[00:00:03]
ALL RIGHT, WELL,[Call to Order]
WE'RE ON AIR AND WE'RE HAVING[1. To discuss the FY25-26 budget requests submitted by the Non-Profit Organizations]
A LITTLE NON-PROFIT BUDGET WORKSHOP, UM, RIGHT HERE IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.200 WASHINGTON STREET AT ONE O'CLOCK, AND WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT.
SO, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO IN ORDER, WE'RE GONNA SUSPENSE WITH ANYTHING ELSE.
UH, WE DID ALL THAT THIS MORNING IN OUR REGULAR MEETING.
AND SO OUR FIRST PERSON UP AT ONE O'CLOCK IS AMANDA LEWIS.
JUST FORMER MAYOR OF FORNEY APPROACH.
AND COME UP, COME UP AND TALK TO US.
SHE'S GONNA TALK ABOUT THE GENESIS CENTER.
I'M GONNA TELL EVERYBODY THAT.
WE'VE BEEN AROUND GOING ON 20, GOING ON 25 YEARS.
WE ARE A SHELTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN CRISIS.
WE'RE OF THE LARGEST SHELTERS EAST OF DALLAS.
UH, WE HAVE A THRIFT STORE ON SITE, WHICH IS OUR MAIN SOURCE OF REVENUE, 5 0 1 C3.
WE DON'T TAKE ANY STATE FEDERAL FUNDS.
IT'S CHURCHES, DONATIONS, UH, BUSINESSES, INDIVIDUALS THAT SUPPORT US AS WELL, OF COURSE, THE THRIFT STORE.
UM, WE HAVE WOMEN WHO ARE SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WE HAVE WOMEN WHO ARE RECOVERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THOSE WHO ARE FACING HOUSING ISSUES, INSECURITIES.
A LOT OF THOSE GO INTERCHANGEABLY.
UH, THEY LIVE IN OUR PROGRAM, IN OUR PROGRAM, 12 TO 18 MONTHS.
UM, IT IS A FAITH-BASED PROGRAM, AND WE BELIEVE IT IS THE TRANSFORMATION THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST THAT, UM, YOUR LIFE CAN TRULY CHANGE ITS TRAJECTORY.
THE WOMEN GO TO CLASSES, WHETHER IT BE A GED CLASS THAT THEY NEED.
UH, WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS CLASS, WE HAVE BIBLE STUDIES.
THEY'RE BIBLE SCHOLARS BY THE TIME THEY LEAVE.
UH, WE HAVE CLASSES ON BOUNDARIES.
WE HAVE SEXUAL ABUSE, ABORTION, RECOVERY.
A LOT OF THESE WOMEN MOST HAVE BEEN ABUSED BEFORE THE AGE OF SEVEN.
AND SO THAT STARTS A PA A PATTERN.
UH, BUT THOSE PATTERNS CAN CHANGE.
UM, WE KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT DO BENEFIT WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
THIS WORKS FOR US IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THIS IS, UM, BENEFICIAL TO, TO KAUFMAN COUNTY.
'CAUSE THESE WOMEN COME OUT AND THEY ARE, THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, AND A LOT OF 'EM WILL STAY IN THE KAUFFMAN COUNTY AREA.
WE DO NOT LIMIT OUR INTAKE, UH, RESIDENTS TO JUST KAUFFMAN COUNTY.
IT IS, IT IS A REFERRAL BASIS.
SO WE DO HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE FROM OKLAHOMA OR ARKANSAS, WHATEVER.
SO, UM, WHAT I'M GONNA PRESENT TO YOU IS A PROJECT THAT WE NEED SOME HELP ON.
OUR BUILDING IS OVER 60 YEARS OLD.
I ALWAYS JOKE, I FEEL LIKE I'M PUTTING LIPSTICK ON A PIG SOMETIMES BECAUSE IT FALLS APART.
BUT, YOU KNOW, GOD HAS PROVIDED, AND HE'S PROVIDED US THE SAME SPACE ON THE SAME PROPERTY.
SO I GET TO WALK BACK AND FORTH TO THE THRIFT STORE.
WE HAD TO REPLACE THREE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS IN ONE MONTH AT THE THRIFT STORE.
SO THAT WAS NOT CHEAP, AND IT WAS NOT BUDGETED.
SO, BUT THAT BEING SAID, WHEN I HAVE A PROJECT COMING UP THAT I, THAT, UH, WE DEEM AS NECESSARY, UM, I STARTED A CAMPAIGN.
UH, I HAD A CAMPAIGN FOR THE PLAYGROUND THAT WAS OUT THERE.
HAD A CAMPAIGN FOR THE CANOPIES THAT WE ADDED.
AND THIS IS OUR LATEST, UH, PROJECT.
SO I DON'T HAVE THAT, BUT I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE FOR YOU.
SO THIS IS A PROJECT ABOUT A REMODEL FOR OUR KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM.
AGAIN, OUR BUILDING IS OVER 60 YEARS OLD.
THE FIRST PICTURE YOU'RE GONNA SEE IS, IS A PICTURE OF, OF THE ACTUAL KITCHEN.
UM, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY COMMERCIAL DISH DISHWASHERS.
WE HAVE, WE'RE FEEDING 30 PEOPLE, UM, THREE TIMES A DAY PLUS SNACKS.
AND WE'RE, WE HAVE A MAKESHIFT KITCHEN THAT'S WORKING, BUT IT'S NOT VERY, UM, IT'S, IT, IT IS NOT IDEAL IN ANY WAY.
UM, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE IS SOME UPPER OF SOME CABINETRY THAT'S UPPER, ALL THE WAY TO THE CEILING.
WE CAN'T UTILIZE THE TOP SPACE.
SO THIS PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES UPPERS AND LOWER CABINETS, AS WELL AS THAT DISHWASHER.
I EXPLAINED WE WOULD NEED TO DO THE LIGHTING.
UM, THE VERY LAST PI LAST TWO PICTURES YOU'RE GONNA SEE IS THE ACTUAL DINING ROOM.
WE HAVE THAT SPACE RUN ON TWO AC U WINDOW UNITS.
WE DON'T HAVE HVAC 'CAUSE THAT'S ORIGINALLY THE EXTERIOR PART OF THE BUILDING.
AS WE'VE GROWN AND MATURED, WE'VE MADE SHIFT THE FACILITY WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE, BUT IT'S TIME TO IMPROVE UPON IT.
IT GETS EXTREMELY HOT THERE IN THE SUMMERTIME BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMING AND GOING THROUGH THE DOUBLE DOORS THAT GOES TO THE PLAYGROUND.
SO I GOT A COUPLE OF BIDS, AND THIS IS THE, UH, CONTRACTOR THAT WE'D LIKE TO GO WITH.
I ASKED HIM, I'M SORRY, THAT'S NOT THAT ONE.
THIS IS, UH, BEEN BROKEN OUT INTO FOUR PHASES.
'CAUSE I WANNA TAKE BITE SIZE BITES ABOUT IT.
UM, THE PROJECT OVERALL IS $90,000.
I HAVE CURRENT, UH, WE HAVE CURRENTLY RAISED 43% OF THAT.
SO WE ARE ALMOST HALFWAY THERE.
WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS PHASE THREE.
THAT'S THE THIRD PAGE YOU'RE GONNA SEE.
BUT LET ME GO THROUGH THE PROJECT AND
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THEN YOU CAN ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.SO THE FIRST PHASE IS, AGAIN, THE MOST PRIORITY.
WE NEED TO GET SOME A C INTO THAT DINING ROOM.
I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE CEILING FANS, JUST TO SHOW YOU.
WE HAVE SIX CEILING FANS IN THAT TINY SPACE, JUST TO KEEP THE AIR CIRCULATING.
THAT IS MOSTLY PHASE ONE, 20 1002 25.
WE HAVE RAISED THAT MONEY ALREADY.
PHASE TWO, THIS IS WHERE IT GETS FUN.
SO THAT KITCHEN AREA, THE THE FIRST TWO PICTURES YOU'RE GONNA LOOK AT, WE NEED TO EXPAND THAT KITCHEN.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WOMEN IN THERE, UH, AT ONE TIME.
AND WE'RE STEPPING OVER EACH OTHER.
SO WE NEED TO BREAK DOWN SOME WALLS, SEPARATE PART OF THE WAITING ROOM, ADD THE COMMERCIAL DISHWASHERS, AND THEN REBUILD THE CABINETRY FOR THE SINK.
AND WE'VE RAISED JUST ABOUT ALL OF THAT.
SO THOSE ARE THE FIRST TWO PHASES THAT, THAT WE HAVE.
AGAIN, WE'VE RAISED MONEY FROM FUNDRAISERS OR BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS.
WE'VE JUST BEEN PUTTING MONEY AWAY SLOWLY BUT SURELY.
PHASE THREE, THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOU GUYS.
UH, WE NEED UPPER AND LOWER CABINETRY.
THERE IS NO COUNTER SPACE EXCEPT THAT'S CENTRAL ISLAND.
AND THEN WHATEVER'S NEXT TO THE SINK, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO PREP OUR FOOD.
SO WE DO NEED SOME UPPER AND LOWERS AND SOME LAMINATE, UM, COUNTER SPACE.
WE'RE ALSO GONNA DEMO THE LIGHTS IN THE KITCHEN.
WE HAVE HALF OF THEM DON'T WORK.
UM, IT'S FLUORESCENT LIGHTING AND IT DOESN'T, A LIGHT UP AND THE AC IN THERE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH.
WE HAVE A HUGE, UH, IF YOU SEE IN THE FIRST PICTURE, I THINK.
SO YOU SEE THE HUGE OVEN THAT WE HAVE, AND IT PUTS OFF A LOT OF HEAT.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE MAKING DO, BUT WE CAN IMPROVE.
AND THEN PHASE FOUR IS THE LAST PART THAT I'M HOPING TO GET FROM SOME CHURCHES.
AND THIS IS CONVERTING AN UNUSABLE SPACE INTO A PANTRY.
WE NEED A PANTRY RIGHT THERE OFF OF THE KITCHEN.
UH, WE'RE ALSO GONNA ADD LED IN THE DINING ROOM.
UM, ADD NEW CEILING TILES, FLOORING, AND PAINT EVERYTHING.
PAINT THE, THE DINING ROOM, THE KITCHEN, THE WALLS, AND EVEN DO SOME, REDO SOME OF THE GLASS.
UM, I HAVE TALKED WITH THIS CONTRACTOR MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THEY'RE GONNA HELP US WITH THEIR OVERHEADS.
SO I DO KNOW THEY'RE GIVING US A LITTLE BIT.
UM, BUT OVERALL, THIS PROJECT IS VERY WELL NEEDED.
UM, THE WOMEN THAT VOLUNTEER IN THE KITCHEN IS A CHORE.
BUT I ALSO HAVE SOME PAID RESIDENTS THAT WORK IN THE KITCHEN.
AND A LOT OF THIS TIME, THIS IS A STEPPING STONE FOR SOMETHING ELSE THAT THEY'RE GONNA DO WHEN THEY LEAVE THE FACILITY.
SO IT IS A, A LEARNING, IT'S A LEARNING AND TRAINING GROUND FOR THE WOMEN AS WELL.
UH, ONE THING I WANTED TO SHOW YOU.
PEOPLE SAY, WHAT DO Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING? WELL, ON ONE SIDE OF THIS PAGE IS OUR 2024 GOALS.
UH, WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED, UM, WE'RE VERY DILIGENT WITH OUR, WITH OUR FUNDS.
UH, SOME OF THE MANY THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE'VE HAD ABOUT 45 WOMEN COME THROUGH OUR PROGRAM.
EVERY MOTHER AND CHILD IS, DOES GO TO ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING.
SO WE ARE PROVIDING ALL THESE SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE TO THEM.
WE HAVE ABOUT 50 VOLUNTEERS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND THE WOMEN ARE IN CLASS ABOUT 80 HOURS A MONTH REBUILDING THEIR LIVES.
WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF FACILITY UPDATES.
WE GOT A CHURCH TO DONATE SOME NEW DINING ROOM TABLES.
WE DID THE, GET THE NEW COMMERCIAL OVEN AT A GOOD PRICE.
WE DID SOME FLOORING IN SOME OF THE LIVING SPACES, AND YOU CAN READ THE REST.
SO WE CONTINUALLY ARE TRYING TO UPGRADE AT SOME POINT, ARE WE GONNA REBUILD? POSSIBLY? ARE WE GONNA ADD ON POSSIBLY UNTIL WE'VE BEEN GIVEN CLEAR DIRECTION? WE'RE GONNA KEEP POURING INTO THE FACILITY THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, TWICE AROUND THRIFT STORE IS ALSO PART OF US.
UM, AND WE, YOU CAN SEE THE PROJECTS THAT WE DID, GOT NEW FENCING AROUND THERE.
WE'VE GOT A NEW INDUSTRIAL FAN, WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR OUR WAREHOUSE.
'CAUSE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO INSULATION IN THAT WAREHOUSE.
SO IT'S, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WALKING FROM YOUR PARKING LOT TO HERE.
IMAGINE WORKING IN A FACILITY LIKE THAT.
UH, WE GOT SOME NEW PALLET RACKING AND WHATNOT.
ON THE OTHER SIDE IS THEIR GOALS.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THE VERY FIRST THING THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON IS BRINGING EVERY WOMAN AND CHILD TO CHRIST.
