT THE NEEDS OF OUR KIDDOS ARE MET.
WE DO STILL HOUSE THE RAINBOW ROOM AT THE CPS OFFICE.
THE RAINBOW ROOM IS WHERE OUR KIDDOS GET THEIR EMERGENCY NEEDS.
SO LIKE WHAT DEBBIE WAS SAYING, IF A CHILD IS REMOVED, THEY COME WITH NOTHING.
SO WE NEED DIAPERS, BOTTLES, FORMULA, CLOTHING, SHOES, SHAMPOO.
SO ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE TAKING YOUR GRANDKIDS FOR THE WEEKEND THAT YOU GET WITH THEM OR YOU HAVE THESE KIDS NEED MM-HMM.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN OUR REPORT THAT WE'VE SUBMITTED.
SO A AGAIN, THE NEED FOR THOSE FUNDS IS, IS OBVIOUSLY THERE.
UH, WE ARE UP BY I THINK TWO IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WERE LAST YEAR AND WE'VE HAD SOME SIBLING GROUPS REMOVED.
WHEN SIBLING GROUPS ARE REMOVED, IT'S EVEN HARDER.
IT'S HARDER TO FIND A PLACE FOR THEM TO LIVE.
IT'S HARDER TO SUPPLY THEIR NEEDS.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MYSELF AND TO OUR BOARD AND MS. DEBBIE AS WELL, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, ANYTHING THAT'S NEEDED, WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPLY IT.
SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
EXPLAIN TO ME WHEN YOU SAY THEY'RE GOING TO BE PRIVATIZED.
TELL ME THE DIFF CUZ I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
SO RIGHT NOW THE TEXAS IS OVER CPS, SO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REPRESENTS THEM.
WHEN PRIVATIZATION COMES DOWN, IT WILL STILL EXIST IN THAT MANNER, BUT IT'S A PRIVATE AGENCY SO IT'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT HOW CHILDREN ARE PLACED.
SO RIGHT NOW THEY GO THROUGH WHAT'S CALLED A CHILD PLACING UNIT THAT WORKS WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
NOW YOU HAVE THREE AGENCIES THAT HAVE BOUGHT INTO, THEY DID A BID AND THE THREE AGENCIES WON THAT BID AND NOW IT'S A PRIVATE AGENCY THAT'S GONNA BE LICENSING FAMILIES.
I'M SORRY THEY'RE NOT LICENSING, BUT THEY'RE GONNA BE PLACING OUR KIDDOS AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE DOING IT YET.
WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT YET, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE EFFECT SEPTEMBER 1ST.
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GONNA BE A LOT OF KINKS TO WORK OUT.AND SO I'M DEFINITELY COMMITTED TO, I'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO EMPOWER, WHICH IS THE AGENCY TAKING OVER OUR REGION TO TRY TO PARTNER WITH THEM TO ENSURE THAT OUR KIDDOS DON'T GET LOST.
AND A LOT OF OUR CPS WORKERS THAT WE DEAL WITH EVERY DAY, THEY'RE HAVING TO GO THROUGH AN INTERVIEW PROCESS FOR THE NEW AGENCIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN KEEP DOING THE JOBS THAT THEY'RE DOING, UH, JUST THROUGH THE PRIVATE AGENCY AS OPPOSED TO THROUGH DPS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF OUR WORKERS ARE LEAVING BECAUSE THE NEW AGENCY IS NOT GONNA LET THEM KEEP THEIR TENURE.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA LET THEM KEEP THEIR BENEFITS AND THEY'RE ONLY OFFERING A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY PER HOUR.
AND THEY HAVE TO THEN KEEP THE CASE FROM THE MOMENT THAT THE CHILD IS REMOVED UNTIL PERHAPS THE MOMENT THAT THEY'RE RETURNED TO THEIR BIOLOGICAL PARENTS SAFELY OR ADOPTED.
SO IT WILL CHANGE IN THAT WHO WE WORK WITH AS WELL.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE CONTROL MAYBE OR NO CONTROL ONCE THIS STARTS, CUZ WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS WE'RE GONNA LOSE A LOT OF FOSTER PARENTS.
AND THOSE WHO THEY PAY ARE PROBABLY NOT GONNA GET ENOUGH TO MAKE IT REALLY WHAT IT SHOULD BE.
AND IT'S LIKE WE'RE TAKING THE LOWEST BIDDER WHEN THEY GO OUT AND FIND SOMEONE ELSE.
IT MAY NOT BE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FINDING, AT LEAST ME IN DOING THE WORK THAT I DO.
ALSO IN MY PRIVATE PRACTICE, IN WORKING WITH O O C O K, IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO ENSURE A CHILD IS NOT LOST.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THEM DOING THIS IS WHAT JUDGE THE LEGISLATURE THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD DO A BETTER JOB, UM, THAN CPS.
AND SO THEY WERE SICK, I GUESS, OF THE COMPLAINTS OF CPS, WHICH CPS HAS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS, DON'T GET ME WRONG.
THERE ARE A LOT OF KINKS TO WORK OUT THERE AS WELL, BUT THEY JUST FELT LIKE A PRIVATE AGENCY COULD DO BETTER.
AND WE'RE FINDING AT LEAST IN TARRANT COUNTY THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
LET ME ASK, WE'RE STUCK WITH THIS UNTIL TWO YEARS.
LET'S LEGISLA CHANGES SOMETHING.
WELL, UH, SINCE THEY'RE PRIVATIZING THIS, I MEAN THEY'RE GONNA BE OTHER AGENCIES THAT CAN DO THIS JOB TOO, THAT WE COULD LOOK AT OR THEY THEY CONTRACTED WITH THE STATE AS THE ONLY ONE DOING IT.
THOSE THREE AGENCIES WON THE BID.
SO IF THEY'RE DOING THIS, WHY SHOULD WE EVEN GIVE THEM ANY MONEY? OUR MISSION DOESN'T CHANGE.
I MEAN, WE'RE STILL HELPING THE FOSTER CHILDREN AS THEY COME THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
SO THEY'RE NOT PROVIDING ANY MONEY FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW? NO, SIR.
THE STATE PROVIDES ALMOST NO MONEY.
WILL THEY STILL HAVE THE SAME RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU THAT THE STATE WILL WELL, THAT WOULD BE OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE SAME RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE WE'RE WORKING WITH.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T? WHAT'S THEIR OPTIONS, JUDGE? I'M FINDING THAT AT LEAST HOW IT'S WORKING WITH THE OTHER REGIONS THAT ARE PRIVATIZED, THERE IS NO CHOICE BECAUSE THEY HAVE KIDDOS AND CARE WHO HAVE IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
AND THIS COUNTY, THE CHILD WELFARE BOARD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN FILL THOSE NEEDS.
IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF ANGST AND DIFFICULT TIMES AHEAD.
ANY QUESTIONS? SO I GUESS THE, THE BUT THE NUMBER, IS IT INCREASE OR THE SAME AS LAST YEAR? LAST YEAR THEY GOT 39.9.
SEE I PLAYING LAWYER WITH TWO LAWYERS UP THERE, SO
SEE, YOU KNOW, I WATCHED ALL THE BUDGET STUFF HERE.
WHENEVER I WAS ON THE FAMILY VACATION, I MADE UP TIME.
Y'ALL ARE BORING BUNTS, SO I'M JUST
ANYTHING ELSE? A SLIGHT INCREASE, PLEASE.
UNLESS Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ANYONE? NO.
AND WHO DO WE HAVE NEXT? WE HAVE THE EMAIL.
YEAH, I GUESS OUR CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL GOVERNMENTS, ARE THEY HERE? NO, I THINK ANNABELLE WENT OUT IN THE HALLWAY TO SIT THROUGH HERE.
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COME ON IN.SO WHO'S THE CENTER? THE CENTER WHO'S GOING TO DO A PRESENTATION FOR THE CENTER? YOU READY? SURE.
WHY NOT? WHY NOT? WHY NOT? I ASK A FEW OF MY FOLKS TO COME TO KIND OF HANG OUT, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
GO AHEAD AND MAKE A PRESENTATION.
HEY, LISTEN GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER HERE IN KAUFMAN.
UH, THE CENTER IS THE FOOD PANTRY AND RESOURCE CENTER.
UH, FOR THE REALLY TECHNICALLY THE, THE SOUTHERN KAUFMAN COUNTY AREA.
AND I'LL KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE OTHER AREAS IN A MOMENT.
CENTER'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 2005.
UH, SERVING, UH, PEOPLE KAUFMAN FOR, ESPECIALLY, ESPECIALLY WITH FOUNDATIONAL.
THE FOOD I TOOK OVER SIX YEARS AGO, COMING UP HERE IN ABOUT A MONTH OR SO.
UH, WE WERE SERVING, UH, IN SIX, SIX YEARS AGO, ABOUT 180 FAMILIES PER MONTH.
NOW AT OUR CENTER, WE SERVE 450 FAMILIES PER MONTH THROUGH OUR REGULAR TUESDAY, THURSDAY, UH, CENTER.
UH, WE ALSO DO DRIVE-THROUGHS.
WE DO ONE OVER IN THE KEMP AREA WHERE WE SERVE ABOUT 550 FAMILIES ON THAT.
WE DO THAT A LOT, MAINLY BECAUSE OF OUR LACK OF SPACE.
UH, I REALLY CAN'T, BECAUSE OF WHERE I'M AT, I CAN'T, UH, KEEP A LOT OF DAIRY PRODUCT AND PRODUCE THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WE PASS THAT OUT AT THOSE EVENTS.
WE ALSO HAVE SENIOR BOXES THAT WE DO TO HELP WITH OUR SENIOR ADULTS.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT WE WORK WITH.
SO WE ALSO HELP GET PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR FOOD STAMPS.
REALLY, BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T GIVE THEM ALL THE FOOD THAT THEIR FAMILY WOULD NEED FOR THE MONTH.
I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DO, BUT WE TRY TO PROVIDE THEM IF THEY, IF A FAMILY OF FIVE COMES INTO OUR PLACE, THEY WALK OUT WITH ABOUT $250 WORTH OF FOOD.
IF THEY WENT TO WALMART AND BOUGHT THOSE SAME THINGS.
UM, WE DO THESE DRIVE-THROUGHS.
WE TRY TO GET THINGS, AGAIN, THESE PRODUCE ITEMS, THESE MILK ITEMS, THEY CAN'T NORMALLY GET TO THOSE.
AND WE ALSO DO THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, GETTING 'EM TIED IN TO THINGS LIKE SNAP THE FOOD STAMPS.
THOSE, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE UNAWARE IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN THE SNAP APPLICATION, IT IS NOT AN EASY THING TO COMPLETE.
AND A LOT OF THE FOLKS WE WORK WITH ARE SENIOR ADULTS, OR THEY'RE OLDER.
SO THEIR ABILITY TO, THEIR, THEIR, THEIR COMPUTER ILLITERATE ARE DIS THEY'RE LIVING IN PLACES WHERE THEY REALLY CAN'T GET ONTO COMPUTER ACCESS VERY WELL.
SO WE HELP THEM COMPLETE THOSE APPLICATIONS, NOT ONLY FOR SNAP, BUT WE ALSO DO, WE WORK WITH A COMPANY CALLED TEXAS UTILITIES, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MOMENT, BUT WE TRY TO HELP THEM.
THEY, THEY DO HELP A LITTLE BIT WITH WATER AND ELECTRICITY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT AGAIN, THE APPLICATION IS VERY COMPLICATED.
AND SO FOR A SENIOR ADULT OR SOMEONE TRYING TO FILL THOSE OUT, THEY TYPICALLY HONEST THE TRUTH IS JUST KINDA GIVE UP ON IT AFTER A WHILE.
SO WHAT WE DO IS WE DO HELP THEM GET THAT COMPLETED, PLUS WE, WE SCAN THE ITEMS THAT THEY NEED, UH, AT THE CENTER TO GET INTO THE CENTER.
WE JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT OF SOME IDS, SOME PROOF OF RESIDENCY, AND WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE ON WITH YOU.
THESE PLACES REQUIRE A LOT MORE, YOU'RE TALKING IDS AND IDENTIFICATIONS FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
INCOME INFORMATION FOR THESE FOLKS.
THEY HAVE TO BE, UH, SENT TO THOSE.
WE'RE ABLE TO SCAN THOSE AND SEND IN WHAT I REFER TO AS CLEAN APPLICATIONS AND SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE 'EM.
AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A GREAT, UM, TURNOVER AS FAR AS A GREAT APPROVAL RATE ON THOSE.
SO I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO TALK ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON REALLY TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING.
WE'VE, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS AT THE CENTER BEFORE.
WE'RE A NONPROFIT FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION.
AND SO WE, WE, I MENTIONED IN THE, IN THE APPLICATION, WE ARE FUNDING THROUGH CHURCHES, THROUGH INDIVIDUALS, THROUGH FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES, THROUGH, UH, WE WE'RE GROWING AND GROWING OUR, UH, REPUTATION THROUGHOUT THE, ESPECIALLY THE SOUTHERN PART OF COLTON COUNTY IS LARGE.
BUT AS WE BEGIN TO SEE THIS NEED GROW, WE'RE STRUGGLING MORE AND MORE.
WE'RE TAKING CARE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY WANNA FOCUS ON.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE FOOD SIDE OF THINGS, WE ARE CONNECTED WITH THE NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK.
SO WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.
AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF OUR FOOD RESOURCING THROUGH THEM, PLUS WHATEVER, UH, COLLECTIONS ARE DONE THROUGHOUT, UH, THE COUNTY.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE, THE EXTRA HELP, WHICH MEANS FOLKS ARE CALLING US EVERY SINGLE DAY LOOKING FOR HELP WITH ELECTRICITY, WITH RENT, WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS, THAT'S WHERE THE STRUGGLE COMES IN.
JUST HAVING THOSE FUNDING TO DO THAT.
DURING COVID, WE WERE ABLE TO GET, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ALL KNOW DURING COVID THERE WERE A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT WERE KIND OF POPPING UP TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SINCE THEN, THEY HAVE TRIED UP, THEY'RE GONE.
AND SO THE REQUEST TODAY IS REALLY TWOFOLD.
NUMBER ONE, TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TO GET SOME MONIES AS FAR AS TO HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO, TO HELP WITH THESE NEEDS AS THEY CALL US TO WORK ON THE REQUEST I'M ASKING FOR, NONE OF THIS IS OPERATIONAL MONEY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT I REFER TO AS IN AND OUT MONEY.
THIS MONEY WOULD COME IN AND WE WOULD PUT IN THE ACCOUNT THAT
[00:15:01]
GOES RIGHT BACK OUT AS THESE NEEDS ARISE.HONESTLY, I COULD SPEND THAT BY NEXT FRIDAY IF I REALLY WANTED TO.
WE DO HAVE A GREAT VETTING PROCESS WHERE WE GO THROUGH AND MAKE THESE THINGS TO SEE WHO DESERVES THE MOST.
WE LOOK THROUGH ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO GET WITH THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO TRY THEM FIRST BEFORE WE DO THIS.
UH, SO THOSE, THOSE EVENTS ARE THERE.
THE SECOND PART OF THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING, WHICH IS OUR IMMIGRATION APPLICATION PROCESS.
WE HAVE ONE OF OUR, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, UH, ONE OF OUR, OUR LOCALS PEOPLE LIVE HERE IN THE CITY WHO HAS GONE THROUGH A TWO YEAR PROCESS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION TO HELP PEOPLE THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS OF IMMIGRATION.
UH, MOST OF THE TIME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IMMIGRATION, ABOUT WHETHER TO LET PEOPLE IN OR NOT LET ANYBODY IN.
BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING HERE, RIGHT HERE IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY WHO ARE HERE.
THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THIS APPLICATION PROCESS.
AND IF YOU'VE EVER LOOKED AT IT, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
IT COULD TAKE I'M TALKING YEARS TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AND PART OF WHAT HAPPENS TOO IS WHEN THEY BEGIN TO LOOK FOR HELP, EVEN SOMETIMES PEOPLE WHO WOULD SAY THEY, THEY'RE A LAWYER, THEY WILL, THEY CAN RIP THEM OFF VERY EASILY.
THEY CAN ASK FOR FIVE GRAND TO GET THEM THROUGH A PROCESS, NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE NOT AN IMMIGRATION CERTIFIED LAWYER, WHICH BY THE WAY, WE DON'T HAVE A SINGLE IMMIGRATION CERTIFIED LAWYER IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY, BUT THERE'S STILL OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH FOLKS.
SO MARGARITA, OUR PERSON WHO'S NOW CERTIFIED WITH THIS, WE'RE ACTUALLY WAITING FOR HER FINAL CERTIFICATION, WILL BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH A CLIENT AND WORK THROUGH THAT PAPERWORK PROCESS AND GET TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS DONE.
IT CAN BE HANDED OVER TO A, A CERTIFIED LAWYER TO TAKE HIM TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
SO PART OF WHAT I REQUESTED IN THERE TOO, IS SOME FUNDING TO HELP THAT, TO MAKE SURE WE CAN HELP, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP THE PROGRAM RO ROLLING.
AND ALSO, WE KNOW THAT SOMETIMES WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH THESE FOLKS THAT THEY MAY NEED SOME ASSISTANCE WHILE WE'RE WORKING.
THEY ARE TRYING, ONE OF OUR, OUR GOALS AT THE CENTER IS IF WE'RE WORKING WITH SOMEONE AND THEY'RE NEEDING A ASSISTANCE PROVIDING THEY'RE WORKING WITH US, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM.
UH, ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PEOPLE TO WORK WITH IS SOMEONE WHO'S STAGNANT.
IF THEY'RE WALKING ALONGSIDE OF US AND THEY'RE DOING THE THINGS WE'RE ASKING 'EM TO DO, THEN WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO ASSIST THEM WITH THAT.
SO THE REQUEST TODAY IS REALLY FOR THIS, THIS MONEY.
AND AGAIN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT NEW FOR ME FOR, FOR TALKING FROM A GOVERNMENT STANDPOINT TO MAKE A REQUEST, IS THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD GO PRETTY QUICKLY.
AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, UH, COMMISSIONER BARBER, COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS, I DON'T DIRECTLY SERVE THE TERRELL OF THE FORNEY AREAS.
CAUSE WE DID HAVE SOME EXTRA MONIES AND WE DID A LOT OF WORK IN THOSE AREAS.
UH, JUST THIS MONTH IN THE, OR THIS PAST MONTH, IN THE MONTH OF JUNE, WE RECEIVED NINE 17 PHONE CALLS FROM FORNEY, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT RENT IN 40.
THE AVERAGE RENT REQUEST WE GET IS $2,500 A MONTH.
A LOT OF IT'S FROM WINDMILL FARMS AND THE TRAVIS RANCH AREA.
UH, WE DO GET A LOT OF REQUESTS FROM TERRELL AS WELL.
UH, USUALLY THE REQUESTS FROM TERRELL AND KAUFMAN A LITTLE BIT LESS, THEY'RE ABOUT 1200 OR SO DOLLARS A MONTH.
RENT IS A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO DO.
CAUSE THAT'S JUST A HUGE EXPENSE.
EVEN AT 25 GRAND, I COULD, I COULD DO 10 HOUSEHOLDS AND 40 AND HAVE THAT SPENT WITHOUT A, WITHOUT A, WITHOUT A CHALLENGE.
SO I MENTIONED THAT TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE IT'S NOT DIRECTLY THERE.
I DO DO SOME SERVICES THERE THOUGH, WHEN I GET SOME REFERRALS, IF THE SCHOOL REFERS TO ME OR IF THE CITY CALLS ME.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK THERE TOO, WITH OUR GOAL, BEING ABLE TO HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY EXPAND INTO THOSE AREAS A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.
BUT I DO WANNA MAKE YOU TWO GENTLEMEN AWARE OF THAT, THAT IT'S NOT, WE TYPICALLY ARE REFERRING THOSE TWO AREAS TO SOME OTHER AREAS.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT ALWAYS DIRECTLY SERVICING THEM, BUT I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT'S HOW THAT WORKS.
WE HAVE, I COULD TALK ALL DAY, BUT I COULD GO
YEAH, WE HAVE A FOOD BANK IN, IN FORNEY, YOU KNOW, AND IT, IT'S, YEAH, WE WORK, WE WORK WITH THE 40 FOOD BANK VERY CLOSELY.
AND THEN THE CHURCHES, THEY'RE ALL LINKED TOGETHER.
CAUSE THEY WERE GETTING HIT ONE AT A TIME.
NOW THEY ALL LINKED KIND OF TOGETHER, BUT NONE OF THEM HAVE ANY, NONE OF 'EM HAVE ANY FUNDING RIGHT NOW.
AND UH, WELL, THEY'RE STILL HELPING.
THE TRUTH IS, WE LIVE IN A GREAT COUNTY, OKAY? WE LIVE IN A COUNTY WHERE WE'VE GOT SOME CHURCHES THAT PEOPLE TRY TO CALL TO REACH OUT.
BUT THE THING IS, CHURCHES ARE STRETCHED TOO.
UH, I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M A PASTOR MYSELF NOW, MY JOB NOW IS THE FULL-TIME CEO AT THE CENTER.
BUT, BUT I, I KNOW THE BACKGROUND THAT, AND THE TRUTH IS, UNLESS YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT LARGER CHURCH, THEN YOU'RE REALLY NOT CAPABLE PROBABLY OF HELPING ANYBODY BEYOND MAYBE YOUR MEMBERSHIP.
UM, AND EVEN WITH THIS HELP TOO, ONE OF THE THINGS WE SEE WITH THE GROWTH OF THE COUNTY, I'VE DEALT WITH TWO OF THESE THIS MORNING, IS WE DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE HOMELESS SITUATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS I PUT IN MY, IN MY LETTER THERE WAS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE CALLS ALL THE TIME TO HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS.
WE HAD A GENTLEMAN THIS MORNING TRAVELING THROUGH KIND OF A TRANSIENT SCENARIO.
I'VE GOT HIM OVER AT THE BRIDGE RIGHT NOW, AND HE IS TALKING WITH THEM TO SEE WHAT THAT NEXT STEP WOULD BE.
BUT THERE ARE TIMES THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE NO HOMELESS SHELTERS IN KAUFMAN.
WE CAN'T JUST GO, HEY, LET'S, LET'S GO PUT YOU OVER HERE FOR THAT.
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WE, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH PLACES LIKE THE GENESIS CENTER CENTER AND FOREVER FAMILIES, BUT THOSE ARE PROGRAMS. THEY'RE NOT SET UP AS EMERGENCY SHELTERS.BUT WE DO ON OCCASION, WE PUT PEOPLE UP.
WE PUT UP AT LEAST ABOUT 14 PEOPLE SO FAR THIS YEAR, ABOUT 30, I THINK 34 NIGHTS THAT WE'VE PUT UP.
A LOT OF THAT COMES DOWN INTO ONE OF TWO WAYS.
NUMBER ONE, IF WE'RE WORKING WITH THE BRIDGE, UH, THE BRIDGE MAY BE WORKING WITH SOMEONE.
MY GUESS IS THIS GENTLEMAN WE TOOK OVER THERE THIS MORNING, THEY'RE GONNA BE WORKING WITH HIM, ASSESSING HIM TODAY.
I'M GONNA PROBABLY GET A CALL ABOUT FOUR O'CLOCK TODAY.
AND THEY GO, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE READY TO WORK, BUT WE CAN'T GET HIM SOMEWHERE UNTIL TOMORROW.
WE'LL PUT HIM UP FOR THE NIGHT.
SO I'LL GET HIM OVER TO THE HOTEL.
THAT'S NOT JUST THE EXPENSE OF THE HOTEL, BUT ALSO ALL THE OTHER PARTS THAT GO WITH THAT.
AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, SO WE'RE ABLE TO GET HIM OVER THERE TO DO THAT.
SO WE WORK WITH THE BRIDGE A LOT.
AND THE OTHER THING WE DO, OBVIOUSLY IN EXTREME COLD WEATHER, BACK DURING THE JANUARY, WE HAD A COUPLE OF PRETTY EXTREME COLD SNAPS WHERE WE'RE TALKING DANGEROUSLY COLD WEATHER.
I MEAN, I THINK 110 DEGREE WEATHER OUTSIDE COULD BE DANGEROUSLY TOO.
BUT WE DO THE EXTREME SITUATIONS TOO.
EVEN BACK IN JANUARY, WE EVEN PARTNERED A LITTLE BIT WITH THE CITY OF KAUFMAN TO OPEN UP THE, UH, UH, CIVIC CENTER TO GET SOME FOLKS IN THERE.
WE'RE, OUR HOMELESS TEAM IS BEGINNING TO LOOK A LITTLE MORE HOW WE WANNA DO THAT ON A BROADER BASIS.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE JUST HEARING REQUEST TODAY.
WELL, LISTEN, I THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, YOU'VE GOT, WE ARE, AS FAR AS OUR ABILITY TO, TO KIND OF FOLLOW UP ON THESE THINGS, YOU, AT ANY POINT WE KEEP A COMPLETE RECORD OF EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING.
UH, IF YOU SAID, HEY, CAN YOU SHOW US WHAT YOU DID? AND I COULD SHOW YOU RIGHT NOW, HERE IT IS.
WE CAN SHOW YOU EVERY DIME WE SPENT, WHY WE SENT IT AND, AND HOW THAT WAS PLAYED OUT.
I APPRECIATE GENTLEMEN, WHAT YOU DO.
TOMMY, CHECK THAT THERMOSTAT WITH NO TIME LEFT TO SPARE ACCIDENT ON 30.
I'M NOT A SINGER, BUT I WAS SINGING JESUS.
GIVE ME TO THE CHURCH ON TIME.
I HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
I'M GONNA TRY TO PULL UP HERE, UH, WITH ANY LUCK, IF NOT, UM, I'VE GOT MY NOTES.
AND WHILE I'M WAITING FOR THAT, UH, TO BOOT UP, I WILL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
SO IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS DONNIE GREEN AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF AGING PROGRAMS WITH THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS IN ARLINGTON.
AND I'M HERE TO, UM, NOT ONLY TALK ABOUT OUR BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, BUT ALSO TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE OFFER.
UM, BECAUSE AS IMPORTANT AS JUSTIFYING THIS REQUEST IS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE A RESOURCE FOR OLDER PEOPLE AND CAREGIVERS IN THE COUNTY.
AND, AND WE CERTAINLY WELCOME YOUR REFERRALS.
SO LEMME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW OUR PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED.
SO WE RECEIVE, UH, FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH THE US, UM, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, UM, THAT HAS PASSED THROUGH THE TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION.
WE GET A LITTLE BIT OF STATE FUNDING AND THEN, UM, WE ALSO GET CLIENT CONTRIBUTIONS.
AND, UM, WHAT I'M GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON ARE THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTIONS WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING SINCE 2004.
UM, SO ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS DO REQUIRE, UM, A MATCH.
AND, UM, PRIOR TO FISCAL YEAR 2004, WE HAD A STATE PLANNING GRANT, UM, THAT, THAT THE COG USED TO MEET THE MATCH REQUIREMENT FOR THE AGING PROGRAMS THAT WENT AWAY IN OH THREE.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE ASKED THE COUNTIES TO CONTRIBUTE WHAT WE CALL A PROPORTIONATE SHARE TO THE MATCH REQUIREMENT.
AND I'LL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT AND, UM, EXPLAIN HOW IT'S CALCULATED.
SO, UM, SO ALTOGETHER WE ASK THE 14 COUNTIES IN OUR SERVICE AREA TO CONTRIBUTE $150,000 PER YEAR, UH, TO THE MATCH.