WE PLANT THE SEEDS, WE, UH, WE POUR INTO THEM.
AND EVERY QUARTER WE HAVE A GRADUATION WITH SOME AMAZING WOMEN.
SO THAT IS OUR MAIN GOAL FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WE DO.
AGAIN, THE KITCHEN REMODEL ABOUT 89, 90,000.
I NEED SOME NEW GRAVEL FOR OUR PARKING LOT.
Y'ALL HAVE ANY CONNECTIONS? I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME GRAVEL, IF YOU WANNA HELP ME WITH THAT.
WE ARE GONNA ADD SOME LANDSCAPING AND NEW OUTDOOR FURNITURE.
AND WE ALREADY PURCHASED THE NEW AC UNIT BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THREE WENT OUT IN ONE WEEK.
SO WE HAD TO JUST GO INTO OUR BANK ACCOUNT AND BUY SOME NEW AC UNITS.
SO ANYWAY, THOSE ARE OUR GOALS FOR THIS YEAR.
UM, EVENTUALLY I'D LIKE TO ADD SOME NEW FENCING AROUND THE PROPERTY AS WELL.
THAT'LL PROBABLY BE MY NEXT PROJECT ONCE WE GET STARTED ON THIS KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM REMODEL.
SO, ANY QUESTIONS? COME ON, I'M GONNA LET I'M START.
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NO.I DON'T HAVE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 17 WOMEN AND FOUR CHILDREN IN OUR PROGRAM.
OUR BUDGET'S 1.1 MILLION AND WE HAVE 35 EMPLOYEES BETWEEN THE THRIFT STORE AND THE HOUSE.
I'M, AND, AND I GUESS YOU ORIGINAL ASKED 27,700, RIGHT? MM-HMM
AND, UH, UH, I'M GONNA, UH, TELL YOU, I'M, I'M BEEN THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE YEAH.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A WONDERFUL THING.
I HAVE ONE AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
I KNOW ONE OF THE GRADUATES THAT, THAT CAME OUT THERE AND HAS A GOOD JOB.
AND WE'RE NOT, DON'T MENTION NAMES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS REALLY NICE TO KNOW HOW GREAT OF IMPACT IT IS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S A, Y'ALL DO A WONDERFUL JOB.
THE, UM, I SAID IT START, WE'RE IN OUR JESUS BUBBLE.
WE JUST GET TO DO THE WORK EVERY DAY.
AND IT'S, IT, WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE FEEL LIKE IT'S A JOB, THEN IT'S DEFINITELY YOUR CALLING.
AND SO IT'S A GREAT, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A, A FACILITY THAT I INHERITED A FEW YEARS AGO TO RUN IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A PART OF THIS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
AND, AND TO HAVE SOMETHING OF THAT SIZE IN THIS COMMUNITY, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE.
AND, UH, WE COMMEND YOU ON THAT.
TODAY WE'RE LISTENING TO ALL THE WANTS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA GET WITH THE JUDGE AND THE AUDITOR AND EVERYBODY ELSE, WE'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY WE CAN ACTUALLY GIVE.
I THINK OUR, OUR MONEY AT, AT THE MOMENT IS KIND OF CAPPED AT THE SECOND, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE IT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS SOMETIMES WE CAN'T DO A LOT ABOUT IT.
AND, UH, AND SO, UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION YOU GAVE, AND I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL.
AND OF COURSE, IT'S ON TAPE AND THE OTHER TWO CAN LOOK AT IT ON TAPE.
IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU MY BUSINESS CARD.
TEXT YOU ANY QUESTIONS I HAVEN'T.
AND I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA LEAVE HERE, JUDGE, AND YOU HAVE A GOOD COPY OF IT.
AND, UH, AND I INVITE EACH OF YOU TO COME OUT AT ANY TIME.
I'D BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU A TOUR.
UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY CHURCHES YOU'RE INVOLVED WITH AND YOU WANT US TO COME AND GIVE TESTIMONIES, I HAVE SOME REALLY POWERFUL WOMEN, THEY'LL COME AND SHARE THEIR STORIES.
SO IF YOU NEED SERVICE PROJECTS, I'VE LISTENED TO 'EM.
BUT Y'ALL ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME OUT, CALL AND TEXT ME TIME.
AND YOU'RE ALWAYS SO IMPRESSED WITH IT.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S REALLY, THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
LADY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THE TIME TO COME IN HERE.
I AM PRESIDENT OF THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER.
GOT, UH, BOARD MEMBER PHILLIP OPNET WITH US TODAY.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, SHANNON, SHE'S BEEN AROUND SINCE DIRT WAS INVENTED.
AND SHE'S OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I HIT HIM IN THE BACK HEAD AND SHE'S 22 YEARS OLD.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S, YOU KNOW,
UM, I CAME BEFORE THIS GROUP, 376 DAYS AGO.
I ACTUALLY WENT BACK AND LOOKED.
I STILL USE A PAPER CALENDAR, UNLIKE ALL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT USE ALL THE TECHNOLOGY STUFF.
WELL, I'M OLDER THAN HIM, SO I'M NOT GONNA SAY THAT.
UM, BUT I CAME HERE 376 DAYS AGO AND TOLD Y'ALL WE DIDN'T NEED ANY MONEY LAST YEAR.
BUT TO PLEASE BE PREPARED BECAUSE NEXT YEAR WE'RE COMING BACK AND WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND I'M GONNA LET, UH, I, I KNOW Y'ALL GOT THE, UH, UH, GOT THE PACKET.
AS AS BUSY AS Y'ALL ARE, YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GO THROUGH ALL 29 PAGES AND, AND, AND ABSORB EVERYTHING.
BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS SO THAT Y'ALL KIND OF KNOW WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM AND WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THE MONEY THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
UM, WE PROVIDED LAST YEAR, LAST YEAR WE PROVIDED ABOUT 1,000,005 IN SERVICES TO THE COUNTY.
AND I'M GONNA CALL 'EM CUSTOMERS.
BUT OUR TWO BIGGEST PEOPLE THAT WE DEAL WITH, OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY EARLY, UH, EARLY, AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THEY WERE BOTH GONNA BE HERE TODAY EARLY, GOT CALLED OUT TO AUSTIN, UH, I THINK AT THE LAST MINUTE.
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AND I UNDERSTAND THE SHERIFF'S ON, UH, ON VACATION OR SOMETHING WON'T BE BACK UNTIL THE 28TH.THAT'S MONEY THAT IF Y'ALL HAD TO GO OUT.
WE, I'M, I'M LIVING PRECINCT FOUR.
UH, IF WE HAD TO GO OUT AND FARM THAT THOSE SERVICES OUT, IT'D COST THE COUNTY 1,000,005.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, Y'ALL.
THAT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
UH, WE SERVED 690 NEW CUSTOMERS LAST YEAR.
UH, 67% OF OUR CASES ARE SEXUAL ABUSE.
AND THE THING THAT'LL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF, 63.5% OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE SEE BETWEEN THE AGES OF ZERO AND 12, THESE ARE YOUNG KIDS THAT ARE SEXUALLY ABUSED, MENTALLY ABUSED, AND THEY NEED OUR SERVICES BADLY.
WE'RE ASKING FOR A BIG SUM OF MONEY.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK I CAN SAY THIS IN ALL SINCERITY, AND IT'S A QUESTION TO YOU GUYS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THE CAC DIDN'T EXIST? WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THE CAC DIDN'T EXIST? SHERIFF BEAVERS TOLD ME LAST WEEK, HE SAID, RANDY, THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO US IF THE CACS NOT AROUND.
AND WE ARE TO THE POINT NOW S***T THAT, UM, WE NEED MONEY.
UH, WE'RE DOING OKAY THIS YEAR, ALL AS WELL FINANCIALLY.
BUT I THINK PART OF OUR JOB AS BOARD MEMBERS AND PARTICULARLY SHANNON'S JOB, IS TO LOOK AROUND THE CORNER AND SEE WHAT'S COMING AT US.
WE DID OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN THE WELDING SUPPLY BUSINESS FOR 60 YEARS AND MY SIXTH YEAR ON THE COUNTY, UH, WITH, UH, WITH THE ADVOCACY CENTER, WE BUDGETED A LOSS.
AND THAT GOES AGAINST MY GRAIN.
AND I HOPE IT GOES AGAINST Y'ALL'S AS WELL.
UH, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO GIVE US THE MONEY FROM THE CHILD SAFETY FUND EVERY YEAR.
UH, THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT $45,000 A YEAR.
WE HAVE A BUDGET OF 1,000,003.
SO WHERE DID THAT OTHER MONEY COME FROM? SOME OF IT COMES FROM GRANT.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA, UH, ENTER, UH, LET SHANNON COME UP IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
SHE'S THE ONE THAT'S GOT ALL THE ANSWERS.
UH, SHE PUT TOGETHER THE PROGRAM AND I'LL LET HER TELL Y'ALL, UH, OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE.
I MEAN, SHE GOT ALL THE ANSWERS.
SHE CAN TELL US WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM.
THAT'S WHERE WE WELL, NO, YOU NO, HE IS ALREADY PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHY SHE'S HERE.
UM, SITTING BACK THERE LISTENING TO, UH, AMANDA'S PRESENTATION AND MY HAIR TIE BROKE AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, I HOPE THIS IS NOT INDICATIVE OF HOW THIS IS GONNA GO
SO THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH TO GO FIND ME A RUBBER BAND STICK IN MY HAIR.
SO I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT MY HAIR LOOKS LIKE.
BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU GUYS FOR JUST LISTENING TO US.
MONEY'S TIGHT, RIGHT? IT'S TIGHT WITH EVERYONE.
UM, I, I FEEL LIKE I'M, I'M, I'M TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW, BUT YOU GUYS KNOW THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO'VE BEEN IMPACTED BY ABUSE, MAJORITY OF THOSE HAVE, ARE SEXUAL ABUSE CASES THAT WE SERVE.
UM, WE PROVIDE A WHOLE LOT OF SERVICES AND WE HAVE THIS REALLY UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP.
WE ARE A PUBLIC SORT OF, UH, PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, RIGHT? WE ARE A 5 0 1 C3, BUT YET WE, UM, HAVE TO HAVE STATUTORILY, WE HAVE TO MEET THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR A CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER IN THAT WE PROVIDE A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM MODEL FOR CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS, WHICH DIRECTS DIRECTLY MAKES LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT THAT IS WHAT MAKES US HAVE THAT, UH, PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE SAYS WE HAVE TO, AND THEN THE TEXAS FAMILY GO TO ALSO ISSUES TO, UM, OUR CAC THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE FORENSIC INTERVIEWS AND THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE METHODS OF HEALING THESE KIDS AFTER THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THESE SORT OF SITUATIONS.
AND SO, AS MUCH AS THE, THE LEGISLATURE LIKES TO, UH, PUT OUT MANDATES, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, THEY DON'T ALWAYS GIVE FUNDS TO MATCH THAT.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHY RANDY WAS TRYING TO HIT ON THE FACTS THAT ALL THE NONPROFITS THAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA HEAR FROM, THEY'RE ALL WORTHY AND THEY ALL NEED YOUR HELP, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN A SITUATION WHERE MONEY'S TIGHT.
UM, OUR, OUR NONPROFIT IS JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN THAT LEGALLY
[00:20:01]
WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES TO YOU GUYS.AND SO BECAUSE WE'RE PROVIDING THIS DIRECT SERVICE TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, IF WE'RE JUST GONNA TALK ABOUT JUST THE COUNTY AGENCIES, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
UM, LIKE THAT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE.
AND WE WANNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE COMING TO YOU GUYS AND ASKING FOR THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
UM, SO DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS IN PARTICULAR ABOUT WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR WHILE WE'RE ASKING FOR IT? ANY OF THOSE THINGS? CAN YOU, CAN YOU KIND OF KIND OF BREAK IT DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT AND WHAT Y'ALL, WHAT Y'ALL ARE ASKING FOR A LITTLE BIT? YEAH.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THE 207,000.
SO, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE DID IS THE OPERATIONAL COST, RIGHT? 4 91, I'M SORRY, 2007.
YOU GONNA ASK ME BIG NUMBERS, RIGHT? I HAVE THE WHOLE PENNY IN THERE.
UM, SO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IS 44,000.
SO THAT'S ALL OF THOSE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SOME OF THESE SERVICES, RIGHT? FOR THERAPY AND FOR THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW PROCESS AND SUCH.
UM, STAFF AND PARTNER TRAINING, UM, WE SEND PARTNER AGENCIES.
AND WHEN I SAY PARTNER AGENCIES, I'M TALKING ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, THE, UH, PROSECUTORS FROM THE DA'S OFFICE AND OTHERS, UM, THAT ARE ON OUR TEAM.
UM, WE SEND THEM TO TRAINING EVERY YEAR AT OUR COST BECAUSE WE WANT OUR PARTNER AGENCIES TO BE AS WELL TRAINED AS POSSIBLE WORKING CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS.
THEY'RE NOT EASY, THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT FUN, RIGHT? UM, BUT THEY REQUIRE, UH, ADDITIONAL TRAINING THAN WHAT YOU WOULD GET JUST FROM GOING THROUGH THE ACADEMY.
UH, FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS LIKE WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN THE DAY-TO-DAY.