AND EACH COUNTY'S SHARE IS DETERMINED BY ITS PERCENTAGE OF PASS THROUGH FUNDS FOR NUTRITION AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
THOSE ARE THE LARGEST PROGRAMS THAT WE ADMINISTER.
SO WE ARE, UM, A FUNDING SOURCE FOR SENIOR CONNECT FOR ITS HOME DELIVERED MEAL AND CONGREGATE MEAL PROGRAMS. WE ALSO PROVIDE FUNDING TO STAR TRANSIT.
SO WHAT WE DO IS WE LOOK AT EACH COUNTY SHARE OF OUR PASS THROUGH FUNDING FOR NUTRITION AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
WE CALCULATE A PERCENTAGE AND THEN WE APPLY THAT TO THAT $150,000, UM, REGIONAL MATCH REQUIREMENT.
SO EACH COUNTY'S AMOUNT KIND OF VARIES A LITTLE BIT, UM, FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND, UM, FOR, UH, FISCAL YEAR 24 WE'RE REQUESTING, UH, $14,521.
[00:25:02]
AND WE CAME UP WITH THE AMOUNT BECAUSE KAUFMAN COUNTY RECEIVED 9.68% OF THE 6.7 MILLION WE PASSED THROUGH FOR NUTRITION AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.SO LET ME SHARE A LITTLE BIT ON NUTRITION SERVICES.
IS THAT LIKE FOR THE MEALS ON WHEELS AND STUFF HOME DELIVERED TO MEALS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTY? CONGREGATE MEALS THROUGH THE ENTIRE COUNTY? CORRECT.
TRY AGAIN HERE FOR SOME REASON, HAVING PROBLEMS ADVANCING.
SO THE WAY IN WHICH WE USE THOSE MATCH FUNDS IS TO, UM, CARRY OUT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE PROGRAMS. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF OTHER PROGRAMS, AND I'M GOING TO MENTION THOSE VERY BRIEFLY THIS AFTERNOON.
SO THAT MATCH NOT ONLY SUPPORTS THE NUTRITION AND TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS, BUT IT SUPPORTS ALL OF THE OTHER AGING PROGRAMS THAT I'LL MENTION NOW.
SO SOME OF THOSE OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE INFORMATION REFERRAL AND ASSISTANCE.
WE GET CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR RESOURCES FOR A PARENT WHO'S JUST BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA OR, UM, WE TOO ARE, ARE GETTING CALLS FROM OLDER HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING EVICTED AND MAY HAVE DISABILITIES.
UH, WE GET CALLS FROM PEOPLE LOOKING FOR TRANSPORTATION AND IN-HOME SERVICES AND RESPITE AND SO ON.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE A BENEFITS COUNSELING PROGRAM, AND WE HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND VA BENEFITS, AND WE HELP THEM APPLY FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS.
WE HAVE A CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH PEOPLE TYPICALLY WHO ARE JUST COMING OUT OF HOSPITAL OR NURSING FACILITY.
THROUGH THE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, WE CAN BUILD WHEELCHAIR RAMPS AND INSTALL GRAB BARS, CUT OUT TUBS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE TUB.
WE CAN PAY FOR TEMPORARY SERVICES IN THE HOME.
WE CAN HELP OUT WITH UTILITY BILLS, PAY FOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES THAT AREN'T COVERED BY INSURANCE.
WE ALSO HAVE A LONG TERM HERE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM THAT ADVOCATES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NURSING OR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.
SADLY, TWO, TWO THIRDS OF ALL FACILITY RESIDENTS NEVER HAVE VISITORS.
SO THIS PROGRAM IS CRITICAL IN TERMS OF HELPING RESIDENTS, UM, RECEIVE ALL OF THEIR RIGHTS, UH, FOR QUALITY OF CARE AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT HELPS PEOPLE IN NURSING FACILITIES RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE HELP THEM FIND HOUSING, SET UP BANK ACCOUNTS, GET SERVICES IN THE HOME, UM, APPLY FOR GRANTS TO FURNISH THEIR HOMES AND PAY FOR SECURITY DEPOSITS AND UTILITY DEPOSITS.
WE ALSO DO A LOT OF PREVENTIVE HEALTH WORKSHOPS.
SO WE BRING TOGETHER SMALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE TO TEACH THEM HOW TO AVOID FALLS, UM, HOW TO MANAGE CHRONIC DISEASE, HOW TO MANAGE DIABETES, HOW TO MANAGE, UH, CHRONIC PAIN AND SO ON.
WE ALSO, UM, HAVE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS FOR CAREGIVERS.
SOME VERY SIMILAR TO THOSE I MENTIONED INFORMATION AND REFERRAL CASE MANAGEMENT FOR CAREGIVERS.
WE DO A LOT OF RESPITE FOR CAREGIVERS TO GIVE THEM A BREAK.
WE SUPPORT COUNSELING SERVICES AND TRAINING SERVICES AS WELL.
ONE OF THE NEW PROGRAMS THAT WE JUST ROLLED OUT A FEW MONTHS AGO IS DEMENTIA FRIENDLY, UH, NORTH, CENTRAL AND EAST TEXAS.
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES INTENSIVE SUPPORT, EDUCATION, COUNSELING TO FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE CARING FOR SOMEBODY WITH DEMENTIA.
UM, A TOPIC VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
MY MOM WAS JUST DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
UM, AND, UM, THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE ALSO PROVIDE A LOT OF DIRECT SERVICES TO THE PERSON WITH DEMENTIA, THE CAREGIVER.
UH, WE DO A LOT OF TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONALS.
WE'RE TRAINING ALL OF THE, UM, CADETS WHO GO THROUGH THE REGIONAL POLICE ACADEMY TO RECOGNIZE DEMENTIA AND KNOW HOW TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY.
UH, WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON COMPILING RESOURCE INFORMATION.
SO IN TERMS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR OUR PROGRAMS, UM, PEOPLE HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 60 YEARS OLD OR AN UNPAID CAREGIVER WHO CARES FOR AN OLDER PERSON, CARES FOR A PERSON OF ANY AGE WITH DEMENTIA, UM, IS AT LEAST 55 YEARS OLD AND IS RAISING A GRANDCHILD WHO'S UNDER THE AGE OF 18 OR A ANOTHER MINOR WHO'S NOT A BIOLOGICAL CHILD.
AND THEN WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO SERVE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT LEAST 55 YEARS OLD AND CARE FOR A YOUNG ADULT WHO HAS SEVERE DISABILITIES.
UM, ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT WE ADMINISTER THROUGH OUR AGENCY MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY.
UM, BUT WE AND OUR PROVIDERS, INCLUDING SENIOR CONNECT, CAN AND DO, UM, ACCEPT DONATIONS, ALTHOUGH THE DONATIONS DON'T COUNT AS MAT
SO, UM, OUR SERVICES ARE NOT MEANS TESTED, BUT WE DO GIVE PRIORITY TO THOSE WHO HAVE GREATEST
[00:30:01]
ECONOMIC NEED, GREATEST SOCIAL NEED.AND AS WE LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR CLIENTS, UH, WITHIN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS, ABOUT 6.8% OF PEOPLE AGED 60 AND OVER ARE LIVING IN POVERTY.
OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE ONGOING SERVICES THROUGH HOME DELIVERED MEALS, TRANSPORTATION, CONGREGATE MEALS, MORE THAN ONE QUARTER ARE LIVING IN POVERTY, ALMOST HALF ARE LIVING ALONE.
SO, UM, HERE IS MY CONTACT INFORMATION, OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER WHERE PEOPLE CAN CALL AND GET MORE INFORMATION.
UM, AGAIN, I WANT TO, UM, REALLY STRESS THAT, UM, WE WANT TO BE A RESOURCE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEBODY WHO'S DEALING WITH AN ELDER CARE SITUATION OR A CAREGIVING SITUATION, UM, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE SEND THEM OUR WAY.
UM, I DID LOOK AT OUR, UM, ENROLLMENTS BY COUNTY, UH, FOR THE MOST RECENT COMPLETED FISCAL YEAR.
AND THERE WERE 872 PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED SERVICES, ONGOING SERVICES THROUGH OUR AGENCY.
THAT DOESN'T COUNT ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO CALL FOR INFORMATION ADVICE COUNSELING, THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM.
UM, BUT THAT'S KIND OF A SNAPSHOT OF, UM, WHOM WE SERVE.
I WOULD SAY THE AVERAGE CLIENT, IF THERE IS AN AVERAGE CLIENT, WOULD BE A WOMAN IN HER, UM, EARLY EIGHTIES WHO LIVES ALONE.
AND AS I MENTIONED, UM, HAS HIGH RISK OF LIVING IN POVERTY.
SO WITH THAT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE, UM, ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS, ABOUT THE BUDGET REQUEST.
UM, WELL, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM THAT EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AND, AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU'RE ASKING FOR DOESN'T BUY A WHOLE LOT IN TODAY'S ECONOMY, THAT'S FOR SURE.
IT DOESN'T GO VERY FAR, BUT IT HAS A MULTIPLIER EFFECT.
SO THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THE MATCH.
IT IS WITH EVERY MATCH DOLLAR WE GET THREE FEDERAL DOLLARS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S KIND OF EXPONENTIAL BENEFIT ON THE FLIP SIDE, IF THERE'S A SHORTFALL
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? SO YOU PROVIDE SERVICES TO AGENCIES WITHIN KAUFFMAN COUNTY? SO THERE'S, OR IS THIS, OR HOW DOES AN INDIVIDUAL FINDS YOU? YEAH, YEAH.
SO THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE PROVIDE SERVICES.
WE'RE BASED IN ARLINGTON AND SERVE 14 COUNTIES, INCLUDING THE ENTIRETY OF KAUFMAN COUNTY.
SO MOST OF THESE SERVICES I MENTIONED ARE PROVIDED DIRECTLY BY OUR STAFF, BY OUR VOLUNTEERS.
THE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM, BENEFITS COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT.
WE ALSO WORK THROUGH SUB-RECIPIENTS.
SO SENIOR CONNECT IS OUR MAJOR SUB-RECIPIENT.
WE ALSO PROVIDE FUNDING TO STAR TRANSIT.
PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT US IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
SO, UM, WE'VE MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL HEALTH FAIRS.
WE'VE DONE OUTREACH TO HOME HEALTH, SOCIAL WORKERS AND HOSPITALS AND NURSING FACILITIES.
THOSE ARE KIND OF THE, THE CRITICAL POINTS AT WHICH PEOPLE, UM, MAY HAVE NEED FOR OUR SERVICES.
UM, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUNDING FOR OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.
WE ARE, UM, WE ARE PART OF THE NATIONAL, UM, IT'S CALLED ELDER CARE LOCATOR, SO WE GET CALLS FROM THEM.
WE'RE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE TWO 11 DATABASE.
AND TWO 11 IS A STATEWIDE DATABASE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES THAT'S AVAILABLE 24 7.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT MOST OF OUR REFERRALS KIND OF COME FROM THOSE, I CALL 'EM USUAL SUSPECTS.
THOSE, UM, THOSE HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS.
BUT, UM, SENIOR CONNECT WILL REFER THEIR CLIENTS TO US, US TO THEM.
UM, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, CLIENTS WILL TELL THEIR NEIGHBORS OR CHURCH MEMBERS ABOUT US.
AND, UM, AGAIN, WE, WE DO HAVE ABILITY TO SERVE ADDITIONAL FOLKS.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY EAGER TO KIND OF GET THE WORD OUT.
DO YOU, DO YOU KEEP ANY NUMBERS ON THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT YOU HELP IN EACH COUNTY OR ANYTHING? WE DO.
WE, UM, THAT'S HOW I CAME UP WITH THE COUNT OF 872.
NOW, THAT'S ONLY FOR, YOU HAVE KAUFMAN 872 IN KAUFMAN, CORRECT? KAUFMAN ONLY, UM, AS A, AS A REGION WE'RE, UM, WE'RE OVER 10,000.
OKAY, SO ABOUT A 10TH OR SOMETHING? YEAH.
MEALS IS OUR, IS OUR MAJOR PROGRAM.
UM, IT NUTRITION ACCOUNTS FOR ALMOST HALF OF OUR FUNDING.
AS I MENTIONED, WE PUT 6.7 MILLION INTO NUTRITION AND TRANSPORTATION IN FISCAL YEAR 22.
UH, TRANSPORTATION WAS ONLY, I THINK SIX OR 700,000 OF THAT TOTAL.
SO 6 MILLION, UM, WAS DEDICATED.
HOW, HOW DO YOU HELP 'EM, DO YOU, DO YOU CONTACT STAR TRANSIT OR WE, WE PROVIDE FUNDING FOR STAR TRANSIT.
PROVIDE FAIR FOR THEM ON THAT, CORRECT.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, STAR, UH, WELL, YOU GIVE 'EM THE STAR AND WE GIVE
[00:35:01]
'EM THE STAR.EVERYBODY GIVES THE STAR TRANSIT OR, YEAH, BUT WHAT WHAT WE DO IS, UM, THROUGH STAR, THERE'S UM, THEIR FAIRS, RIGHT? AND SO FOR OUR WRITERS, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A BIG GROUP, UM, THEY WAIVE THOSE FAIRS AND A LOT OF TIMES OUR, OUR WRITERS CAN'T AFFORD THOSE NOMINAL COPAYS.
SO THEY'LL KIND OF BLEND THE FUNDING IN ORDER TO EXPAND THEIR REACH.
I MEAN, YEAH, I'M JUST KINDA CURIOUS.
IT'LL BE EXACTLY HOW, YOU KNOW, BUT I GUESS, I GUESS A LOT OF YOUR REFERRALS COME FROM BACK THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. GREEN.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
AND AGAIN, MY APOLOGIES FOR THE LATE ARRIVAL.