SO WHEN I SAY OPERATIONAL COST, IT'S LITERALLY ALL THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, THE EQUIPMENT, THE COMPUTERS, THE PHONE, UM, RUNNING THE AC RIGHT?
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OTHER SUPPLIES, UM, DIFFERENT.
WE HAVE A, UM, PARTICULAR SOFTWARE SYSTEM THAT WE USE TO UPLOAD, UM, OUR DIGITAL EVIDENCE FROM THE FORENSIC INTERVIEWS THAT WE HAVE TO THEN SHARE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND THE DA'S OFFICE.
UM, AND THAT SOFTWARE'S VERY EXPENSIVE, AS I'M SURE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE KNOWS BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR.
UM, BUT THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE TO ABSORB THE COST ON.
AND, YOU KNOW, GRANTS ONLY PAY FOR SO MUCH AND THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH GRANT MONEY AND GRANTS ARE NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE EITHER.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S SORT OF THE BREAKDOWN ON THE OPERATIONAL, THE INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
ON THAT SECOND PAGE, AT THE VERY END, UM, OF THE ACTUAL GRANT REQUEST, IT SHOWS YOU, UH, IT'S CALLED VALIDATION OF COMMUNITY IMPACT.
AND SO IT SHOWS YOU SPECIFICALLY IF YOU WERE HAVING TO HAD TO CONTRACT OUT THESE SERVICES, YOU KNOW, IF, IF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAD TO CONTRACT OUT TO GET FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, LIKE WHAT THAT COST WOULD ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE BASED ON 20, 24 NUMBERS.
AND SO THAT 200 AND 283 INTERVIEWS, UM, THAT WAS AN ACTUAL NUMBER FROM 2024 THAT WE DID FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND THEN 312 HOURS OF EXPERT TESTIMONY FOR THE DA'S OFFICE AS WELL.
AND SO THOSE NUMBERS WERE GATHERED FROM ACTUALLY EARLY WILEY HELPED ME COME UP WITH A CONTRACT RATE OF WHAT THEY TYPICALLY PAY FOR EXPERT WITNESSES.
UM, AND SO, AND THEN JUST, YOU KNOW, UH, STATE VALUES, SO OH, YOU SAY YOU HAVE SOMETHING.
OH, AND ALSO SOMETHING TO CONSIDER TOO.
I KNOW YOU GUYS ALSO ASKED KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE MONEY KIND OF COMES FROM, LIKE WHY IS SHORTFALL THIS YEAR TOO? AND IN TALKING TO SHANNON AND EVEN GOING OVER SOME OF OUR BUDGET THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH, WE'VE SEEN A CASELOAD INCREASE OF 25% YEAR OVER YEAR.
BUT THE POPULATION GROWTH ALSO COMES TO GROWTH OF SOME OF THESE, THESE CASE, UH, LOAD THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO THROUGH WITH, WHICH OF COURSE REQUIRES US TO HAVE TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY TAKE CARE OF THE CASES.
SO WHERE THIS MONEY'S GONNA GO IS NOT JUST IN OUR OPERATIONAL EXPENSE, BUT OUR GROWING EXPENSE THAT WE HAVE WITH THE EXTRA BURDENS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE EXPERIENCING.
WE HAVE A GREAT BOARD TEAM THAT WORKS TO ACTUALLY DRIVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
WE'VE DRIVEN OVER 138,000 LAST YEAR OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO MEET THIS.
HOWEVER, WITH THE GROWTH AND THE EXPANSION THAT WE'RE, WE'RE FEELING, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, OUR COSTS ARE ALSO GOING WITH THAT AS WELL TOO.
SO I KNOW IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT TO SAY, HEY, WHAT'S DIFFERENT LAST YEAR VERSUS THIS YEAR, IT'S TRYING TO COVER EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE'VE HAD TO ABSORB TOO YEAR OVER YEAR.
[00:25:01]
COURSE, WITHOUT US BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME OF THESE, THIS, UH, SERVICE TO THE COUNTY, IT ALLOWS OUR JUDGES AND ALL TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND ACTUALLY PROCESSING CASES AS WELL.I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANNA TOUCH ON TOO, BUT, UH, OUR WORKLOAD FROM THE DA'S SIDE TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THE PROSECUTIONS TO GO THROUGH IN A TIMELY FASHION RELIES ON US TO BE HERE.
'CAUSE FARMING OUT THESE SERVICES WITH SOMEBODY ELSE TOO WILL ALSO TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME, ADDITIONAL TIE UP IN THE COURT SYSTEM TO ALLOW THESE CASES TO GET PROCESSED.
ACT, I SPOKE WITH EARLY AND UH, AND RANDY WAS ACTUALLY THERE TOO, AND WE WERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF WE DIDN'T EXIST, LIKE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO YOUR OFFICE? LIKE, WHAT, WHAT WOULD, WHAT WOULD THE IMPACT BE? AND SHE WAS LIKE, ALL OF OUR CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN'S CASES WOULD JUST COMPLETELY HALT.
THEY JUST GO IN THE GUTTER BECAUSE THERE'S NO ONE TO FACILITATE THAT, UM, NON-LEADING FORENSIC INTERVIEW.
AND THERE'S NO ONE TO PROVIDE THAT EXPERT TESTIMONY AND THERE'S NO ONE TO PROVIDE THOSE HEALING SERVICES THAT THESE CHILDREN NEED TO HAVE IN ORDER TO GO ON AND BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHERIFF BIEBER HAD, UM, EVEN SAID WAS, YOU KNOW, THANKFULLY WE HAVE A CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER HERE, AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE, THE THERAPEUTIC SERVICES TO THESE KIDS TO HELP THEM GET THEM BACK TO A NORMAL PLACE AND PASS ALL THE TRAUMA SO THAT THEY DON'T TURN IN TO SOME JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.
BECAUSE THAT'S JUST WHAT RESEARCH TELLS US.
THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN ABUSED, THEY TEND TO GET INTO ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
CRIME, SUICIDE, DRUGS AND ALL THE THINGS.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY A PREVENTATIVE, UM, PART OF THAT SYSTEM AS WELL.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THERE, LOOKED AT EVERYTHING Y'ALL DO, YOU KNOW? UM, AND I THINK, I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL ALSO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS ARE, THEY ARE SOMETHING THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT A DOUBT.
YOU KNOW? AND I KNOW EARLY NEEDS IT, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS SHE, SHE BEATS US UP.
I KNOW THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT NEEDS IT.
'CAUSE I I KNOW THAT BRANDON BE BEATING US UP THE SAME WAY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THAT 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
UH, DIDN'T YOU HELP THEM AT ONE TIME? DID YOU DO SOMETHING WITH THEM? DID YOU, HUH? NO.
YOU DIDN'T MIKE? OR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT MIKE? YEAH.
MIKE WAS OUR BOARD PRESIDENT SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
BUT, UH, YEAH, I MEAN, IT, IT IS, IT'S WONDERFUL.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF WHETHER IT'S WONDERFUL OR NOT.
IT'S A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE IT.
AND YOU KNOW, THE, THE ASSISTANT, THE OFFICER AT THE MOMENT AND THE BUDGET OFFICER, HE'S, HE'S ABSENT, BUT I MEAN, UH, BUT IF THEY PUT IT TOGETHER AND THEY HAVE IT IN HERE, THEN IT'S, THEN THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
YOU KNOW? 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA VOTE TO RAISE TAXES, SO WE HAVE TO CUT SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW, TO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABOUT THE SAME AS EVERYBODY ELSE AT THE MOMENT WE'RE, IT IS TIGHT FOR US.
YOU KNOW, JUST THE SHERIFF FOREMAN ALREADY LEARNED THAT THEY WENT FROM 10 YEARS.
THEY WANTED TO GO TO EIGHT YEARS FROM 12 AND AT 10, BUT WE COULDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO, BUT THEY MIGHT BE WILLING TO GO BACK TO 12 AND, AND NOT DO 10.
HE SAID BRIAN, BETTER NOT BE WATCHING HIM.
IT IS WHAT, IT'S WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT, WHAT WE DON'T NEED, YOU KNOW? SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S OUR DECISION.
AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE BEST CHOICE POSSIBLE ON WHAT WE DO.
I THINK Y'ALL KNOW THAT ALREADY.
I ALREADY MADE ONE CHOICE ONE TIME.
AND TAKE ALL THAT FUNDS OFF OF YOUR LOAD SO THAT YOU HAVE THAT MONEY IN YOUR BUDGET.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON YOUR SIDE.
IT IS A QUESTION IF WE CAN AFFORD THE SIDE OR NOT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THE WAY IT IS SOMETIMES JUST THE HAND YOU'RE DEALT AND YOU HAVE TO JUST KEEP WORKING WITH IT AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THINGS SLOW DOWN.
I KNOW EVERYTHING'S GONE UP, BUT EVERYTHING'S SLOWED DOWN.
WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH NEW REVENUE AS WE'VE BEEN HAVING, EVEN THOUGH IT, WE DO HAVE SOME, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AND HAVE TO LEARN TO KEEP IT AND NOT GIVE IT BACK.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I HATE TO SAY COUNTIES CAN'T DO NO NEW REVENUE WHEN THEY'RE GROWING.
THEY CAN'T, THEY GO IN THE HOLE TOO FAR.
SO WE HAVE TO KEEP NEW REVENUE IF WE CAN GET IT SO WE CAN, CAN SUPPORT THESE KIND OF THINGS.
[00:30:01]
SO HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY YOU'LL COME OUT ON THE GOOD SIDE OF IT.ALRIGHT, THEN WE HAVE UP NEXT FIND MY PAPER STAR TRANSIT BACK THERE, SIR.
HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? WE'RE DOING GOOD.
THIS IS A MATCHING FUNDS THING.
SKIPPED TO THE END THEN, RIGHT? RIGHT.
UH, I JUST WANNA START BY SAYING WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH KAUFFMAN COUNTY.
UM, AS COMMISSIONER MENTIONED, WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DRAW DOWN SOME OF THE GRANT FUNDING THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE.
SO, UH, AND NOT JUST THE COUNTY, OUR OTHER LOCAL PARTNERS.
WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT WE, UH, THAT WE GET FROM OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
UM, I DO WANT TO REAL QUICK, JUST GO OVER A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON STAR TRANSIT.
UH, I KNOW, UH, COMMISSIONER LANE IS FAIRLY NEW, BUT I, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT, UH, YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH OUR AGENCY, BUT JUST WANNA GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BASICS ON WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO.
UH, SO STAR TRANSIT, WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THE, UH, IN THE COUNTY FOR OVER 45 YEARS.
UH, WE'RE A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE, SO WE'RE MM-HMM
A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY, NOT NECESSARILY A NONPROFIT.
UH, WE PROVIDE ABOUT 215,000 RIDES PER YEAR.
WE'VE GOT A STAFF OF ABOUT A HUNDRED EMPLOYEES, ACTIVE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.
EVERY DAY IS ABOUT 55, 60, UH, VEHICLES EACH DAY.
UM, WE'RE BASED OUT OF, UH, TERRELL.
WE'RE THE FOURTH LARGEST TRANSIT AGENCY IN NORTH TEXAS.
SO YOU'VE GOT THE METROS, YOU'VE GOT DART, TRINITY VALLEY, DCTA, THAT OPERATE, UM, IN, UH, DALLAS COUNTY, TARRANT COUNTY, DENTON AND COLLIN.
UM, AND THEN, UH, WE DO NOT RECEIVE ANY DEDICATED SALES TAX, WHEREAS THOSE, THOSE OTHER METRO AGENCIES, THEY RECEIVE DEDICATED SALES TAX.
WE RELY ON THE, ON THE, UH, CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR LOCAL PARTNERS AND THEN GO GET, UH, GRANT FUNDING OUR SERVICE AREA.
SO WE'RE THE DESIGNATED TRANSIT AGENCY FOR KAUFFMAN COUNTY AS WELL AS ROCKWALL COUNTY.
AND THEN WE DO PROVIDE SOME SERVICE IN DALLAS COUNTY FOR SOME OF THE NON-ART MEMBER CITIES.
SO MESQUITE, BULK SPRINGS, SEVILLE, HUTCHINS, UM, DESOTO, MESQUITE PART OF DART NOW.
SO YOU, I GUESS GOING TO MESQUITE, DON'T YOU? YEP.
SO WE'VE BEEN IN, WE'VE BEEN KIND OF MOVING IN DALLAS COUNTY THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO.
UM, FILLING IN SOME GAPS WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICE.
'CAUSE THEY DID NOT JOIN DART BACK IN THE EIGHTIES.
AND THERE IS NOT OUR EQUIVALENT IN DALLAS COUNTY.
UM, SO WE PROVIDE TWO TYPES OF SERVICES IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY.
DEMAND RESPONSE IS KIND OF OUR TRADITIONAL, UH, SCHEDULE IN ADVANCE.
SO YOU CAN BOOK YOUR RIDES 14 DAYS OUT.
AND THEN OUR STAR NOW SERVICE IS OUR SAME DAY SERVICE ON DEMAND.
SO, UM, WITH OUR, UH, SERVICE, THERE'S NORMALLY A FAIR ASSOCIATED, SO THE RIDER PAYS A FAIR WHEN THEY GET ON THE VEHICLE.