I AM NOT A JUST ON TIME PERSON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I DID BRING JUST A, A FEW FLYERS IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HAVING THEM FOR YOUR REFERENCE OR SHARING THEM WITH ANYONE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT.
ANNABELL PUT ME RIGHT BEHIND DONNIE.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT SHE DID THAT ON PURPOSE, BUT IT'S VERY FITTING.
UH, SO THE VERY SMALL PORTION THAT KAUFFMAN COUNTY PAYS TO THIS NORTH TEXAS COUNCIL ON GOVERNMENTS COMES BACK TO US, UM, THROUGH STAR TRANSPORTATION AND SENIOR CONNECT.
UH, SENIOR CONNECT IS CELEBRATING 45 YEARS THIS YEAR.
UM, AND WE DELIVER HOME DELIVERED MEALS TO THE HOME BOUND FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
UH, AND WE ALSO OPERATE OUR FIVE SENIOR CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
UM, YOU GUYS HAVE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND AND, AND BEEN PART OF THE SPITFIRE OF THIS AGENCY'S ROCKY PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
UH, WHEN I WAS ASKED BY THE BOARD TO TAKE ON THIS ROLE AS INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, I INHERITED AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE.
UH, WE WERE ABOUT $45,000 IN DEBT.
UH, OUR FOOD TRUCKS WERE TELLING US THEY WEREN'T GONNA ROLL ANYMORE.
UH, WE WERE ABOUT 120 DAYS BEHIND AND GETTING PAID BY AAA.
UM, AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY WRANGLE THINGS IN.
UM, WE'VE REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF PAID STAFF, WE'VE INCREASED THE VOLUNTEERS, BUT WE'VE INCREASED THE BUDGET AND WE'VE ALSO INCREASED THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING.
UM, WE ARE GONNA DO WELL OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND MEALS THIS FISCAL YEAR.
UH, AS OF THE END OF MAY, WE DID 71,186 MEALS.
UM, WE'RE SEEING THE DEMAND INCREASE ACROSS THE COUNTY, UH, AND THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH ACROSS GROCERIES, UM, INFLATION.
UM, AND THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING, UH, BIG RAISES OR COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS IN THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY OR ANY TYPES OF BENEFITS LIKE THAT.
SO THEY'RE COUNTING ON US MORE.
UM, AND WE ARE DELIVERING A SUPERIOR PRODUCT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING, UM, KIND OF LOOKING AHEAD IS HOW WE CAN BE MORE STRATEGIC AS THE DEMAND CONTINUES TO GROW, AND THEN WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE THESE PEOPLE LOOKING AT OTHER AGENCIES AROUND THE STATE.
UM, COFFIN COUNTY IS VERY UNIQUE IN THAT WE RUN FOUR KITCHENS AT FIVE CENTERS.
OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO RUN ONE CENTRAL COMMISSARY THAT FEEDS ALL THE CENTERS SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF MAINTAIN SOME OF THOSE COSTS.
UH, AND THE OVERHEAD THAT IS INVOLVED WITH RUNNING ALL THOSE KITCHENS.
WE'RE NOT THERE YET, BUT WE ARE SLOWLY MAKING PROGRESS AS WE'RE PUTTING MONEY AWAY IN RESERVES SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THOSE CHANGES WHEN WE'RE READY.
SO THIS PAST YEAR YOU GUYS DID $125,000.
UH, WE ARE ASKING FOR A $75,000 INCREASE FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
UM, I THINK THAT REALLY YOU GUYS HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SHOW THE SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE IMPORTANT AND THEY ARE A PRIORITY.
[00:40:01]
NOT JUST BY OUR WORDS, BUT OUR ACTIONS IN THIS BUDGET.UM, FOR TOO LONG WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON FERAL ANIMALS AND OTHER PROJECTS.
AND FOR 45 YEARS, THIS AGENCY HAS MET THE NEED.
AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEED, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF EVERYBODY INVOLVED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T GET INTO A SITUATION LIKE WE WERE IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO WHEN I TOOK UP ON IT.
SO I'VE GOT NUMBERS HERE FOR YOU.
I CAN TELL YOU, UH, OUR ING CENTER, UH, WE ARE ABOUT TO OUTGROW IT.
UM, THE DEMAND THERE IS SO HIGH.
UM, SO WE'RE WORKING WITH CITY OFFICIALS THERE, UH, AND ALSO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO KIND OF WORK ON A, SOME, A NEW FACILITY THERE.
UM, BUT AGAIN, FORNEY CONTRIBUTES, UM, 100% OF THEIR FACILITY AND ALSO PARTICIPATES FINANCIALLY BY SUPPORTING ONE OF THE COOKS IN THEIR CENTER.
UH, KEMP AND MAYBANK CONTINUE TO GROW DAILY, UM, AND WE ARE SEEING, UH, A LOT OF CROSSOVER IN THOSE TWO.
UH, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF BINGO PLAYERS THAT LIKE TO HIT KEMP IN THE MORNING FOR BREAKFAST AND MAYBANK FOR LUNCH.
UH, COFFMAN CONTINUES TO REMAIN STRONG.
UM, WE ARE HAVING SOME ISSUES THERE WITH THE FACILITY.
UM, AND SO WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE TO KIND OF CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICE.
UM, BUT IN SOME MODIFIED SETTINGS AND IN TERRELL, UM, OUR CONGREGATE SITES CONTINUE TO GROW.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDING A CONGREGATE SITE IN ELMO THIS NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
UH, THE ELMO FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS VOLUNTEERED THEIR FACILITIES THERE.
UM, AND SO IT'S JUST THE LOGISTICS OF GETTING THE MEALS THERE EVERY DAY SO THE SENIORS CAN COME TO THE FIREHOUSE THERE, PICK 'EM UP, UM, AND TAKE CARE OF THAT.
UH, BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING, UM, AT ALL OF THE CONGREGATE SITES, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE SEEING, UH, BREAKING RECORDS THAT WE HAD, UH, PRE PANDEMIC.
UM, JUST IN THE MONTH OF MAY, WE HAD OVER 5,100 CONGREGATE FOR THE, FOR THE MONTH.
UM, THAT'S A LOT OF MEALS, THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.
UM, BUT WE'RE CONTINUING TO SERVE THEM.
UH, WE JUST FINISHED UP ANOTHER AUDIT.
UH, YOU'LL KNOW THAT WHEN WE FIRST CAME ON BOARD AAA AUDIT US, UH, AND YOU GUYS GOT A COPY OF THE FINDINGS AND THEY SAID THAT WE WERE A HIGH RISK AGENCY AND THEY KIND OF LISTED OUT ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT WE WERE HAVING.
UH, WE JUST WRAPPED UP ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE IN FEBRUARY.
UH, AND WE, I'M PROUD TO REPORT WE ARE A LOW RISK AGENCY NOW.
UH, WE ONLY HAD TWO MINOR PROBLEMS WE NEEDED TO FIX WITH THEM.
UH, SO WE HAVE COMPLETELY TURNED THIS ORGANIZATION AROUND.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE MAKE THE INVESTMENT IN OUR SENIORS THAT THEY DESPERATELY NEED.
SO, UH, YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
WELL, THE KAUFMAN, THE KAUFMAN FACILITY, I MEAN, THERE'S A BIG A KITCHEN THERE THAT SENIOR CONNECT ACTUALLY FUNDED, RIGHT? I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN.
THERE'S A KITCHEN AT THE KAUFMAN SENIOR CONNECT THAT DIDN'T SENIOR CONNECT ACTUALLY FUND THE KITCHEN? NO, SIR.
SO THE KITCHEN IS THE SEAT'S KITCHEN, IT'S THE CITY.
SO SENIOR CONNECT DOESN'T OWN ANY PROPERTY.
UM, ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS ARE PROVIDED BY THE CITIES THAT THEY'RE IN, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF KEMP, WHICH WE USE A CHURCH FELLOWSHIP HALL, UH, AND WE PAY THEM $600 A MONTH IN RENT, BUT ALL THE OTHERS ARE PROVIDED BY THE CITIES THAT THEY'RE IN.
AND IF YOU DO IT IN ABEL SPRINGS, THEY'RE GOING TO, IT'S FREE AT THE FIRE STATION.
IF YOU'RE GONNA MOVE TO ABEL SPRINGS, YOU'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING IN VAL SPRINGS.
I MEAN EL ELMO ELMO AT THE ELMO FIREHOUSE.
AND THEY'LL DO IT FOR NOTHING.
I KNOW I VISIT WITH THE MAYBANK ONE AND DOWN THAT AREA LAST YEAR.
THEY HAVE GONE FOR THE SENIORS.
THEY REALLY ENJOY IT, THE, THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY IN PLACE FOR 'EM.
APPRECIATE Y'ALL DOING THAT FOR 'EM.
AND I, AND I THINK HONOR, DID YOU, DID YOU SHARE THE NEW REPORT WITH HER FROM ABSOLUTELY.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN HER REPORT AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A REPORT LATELY.
SHE WAS SENT TO ME QUARTERLY AND THEN I SUPPLIED 'EM TO THEM.
SO, UH, CYNTHIA RETIRED, UH, AFTER 15 YEARS WITH US, SO,
[00:45:01]
UM, RAN HER OFF.UH, SHE BOUGHT LANDON ARKANSAS AND TOOK OFF.
SO, UM, I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET THE LATEST REPORT.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, YOU GUYS SHOULD BE GETTING A COPY FROM AAA, UM, ON THE REPORT OF OUR AUDIT AS WELL.
CUZ THAT'D BE IMPORTANT THAT SHOW THAT HOW YOU TURNED IT AROUND.
WELL, I KNOW WHAT GOES ON CUZ MY WIFE WAS ON THE BOARD.
AND I GO WITH MY WIFE TO DELIVER MEALS.
UH, IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO SEE THESE OLD FOLKS AND THAT'S MAYBE THE ONLY MEAL THEY EAT THAT DAY.
SO, UM, I ACTUALLY DELIVER A ROUTE, I DID MINE TODAY IN TERRELL, UH, 17 STOPS IN AN HOUR.
UM, AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT IT'S THE BEST HOUR OF MY MONTH.
UH, YOU SEE THE REALITY OF WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE DIPPING WITH, UH, BUT YOU ALSO SEE THE POWER OF WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH EVERY DAY.
SO, NO, IT'S A HEARTBREAKING DEAL.
WELL, BRIAN, I I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH ALL THIS AND I'M GLAD THAT THREE OF US DECIDED TO KEEP YOU ON AND LET YOU GET THIS TURNED AROUND.
I THINK YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.
YOU HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM REACH? DON'T SEE HER.
THEN WE SHALL WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE.
AND, AND, AND, UH, IT'S TERRIBLE.
THAT, UH, YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S FOREVER FAMILY HERE.
THAT'S TWO AWESOME REACH, HUH? OKAY.
I GUESS PUT IT BEHIND YOUR EARS.
SAVE IT FOR, HUH? PUT IT BEHIND YOUR EAR.
MY KIDS WOULD PROBABLY DO THAT.
ARE WE THERE'S A COUNT TO GO FIRST.
IS IT JUST ME? SERIOUSLY? I, I I'M HERE FOR YOU.
SO WE GOT LONE STAR, MS. LAUREN SUPPORT.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY? ARE YOU GUYS HAVE COME UP MS. ZN? I'M GONNA MAKE MS. ZN COME UP MY, ONE OF MY BOARD MEMBERS.
SO YOU CAN ASK HER ALL THE GOOD QUESTIONS.
LET ME GET YOU YOUR FOLDER HERE RIGHT QUICK.
HOW ARE Y'ALL TODAY? GOOD HEARING LOTS OF REQUESTS.
OKAY, WELL I'LL GET STARTED THEN.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LONE STAR CASA.
AND SO WE SERVE CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND CAN NO LONGER REMAIN SAFELY IN THEIR HOME, UM, WITHOUT THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM BEING A PART OF THAT.
AND SO ONCE THAT CIVIL SUIT IS FILED BY THE COURT, UM, WE, WE PROVIDE TRAINED VOLUNTEERS WHO BECOME WHAT'S TERMED AS A GUARDIAN AD LITEM.
AND SO THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO THAT COURT CASE.
UM, WE SERVE 100% OF KIDS THAT COME FROM KAUFMAN COUNTY AND THEY WALK WITH THEM THROUGH THAT ENTIRE COURT CASE.
AND WHAT THEIR ROLE IS, IS TO BASICALLY GATHER ALL THE INFORMATION ON THE CASE FROM THEIR PARENTS TO THEIR CURRENT PLACEMENTS, TO THEIR THERAPIST AND EDUCATOR, AND OF COURSE THE CHILD, RIGHT.
AND GATHER ALL THIS INFORMATION.
AND THEN WHAT THEY GET TO DO IS THEY GET TO GO BEFORE THE COURT AND EXPLAIN TO THE JUDGE WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD.
AND SO THESE CASES LAST ANYWHERE FROM 12 MONTHS, THAT'S LIKE THE SHORTEST, UM, TO YEARS AND YEARS, RIGHT? BECAUSE AS LONG AS THESE CHILDREN ARE IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, CASA CONTINUES TO WORK FOR THEM.
AND WE ARE THE ONE CONSISTENT IN THEIR LIVES.
YOU KNOW, CASE WORKERS CHANGE AS THEY GO FROM INVESTIGATIONS TO CONSERVATORSHIP TO ADOPTION.
CASEWORKERS CAN CHANGE THEIR PLACEMENTS CHANGE OFTEN, UNFORTUNATELY.
UM, BUT OUR COSTA VOLUNTEERS KIND OF BECAME, BECOME THE STEADY FOR THEM AND THEY GET THE BENEFIT OF GETTING ALL THE KNOWLEDGE IN, UM, AND BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT THAT TO THE COURT.
[00:50:01]
IF YOU'RE IN A COURT SETTING, EVERYBODY HAS ATTORNEYS AND DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS REPRESENT THE FULL PICTURE.AND THAT'S WHAT OUR CASA VOLUNTEERS GET TO DO.
AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ALWAYS WHAT THE CHILD WANTS, RIGHT? WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN, IF YOU HAVE ANY OR HAVE GRANDKIDS, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THEIR BEST INTEREST IN MIND BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEE ALL THE PIECES.
UM, AND SO WE GET THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING THAT HERE IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY.
AND SO WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR TODAY IS AN INCREASE IN FUNDING, AS I'M SURE MANY ARE.
UM, WE ARE ASKING FOR $45,000 FROM THE COUNTY FOR THE LAST, SINCE ABOUT FISCAL YEAR 2019.
I THINK YOU GUYS STARTED IN 2018.
UM, BUT IN 2019 WE RECEIVED $30,000 FROM YOU AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY RECEIVED, UM, THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
BUT, UM, AS WITH MANY THINGS, THE CASES ARE GROWING, THE COUNTY'S GROWING.
UM, THE RAMIFICATIONS AFTER COVID, I HAS BEEN, UM, VERY DIFFICULT ON THE KIDS THAT WE SERVE.
AND THIS YEAR ALONE, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CHILD DEATH IN THIS COUNTY.
AND IT IS BECOMING MORE APPARENT HOW MUCH WE ARE NEEDED IN THIS SYSTEM, UM, TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD.
AND SO THERE'S A FEW REASONS WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT INCREASE.
NOT ONLY HAVE WE SEEN AN OVER 200% INCREASE IN NEW CHILDREN THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, WHICH IS CRAZY, AND WE JUST GOT TWO MORE CASES ON FRIDAY THAT ARE NOT EVEN IN THOSE NUMBERS FROM KAUFFMAN COUNTY.
UM, BUT ALSO WE HAVE STARTED IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY SPECIFICALLY SERVING CHILDREN WHO AREN'T YET REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME.
BUT THERE HAS BEEN, UH, ABUSE OR NEGLECT AND THAT CPS HAS DETERMINED THEY CAN SAFELY REMOVE THEIR OR SAFELY LIVE THERE WITH A SAFETY PLAN IN PLACE.
AND WE GET THE PRIVILEGE OF NOW GOING IN AND STARTING TO WORK WITH THESE KIDS AND THESE FAMILIES THEN IN HOPES THAT HOPEFULLY A REMOVAL WILL NEVER HAVE TO HAPPEN AND THAT COSTS MONEY.
AND THE STATE, WE GET STATE FUNDING, THE STATE WILL NOT PAY FOR THAT UNLESS THE CHILD IS REMOVED.
AND SO LAST YEAR WE WENT OUT AND GOT SOME GRANTS TO COVER THAT AND UNFORTUNATELY THE LEGISLATOR VOTED DOWN TO ALLOW US TO USE STATE FUNDING TO COVER THAT.
AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WE'RE ALSO ASKING FOR THAT REQUEST BECAUSE WE KNOW IT COSTS THE STATE AND IT COSTS THE COUNTY A LOT MORE MONEY ONCE A CHILD'S REMOVED, RIGHT.
THAN BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AND THOSE RESOURCES TO THE FAMILY, UM, WHILE THEY'RE IN THE CARE.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS THE, UM, I WROTE SOMETHING DOWN AND SO NOW I'M LIKE, NOW I NEED TO FOLLOW UP ON MY NOTES.
OH, AND THEN ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION IS THE PRIVATIZATION OF FOSTER CARE.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW MUCH YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT THAT, SO I WON'T BORE YOU WITH ALL THE LENGTHY DETAILS.
UM, BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU TALKED ABOUT IT.
BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT, IS THAT IN SEPTEMBER ONE, WE WILL START DOING OUR FIRST PLACEMENT INTO PRIVATIZATION.
AND THAT IS GOING TO HAVE A VERY, UM, A RIPPLE EFFECT INTO EVERYTHING.
BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW, AS OTHER REGIONS HAVE DONE THIS AND HAVE STARTED PRIVATIZATION, WE HAVE SEEN AS IT TRANSFERS FROM CPS INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HOW IMPORTANT CAUSES HAVE BEEN BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN THE CONSISTENCY, RIGHT? ALL OF THE CASEWORK IS CHANGING, ALL THE AGENCIES ARE CHANGING, ALL OF THAT'S HAPPENING.
AND CASA HAS REMAINED THE CONSTANT FOR THAT AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO REALLY HELP THE JUDGES, BUT ALSO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE PRIVATE AGENCY SEE WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDS.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? WELL, I'LL SAY THIS BECAUSE, UM, ONE THING I UNDERSTAND IS THAT EVERYBODY DOESN'T WANT SOMEBODY'S HAND IN HERE WITH A HANDOUT.
AND I WILL SAY THAT LAUREN AND HER STAFF HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB ON GETTING GRANTS THAT EVERY MONTH AT OUR BOARD MEETINGS, WE SEE WHAT GRANTS SHE'S APPLYING FOR, WHAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DENIED.
AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE ON SERVING ON OTHER BOARDS AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY WORK AS HARD AS TRYING TO BALANCE OUT BECAUSE SHE UNDERSTANDS WE CAN'T COUNT ON US OR GOVERNMENT, THE COUNTY, CITY OR THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN IT.
SO SHE'S NEVER JUST BASING HER NUMBERS OFF VOCA GRANTS, SHE'S ALWAYS TRYING TO LOOK AHEAD OF THINGS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE ALSO, IT'S, IT'S FUNNY TO SAY THAT I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING ON A BOARD THAT SERVES ABUSED CHILDREN.
BUT IT'S AN UNDERSTANDING THAT UGLINESS HAPPENS EVERYWHERE.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THE ONE THING I'VE SEEN FROM THESE VOLUNTEERS IS THEY LOOK AT THIS AS AN ATTEMPT TO BREAK A CYCLE.
IF A CHILD IS ONLY KNOWN ABUSE BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS KNEW ABUSE AND THE OTHER PARENTS KNEW ABUSE THE CASE, ONE CASE SHE'S REFERENCING IS WE HAD THE THREE CHILDREN KILLED IN ITALY, TEXAS, THEY WERE OUR KIDS.
THEY JUST HAPPENED NOT BE IN THE COUNTY WHEN THEY WERE KILLED.
THE MOTHER'S SISTER IS IN PRISON FOR STABBING A CHILD.
THIS IS A CYCLE THAT CAN ONLY BE BROKEN WHEN THESE KIDS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SOMEBODY WHO'S COME FROM, I DON'T WANNA SAY A NORMAL LIFE, BUT A LOVING HOME.
SO THESE COSTS OF VOLUNTEERS TRULY GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE KIDS TO SEE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAVE, IT HAS TO BE,
[00:55:01]
THEY OFFER THEM A LIGHT TO GO TO, TO GET TO A DIFFERENT WORLD.AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THESE, THESE VOLUNTEERS WILL COME TALK TO US AT APPRECIATION DINNER AND THE IMPACT THAT THEY'VE HAD.
IT, IT'S NOT JUST SOMEBODY MAKING THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE LOOK GOOD BECAUSE THEY'RE POSTING AND THAT THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING NICE.
THEY'RE STAYING WITH THESE KIDS AND THEY'RE TRULY INVESTED IN THEM.
SO I APPLAUD HER, I APPLAUD OUR STAFF BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'LL TAKE WHATEVER YOU GUYS GIVE US.
DON'T GET US WRONG BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE'LL FIND THE MONEY.
BUT WITH THE GROWTH WE'RE EXPERIENCING, AND I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THIS, ROCKWELL COUNTY LOVES TO BRAG ABOUT HOW THEY SUPPORT ALL OUR KIDS IN KAUFMAN.
AND NOTHING IRRITATES ME MORE.
AND WE'VE BEEN FUNDRAISING HARDER AND HARDER IN KAUFMAN, BUT WE APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
WE ARE TRYING TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF IT.
WE KNOW THIS COUNTY IS GROWING AND UNFORTUNATELY WITH GROWTH COMES CRIMES AND ABUSE AND ALL OF THAT.
AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO BE LIVING, YOU KNOW, MONTH TO MONTH.
WE WANT TO HAVE OUR PROJECTIONS IN PLACE.
SO WE ARE READY FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AS YOU GUYS I KNOW ARE TRYING TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AS WELL.
SO HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS DO YOU HAVE? YEAH, WE HAVE ABOUT A HUNDRED ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR MORE.
SO IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ABLE TO DO OUR JOB, I GUESS SO CHEAPLY, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
BECAUSE OUR STAFF SUPPORT THE VOLUNTEERS, BUT REALLY THE VOLUNTEERS ARE THE ONE THAT DOES ALL THE VISITS AND STUFF.
AND SOME OF THE VOLUNTEERS SPOKE VERY, VERY NICE PEOPLE, VERY DEDICATED PEOPLE.
I MEAN, WE HAVE KIDS THAT ARE PLACED.
WE HAVE, UH, SIBLINGS, ONE PLACED IN HAWAII AND ONE IN ARKANSAS JUST THIS YEAR.
THEY'RE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR SEEING THESE KIDS BECAUSE THEY'RE FROM OUR COUNTY, YOU KNOW? AND SO THAT COST, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, A TRIP HAWAII, THEY TRAVELED.
THEY TRAVELED WAY TO SEE THE KIDS.
WE ACTUALLY HAD A STAFF MEMBER WHO HAPPENED TO BE OVER THERE THIS TIME.
UM, AND SO SHE, WE HAD HER GO BECAUSE SHE WAS GONNA BE THERE FOR A DIFFERENT, UM, THING.
WHAT A LUCKY VOLUNTEER, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SOME, BUT THEN SOME, YOU KNOW, ARE GOING TO CHICAGO OR YOU KNOW, OKLAHOMA, ARKANSAS, YOU KNOW, NOT AS LUXURY OF PLACES.
WELL, IT'S BETTER THAN CHICAGO, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
BUT WE, OUR KIDS ARE PLACED ALL OVER.
THEY'RE JUST FROM THIS COUNTY BASICALLY.
UM, SO WE ARE REQUIRED BY THE COURT TO SEE THEM.
WHAT ELSE, GUYS? QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? WELL, ONE THING, ONE THING THAT I WILL SAY IS, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS ALL STARTED OUT.
YOU SAID THAT WE STARTED OUT GIVING Y'ALL $30,000 AND, AND I GUESS WERE Y'ALL LIKE THE FLEDGLING ORGANIZATION THEN, OR NO? WERE Y'ALL, SO WE STARTED IN COFFMAN COUNTY IN OH FOUR.
SO, I MEAN, WERE Y'ALL KIND OF STRONG? CUZ I MEAN, FROM LOOKING AT THIS, YOUR FUNDRAISING, Y'ALL, Y'ALL HAVE GOTTEN VERY ADEPT YES.
SO, AND Y'ALL HAVE A PRETTY NICE BUDGET.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF, I JUST WONDERED IF THE 30,000 WAS LIKE HELPING Y'ALL GET KICKSTARTED UNTIL YOU GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN PLACE, MAKE THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS AND FIGURE OUT YOUR FUNDRAISERS TO WHERE YOU BECOME SELF-SUPPORTING TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU'RE GENERATING A LOT OF REVENUE.
I MEAN WE'RE, I THINK PROCESS OF BUILDING BUILDING, YEAH.
WE'RE HAVING TO EXPAND, UM, OUR FACILITIES.
UM, SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO POTENTIALLY BUY A BUILDING, BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE EXPANDED AND WE'RE ABOUT TO DO SOME CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS WHERE SOME OF THAT MONEY IS GOING INTO TO JUST HAVE THE FACILITIES TO BE ABLE TO HOUSE OUR STAFF.
UM, WE HAVE NOT ADOPTED THE MODEL OF WORK FROM HOME 24 7 BECAUSE OUR WORK IS NOT AT OUR HOME.
UM, AND SO WE ARE IN A PHYSICAL BUILDING OR WE'RE IN COURT MOST OF THE TIME.
UM, SO I THINK, YES, WHILE WE HOPE TO ALWAYS CONTINUE TO GROW OUR FUNDRAISING, AND I'LL SAY IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE HAVE GROWN IT TREMENDOUSLY.
UM, WE ARE ALSO HOPEFUL THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITIES WILL CONTINUE TO STAND BEHIND, UM, SUPPORTING THESE CHILDREN BECAUSE IT DOES COST A LOT, UM, TO SUPPORT EACH OF THESE CHILDREN.
AND WE KNOW THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW ORGANIZATIONS OUT HERE THAT DO THAT.
AND SO I, I DON'T THINK WE WERE NECESSARILY LOOKING FOR A TIME PERIOD OF BEING COMPLETELY OUT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
UM, BUT WE ARE EXPERIENCING TREMENDOUS GROWTH, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR THE ADDITIONAL, UM, BECAUSE AS WELL, JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, OUR GOVERNMENT GRANTS ARE ABOUT TWO YEARS BEHIND.
WHICH MEANS ANY GROWTH WE EXPERIENCE, WE HAVE TO ABSORB FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE THEY NOTICE, NOTICE THE GROWTH BECAUSE OF THEIR FORMULAS.
UM, BUT IT'S ALSO, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, GOVERNMENT FUNDING'S ALWAYS A SURE, BECAUSE I MEAN, EVERYBODY THAT COMES IN HERE, YES.
YOU, YOU, YOU KNOW, YOUR HEART SAYS THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN SAY NO.
BUT YOU HAVE SOME THAT ARE JUST TRYING TO GET THEIR FOOTING.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE OTHERS THAT REALLY HAVE THE TRACTION AND, AND, AND EVERYBODY'S DOING GOOD THINGS.
BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING
[01:00:01]
ABOUT YOU JUST GETTING STARTED AND YOU KIND OF GET, HELP 'EM GET KICKSTARTED.AND ONCE THEY GET ROLLING AND THEY GET THEIR FEET UNDER 'EM AND THEY LEARN HOW TO MAKE MONEY AND, AND PROVIDE THE SERVICES THEY DO.
AND THEN YOU HAVE OTHERS THAT ARE JUST TRYING TO GET STARTED.
AND SO, AND I WILL TELL YOU, AND I'M GONNA BRAG ABOUT THAT.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A COMPLIMENT THAT Y'ALL ARE ABLE TO DO THAT CUZ IT'S, IT SPEAKS OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE I'M SAYING ANYTHING BAD, IT'S JUST THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE AND ALL THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE THE SAME CAPABILITIES IF YOU JUST HELP 'EM GET STARTED AND THEN ONCE YOU GET GOING, IT'S KINDA LIKE KICKING YOUR KID OUT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
WELL, AND I'M GONNA BRAG ABOUT LAUREN BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ON BOARD TWO YEARS NOW AND IF YOU LOOK AT, NO OFFENSE TO THE PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT SHE'S DONE IN THE PAST THREE, YOU'VE BEEN THERE THREE, PROBABLY FOUR YEARS IN EPTEMBER.
AND WE'RE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD FINANCIAL MINDS THAT HAVE INVESTED WELL CUZ WHEN I GOT ON THERE TWO YEARS AGO, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT WAS GETTING A BUILDING.
BECAUSE IF YOU SAW WHAT THEY'RE IN RIGHT NOW, YOU LITERALLY WALK BACK AND ONE OF OUR ATTORNEYS AND TWO OF OUR AB OUR SPECIALISTS ARE LITERALLY HAVE A U SHAPE.
THEIR DESKS ARE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.
THEY MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BUNK BEDS,
IT IS, IT'S A CRUISE LINE SHAPE.
BUT SO WE'VE BEEN VERY SMART ABOUT NOT SPENDING MONEY SO THAT WE WOULD PUT OURSELVES IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO BUY A BUILDING AND NOT BE INDEBTED.
SO THAT IS ONE OTHER REASON CUZ WE TALK ALL THE TIME ABOUT YOU ALMOST AS A NONPROFIT, WANNA LOOK BROKE TO GET STUFF, BUT WE'VE GOTTA BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, PUT OURSELVES IN A POSITION THAT WE DIDN'T WANT.
AND I REALLY WANTED TO BECOME A COFFIN, BUT ROCKWELL SEEMS TO BE THE CENTER.
WELL, WE COULDN'T TOUCH ANY BUILDINGS OVER THERE FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN THREE, $4 MILLION.
AND WE'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY THE BUILDING THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT LITTLE, THAT LITTLE FUND SITTING THERE BECAUSE IT'S GONNA COME IN.
WELL, AND IF I CAN ALSO MENTION, OUR COFFMAN SPACE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US.
UM, IN WELLS FARGO MONEY, UM, HAS GIVEN THAT TO US FOR NOW ONE MORE YEAR, BUT ALSO THAT'S ALWAYS UP, UP IN THE AIR.
AND IT HAS BEEN VERY KIND OF THEM FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO GIVE THAT TO US, SO.
ANYTHING ELSE? I CAN HAVE HER DO A DANCE.
THANKS FOR LETTING US SNEAK IN EARLY, RIGHT? YEAH.
OKAY, TAMMY, WE HAVE NEXT MS. ANNABELL, MS. TAMMY, TAMMY.
THEY DID NOT RECEIVE ANY SUPPORT LAST YEAR.
WELL, THEY DID, THEY RECEIVED A SUPPORT AFTERNOON.
EVERYTHING'S BEEN A BLUR HERE FOR THE LAST MONTH.
UM, SO I AM TAMMY PARGO AND I AM, UH, WITH REACH CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCY.
I AM THE FOUNDER AND CEO, UM, OF REACH.
WE ARE A FOSTER ADOPTION AGENCY.
UH, WE'VE BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 2018.
AND, UM, WE ARE GROWING RAPIDLY.
UM, SO MUCH SO THAT I HAD TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT MY NUMBERS THIS MORNING.
SO THE NUMBERS THAT I PRESENTED IN MY PACKET, UM, IS NOT, UM, CORRECT.
SO I'LL GO THROUGH THOSE IN JUST A SECOND.
UM, I AM COMING TODAY TO SEE ABOUT FUNDING FOR REACH.
UM, WE HAVE SERVED THE COMMUNITY IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CAPACITIES.
UM, AS FAR AS DISASTER RELIEF, WE ALSO DO THE GIFT OF HOPE, BUT OUR NUMBER ONE PROJECT IS CARING FOR, UH, CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE AND THOSE THAT ARE NEEDING, UH, ADOPTION.
UH, MANY OF YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT, UM, D FPS IS GOING TO COMMUNITY-BASED CARE AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS, IS THAT THEY WILL NO LONGER, UH, BE THE OVERSIGHT FOR OUR CHILDREN COMING INTO CARE.
WE KIND OF LOSE HOW I FEEL IS OUR ONE-ON-ONE CONNECT WITH OUR COUNTY, UM, AS THE CO COLLABORATE OF COLLABORATE OF EMPOWER, UM, ARE MOSTLY BASED OUT OF DALLAS.
UM, AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR CHILDREN IS, IS THAT REACH IS GONNA HAVE TO TAKE A MORE VIVID APPROACH TO HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY ARE TAKEN CARE OF.
UH, WE HAVE STARTED RECRUITING MORE KAUFMAN COUNTY FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS AREN'T LEAVING THIS COUNTY.
UM, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE NUMBERS THAT HAS INCREASED.
UH, I BELIEVE I REPORTED, UH, IT WAS 13 IN MY PACKET THAT I
[01:05:01]
SENT TO YOU ALL.WE HAVE OPENED THREE ADDITIONAL HOMES AND BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, OPENED THREE ADDITIONAL HOMES, WE HAVE NOW 27 KIDS IN THOSE HOMES.
UM, LAST WEEK, UM, WE HAD A SITUATION WHERE WE HAD CHILDREN IN OUR COUNTY THAT, UM, CAME BACK INTO CARE.
PARENTAL RIGHTS ARE TERMINATED.
UM, I HAD TO BRING A HOME THAT IS INACTIVE OFF OF INACT ABILITY TO TAKE IN OUR KIDS.
UM, THIS IS GONNA BE HARD FOR NOT JUST REACH, UM, IT'S GONNA BE HARD FOR OUR SHELTER.
IT'S GONNA BE HARD FOR CASA, UM, AND POTENTIALLY HARD FOR THE CAC AS WE FIGURE OUT WAYS TO GET THROUGH THIS THING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN ON SEPTEMBER THE FIRST WITH NO ANSWERS FROM EMPOWER OF HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THIS.
UM, WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR KIDS.
AND SO ALTHOUGH REACH, UM, DOES DO, UH, FUNDRAISING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SUPPORT WHAT WE DO EMOTIONALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY, AND PHYSICALLY FOR OUR CHILDREN.
UM, I AM IF ONE OF THE AGENCIES WHO ACT AS A MINISTRY MORE THAN A BUSINESS, MEANING THAT WE CARE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND WELFARE, ESPECIALLY THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, CHILDREN WHO COME INTO FOSTER CARE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE FOSTER HOMES WHO GENERALLY CARE FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY DO GET REIMBURSEMENT CHECKS AND SOMETIMES IT IS ABOUT THE MONEY.
BUT WHAT I CAN SAY WITH REACH CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCY IS EVERY SINGLE FAMILY THAT WE HAVE TREATS OUR CHILDREN AS IF THEY ARE THEIR OWN.
AND SO WE NEED THE FUNDING TO GROW.
I NEED STAFF, I NEED EYES, I NEED EARS.
UM, I HAD TWO MEETINGS THIS MORNING, WHICH IS WHY I GOT HERE RIGHT AT TWO O'CLOCK.
UM, JUST EXPLAINING TO THEM THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH OUR KIDS IN FOSTER CARE.
WE HAVE CHILDREN WALKING AWAY FROM FOSTER CARE WHO ARE ON PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION.
WHEN THEY LEAVE FOSTER CARE, THEIR PSYCHO, UH, PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION THEN BECOMES MARIJUANA MESS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE WHAT THEY NEED OR THE MEANS TO GET THIS MEDICATION ON THEIR OWN.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A ADDRESS, YOU DON'T GET MEDICAID.
SO OUR KIDS ARE SEEKING OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED BECAUSE WE CAN'T STICK WITH THEM LONG TERM.
A CHILD CAN STAY IN FOSTER CARE IN EXTENDED CARE UP TO 22.
EDUCATION IS NOT THERE FOR OUR BABIES.
THEY WANNA GET AWAY FROM THESE PEOPLE AND THEY GO OUT IN THIS CRUEL WORLD ON THEIR OWN, TRYING TO DO LIFE.
AND IT'S NOT WORKING IN SIX MONTHS.
THEY'RE EITHER ON DRUGS AND HAVE OVERDOSED OR THEY'RE IN OUR CRIMINAL SYSTEM.
SO OUR GOAL IS THAT EVERY CHILD THAT WE TOUCH OR REACH, CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCY, THEY KNOW THEIR RIGHTS.
WHEN THEY LEAVE FOSTER CARE, THEY KNOW HOW LONG THEY CAN STAY.
WE DON'T JUST WANT THEM JUST TO BE IN CARE WHILE UNTIL THEY'RE 18 AND TO LEAVE.
WE HAVE THREE COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
WE HAVE A UNITED STATES, UM, I'M GONNA MESS THIS UP.
SHE'S A, SHE WENT IN AS GOING INTO THE MILITARY AT 17 KAUFMAN COUNTY BABY.
SHE'S ABOUT TO BE PINNED NEXT WEEK.
SO MY FOSTER FAMILY WHO HOME SHE WAS IN, SHE DIDN'T WANNA BE ADOPTED, BUT THEY'RE STILL HER PARENTS AND HER HUSBAND IS PINNING HER AT THAT CEREMONY.
SO THESE ARE THE KIND OF FOSTER FAMILIES THAT WE ARE SEEKING.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF FOSTER FAMILIES THAT ARE IN THE TRENCHES WITH US.
AND WE THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US THUS FAR IN OUR FUNDRAISERS.
Y'ALL REALLY DO STICK UP FOR ME.
AND Y'ALL COME IN AND Y'ALL SUPPORT, BUT WE NEED FUNDS TO KEEP GOING.
AND SO I'M ASKING THE COURT TO PLEASE CONSIDER REACH CHILD PLACING AGENCY.
WE HAVE TOUCHED OVER 300 CHILDREN AND THE CHILDREN THAT WE TOUCH ARE IN OUR HOMES.
AND THEY RECEIVE SERVICES FROM THE CHILD WELFARE BOARD, UH, FROM COURTNEY.
THEY RECEIVE SERVICES FROM THE CAC, THEY RECEIVE SERVICES FROM CASA, BUT THEY ARE IN OUR HOMES 24 HOURS A DAY.
AND WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE LOVING ON THESE BABIES.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I JUST MAKE A COMMENT.
UH, MY WIFE AND I BOTH HAD THE, UH, PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD FOR A WHILE WITH REACH.
THEY, THEY DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND THE KIDS THEY TOUCH.
IT'S JUST, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S HEARTBREAKING.
GOT ALL THE TICKETS FOR THE BRONCO? NOT YET.
SO WE DO HAVE A I WASN'T GONNA CATCH THAT, BUT SINCE YOU KAUFMAN
[01:10:01]
COUNTY, I HOPE THIS IS LIVE.WE ARE GIVING AWAY A BRAND NEW 2003 FORD BRONCO.
AND I KNOW SOME OF Y'ALL'S KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE AND THEY NEED CARS,
SO WE ARE GIVING IT AWAY ON AUGUST THE FOURTH.
SO YOU MAY NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE A CAR IF YOU'RE THE LUCKY WINNER.
AND SO, AND I DO WANNA ASK, YOU KNOW, COME AND SEE OUR KIDS.
LIKE ALL OF OUR EVENTS, YOU GUYS ARE ALL BACKGROUND CHECKED IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.
WE HAVE OUR BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT ON AUGUST THE FOURTH.
REACH PROVIDES BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES, THE BASICS FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS THAT ARE IN FOSTER CARE AND THEY WILL BE THERE.
UM, IF YOU WANNA COME OUT, VOLUNTEER SUPPORT AND JUST COME AND SEE OUR BABIES, LOVE ON OUR BABIES, 5, 10, 15 MINUTES.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE STOP BY.
IT'S AT CORNERSTONE REFORM BAPTIST CHURCH, WHICH IS WHERE OUR OFFICE IS IN TERRELL, AND IT'S FROM FIVE 30 TO EIGHT 30.
AND I YOU, IF YOU, IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE YOUNG AND YOU WANNA COME IN YOUR LITTLE SWIM SHORTS, WE WILL HAVE SWIMMING ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES AND UM, WE'LL TAKE PICTURES OF Y'ALL.
IF YOU GET ON THE WATER SLIDE, WE'LL MAKE SURE WE SEND IT TO YOU SO THAT BE THE LAST PERSON ON THE WATER
BUT WE LOVE OUR BABIES AND WE WANT Y'ALL TO SEE JUST HOW MUCH WE LOVE THEM.
SO IF Y'ALL WANT TO JUST STOP BY, UH, WE LOVE TO HAVE Y'ALL THERE FROM FIVE 30 TO EIGHT 30.
AND ONE LAST THING, COURTNEY'S PROBABLY GOING TO BLUSH OVER THERE AND SHE MAY CRY.
COURTNEY IS OUR NEXT, UM, FOSTER PARENT THAT WE'LL BE ADOPTING MM-HMM.
I'M SO HAPPY AND THIS IS HAPPENING FOR HER.
PLEASE CONSIDER REACH AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, I'M WILLING TO ANSWER THEM.