WE DO HAVE FREE FAIRES FOR SENIORS GOING TO, UM, THE, THE SENIOR CENTER AND GROCERY SHOPPING.
WE'VE GOT SOME FUNDING THROUGH AREA AGENCY ON AGING THAT HELPS COVER SOME OF THOSE FAIRES.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE FA HALF FAIR FOR QUALIFIED SENIORS, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND VETERANS.
THOSE THREE GROUPS, UH, RIDE AT AT HALF FAIR.
UM, DO YOU WANNA MENTION RIDERSHIP REAL QUICK? GO AHEAD.
UM, WE, WE HAD A GOOD INCREASE IN RIDERSHIP THIS YEAR.
WE'RE UP ABOUT 28% FROM PRIOR YEAR.
SO IF WE LOOK BACK, WE DO ABOUT 30, 35,000 IN FY 2122, THEN WE JUMPED UP TO ABOUT 40,000 IN, UH, FY 2324.
THIS YEAR WE'RE TRENDING TO 54,000.
UM, SO PART OF THAT IS, UH, DUE TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, THEY HAD THAT BUDGET SURPLUS.
SOME OF IT WENT TO, UM, RURAL TRANSIT DISTRICTS, WHICH WAS, WHICH WAS A GREAT BENEFIT FOR US.
WE'RE ABLE TO PUT MORE SERVICE ON THE ROAD, 28% INCREASE IN RIDERSHIP.
WE'VE, UM, YOU KNOW, ADDED SOME DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO TRY TO BE MORE EFFICIENT, BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE BIG INCREASE IN KAUFMAN COUNTY OR THE
[00:35:01]
REASON FOR THE BIG INCREASE IN, IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN A LOT FOR US, THAT, THAT, UH, OUR GRANT FUNDING GOES UP FROM THE STATE.
WE'RE PRETTY MUCH, WE'VE PRETTY MUCH BEEN CAPPED HERE.
AND SO THE BUDGET REQUESTS THAT WE'VE SUBMITTED IN THE PAST THROUGH THE COUNTY HAS REALLY BEEN LIKE 2%, 3%, 4% JUST COST TO LIVING, ADJUSTMENTS, INFLATION TYPE STUFF.
THERE WAS TIME FIVE YEARS AGO THAT WE ACTUALLY DECREASED OUR BUDGET REQUESTS FROM THE COUNTY.
PROBABLY FIVE YEAR, PROBABLY BEFORE SOME OF THE INFLATION STUFF STARTED KICKING IN OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
SO, UM, THIS YEAR WE ARE ASKING FOR SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, ABOUT $10,000 MORE.
PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE THAT NEW POT OF MONEY, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GO MAXIMIZE THE, THE, THE GRANTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
AND SO, UM, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MA MATCHING FROM THE LOCAL LEVEL THAT WE NEED TO GO SECURE THAT.
THE MORE YOU HAVE FROM US, THE MORE THEY CAN ASK FOR.
AND I MEAN, SO, AND, AND IT BREAKS DOWN THE PERCENTAGE THAT THEY'RE ASKING EVERYBODY FOR.
SO I JUST, UH, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, UM, THERE'S ALWAYS OTHER BUDGET REQUESTS.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M DOING MY JOB AND, AND GIVING YOU, LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER, IT'S, IT'S Y'ALL'S DE DECISION, BUT I WANNA, YEAH.
IN SOME INSTANCES I KNOW THAT, UH, SOME OF THE GRANTS, NOT YOU, BUT PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN APPLY FOR IF WE DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION.
AND SO YOU DO PLAY A BIG ROLE IN, IN THE THING, PLAY A BIG ROLE IN THE WORKFORCE, ANYTHING WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY, WHEN DART CAME INTO DALLAS, I REMEMBER WHEN THE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER ALL THIS, YOU'RE NOT, BUT DALLAS VOTED IN DART.
AND I SAID, WHY? YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION CITY IN THE, IN, IN THE CITY, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, DALLAS DID THAT WAS ACTUALLY OPERATING IN THE BLACK.
EVERYBODY ELSE WAS IN THE RED.
AND THEN WE VOTED IN SOMETHING THAT'S OPERATED IN THE RED EVER SINCE IT'S BEEN IN ESTABLISHMENT.
SO, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S GOVERNMENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE, I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, SO, BUT ANYWAY, Y'ALL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR HIM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? OR, OR DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE? OR DO YOU WANT SAY OR NO? NOW? I MEAN, I, UH, PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
I DID WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS A LITTLE BIT MORE INFO THAN I HAVE IN THE PAST.
WELL, Y'ALL DO A GREAT, Y'ALL DO A GREAT JOB AND A GREAT SERVICE.
I HAVE A YOUNG MAN ON MY STREET THAT Y'ALL PICK UP.
UH, I, I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S THREE OR FOUR TIMES A WEEK, YOU KNOW, HANDICAPPED AND, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE HE'S, YOU KNOW, HE SAYS HE IS OLDER THAN DIRT NOW HE'S ONLY, HE'S 35.
YOU KNOW, MAKES SURE HE GETS AROUND.
SO I, I THINK IT'S A GOOD, IT'S A GOOD DEAL THAT THEY COME AND PICK HIM UP.
I WATCH ALMOST FOUR OR FIVE DAYS A WEEK THAT I WATCH HIM PICK HIM UP.
YOU KNOW, I SIT BACK THERE AND WATCH HER, LOAD HIM AND PUT HIM UP.
GOOD TO HEAR A, THAT THE DRIVER DOES A GOOD JOB.
AND I, I'M THANKFUL FOR Y'ALL.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT OUR JOB IS.
THIS WHAT YOU'RE TELLING THEM, THE BUDGET'S GOING TO BE ADDRESSED, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, CAN'T SAY EXACTLY WHAT THE NUMBER IS.
I, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE WILL KNOW SHORTLY.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS, UH, I KNOW THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
AND SO MAKING THE ROUNDS, AND I KNOW, UM, LIKE I SAID, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING OUR PART.
Y'ALL LET KNOW YOU, YOU COME TO MY TERRITORY A LOT, SO I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING, YOU KNOW? AND, UH, FORNEY IS ONE OF THE, YOU'RE ASKING THEM FOR PRETTY GOOD.
THEY HAVE GROWN A TON, UH, FROM OUR SERVICE, I KNOW FROM POPULATION STANDPOINT, BUT JUST FROM OUR RIDERSHIP, UH, MY POPULATION'S, UH, BIG NOW, UH, PRECINCT ONE IS GROWING.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH HEARTLAND BUSINESS YOU DO, BUT I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IN ALL THE MUD DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT BROKE DOWN, BUT I DO SEE, I SEE A LOT, WELL, I KNOW THIS, UH, THIS PAST YEAR, UM, WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO WORK MORE WITH, BE HAPPY AND HAPPY.
THEY'VE, THEY'VE KEPT US, UH, PRETTY BUSY.
AND, UH, SO WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO, TO HELP THEM OUT.
UM, AND, AND YOU DID IT AND HELP THEIR FAMILIES.
AND, AND, AND I KNOW THEY APPRECIATE IT.
[00:40:01]
CAN'T THINK RANDY? NO.WHO DO WE HAVE NEXT? SO, CASEY'S PLACE.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT HERE.
YOU'RE YET? NO, BUT BUT WE'RE AHEAD OF THE GAME A LITTLE BIT, AREN'T WE? UH, BUT SHE'S HERE WITH COG IF Y'ALL WANTED TO GO, HUH? WITH COG, IF Y'ALL WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND YOU'RE CALLING HIM? NO, SHE'S WITH CALL.
IT WAS A PLEASURE TO MEET TOMMY.
WE'VE PROVIDED FUNDING TO STAR TRANSIT FOR MANY YEARS, AND I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF ZOOM MEETINGS, BUT I'VE NEVER
SO, UM, I HAVE A VERY BRIEF POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
AND THEN I ALSO HAVE A HANDOUT THAT SUMMARIZES, UH, THE SERVICES THAT WE FUNDED DURING THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 24 FROM OCTOBER 1ST OF 23 THROUGH, UH, SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
UM, SO LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET CONNECTED HERE.
AND, UM, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, WE'RE A REGIONAL PLANNING ORGANIZATION CREATED BY STATE LAW BACK IN THE SIXTIES, UM, LIKE STAR TRANSIT, CLASSIFIED AS A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION.
AND, UM, WITHIN THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS ARE SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, 9 1 1, EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, UM, EMERGENCY PLANNING.
AND I AM WITH THE SMALL BUT MIGHTY, UM, AGING DEPARTMENT AND, UM, VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO COCHLAN COUNTY FOR THE, UM, FUNDING.
IT'S BEEN PROVIDING US SINCE 2005, UH, TO MEET OUR MATCHING REQUIREMENTS.
SO TOMMY DID A GREAT JOB OF KIND OF, UH, TALKING ABOUT, UH, MATCHING FUNDS AND, UM, AND OUR REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 IS JUST A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN LAST YEARS, UM, BY ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND CHANGE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR EXTREMELY COMPLEX PASSWORDS, WHICH ARE USUALLY VARIANTS OF MY BRAIN HURTS,
LET ME PULL UP MY POWERPOINT AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, UM, GET STARTED.
L AND KAUFFMAN COUNTY DO 7 25.
UM, SO LET ME SHARE JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR FUNDING SOURCES.
SO, UM, WE, WITHIN THE AGING DEPARTMENT, UM, ADMINISTER, UM, MANY FEDERAL GRANTS.
UM, AND MOST OF OUR FUNDING IS FEDERAL IN NATURE.
WE ALSO RECEIVE FUNDS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS THROUGH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION.
AND, UM, IN ADDITION TO THOSE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS, WE ALSO RECEIVE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CLIENTS, UM, CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR COUNTIES.
UM, AND KAUFMAN, LIKE THE 13 OTHER COUNTIES IN OUR SERVICE AREA, HAS BEEN PROVIDING MATCHING FUNDS SINCE 2005.
AND THEN WE ALSO RECEIVE, UM, LOCAL GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.
SO LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, THE ODD BUDGET REQUEST THAT WE SUBMITTED FOR FISCAL YEAR, UH, 2026.
UM, SO, UM, THE APPROACH THAT WE'VE USED, UM, EVER SINCE 2005 IS TO LOOK AT THE PASS THROUGH FUNDS FOR NUTRITION AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, WHICH ARE THE TWO LARGEST PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE AGING PROGRAM.
SO, UM, WE CALCULATE A PERCENTAGE FOR EACH COUNTY, UM, BASED ON THEIR NUTRITION AND TRANSPORTATION PASS THROUGH FUNDS.
AND THEN WE APPLY THAT TO OUR REGIONAL MATCHING REQUIREMENT, WHICH FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 WILL BE $178,500.
[00:45:02]
SO, UM, DURING OUR PRIOR FISCAL YEAR, WE PASS THROUGH TO STAR TRANSIT AND SENIOR CONNECT $751,395, UM, FOR HOME DELIVERED MEALS, CONGREGATE MEALS, TRANSPORTATION, UM, WHICH REPRESENTED 9.03% OF OUR, UM, PASS THROUGH BUDGET OF $8.3 MILLION, UM, FOR THOSE TWO SERVICES.AND THEN WE APPLY THAT TO THE REGIONAL MATCHING REQUIREMENT OF A $178,500.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE, THE MATH BEHIND THE REQUEST, UM, FOR 16,000 $115.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S A MODEST DECREASE FROM THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR.
SO THE WAY IN WHICH THE FUNDS ARE USED, UM, ARE TO SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE AGING, UH, NUTRITION AND TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, BUT FAR BEYOND THAT, UM, IT ALSO SUPPORTS ADMINISTRATION OF SEVERAL DIRECT SERVICES THAT WE OFFER, UM, THROUGH, UM, OUR OFFICE IN ARLINGTON.
AND I'LL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THOSE DIRECT SERVICES.
SO THEY INCLUDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL PEOPLE WHO ARE CASTING ABOUT FOR AGING RESOURCES CAN CALL US AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO CONNECT THEM WITH FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND PUBLIC BENEFITS, PRIMARILY MEDICARE, BUT ALSO MEDICAID.
UH, WE CAN HELP WITH APPEALS, UM, HELPING PEOPLE CHOOSE MEDICARE PLANS.
WE'VE GOT PROGRAMS THAT WILL PROVIDE IN-HOME SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST BEING DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITALS OR REHABILITATION FACILITIES OR NURSING HOMES.
AND THROUGH THOSE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, WE'LL DO THINGS LIKE BUILD WHEELCHAIR RAMPS, WE'LL PAY FOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT THAT'S NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE.
WE'LL PROVIDE, UM, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE USUALLY WITH, UM, WITH UTILITY BILLS.
UM, AND WE WILL PAY FOR, UM, ATTENDANCE TO COME OUT AND PROVIDE HELP WITH PERSONAL CARE AS WELL AS HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT.
UH, WE ALSO ADMINISTER A LONG-TERM CARE ON OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM THAT MAKES REGULAR VISITS TO ALL OF THE REGION'S NURSING FACILITIES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.
IT ADVOCATES FOR RESIDENTS RIGHTS.
UM, WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT HELPS PEOPLE LEAVE NURSING FACILITIES WHO ARE FUNDED BY MEDICAID AND RETURN TO COMMUNITY LIVING.
UM, AND IN SOME CASES WE'VE, UM, FOUND HOUSING AND, UM, IN-HOME SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN IN NURSING FACILITIES FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
UM, SO THAT PROGRAM'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE NURSING FACILITIES ARE SOME OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE CARE SETTINGS AND MEDICAID IS FUNDED BY YOU AND ME.
UM, SO IT'S, IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM THAT, THAT REALIZES COST SAVINGS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME HELPS PEOPLE REALIZE, UM, THEIR INDEPENDENT GOALS AND, UM, AND RETURN TO COMMUNITY LIVING.
WE ALSO DO SEVERAL, UH, PREVENTIVE HEALTH WORKSHOPS.
UM, PRIMARILY TEACHING PEOPLE WAYS TO REDUCE THEIR FALL RISK.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT, UM, SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO ARE DEALING WITH DEPRESSION AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE LIVING WITH, UM, ANY TYPE OF CHRONIC DISEASE.
UH, WE'VE GOT SEVERAL PROGRAMS FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS INCLUDING INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, THOSE TEMPORARY, UM, IN-HOME PROGRAMS, WE OFFER RESPITE CARE FOR CAREGIVERS TO GIVE THEM A BREAK.
WE'VE GOT COUNSELING SERVICES FOR CAREGIVERS, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT EQUIP CAREGIVERS WITH THE SKILLS KNOWLEDGE, UM, THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO BETTER CARE FOR THEIR, UM, FAMILY MEMBER WITH DISABILITIES.
AND SEVERAL OF THOSE TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE SPECIFIC TO SUPPORTING THOSE WHO CARE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WITH DEMENTIA, WHICH IS REALLY A PASSION OF MINE AS THE CHILD OF TWO PARENTS WITH DEMENTIA.
UM, WE ALSO ADMINISTER A VETERAN DIRECTED CARE PROGRAM FOR VETERANS WHO QUALIFY MEDICALLY FOR NURSING HOME CARE.
WE, UM, HELP ARRANGE IN-HOME SERVICES FROM PROVIDERS OF THEIR CHOICE.
UM, AND THEN AS I MENTIONED, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT CAREGIVERS OF FAMILY MEMBERS WITH DEMENTIA.
THOSE PROGRAMS ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY TODAY'S REGIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE MATCH REQUEST, BUT THE PRIOR PROGRAMS ARE THOSE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL CASE MANAGEMENT.
UM, THESE ARE SUPPORTED BY SPECIAL GRANTS OR BY A CONTRACT WITH A VETERAN'S ADMINISTRATION.
UM, IN TERMS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR, UH, PROGRAMS THROUGH THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING, UM, PEOPLE MUST BE AT LEAST 60 YEARS OF AGE.
UM, SO I NOW QUALIFY FOR ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS OR, UM, PEOPLE CAN ALSO QUALIFY BY BEING AN UNPAID CAREGIVER OF AN OLDER ADULT, A YOUNG ADULT WHO LIVES IN THE HOME AND IS DEPENDENT ON THAT CAREGIVER AS
[00:50:01]
WELL AS GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE AT LEAST 55 YEARS OLD AND HAVE PRIMARY CUSTODY OF MINOR GRANDCHILDREN.UM, ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT WE ADMINISTER ARE MADE AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY.
ALTHOUGH ALL CLIENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE, UH, VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE LOW INCOMES LIMITED RESOURCES TO QUALIFY.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE ONGOING SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S HOME DELIVERED MEALS OR CASE MANAGEMENT OR TRANSPORTATION, UH, WE FIND THAT, UM, MORE THAN 40% ARE LIVING IN POVERTY, UM, COMPARED TO A, A POVERTY RATE OF A LITTLE UNDER 7% FOR NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS, UM, AT LARGE.
SO IT REALLY DOES CATER TO, UM, TO OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE DEALING WITH BARRIERS WHETHER, UM, ECONOMIC BARRIERS, SOCIAL BARRIERS, UM, PHYSICAL, UH, DISABILITIES.
OH, I WENT A LITTLE BIT TOO FAST.
AND, UM, FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SERVICES, PEOPLE CAN GIVE US A CALL.
UM, I'VE INCLUDED THE WEBSITE ADDRESS ON, UM, THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
AND, UM, IT'S ALSO ON THE BACK OF THIS, UM, FLYER AS WELL.
SO, UM, AGAIN, I'M VERY, VERY GRATEFUL, UM, FOR KAUFMAN COUNTY SUPPORT, UH, FOR ITS CONSIDERATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026.
AND I'D BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUDGET REQUEST OR THE PROGRAMS. UM, SO HAPPY TO RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
WELL, I KNOW, UM, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, UM, I GAVE Y'ALL'S NUMBER AND INFORMATION OUT SEVERAL TIMES TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHEN I FOUND OUT WHAT Y'ALL DID.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOME OF THE HARDEST THING FOR PEOPLE FIND MM-HMM
I THINK, I THINK JUST FINDING YOU WITH THE WORDS MM-HMM
PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT YEAH.
IN THIS WONDERFUL WORLD TODAY, THAT COMMUNICATION IS SUPPOSED TO BE SO GREAT.
UHHUH,
AND, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE FEELS THAT WAY MM-HMM
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE USED TO, WHEN I'D GET THE NEWSPAPER OR I'D SEE THE NEWS IN THE EVENING AND I'D READ THE NEWSPAPER FROM FRONT TO BACK MM-HMM.
IT SEEMS LIKE I KNEW MORE THAN I DON'T.
YOU KNOW, NOW AND MEAN THAT SOUNDS CHANGING.
SOUNDS SILLY, BUT I MEAN, I MEAN, I, I SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSPAPER, I READ IT, BUT THAT'S NOW NOT HOW MOST PEOPLE FIND INFORMATION.
AND THE CHALLENGE FOR US IS, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANY ADVERTISING BUDGET, SO EVERYTHING WE DO IS WORD OF MOUTH.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY A WELCOME COMING HERE.
WE PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH FAIRS.
WE SEND FLYERS OUT TO SENIOR CONNECT CLIENTS.
WE DO PRESENTATIONS AT THE SENIOR CENTERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN, UM, TRYING TO DO FOR YEARS AND YEARS IS BETTER CONNECTING WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.
BECAUSE THAT'S TYPICALLY WHEN PEOPLE NEED OUR SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN BE 70, 80 DOING GREAT AND NOT HAVE ANY NEED FOR WHAT WE DO, BUT YOU FALL AND BREAK A HIP, OR YOU ARE DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE FOUR CANCER OR DEMENTIA AND THE WORLD CAN CHANGE VERY QUICKLY.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT DOCTOR'S OFFICES AND HOSPITALS AND HOME HEALTH AGENCIES AND REHAB FACILITIES ARE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT WE DO.
AND BEYOND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO, UM, INCREASE OUR VISIBILITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL BY MAKING PRESENTATIONS TO CIVIC GROUPS AND AGAIN, PARTICIPATING IN, UM, HEALTH FAIRS.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S A HUGE CHALLENGE.
AND IT'S ALSO REACHING PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME.
UM, SO AS I MENTIONED, I READ THE, THE PAPER, I MAY SEE ADS FOR EYEGLASSES EVERY DAY.
I DON'T CARE UNTIL I SIT ON MY LENSES
AND, AND, UH, ACTUALLY THE PEOPLE THEY GAVE IT TO YOU ACTUALLY HELPED.
UH, THE, THE, UH, BECAUSE YOU, YOU DON'T, I MEAN, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, YOU JUST, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO TO CALL.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M IN HERE, I KNOW WHO TO CALL, I CAN CALL BRANDY, SHE'S GOT THE ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING FOR ME.
AND YEAH, I MEAN, I HAVE THAT, BUT I DON'T, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU GET OUTSIDE OF YOUR NETWORK MM-HMM
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU SAY, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S JUST A MAGIC PLACE, YOU KNOW, LIKE A PHONE BOOK.
YOU KNOW, WE USED TO HAVE TO ADVERTISE IN THE PHONE BOOK UNTIL THEY STOPPED PRINTING.
BUT, BUT, BUT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW GREAT OF A TOOL PHONE BOOK WAS.
YOU KNOW, I JUST, I JUST LOVE IT.
NOW YOU GOT THE INTERNET, YOU KNOW, SO I MEAN, YOU JUST ASK ON GOOGLE.
AND YOU ASK THE BIG PERSON IN THE SKY HERE, YOU'D JUST SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW SIRI,
[00:55:01]
YOU KNOW? MM-HMMI DON'T KNOW IF SIRI GIVES YOU A NUMBER OUT OR NOT.
DO THEY? UM, I, I SURE HOPE SO.
YOU KEY UP ON THEM AND SAY, HEY, YOU DO BRING US INTO, THAT'S RIGHT.
IF SOMEBODY CALLS AND ASK WHAT KIND OF HELP.
BUT ANYWAY, GUYS, YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO.
WELL, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WELL, THESE APP TO BE HERE, THANK YOU.
COMING BECAUSE THAT IS NICE TO SEE PEOPLE AND NOT, NOT SAYING ANYTHING BAD, BUT NOT AN EMAIL.
AND AS IMPORTANT AS KIND OF JUSTIFYING OUR BUDGET REQUESTS, WE REALLY DO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE DEALING WITH ELDER CARE OR CAREGIVER OR DISABILITY ISSUES.
I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY OUR SWEET SPOT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE I GAVE YOU A NUMBER OUT FOR AND I'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO SOMEBODY CONTACTS ME WITH HELP, YOU KNOW, SO I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER WAY.
THE OTHER WAY IS THAT IF YOU DID HAVE, IF, IF YOU PUT OUT FLYERS AND NOTICES, WE DO HAVE SOME COURTHOUSES AND STUFF, I'LL BE HAPPY TO PUT 'EM ON THE BULLETIN BOARD OR ON OUR LITTLE PLANS.
WE DEFINITELY HAVE FLYERS AND YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, THIS WEEK WE JUST DEVELOPED THIS WEEK AND RIGHT.
AND THE INTENT FOR THIS IS TO PUSH IT OUT TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WE WANT THE COUNTY JUDGES AND THE COMMISSIONERS AND YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR STATE AND FEDERAL REPS TO KNOW THAT WE ARE AVAILABLE TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
AND THIS IS INTENDED TO SERVE, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA GET YOUR WISH AND YOU'LL BE MORE BUSY THAN WHAT DO MM-HMM
WE JUST, WE, WE HAVE SOMEBODY AT A BREAK AND THEN ROBIN IS HERE WITH CASEY'S PLACE.
[01:01:35]
WHEN WE, WHEN WE BOUGHT OR WHEN WE PUT THAT UNIT IN, THAT WAS WHEN THEY STARTED PUTTING THE, UH, UNITS IN THE, IN THE ATTICS BECAUSE THAT WAS A GOOD IDEAL.BUT OUR PROBLEM IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
NO, YOU NEED A CLOSET TO PUT IT IN, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER.
BUT IT, YOU KNOW, BUT ANYWAY, BUT I MEAN, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO BACK TO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PUT THE UNIT EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS.
BUT THEY'LL TURN IT DIFFERENTLY.
UH, BUT YOU KNOW, THE UNIT THAT WE'VE CURRENTLY HAD, IT'S LASTED US, UH, OH.
SO IT, IT DID ITS JOB, BUT IT JUST FINALLY, IT'S JUST, IT'S GONE.
SO WE'VE GOT A QUOTE FOR 6,500.
UM, 'CAUSE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN COVER THAT ADDITIONAL COST.
WE WERE AT FIVE, BUT THAT, THAT UNIT HAS WENT UP 1500 IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
SO, BUT WE CAN, WE CAN COVER THAT ADDITIONAL COST.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY, ANY QUESTIONS FOR ROBIN? HMM? NO, NO, NO, NO.
I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, I, WE'VE GOT CLOSE, YOU KNOW, THE NEW ONES AND BOY, I HATE TO TALK ABOUT 'EM, BUT, 'CAUSE I, I'VE GOT A FEW, I WON'T EVEN TELL YOU HOW MANY AIR CONDITIONING I GOT 'CAUSE IT'S SCARY.
THE, BUT THE, THEN THE GUY TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY, 'CAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO A BUTANE IN IT NOT, NOT, THEY DON'T HAVE FON IT, THEY GOT THIS BUTANE SPECIAL AND THEY, I HAD ONE QUOTED IN A TWO TON, LIKE $8,500.
AND I SAID, OH, I DID FIND SOMEBODY CHEAPER.
AND, UM, YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, SO MAYBE YOURS IS STILL THE OLD KIND THAT THEY FOUND.
THAT'S THE REASON THEY CAME DOWN TO FIRE.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO UM, WELL, LIKE THEY'RE GETTING AWAY FROM FREON ALTOGETHER, RIGHT? YEAH.
THEY, IT IS SOME KIND OF, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
BECAUSE IT'S THE FREE PROPANE PROPANE.
I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE I, EVERY TIME I SAY IT, I SAY IT WRONG.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BUTANE OR PROPANE.
ONE OF THE TWO PROPANE, YOU KNOW, PROPANE.
WELL, OUR OLDER TO ME THAT, I THINK THERE'S THE SAME THING.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THEY ARE, WELL, THAT WAS, SEE OUR EXISTING UNIT, UHHUH, WE WERE LIMPING IT ALONG, BUT IT'S LEAKING FREON.