WHAT IS YOUR REQUEST? UH, WE'RE REQUESTING 25,000.
STAR TRANSIT IS THE NEXT ONE, BUT IT'S NOT UNTIL TWO 30.
OH, WE GET TO TAKE A BREAK THEN UNTIL TWO 30.
TOMMY HENRICKS WITH STAR TRANSIT.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANKS FOR HAVING US OUT TODAY.
UM, AND ALSO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE HAD, UM, FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
UH, I DO HAVE A COPY OF THE, UH, APPLICATION THAT WE SENT IN A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
AND THEN ALSO A COPY OF THE LETTER THAT WE SENT OUR COST SERVICE LETTER, UM, FROM JUNE 9TH.
AND SO THAT'S THE SAME THING WE DO EVERY YEAR.
WE SEND OUT THOSE COST SERVICE LETTERS TO ALL OF OUR, UH, LOCAL, UH, PARTNERS.
UM, AND SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THAT, WHAT OUR BOARD DOES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS IS SET OUR COST PER HOUR OF SERVICE.
UM, AND SO FOR FY 24, THAT RATE IS AT $55 AN HOUR.
UM, LAST YEAR IT WAS 52, SO THAT'S ABOUT A 5%, UH, INCREASE.
UM, YEAR BEFORE WAS ABOUT A 5% INCREASE WITH COST OF INFLATION AND EVERYTHING.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO HIT ANY ONE ENTITY WITH A 10% INCREASE.
SO WE KIND OF SPREAD THAT OVER TWO YEARS.
UM, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, UH, THIS NEXT YEAR IS ABOUT A 5% INCREASE.
UM, SO EVERYTHING IN THE LETTER JUST KIND OF DETAILS OUT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY.
UM, WE'RE NOT PROPOSING ANY CHANGES TO THAT FOR NEXT YEAR.
SO WE RUN ABOUT 16 BUSES, UH, TOTAL HERE IN THE COUNTY.
UM, AND, UH, WE SEE THAT STAYING THE SAME FOR NEXT YEAR.
UM, SO THAT KIND OF OUTLINES THE COST.
UM, AND SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FROM KAUFFMAN COUNTY IS ABOUT 74, 70 1000 THAT SAME AS WHAT LAST YEAR LOOKS LIKE.
YEAH, IT'S, WELL IT'S ABOUT 5%.
71 2 0 3 IS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR? CORRECT.
YOU'RE STILL WRITING INTO MESQUITE AND THEY'RE SUPPORTING THAT.
AND SO THAT'S PART OF OUR COST PER HOUR THAT THE BOARD APPROVES IS THAT'S THE SAME RATE THAT EVERY JURISDICTION IS.
AND SO WE OPERATE IN ROCKWELL COUNTY, KAUFFMAN COUNTY.
WE'RE THE DESIGNATED TRANSIT PROVIDER FOR BOTH OF THEM.
UM, YOU'RE IN DESOTO NOW TOO, RIGHT? YEP.
AND SO THEN IN DALLAS COUNTY, UH, WE'VE BEEN IN, UH,
[01:15:01]
MESQUITE BALL SPRINGS SEAVILLE FOR ABOUT NINE, 10 YEARS.WE'VE BEEN INTO SOTO FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS.
UM, HERE RECENTLY WE EXPANDED INTO, UH, CEDAR HILL IN DUNCANVILLE.
UM, AND SO A LOT OF THE SOUTHERN DALLAS COUNTY CITIES THAT NOT, THAT DID NOT ELECT TO JOIN DART, UM, HAVE NOT HAD PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICE.
AND UH, SO WE'VE BEEN GROWING IN THAT DIRECTION.
UM, THE BENEFIT THERE THAT HELP HELPS TO SPREAD OVERHEAD COSTS.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, THE, THE HOPE NEXT YEAR IS WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP THIS NUMBER FLAT OR A SMALL, UH, PERCENT INCREASE.
UM, BUT OUR NUMBERS BASED IT ON THE CITY BASED, NOT BASED IT.
ISN'T
SO THOSE DON'T IMPACT REDUCTION WHAT WE DO OF OUR FEES? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND SO EVERY CITY HAS ITS OWN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
THOSE ARE BASED ON THE LEVEL OF, UH, NUMBER OF HOURS OR VEHICLES THAT WE PROVIDE RIGHT.
SO SAME THING WITH KAUFMAN COUNTY, UM, IN WHAT WE DO IN KAUFMAN IS WE DIVIDED AMONGST THE CITIES, UH, BASED ON POPULATION PERCENT.
AND THAT'S BEEN THE SAME METRIC WE'VE BEEN USING YEAH.
FOR, FOR A LONG TIME IN THE COUNTY.
SO REALLY NOTHING THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE, THAT'S FOR SURE.
UM, CITIES, UH, PROVIDE ANY FUNDING TO Y'ALL, CORRECT? YEP.
AND SO THAT'S BROKEN DOWN IN THE COST OF SERVICE LETTER.
UM, IT'S KIND OF GOT A BREAKDOWN BY, UH, POPULATION AND THEN WHAT EACH CITY PAYS.
SO, AND OBVIOUSLY THE COUNTIES, UH, HELPING PROVIDE YEAH.
UH, SERVICE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
I SEE STAR TRAINS ALL THE TIME.
I'VE GOT ONE ON THE STREET THAT USES IT EVERY DAY.
THAT'S HOW YOU GET TO WORK, ISN'T IT? JESUS.
IT'S A GOOD THING BEING SENIOR CITIZENS.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T, UH, AFTER LISTENING TO SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, I'M DAMN SCOOTING AROUND AND START SIGNING UP, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN AND BE AS EFFICIENT AS WE CAN, UM, AND TRY TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS EVERY YEAR SOMETHING COUNTY NEEDS.
AND SO IF THERE'S EVER ANYTHING THAT THE COUNTY, UH, NEEDS OUTSIDE OF OUR SERVICE, LET US KNOW.
UM, WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH KAUFFMAN COUNTY.
AND UBER FOR IT'S CHEAPER THAN UBER CHEAP.
IT'S CHEAPER THAN UBER
THERE IS A FAIR, MOST RIDERS DO HAVE A FAIR ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
I GUESS THERE'S NOTHING ELSE IN THE COUNTY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, NO, SIR.
UH, CELEBRATE FOREVER FAMILIES NO, THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONE.
I'M THE DIRECTOR AT, UH, CELEBRATE FOREVER FAMILIES AND I'M JUST GONNA KIND OF GIVE THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DO, A LITTLE RUNDOWN OF WHAT WE DO.
UM, SO WE ARE A, UM, SHELTER, OUTREACH AND RESIDENTIAL, UH, PROGRAM FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN, UH, WHO ARE SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEX TRAFFICKING.
UH, WE CURRENTLY PARTNER AND ACT AS A RESOURCE FOR AGENCIES SUCH AS NORTH TEXAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, UH, THE KAUFFMAN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, KAUFFMAN COUNTY PROBATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, NATIONAL DOMESTIC VI VIOLENCE HOTLINE, DV BEDS AND FAMILIES TO FREEDOM.
UM, IT IS MY GOAL TO BE A CONSISTENT RESOURCE FOR THESE AGENCIES IN KAUFMAN COUNTY, UM, THAT ARE SEEKING HELP FOR OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEED OUR SERVICES.
SINCE OCTOBER OF 2022, WHICH IS ROUGHLY WHEN WE STARTED ACTUALLY KEEPING THESE NUMBERS
UH, 10.3 FROM, UM, ANY OTHER COUNTY IN TEXAS.
[01:20:02]
AND THEN 3.1 WERE VICTIMS FROM OUTTA STATE.SO, AND MOST OF THE VICTIMS OUTTA STATE WERE SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS THAT NEEDED TO GET AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE.
UM, THROUGH JUNE OF THIS YEAR, WE HAVE RECEIVED 194 REQUESTS FOR OUR SERVICES, UH, THROUGH JANUARY THROUGH JUNE.
AND SO I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR, UM, NOT ONLY THAT YOU CONTINUE WITH THE $25,000 THAT YOU'RE USING TO SUPPORT US, UM, BUT TO INCREASE IN AN ADDITIONAL 25,000.
UM, BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING SUCH AN INFLUX OF REQUESTS FOR OUR SERVICES, UM, WE NEED THE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE, FOR THE CAPACITY.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 52, UH, BEDS FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN, AND WE'D LIKE TO EXPAND THAT TO 68 BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR.
SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE QUESTIONS.
AND PLEASE ASK HOW MANY STAFF DO YOU HAVE ON SITE EVERY DAY? OR DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S 24 7? WE HAVE SOMEONE 24 7.
UM, SO I CURRENTLY HAVE THREE FULL-TIME STAFF, SIX PART-TIME STAFF, AND TWO CRISIS HOTLINE ADVOCATES.
SO WE HAVE A CRISIS HOTLINE THAT'S ANSWERED 24 7.
UM, AND ANYBODY THAT IS REFERRED FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, NPA, ANY OF THE OTHER KAUFMAN COUNTY AGENCIES, UM, ARE ABLE TO COME INTO OUR FACILITY 24 7 AS LONG AS THERE'S AVAILABILITY.
WHERE, WHERE'S Y'ALL'S FACILITY AT? IN KEMP.
AND Y'ALL 52 BEDS AT, AT THAT FACILITY? YES.
YEAH, WE'RE IN THE OLD, UM, KEMP CARE CENTER.
IT'S LOCATED, THERE'S ABOUT 12,000 SQUARE FEET.
YOU KNOW, SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THE SIMILAR SAME THING AROUND HERE, WHICH I'M SURE THEY'RE ALL NEEDED, OF COURSE, BUT HOW'S IT DETERMINED WHO GETS WHAT, WHEN SOMETHING COMES UP? I MEAN, DO Y'ALL RECEIVE CALLS THERE OR IS THERE SOME DATABASE OR SOMETHING THAT TELLS YOU THAT THERE'S SOMEONE IN NEED? I MEAN, HOW DO Y'ALL DECIDE THAT? WELL, I MEAN, WE GET CALLS PROBABLY ON A DAILY BASIS FROM, UM, NORTH TEXAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITY.
UM, THE PROBATION OFFICE, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
UM, SO USUALLY IT'S JUST WORD OF MOUTH TO KNOW THAT WE'RE A RESOURCE THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE.
UM, WE ARE INVOLVED WITH A PARTNERSHIP CALLED DV BEDS, WHICH IS A LIST OF AGENCIES IN THE DALLAS FORT WORTH, EAST TEXAS AREA THAT HAVE, THAT ARE SHELTERS THAT HAVE BEDS AVAILABLE.
SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO, WHEN WE ARE COMPLETELY AT CAPACITY, WE'RE ABLE TO CONTACT ONE OF THOSE OTHER AGENCIES AND REFER, YOU KNOW, TO THO THOSE AGENCIES.
UM, KAUFFMAN COUNTY AGENCIES TAKE PRIORITY WHEN WE HAVE OPENINGS WHEN THEY CALL IN.
UM, BUT IT'S KIND OF A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.
THEY COME IN THROUGH OUR SHELTER.
UM, VERY RARELY DO THEY GO DIRECTLY TO OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM UNLESS THEY'RE REFERRED BY PROBATION, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES OR ONE OF THE COURTS.
THEN THEY GO DIRECTLY INTO OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM.
WHAT ELSE GUYS? QUESTIONS? I, I DON'T THINK SO.
WHAT DO Y'ALL, I MEAN, YOU'RE MOSTLY FUNDED WITH GRANTS? WE ARE MOSTLY FUNDED WITH GRANTS.
UM, SO OUR STATE GRANT IS, I THINK IT'S 1 29 806 MM-HMM.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR THAT THROUGH 2024, SO IT'LL END IN SEPTEMBER OF NEXT YEAR.
BUT I WILL PROBABLY, UH, WRITE IT.
GRANTED THEN I'M WORKING, UM, WITH THE LEADERSHIP BOARD HERE IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY AND HOMELESS COALITION TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS FOR MORE, UM, LONG-TERM TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, MORE THAN OUR PROGRAM.
AND SO, UM, MY GOAL IS WE HAVE AN ACRE AND A HALF BEHIND OUR FACILITY TO WRITE A GRANT THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY PUT SOME, UM, TINY HOUSES BEHIND THE FACILITY THAT ARE TRANSITIONAL TYPE HOMES.
SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE NEXT GRANT THAT I'LL BE WRITING FOR.
AND THAT WOULD BE FEMALES ONLY? YES, THAT WOULD BE, FEMALES ONLY HAVE A SHORTAGE IN COMAN COUNTY OF YES.
SO THAT WOULD BE FEMALES ONLY.
IT'S JUST SMALLER PRINT SCHEME.
HE, I MEAN, I'M WORKING, HE SHOWED ME THE BIG PRINT FOR THE SAME THING I'M LOOKING FOR.
HE'S TRYING TO LOOK IT UP FOR SHOWING HIM TELLING, UM, I MEAN, I'M WORKING, WE WERE, I'M WORKING WITH RICHARD DUNN, I'M ON THE, UM, COMMITTEE FOR THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING ISSUE THAT KAUFFMAN COUNTY SPACING.
AND SO OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT JUST, UM, HOUSING THAT'S NEEDED FOR VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BUT THE WHOLE SPECTRUM, MENTAL HEALTH, ELDERLY, UH, VETERANS.
BUT I'M ALSO, YOU KNOW, FO FOCUSING ON HOW I CAN HELP THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE, UM, IN MOVING FORWARD.
BECAUSE ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS ONCE THEY'RE DONE WITH OUR PROGRAM, WHERE DO THEY GO? YEAH.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE LAST ONE IS SHELLY.
WELL, I'M GONNA SAY RIGHT NOW.
I I CRY EVERY TIME I TALK, BUT YEAH, THAT'S JUST ME.