AND THEY'RE LIKE, THE COST OF THE FREON IS JUST THE, IT IS JUST ASTRONOMICAL.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S NOT EVEN, I MEAN IT'S, IT'S, WE, WE COULDN'T EVEN START TO DO IT.
'CAUSE IT WOULD BE AS MUCH AS A NEW UNIT TO TRY TO PUT THE FREON IN IT.
WELL, YOURS IS IS, BUT IT'S ALSO, IT'S OLD.
DUNNO, IT'S BACK TO R 22 OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
I MEAN, THAT'S ALL OF THIS IS, THEY GOT 14, THIS IS MAN TALK OR SOMETHING.
AND THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT HEAT PUMPS AND ALL THAT STUFF, AND WE'RE LIKE, WE DON'T NEED THAT.
WE JUST NEED A CENTRAL HEAT AND AIR SYSTEM THAT WILL COOL OUR BUILDING AND HEAT OUR BUILDING COMFORTABLY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE SUMMER, YOU KNOW, WELL, RIGHT
[01:05:01]
NOW WE'RE JUST USING WINDOW UNITS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, TVEC IS LACKING THAT.BUT YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO.
I SAID, WELL, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE WINDOW UNITS.
AND WINDOW UNITS IS A WHOLE LOT CHEAPER NOW.
EVEN THOSE, UH, SEPARATE ONES, LIKE I HAVE IN MY OFFICE, THE LITTLE ONES THAT SPLIT UP THE ROOMS, THEY'RE EVEN CHEAPER.
I SAID, I DON'T GET THAT RIGHT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, NOT AN AC BUSINESS.
THERE'S ANY AC GUYS OUT THERE LISTING.
WE, WE KNOW SOMEBODY NEEDS A AIR CONDITIONING REALLY BAD.
I MEAN, WE'LL, 900 SQUARE FEET.
WE'RE, WE'RE CO WE'RE HEATING AND COING ABOUT 900 SQUARE FEET.
YOU KNOW, I'M UNFAMILIAR WITH CASEY'S PLACE AND I DON'T KNOW, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BETTER LISTENING, MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR AS WELL.
CAN YOU KIND OF JUST GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU SERVICE THE COUNTY? ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.
UH, WE EXIST TO STAND IN THE GAP FOR THIS GENERATION.
UH, WE, UH, OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE HOPE AND BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE AND, UH, CREATE SELF-WORTH.
UH, IN, IN KIDS, WE PREDOMINANTLY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE, THE KIDDOS THAT WE SERVE, UH, HAVE LEARNING DIFFERENCES SUCH AS A-D-D-A-D-H-D, WHERE THEY NEED TO LEARN HOW TO REIGN IN THOSE BEHAVIORS AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, REIGN IN THOSE BEHAVIORS.
SO WE FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP SKILLS, UM, BUILDING CHARACTER AND HOPING TO BUILD LEADERS OF TOMORROW IN INSTEAD OF FOLLOWERS.
UM, WE ALSO, UH, WE ARE PLACED THAT PROVIDES, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE KIDS THAT ARE HOUSED IN THE VARIOUS SHELTERS HERE IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY, WHICH WE HAVE THREE.
UH, WE GET THOSE KIDS OUT OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT, UM, AND TRY TO INSPIRE IN THEM THAT THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES DON'T HAVE TO DEFINE WHO THEY BECOME AND GIVE THEM, GIVE THEM HOPE AND SHOW THEM THAT THEY CAN BREAK THE, BREAK THE CYCLE, THAT GENERATIONAL CYCLE.
UM, WE ALSO, UH, WE HELP WITH THE, UH, THE KAUFFMAN COUNTY ADULT PROBATION CENTER, UH, GETTING THEIR INDIVIDUALS, THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS AND WORKING, WORKING THOSE PEOPLE.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING A PLACE, A HUB WHERE, WHERE THEY CAN GET THEIR, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS.
WE ALSO WORK WITH THE JUVENILE, PROVO PROBATION DEPARTMENT HERE IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY.
AND, UH, WORKING WITH THOSE KIDS AS WELL, UH, TRYING TO CREATE IN THEM, YOU KNOW, A DESIRE TO BE BETTER AND DO BETTER.
BUT, UH, WE, LIKE I SAID, WE ARE, WE'RE OPEN WHEN SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED TO GIVE, UH, KIDS A SAFE HAVEN TO COME TO AND TO, TO GROW AS INDIVIDUALS.
UH, THIS YEAR WE STARTED A, UH, NEW PROGRAM WITH THE, UH, IT'S CALLED LIONS QUEST.
IT'S PART OF THE LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL, UH, WITH A FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH, UH, FOR KIDS AND HOW TO HANDLE EMOTIONAL ISSUES, BULLYING AND SUCH AS THAT.
AND WE DO HAVE AN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM THAT, UH, THAT WE RUN THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
AND WE'RE START, WE'RE IN, WE'RE, THIS IS OUR 13TH YEAR.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR ROBIN? NO, NO.
ALRIGHT ROBIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL DO.
I APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT AND, AND NEVER, NEVER ASKED FOR MONEY FIRST TIME, RIGHT? YES SIR.
WHAT IS IT? BREAK TIME FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.
HAVE NOTHING BEEN GOING ALL DAY? NO, NO, I'M JUST TEASING.
NO, WE'RE GONNA LISTEN TO YOU, LAUREN, COME ON.
I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK OF A GOOD EXCUSE TO LEAVE.
JUST SIT HERE AND TALK TO MYSELF.
HAVE Y'ALL BEEN OUT THIS ALL DAY? NO, NO.
WELL, I KNOW I WAS HERE LAST WEEK AND EXPRESSED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAMMING WE DO AND
[01:10:01]
OBVIOUSLY THE PROGRAMMING WE'RE GONNA STEP INTO WITH JUVENILE JUSTICE.SO TYPICALLY I WOULD EXPLAIN ALL THAT AND WHAT WE DO.
BUT I WANNA ASK ONE, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? AND TWO, BRANDI, IS IT BETTER FOR ME TO EXPLAIN IT SINCE THIS IS BEING RECORDED? I WOULD THINK SO, YEAH.
SO I'M LAUREN ROWE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LONE STAR CASA.
WE ARE COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.
SO WHEN A CHILD CAN NO LONGER REMAIN SAFELY IN THEIR HOME DUE TO ABUSE AND NEGLECT, WE GET APPOINTED ON THAT CIVIL CASE WHEN THE STATE TAKES TEMPORARY CUSTODY OF THE CHILD.
WE WORK WITH THE CHILD AND THE FAMILY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CIVIL CASE, WHICH IS ON AVERAGE 22 MONTHS.
AND WE DO THAT BY LOOKING OUT FOR THE CHILD'S BEST INTEREST.
SO WE ADVOCATE ON EDUCATION, MEDICAL, UH, MENTAL HEALTH, LEGAL, ALL OF THAT.
WE'RE ADVOCATING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COURT CASE.
SO WE DO IT FOR THE CHILD, BUT ULTIMATELY WE'RE DOING IT FOR THE FAMILY, RIGHT.
SO WE WORK A LOT WITH THE FAMILY ALONGSIDE THEM TO HOPEFULLY GET THOSE CHILDREN RETURNED HOME.
WE ALSO GET TO WORK ON ORDER TO PARTICIPATE CASES.
SO THESE ARE CASES WHERE ABUSE AND NEGLECT HAS HAPPENED.
UM, BUT THEY HAVE DETERMINED, THE STATE HAS DETERMINED THAT THEY CAN REMAIN SAFELY IN THEIR HOME WITH A SAFETY PLAN.
AND SO WE ARE NOW APPOINTED TO THOSE CASES.
THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR THIRD FULL YEAR, UM, TO BEGIN THAT IN SEPTEMBER.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF GROWTH IN THAT.
UM, AND SO OVERALL WE SERVE EVERY CHILD THAT NEEDS US IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY.
WE'RE APPOINTED TO EVERY CASE BY JUDGE RUSSELL AND THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE LAMER.
AND WE SERVE THOSE WITH OVER A HUNDRED, OVER A HUNDRED PLUS VOLUNTEERS.
AND SO WE HAVE A SMALL STAFF THAT SUPPORT THOSE VOLUNTEERS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH EVERY CHILD THAT NEEDS US.
SO, UM, JUST TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GROWTH, I KNOW I MENTIONED IT LAST WEEK, BUT IN THE KIDS THAT WE HAVE SERVED THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHICH OUR FISCAL YEAR ENDS AUGUST 31ST, WE'VE SEEN A 32% INCREASE IN CHILDREN FROM KAUFMAN COUNTY.
AND SO THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE CHILDREN THAT WE SERVE IN THE CHILD WELFARE WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME.
BUT IT ALSO SHOWS A HUGE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT WE'VE SERVED ON THE ORDER TO PARTICIPATE CASES IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY.
UM, YOU ARE THE ONLY COUNTY THAT, UM, WE DO THAT IN FOR ORDER TO PARTICIPATE.
AND IT WAS KIND OF DESIGNED IN A WAY THAT TO HOPE THAT WE NEVER GET TO THE STATE OF REMOVAL, RIGHT? WE PREVENT THAT TRAUMA FROM THE KIDS COMING INTO CARE.
AND HONESTLY, WE ALSO SAVE THE COUNTY AND THE STATE MONEY BY NOT, YOU KNOW, BY HOPING TO GIVE 'EM THE SERVICES AND THE SUPPORT THEY NEED, UM, BEFORE THEY COME INTO THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
AND SO ULTIMATELY WHAT CASA DOES FOR THE COUNTY, ONE, WE DO SERVE THESE CHILDREN THAT ARE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THESE FAMILIES.
BUT I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT WE DO IS THAT WE, WE DO HAVE A COST SAVINGS FOR THE COUNTY.
SO ON OUR ORDER TO PARTICIPATE CASES, LIKE I MENTIONED, THERE'S A COST SAVINGS BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T COME INTO FOSTER CARE, OBVIOUSLY YOU SAVE THE STATE FEES FOR THAT.
BUT ALSO THE LOCAL COUNTY FEES FOR THE ATTORNEY AD LITEMS THAT ARE APPOINTED.
I KNOW THAT WAS JUST DISCUSSED IN A MEETING WITH THE JUDGES AND THE ATTORNEY AD LITEMS YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS IN A MEETING TALKING ABOUT OBVIOUSLY THAT THE HOURS HAVE GROWN TREMENDOUSLY IN THIS COUNTY ON THE ATTORNEY AD LITEM.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO ON THE ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IS GO AHEAD AND START THAT RELATIONSHIP AND HOPEFULLY WORK WITH THE FAMILIES TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY NEED TO COMPLETE THE SERVICES TO PREVENT THAT REMOVAL SO THEN THEY CAN GO ON AND GET CPS OUT.
THE OTHER WAY ON OUR CHILD WELFARE CASES IS THAT WE ARE THERE TO ADVOCATE TO MAKE SURE THE CASES MOVE THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE TIMES WHERE CASES DON'T MOVE VERY RAPIDLY, UM, BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEM ITSELF.
AND SO WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ABLE TO KIND OF KEEP IT GOING.
WE CAN REQUEST THE JUDGE TO SEE DIFFERENT HEARINGS, WE CAN REQUEST THE JUDGE TO ORDER THINGS.
UM, AGAIN, ULTIMATELY THE JUDGE GETS TO DECIDE, BUT WE ARE THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES MOVE RAPIDLY THROUGHOUT THE COURT SYSTEM.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS WE HELP SAVE COST.
UM, AND THEN KIND OF WHAT DOES IT COST US? SO FOR EVERY CHILD THAT WE SERVE, IT COSTS US ABOUT $3,500 A YEAR TO SERVE THEM.
AND WE PROVIDE 112 SERVICES TO THOSE CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THAT YEAR.
SO THAT CAN BE DOING A FACE-TO-FACE VISIT WITH A KID, UM, WHEREVER THEY LIVE.
THAT COULD BE GOING TO COURT, IT COULD BE TALKING WITH CPS, IT COULD BE TALKING WITH THE PARENTS IN JAIL OR OTHERWISE, COULD BE TALKING WITH MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, ALL OF THAT STUFF.
BUT WE DO 112, UM, SERVICES FOR THAT $3,500.
SO IT COSTS SO FAR RIGHT NOW FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, $784,000 FOR US TO SERVE KAUFMAN COUNTY KIDS TOTAL.
IT'S NOT INDIVIDUALLY 'CAUSE THAT WOULD BE CRAZY, BUT $784,000 TO SERVE THEM.
SO WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING IS RIGHT NOW YOU GUYS COVER ABOUT 4.2% OF THE COSTS THAT IT COST US TO
[01:15:01]
SERVE THESE KIDS.UM, WE ALSO, OBVIOUSLY JUST LIKE ANYBODY, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF INFLATION STUFF AS WELL.
UM, I WAS JUST SAYING, EVEN SIMPLE THINGS LIKE MILEAGE RIGHT? HAS GONE UP TREMENDOUSLY IN THE IRS RATE AND WE ARE DRIVING ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, UM, TO SEE THESE KIDS THAT HAVE COME FROM KAUFMAN COUNTY.
AND SO JUST WITH THE INCREASED COST, WE'RE ASKING OUR ROCKWELL COUNTY COVERS ABOUT 22% OF THE COST IT COSTS US.
AND SO WE ARE ASKING IF THE COURT WOULD BE WILLING TO DO 11% TO COVER THE COSTS THAT IT COSTS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT 22% IS A VERY LARGE INCREASE.
UM, AND I UNDERSTAND 11% WOULD BE $82,000.
UM, AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING.
IN ADDITION, WE ARE ASKING FOR OUR JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAM THAT I SPOKE ABOUT, UM, LAST WEEK.
OBVIOUSLY WE ARE STARTING THIS NEW PROGRAM.
OUR HOPE IS THAT WITH US SERVING THE CHILDREN POST ADJUDICATION, THAT WE WILL DECREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF RECIDIVISM OF COMING BACK OR HAVING PROBATION REVOKED, UM, AND COMMITTING AN ADDITIONAL CRIME.
OUR HOPE IS TO BE ABLE TO HELP THESE FAMILIES GET THROUGH, CONNECT THEM WITH SERVICES AND, UM, PEOPLE IN THEIR AREA, BUT ALSO GET THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM BUILT UP.
SO HOPEFULLY WE DON'T SEE THESE KIDS BACK IN JUVENILE, BUT ESPECIALLY AN ADULT JAIL.
RIGHT? THAT IS THE GOAL IS TO GET THEM TO CLOSE THAT CHAPTER OF THEIR LIFE AND MOVE ON.
AND SO WE WERE ASKING FOR IF YOU WOULD HELP US WITH THE STARTUP BY ASKING FOR $10,000 FOR THAT.
LIKE I SAID, IT'LL COST US ABOUT $95,000 FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THAT PROGRAM.
UM, AND SO TOTAL WE ARE REQUESTING $92,000.
SORRY, THAT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.
SO LET ME STOP AND SEE IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME.
AND WELCOME COMMISSIONER MOORE.
COULD YOU START COMPLETELY OVER CATCHING BACK UP? CAN YOU YEAH, I'LL JUST SEND YOU A VOICE MEMO YEAH.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL GET EVERYBODY ELSE TO COME BACK.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? START DOWN? NO, WE UH, WE ACTUALLY VISITED NOT TOO LONG AGO.
SO I DID, DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE PROGRAM.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.
Y'ALL DO A LOT FOR THE COUNTY AS WELL, SO THANK YOU.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER LANE? NO MA'AM.
THAT'S EITHER A GOOD SIGN OR A BAD SIGN.
I DON'T EITHER, SO I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK IF SOMEBODY PROBABLY SAYS DIFFERENT
I DON'T THINK THAT'D HAVE SAID THE SAME THING BUT OKAY.
ALRIGHT, WELL CAN I MAKE TWO ADDITIONAL REQUESTS? YOU CAN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO
WELL, I GOTTA, DOES THAT MEAN YOU'RE GONNA RECEIVE ANYTHING? NO, IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.
SO, UM, THERE'S ALSO TWO OTHER AVENUES THAT I WANTED TO EXPLORE THAT ARE POTENTIAL FOR KAUFFMAN COUNTY TO FUND.
I KNOW I, I EMAILED BRANDY, UM, A FEW WEEKS BACK TO ASK ABOUT THE CHILD SAFETY FEE THAT'S IN THE TRANSPORTATION CODE THAT'S ADDED TO Y'ALL'S DRIVER'S LICENSE.
WHEN SOMEBODY IN THE COUNTY GOES AND RENEWS A DRIVER'S LICENSE, THERE IS A FEE THAT'S ADDED ON THAT FEE HAS TO BE USED ON EITHER LIKE CROSSING GUARDS IN THE ISD OR ON A PROGRAM THAT WORKS IN CHILD SAFETY.
I THINK RIGHT NOW, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BRANDY, THAT THAT IS DIVIDED AMONG TWO NONPROFITS.
AND SO I'M JUST ASKING FOR THE CONSIDERATION TO BE ADDED AS A POTENTIAL FOR THAT.
THAT IS ONE WAY, UM, FOR FUNDING.
THE OTHER THING THAT IS ANOTHER AVENUE WOULD BE, UM, JUROR FUNDS.
UM, SO WE CURRENTLY IN ROCKWELL COUNTY, WE DO RECEIVE JUROR FUNDS.
OBVIOUSLY IF THEY CHOOSE TO DONATE, WE'RE JUST ONE OF THE MANY OPTIONS ON THERE.
BUT WE ARE REQUESTING COULD WE BE ADDED TO THAT? SO THEN WE COULD RECEIVE, WE DO MEET THE MANDATE, UM, OF WHAT JUROR FUNDS HAVE TO BE.
IF, IF THEY ARE DONATED WHERE THEY HAVE TO GO.
AND SO WE'RE ALSO REQUESTING THAT'S, THOSE ARE TWO OTHER AVENUES THAT COULD HELP US WITH SOME FUNDING.
AND THEN MY DANCE WILL COME NOW, I'M JUST KIDDING.
BUT I'VE LOOKED UP THE ACTUAL, THERE'S A FEE ON REGISTRATION AS WELL.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BE A POPULATION OF 1.3 MILLION ON REGISTRATION.
SO THE DRIVER'S LICENSE, THEY, WHEN YOU SAID THAT JUST A MINUTE AGO, I'M LIKE, I LOOKED UP REGISTRATION, THE FEE ON REGISTRATION, NOT DRIVER'S LICENSE.
SO, BUT 1.3 MILLION FEE, THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT, IS IT 1.3 MILLION FOR THE DRIVER'S LICENSE OR AM I MISUNDERSTANDING THAT OF POPULATION? I'D BE WILLING TO BET IT IS BECAUSE IT IS THE SAME AS THE STREET LIGHTS.
YOU KNOW, I CAN'T PUT UP A STREET LIGHT.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE 100, 1.3 MILLION.
[01:20:01]
YEAH.I MEAN, AND OF COURSE I THINK THAT'S SILLY.
I MEAN IF YOU GOT 29,000 CARS AT AN INTERSECTION AND I'M NOT ALLOWED TO PUT A STREET LINE, SOMETHING'S REALLY WRONG.
AND UH, SO, YOU KNOW, UM, THAT, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW THE LEGISLATION, THEY TRY TO DO EVERYTHING ON POPULATION.
IT ALWAYS WORKS JUST LIKE A BILL THAT'S FOR ALL 254 COUNTIES.
IT DOESN'T WORK EITHER BECAUSE WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT.
SO I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THIS JUST WHAT IT IS.
I KNOW THAT PEOPLE TRY THEIR HARDEST AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE REASON SOMEBODY CAME UP WITH A POPULATION FIGURE ON DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT THEY LODGE EVERYTHING INTO THE SAME CATEGORY AND IT JUST DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T COME OUTTA THE HORSE, RIGHT? MM-HMM
UM, WELL, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE CHILD SAFETY FEES, THERE'S A PORTION THE COUNTY KEEPS AND THEN THERE'S A PORTION THE COUNTY HAS TO DISTRIBUTE TO THE CITIES.
WELL, AND I'M SURE THAT THEY'VE DONE THAT 'CAUSE OF, OF STREETS, THE POPULATION OF THE HUH? 1.3 MILLION.
SEE, AND THAT I, I WASN'T EVEN DOUBTING THAT A BIT THE MINUTE HE EVEN BROUGHT THAT UP.
'CAUSE I ALREADY FOUND THAT OUT ABOUT A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS.
IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST IN THAT I MENTIONED THE STREETLIGHTS JUST 'CAUSE I KNOW ABOUT THAT ONE ALONG WITH A FEW MORE THAT IT ALSO DOES THE SAME POPULATION.
SO ANYTHING THEY COLLECT AND DIFFERENT THINGS, IT IS JUST WHAT IT IS.
AND THE OTHER FUNDS, I DON'T KNOW, DID, I DON'T KNOW THE, THE ROYAL FUND.
OH, LIKE THE JUROR FUNDS? HUH? THE JUROR FUNDS? YEAH.
SO WHEN I WAS READING UP ON IT, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS TO MAKE THE APPROVAL.
I KNOW, BUT I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHO'S ON IT.
I'M SURE BRANDY KNOWS ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
I MEAN, WE MIGHT BE USING, I MEAN, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT FOR SOME REASON I JUST DON'T KNOW IT.
I MEAN I, BUT I JUST DON'T REMEMBER IT.
IT'S JUST THE FUNDS THAT THEY CHOOSE TO DONATE BACK.
OBVIOUSLY NOT EVERYBODY CHOOSES TO DONATE THEIR FUNDS BACK.
AND, AND I'M JUST NOT FAMILIAR.
SO IT'LL JUST, IT'LL BE SOMETHING.
AND IF YOU THINK THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO, I MEAN WE'LL LOOK AT IT.
IF YOU THINK OF ANY QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW.
I KNOW, I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF REQUESTS BEFORE YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.
OH, WE KNOW A LOT AND YOU KNOW, SOME DEFINITELY SOMEBODY'S NOT GOING TO GET EVERYTHING THEY WANT.
SO, UH, NOT SAYING ANYTHING BAD, IT'S JUST WHAT IT IS.
WE'RE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE WEARS AS TIGHT AS IT GETS TO ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GROWING QUITE AS FAST AS WE WERE AND THEN WE'RE NOT GETTING AS MUCH NEW REVENUE.
SO IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE TIGHTER THIS YEAR.
I CAN SAY THAT THE JURY DONATIONS WOULD NOT, THE JURY DONATIONS WOULD NOT BE AN IMPACT TO THE COUNTY.
UM, THAT'S WHY I SAID I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S WHY THAT'S SO TO DO SOME WE'LL HAVE TO RESEARCH ON THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE ALL THAT DATA RIGHT NOW TO EVEN SEE.
I I'VE NEVER EVEN SO MANY I DON'T EVER REMEMBER 'EM, I, I DON'T REMEMBER.
REMEMBER BEING, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THE CHILD SAFETY FEE WOULDN'T EITHER.
BUT IT WOULDN'T IMPACT THE COUNTY.
IT WOULD IMPACT WHERE IT GOES.
IT WOULD IMPACT, IT WOULD NOT IMPACT THE COUNTY DIRECTLY.
'CAUSE IT IS PASS THROUGH FUNDS, BUT IT WOULD LOWER THE PERCENTAGE THAT WE'RE GIVING SOMEONE ELSE.
THIS IS WHY Y'ALL SIT THERE AND THE REST OF US ARE BACK HERE
SO I'LL KNOW MORE ABOUT NEXT TIME SOMEBODY SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU'ALL FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
SO BRIDGE FUND, I MEAN, UM, I DON'T THINK THEY HERE BUT MR. SNOW HERE FOR FOREVER FAMILY.
HUH? FOREVER FAMILIES EVER FAMOUS FOREVER PLANT FAMILY.
AND IT'S, IT, IT'S WROTE DOWN HERE ON THE BOTTOM.
IT WASN'T ON THE PRINTED PART.
SO ANYWAY, THIS STATE YOUR NAME, I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOUR NAME.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT CELEBRATE FOREVER FAMILIES IN KEMP.
UH, WE'RE A DOMESTIC ABUSE SHELTER.
UH, THE ONLY EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS IN, IN THE COUNTY.
UH, WE PROVIDE, UH, TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVICE, KIND OF.
WE'VE GOT THE EMERGENCY SIDE, IT'S A 30 DAY SIDE UP, UP TO 30 TO 45 DAYS.
[01:25:01]
TO THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE, WHICH IS A ONE YEAR PROGRAM, UH, WHERE THEY'RE, THEY'RE THERE MORE OF A LONG TERM, UH, AMOUNT OF TIME.UH, LAST YEAR IN 2024, UH, THE LAST YEAR WE'VE GOT A FULL YEAR OF STATS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU WE'RE ALREADY AHEAD OF THOSE.
IN 2025, WE HAD ABOUT 355 CALLS TO THE SHELTER.
ABOUT 322 REQUESTS FOR SHELTER OF THAT.
WE ENDED UP SHELTERING ABOUT 98 COUNTING KIDS AND, AND, UH, AND FEMALES.
UH, WE ALSO PRESIDE PROVIDED OUTREACH COUNSELING SERVICES TO ABOUT ANOTHER 40 OR 50 INDIVIDUALS.
AND WE ALSO POINT 'EM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
A LOT OF TIMES WE GET PEOPLE CALLING US JUST, IT'S NOT A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THEY THINK WE'RE HOMELESS SHELTER OR SOME OTHER OUTREACH WE PROVIDE.
WE GET, WE COUNSEL THEM AND GET THEM GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UH, AND WE DO TAKE, TAKE SITUATIONS LIKE, UH, A FEW MONTHS AGO WE HAD A US UH, AIR FORCE VETERAN.
SHE WAS 67 YEARS OLD, FOUND OUT ON I 20 BY A DEPUTY AND HE BROUGHT US TO US AND WE GOT HER FOR THE NIGHT AND THEN WE GOT HER ON TO WHERE SHE NEEDED TO GO.
UM, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE PAPERWORK THAT I SENT IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH WE GREATLY APPRECIATE HAS FUND HAS FUNDED, UH, FOREVER FAMILIES FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AT 30,000 PER YEAR.
UM, WE GET A GRANT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR VICTIMS' ASSISTANCE TOO, WHICH IS OUR OTHER GOVERNMENT FUNDING GRANT.