WELL IT'S, IT'S, I WILL SAY THIS,
[01:25:01]
EVERYTHING THAT UH, HAS BEEN FOR NEEDY KIDS AND, YOU KNOW, BATTERED WOMEN AND, AND, AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF AND HOMELESSNESS.I MEAN THIS IS THE GOOD THING.
SO ALL THE STUFF WE'VE HEARD ALL DAY, THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO END IT.
SO BE HAPPY WE'RE NEXT DOOR IF Y'ALL DON'T KNOW.
UM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO PROGRAMS UNDERNEATH US NOW.
SO THE FIRST PROGRAM I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT IS THE DAY PROGRAM.
SO ADULTS AGE OUT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AT 22.
UM, SOME AGE OUT SOONER THAN THAT.
IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THEIR FAMILIES DECIDE WITH THEIR MEETING.
THERE ARE MEETINGS, UM, BUT AT 22 THEY'RE OUT.
UM, THEY DON'T GET ANY PUBLIC SERVICE AS FAR AS THAT'S CONCERNED.
SO BE HAPPY CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THAT.
UM, WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL A SLIDING SCALE.
IF THE FAMILY COMES TO ME AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD ANYTHING THAT'S ON THE SLIDING SCALE, WE GO OUT AND WE ASK PEOPLE TO HELP DONATE TO HELP PAY FOR THEM.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M COMING TO YOU GUYS.
UM, WHAT WE DO FOR OUR DAY PROGRAM, THERE'S A PICTURE UP THERE, BUT I'LL JUST RUN THROUGH IT REAL QUICK.
DAILY LIVING SKILLS, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, TEAMWORK, EXERCISE, ARTS AND CRAFTS, MONEY MANAGEMENT.
BASICALLY WE WORK ON WITH EACH PERSON INDIVIDUALLY.
WE TRY TO WORK WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR THEIR CARETAKERS.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS MOM OR DAD, UM, ON WHAT THEIR PERSONAL GOALS ARE.
AND WITH IT WE TRY TO WORK WITH THEM.
WE ALSO, IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN US OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, I WOULD BE SHOCKED
WE VOLUNTEER AT SEA LIFE AND WE CLEAN TOYS.
UH, WE'RE MEMBERS OF THE LIONS CLUB.
UM, WE TODAY WE DID MEALS ON WHEELS DELIVERY, SO THE COMMUNITY GIVES TO US AND WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE BACK.
THIS IS SOME OF THE BUSY BEES.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEAM AS WELL.
EVERYBODY IS 22 OR OVER IN THIS PHOTO.
I JUST RECENTLY GOT TWO GRADUATES THAT HAVE STARTED AT 19 CUZ THEY WERE DONE WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UM, OUR SECOND PROGRAM THAT WE STARTED, WE DID A PILOT PROGRAM IN THE FALL OR IN THE SPRING.
THE VISION OF THAT IS TO PROVIDE PARENTS WITH OR CARETAKERS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF RESPITE CARE.
ON A MONDAY NIGHT WE PARTNERED WITH STILLWATERS TO START.
UM, WE GOT THE MEAL AND THEN WHAT WE DID IS BREAK OFF INTO A SUPPORT PROGRAM WHERE THEY EITHER GET A BIBLE STUDY OR WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE COMMUNITY PEOPLE COME IN AND TALK ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT THEY MAY NEED.
AND THEN WE ALSO, WHAT WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL A SOCIAL NIGHT AND THAT SOCIAL NIGHT SOMETIMES THEY CAN'T GET OUT ON DATES CUZ THEY DON'T HAVE CARETAKERS WILL PROVIDE THAT CHILDCARE AND THEY GET TO GO PLAY CORNHOLE OR JUST DO SOMETHING SOCIAL WITH OTHERS.
UM, THIS IS A PICTURE JUST SO Y'ALL SORT OF SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE KIDS AT THE KIDS' CLUB.
UM, MY GRANDDAUGHTER'S IN THERE BECAUSE A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I HAD A GRANDDAUGHTER WHO WAS BORN WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND I WAS ACTUALLY DOING THIS AND ON THE ROUTE TO FUNDRAISING BEFORE THAT EVER HAPPENED, GOD KNEW WHAT WAS GONNA BE IN STORE FOR MY LIFE AND I SAID HE PUT NANA ON THE CASE
SO MY GRANDDAUGHTER'S ACTUALLY UP THERE.
UM, THIS RIGHT HERE SORT OF SHOW YOU WHAT WE DID THE SOCIAL NIGHT AND THEN WE HAVE ACTUALLY SOME OF OUR ADULT FAMILIES COME IN AND TALK WITH THE YOUNGER FAMILIES AND TRY TO BE THERE FOR THEM AND LIKE IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMETHING THEY'RE GOING THROUGH, IT PROVIDES THAT SUPPORT.
WE ACTUALLY AND FALL ARE GONNA OPEN IT UP TO ALL AGES THOUGH WE FOUND AND WORKING WITH THE ADULTS IN THE DAY PROGRAM, BUT THEN HAVING THE YOUNGER ONES IN THE REIMAGINED SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT THEY ALL NEED SUPPORT.
AND SO WE'RE OPENING UP COME FALL TO ALL AGE GROUPS ON THE REIMAGINED SIDE OF THINGS.
UM, SO RIGHT HERE I JUST PUT A A FEW LITTLE FACTS SO Y'ALL WOULD KNOW.
SO TEXAS HAS MORE THAN 500,000 UH, CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH I D D.
UM, I'M SURE IT'S GROWING SINCE TEXAS IS GROWING.
UM, WHAT WE'VE REQUIRED IS NEXT DOOR, IT'S 2,500 SQUARE FEET, UM, THAT WE DO OUR DAY PROGRAM OUT OF THERE.
UM, I ACTUALLY, CUZ I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE TO DO THE CHILDCARE PART OF THE SUPPORT PROGRAM, UM, FIRST BAPTIST KAUFMAN IS LETTING ME USE THEIR, THEIR DAYCARE FACILITY TO RUN OUR KIDS CLUB AND THEN WE HAVE THE PARENT SUPPORT PRO OUT OF THEIR CLASSROOMS. UM, SO I OPENED SEPTEMBER 1ST.
UM, NAIVE TO THE NEED IN OUR COUNTY.
I HAVE 25 PEOPLE ON MY DAY PROGRAM LIST AND I HAVE SIX PEOPLE RIGHT NOW ON MY WAIT LIST.
UM, AND IT, I CAN TELL YOU THERE IS NOT A WEEK THAT DOESN'T GO BY THAT SOMEONE DOESN'T HIT MY DOOR.
UM, CUZ THEY'RE COMING OVER HERE TO PAY TAXES OR SOMETHING AND THEY DON'T KNOW WE EXIST AND I HAVE TO TELL THEM YOU'RE GOING ON A WAIT LIST, WHICH BREAKS MY HEART TO HAVE TO DO THAT.
UM, TO HELP WITH THE WAIT LIST.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE THREE DAYS A WEEK.
WE ARE GONNA OPEN UP IN SEPTEMBER TO FOUR DAYS A WEEK.
SO IT'LL BE TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
MAYBE SOME OF THE FAMILIES THAT GO ALREADY DON'T NECESSARILY NEED
[01:30:01]
THE TUESDAY SLOT.SO MAYBE I CAN GET SOME PEOPLE ON MY WAIT LIST IN ON TUESDAY.
UM, WHAT WOULD THE FUNDS, WE WENT LOW.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME TO PRESENT TO YOU GUYS.
UM, I WAS SO EXCITED TO HEAR THAT YOU GUYS DO THIS AND POUR INTO YOUR COUNTY.
UM, SO I WANTED TO GET THE CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU GUYS.
I THINK WE PUT 7,500 ON THE LETTER I SENT.
I HAVE NOT GOT AN OFFICIAL APPLICATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO UM, WHAT THAT WOULD HELP WAS PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING.
I NEED HELP WITH EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW.
UM, YOU HAVE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE MOVING IN IN A PERCENTAGE OF THOSE HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN OR ADULTS.
UM, AND BEING THAT WE'RE THE ONLY NONPROFIT WHERE WE TAKE PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT YOU CAN PAY OR NOTHING, THAT'S HUGE FOR A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES CUZ A LOT OF THEM UM, DON'T MAKE MUCH OR THEY'RE LIVING OFF SSI.
UM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A TRANSPORTATION NEED.
I SORT OF GIGGLED THAT STAR WAS HERE.
I HAVE SIX BUSY BEES WHO NEED A RIDE AND THEY CAN'T PROVIDE FOR FIVE OF THEM.
AND SO, UM, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY.
I THOUGHT WELL IF I COULD GET A VAN RIGHT NOW I USE MY PERSONAL VAN TO HAUL 'EM AROUND.
UM, I'M A MOM OF SIX AND SO I HAVE A 12 SEATER VAN SO I LOAD 'EM UP AND WE GO.
UM, BUT IF I COULD GET ONE THAT BELONGS TO BE HAPPY, THEN I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PERSONAL MILEAGE
AND SO I'M LIKE, IF STAR CAN'T HELP ME THEN MAYBE WE DO THE TRANSPORTATION ON OUR SIDE OF THINGS.
UM, HOW COME, HOW COME STAR COULDN'T HELP? WELL WHEN I HAD THE MEETING WITH THEM LAST WEEK, THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE FULL AND THAT THEY CAN'T, THEY YOU ONLY GET 50% SUBSCRIBERS IS WHAT THEY SAID AND THEY'RE PAST THAT.
SO THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN'T.
SO I WENT, I'VE MESSAGED A LADY THAT RUNS A WHAT'S CALLED MOM TAXI OUT OF FORNEY TO SEE IF MAYBE SHE COULD HELP.
THE PROBLEM IS WE NEED LOW COST, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY PAY STAR MAYBE $2.
UM, AND A LOT OF THESE OTHER PLACES, LIKE IF THEY SAID WELL SOMEBODY SAID USE UBER, WELL THAT'S TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THESE FAMILIES.
SO WHAT I'M THINKING OF DOING IF I GET A VAN FOR US IS MAYBE LIKE HAVE A MEETUP SPOT.
LIKE I HAVE SEVERAL FAMILIES FROM HORNY.
UM, I HAVE TWO AND TERRELL AND LIKE I COULD PICK UP AT THE WALMART.
EVERYBODY DROP YOUR PERSON OFF AT WALMART PARKING LOT.
I'LL PICK UP THERE THEN GO TO TERRELL AND DO MAYBE WALMART.
I'M TRYING TO FIND A WAY AROUND IT
IF THERE'S A JUDGE THAT WOULD PROBABLY TALK TO SOMEBODY, I HOPE SO.
UM, I HAD A MEETING WITH THEM, IT WAS LAST WEEK, LAST MONDAY.
I DON'T BELIEVE IN NOS JUST EVEN WHEN UM, I HAVE PEOPLE COME TO OUR PROGRAM, I DON'T SAY NO.
YOU WILL GET IN EVENTUALLY BECAUSE I KNOW GOD'S GONNA PROVIDE FOR ANOTHER BUILDING SOMEDAY.
MEANWHILE, I'M TRYING TO FIND WAYS FOUR STAR
I HAVE TWO REVIEWS WHO FIT THIS DESCRIPTION.
ONE IS PASSED ON BUT ONE'S STILL THERE.
AND IT'S SOMETHING YOU VERY MUCH NEEDED.
AND THEY LIVE OUT OF THE METROPLEX THEN IT'S HARD TO FIND PLACES THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN WITH THESE ISSUES.
AND, AND A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES HAVE SPENT, I'M PRAYING WITH THE INFL KAUFMAN BEING THE BIGGEST GROWING COUNTY IN THE US THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT PEOPLE COMING IN TO HELP PROVIDE FOR THEM.
CUZ A LOT OF THE FAMILIES ARE DRIVING.
I HAVE ONE THAT THAT CAME FROM A PLACE.
IT WAS A GREAT PROGRAM BUT THE MOM, THE TRAFFIC AND WITH ALL THE OTHER STRESS SHE HAD IN HER LIFE, SHE'S LIKE I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE.
AND THAT WE CAME ALONG JUST AT THE RIGHT TIME.
SO HAVE YOU TALKED TO ANY OF THE AUTOMOBILE DEALERS? MAYBE? I HAVE NOT.
I, I'M PRAYING FOR CON CUZ YOU KNOW, IN THIS WORLD YOU NEED CONTACTS AND, AND I'LL BE HONEST, BEFORE STARTING THIS I WAS A HOMESCHOOL MOM
SO I'M, IF YOU KNOW OF ANYBODY, I'M WILLING TO TALK TO ANYBODY ABOUT OUR PROGRAM AND OUR FAMILIES CUZ THAT'S HOW PASSIONATE I KNOW THE NEED IS.
UM, AND IF THEY NEED, THAT'S THE WHAT I LOVE ABOUT BEING RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO Y'ALL.
CUZ ANYBODY THAT DONATES, CUZ WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LIKE GIVE $5 A MONTH TO HELP US.
I'M LIKE, STOP BY, SEE US, SEE WHERE YOUR FUNDS ARE GOING.
I POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR MONEY IS GOING TO SOMETHING WE'RE CONSTANTLY GOING AND DOING.
SO THERE'S NO QUESTIONS ON WHERE THE FUNDS ARE GOING.
WHERE ARE YOU? WE'RE RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
I I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE THERE DOOR IF YOU LOOK ON THE FRONT NEXT.
SEE BEES BUZZING AROUND EVERYWHERE.
AND PLEASE STOP BY AND SAY HI TO US.
I WISH YOU WOULD CAUSE I'D LIKE TO BE EXPLAINED ON THE 50%.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD THAT TIME I EVER CALLED STAR FROM MY DAD.
I DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD SUCH THING AS BEING FULL.
[01:35:01]
MAKE A MOTION.I'LL MAKE A MOTION OF TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
YOU GONNA SECOND? I'LL SECOND HAVE FIRST AND SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.