AND, UH, WE REQUESTED AN INCREASE THIS YEAR.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THE COUNTY'S IN AND THAT EVERYBODY'S COMING TO YOU WITH ALL OF THAT.
UH, BUT LIKE I SAID, WE, WE, WE DO PROVIDE A GREAT SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF KAUFMAN COUNTY AND, AND REALLY WE GET 'EM FROM ALL OVER THE STATE.
UH, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY COME FROM KAUFMAN AND CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES, ABOUT 87%.
UH, SO ANYWAY, WE DO, WE ARE THE ONLY, ONCE AGAIN EMERGENCY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER IN THE COUNTY.
AND SO WE'D JUST LIKE TO SEE IF THERE, WE COULD GET A LITTLE BIT MORE FUNDING.
WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY THERE 24 7, 365 DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR.
YOU CAN SEE THE PAY SCALE THAT I I ATTACHED TO IT.
THEY'RE MAKING ABOUT 1250 AN HOUR, UH, AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO BASICALLY THE STATE GRANT FUNDS A FEW OF THOSE PEOPLE.
UH, THE, THE CURRENT GRANT THAT WE GET FROM THE COUNTY FUNDS ABOUT ONE OF THOSE ADVOCATES.
AND WE, WE, WE LIKE, COULD USE SOME MORE STAFF AND WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT WITH THE LIMITED STAFF THAT WE HAVE.
BUT THAT'S THE REQUEST THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY FROM CELEBRATE FOREVER FAMILIES.
I INVITED COMMISSIONER MOORE OUT A FEW MONTHS AGO, HAD HIM COME TOUR THE FACILITY AND LOOK AROUND AT WHAT WE WERE DOING THERE.
AND SO I KNOW WHEN Y'ALL GO INTO DELIBERATIONS, HE CAN PROBABLY PROVIDE Y'ALL WITH SOME INPUT ABOUT WHAT WE DO, UH, THERE AT THE, AT THE FACILITY.
JUST LIKE I SAID, ALL, IT'S ONE THING ABOUT THE SERVICES, YOU KNOW, THE NONPROFITS COME IN, THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDE TO THE COUNTY.
THERE'S A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU GUYS.
IT'S JUST LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO.
BUT, BUT LIKE I SAID, MORE CAMP.
HE'S IN CAMP, SO, SEE I WAS RIGHT.
YOU GO DOWN THERE AND HAVE LUNCH WITH 'EM ALL THE TIME.
UH, BUT, BUT LIKE I SAID, THE, THE, THE ORGANIZATION'S BEEN AROUND FOR 10 YEARS.
UH, IT WAS STARTED BY JUNE GROOM.
UH, WE TRANSITIONED PRETTY MUCH OVER TO IN 2019 TO STRAIGHT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER.
UM, THE COUNT, THE DISTRICT JUDGES IN THE COUNTY HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH US, UH, BECAUSE THEY NEEDED SOMEWHERE FOR PEOPLE TO GO WHEN THEY WERE GETTING INTO SITUATIONS.
UH, UH, JUDGE BLAIR HAS BEEN A BIG ADVOCATE FOR US AND IS, AND, AND HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN HELPING US IN A LOT OF WAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE HE, HE, THEY SAW THE NEED, THE, FOR THE, FOR THE EMERGENCY SHELTER.
I MEAN, WE ALREADY HAVE ANOTHER RESIDENTIAL SHELTER IN THE COUNTY, BUT IT WAS THE EMERGENCY SIDE THAT, THAT WAS, WAS REALLY LACKING FOR, TO TAKE SOMEBODY AT MIDNIGHT ON A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE.
UH, WHEN A, WHEN A DEPUTY OR A PATROLMAN'S OUT ON A CALL LIKE THAT, MAN DROPS 'EM OFF.
SO ANYWAY, THERE'S ANY OTHER INFORMATION? YOU, YOU, YOU'D LIKE, I'M, I'M, I'M HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
WELL, I, I WISH Y'ALL GOOD LUCK IN YOUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
I, I, I KNOW, UH, WE, WE DON WE DON'T, WE DON'T NEED GOOD LUCK.
AND MR. MOORE EXPLAINED A LOT OF, A LOT OF THE SITUATION TO ME ON SOME THINGS, AND I TOTALLY GET IT.
UH, LIKE I SAID, ANY INCREASE WILL BE APPRECIATED.
UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, ANY ANYTHING'S GONNA HELP US.
[01:30:01]
LOT OF SUPPORT FROM OUR CHURCHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE WHOLE GREATER AREA.AND, AND LIKE I SAID, SO WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA FIND A WAY TO GET IT.
BUT ANY TIME WE KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT IT THERE, IT MAKES MY JOB EASIER AS THE AGENCY ADMINISTRATOR TO, UH,
ANYTIME YOU HAVE THE MONEY, THERE'S A LOT EASIER TO BUDGET IT.
ALL BECAUSE WE'RE PREDICTING TOO ON SOME OF THIS.
I I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME TODAY.
Y'ALL, Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD ONE IN YOU TOO.
THE REST, REST OF YOUR, THANK YOU, SIR.
WE'RE MISSING SOMEBODY, RIGHT? WE'RE MISSING SOME.
SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE AT TWO 30.
WELL, AND IT'S JUST TWO 30 AND A HALF.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY ON THAT, WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, THE 1.3 MILLION IS JUST A DIFFERENTIAL IN THE FEE THAT YOU CAN CHARGE FOR THAT.
WHAT THE 1.3 MILLION IS THE DIFFERENTIAL OF WHAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY CHARGE FOR THAT CHILD SAFETY FEE.
SO WE STILL, WE STILL DO COLLECT IT AND IT'S JUST THE 1.3 MILLION HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, RESTRICTION ON WHAT YOU CAN CHARGE FOR THAT FEE.
COME UP HERE AND BRIDGE THE GAP.
DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING,
WELL, THAT'S NOT A GOOD WAY TO START TIME.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO, SUPPOSED TO GET UP THERE AND SAY, WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO WE'RE JUST GONNA TALK ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND, AND, OKAY.
A LOT OF TIMES THEY COME IN, THEY'LL TELL US WHO THEY, WHAT YOU'RE, IS THIS ONE OF THE NEW ONES? I GUESS.
SO JUST TELL US WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOUR SERVICE HAS DONE.
SO, WELL, SHARONDA AND I ARE THE OWNERS OF BRIDGE THE GAP FOUNDATION.
WE'RE AN EMERGENCY EMERGENCY SHELTER IN TARRELL FOR GIRLS.
WE'RE LICENSED FOR SEVEN GIRLS, UM, THAT ARE IN FOSTER CARE FROM THE AGES OF FIVE TO 18 YEARS OLD.
UM, WE WERE EMERGENCY SERVICES ONLY, BUT WE'RE NOW LONG TERM, WHICH MEANS THAT THE GIRLS CAN ACTUALLY AGE OUT.
UM, WE'VE BEEN IN OPERATION FOUR YEARS AS OF YESTERDAY.
AND WE HOPE TO GO A LOT FURTHER.
SO, UM, WE PROVIDE SHELTER FOR OUR GIRLS.
WE PROVIDE CLOTHING, FOOD, EVERYTHING THAT YOU WERE PROVIDE FOR YOUR KIDDOS AT HOME.
UM, THEY GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF TAROT.
UM, WE PROVIDE THERAPY FOR THEM.
UM, MEDICAL, DENTAL, LIKE I SAID, EVERYTHING THAT YOU WOULD PROVIDE FOR YOUR OWN KIDDOS AT HOME.
IT'S CALLED A GENERAL RESIDENTIAL OPERATION, IS WHAT IT'S CALLED, UH, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
UM, LIKE CRYSTAL SAID, WE ARE CONTRACTED WITH DFPS FOR, UM, CHILDREN THAT ARE IN CPS CUSTODY.
UM, WE PROVIDE THERAPY FOR THESE CHILDREN.
UM, IF THE CHILDREN NEED 5 0 4 SERVICES, WE'RE VERY INVOLVED, UH, WITH THE SCHOOL AND WITH THE CITY OF TERRELL, THE POLICE OFFICERS, THE, UM, FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEY ALL KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THESE GIRLS.
AND THEY ARE A GREAT HELP, UH, WITH US.
UM, WE USE THE, UM, ALL THE FACILITIES IN TERRELL, LIKE AS FAR AS THE DENTAL, THE VISION, UM, PEDIATRIC DEPOT, THAT'S WHERE OUR CHILDREN GO FOR MEDICAL SERVICES.
UM, LIKE CRYSTAL SAID, WHEN THE CHILDREN COME IN, SOMETIMES THESE CHILDREN DON'T HAVE, UM, THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED AND THEY'RE REMOVED FROM HOME FOR ABUSE, NEGLECT.
UM, WHETHER IT BE, UM, PHYSICAL, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, SEXUAL ABUSE, THEY'RE REMOVED AND THEY ARE WITH US.
SO THE PARENTS DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE CHILDREN ARE.
UM, AND WHEN THEY DO HAVE TO HAVE VISITS WITH THEIR PARENTS, THEY ARE GOING TO EITHER DALLAS TO THE CPS OFFICE TO HAVE, UM, THESE VISITS WITH THEIR CHIL UH, WITH THEIR CHILDREN OR, UM, THEIR SIBLINGS.
WE INVOLVE, UH, WE'RE INVOLVED WITH THEIR ATTORNEYS, THEIR CASEWORKERS, UM, THEIR CASA ADVOCATES.
UH, THEY PLAY A BIG ROLE IN THE CHILDREN'S LIVES.
THEY'RE THEIR MENTORS FOR THEM.
UM, WE CREATE A LOT OF NORMALCY FOR THESE CHILDREN.
WE DO SWEET 16 BIRTHDAY PARTIES.
[01:35:01]
WE CATER TO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO FOR THEIR BIRTHDAY.SOME OF THEM, WE JUST DID A BIRTHDAY PARTY NOT TOO LONG AGO AND SHE'S NEVER HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY.
AND WE DID A 16TH BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR HER.
UM, SHE WENT TO, UH, A HIBACHI GRILL.
SHE, UM, GOT TO DO A SHOPPING SPREE.
SHE'S NEVER HAD HER EARS PIERCED.
YOU KNOW, SO THINGS OF THAT SORT, THINGS THAT WE NORMAL, THAT NORMAL THINGS THAT WE WOULD DO LIKE SOME OF THESE KIDS HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED.
AND WE PROVIDE THAT SERVICE FOR THEM JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE IN CPS.
'CAUSE IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, FEEL LIKE THEY ARE.
WE CREATE A LOT OF NORMALCY FOR THESE CHILDREN.
UM, THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE IN TAROT, THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY WELCOMING, UM, TO OUR KIDS.
UM, THEY INVITE 'EM TO THEIR HOMES FOR, UH, THANKSGIVING.
THEY COME AND DECORATE CHRISTMAS.
WE, THEY HELP US DECORATE OUR HOME.
LIKE THE, OUR COMMUNITY IS VERY HELPFUL WITH US, WITH, UH, FAR AS THE ACTIVITIES AND STUFF WITH THE CHILDREN TO HELP US WITH.
UM, ANYTHING ELSE Y'ALL WANNA KNOW? Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WHAT OTHER DO I KNOW YOU'RE A 5 0 1 C3, RIGHT? YES.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER GRANT FUNDING OR ANYTHING NO.
SO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT FUNDS YOU NOW, SIR? WHAT, HOW DO YOU FUND YOURSELF NOW? WELL, WHEN WE INITIALLY, WHEN WE STARTED, WE FUNDED IT OURSELVES.
SHARONDA AND I, WE, WE MET AT A JOB THAT WE HAD.
UM, SHE'S A TAX PREPARER ON THE SIDE.
I'M A TAX PREPARER ON THE SIDE.
WE PAID FOR OUR OWN SPRINKLER ALARM SYSTEMS. WE PAY FOR ALL OF OUR FURNITURE, ALL OF THE FOOD THAT WE PAY FOR EVERYTHING.
UM, SO RIGHT NOW, THE, THE STATE OF TEXAS, THEY, WE DO RECEIVE A REIMBURSEMENT MONTHLY FOR THE GIRLS, BUT IT'S STRICTLY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE GIRLS.
SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE NEED THAT WE HAVE TO FUND OURSELVES.
IF WE'RE SHORT, WE'RE PULLING IT OUTTA POCKET.
LIKE I HAVE TO GO TO THE BANK WHEN I LEAVE BECAUSE WE'RE SHORT FOR PAYROLL AND I HAVE TO PULL IT OUT PERSONALLY TO MAKE SURE OUR CAREGIVERS GET PAID.
SO WE, WE'VE DONE A LOT OURSELVES.
AND WE, WE WE'RE NOT INTO GRANT WRITING 'CAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO WRITE GRANTS.
UM, SO A LOT OF WHAT WE DO ON OUR OWN.
AND, UM, CRYSTAL AND I WAS TALKING ABOUT LIKE HOW WE COULD, UM, FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET HELP AND, YOU KNOW, FIND OTHER RESOURCES.
LIKE CRYSTAL SAID, WE'VE DONE THIS FOR OURSELVES FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE WITH THE GIRLS.
UM, WE TAKE THEM ON SUMMER TRIPS, CAMPS.
UM, WE DO ONCE A MONTH OUTINGS WITH THEM.
WE WENT TO GALVESTON, TO THE BEACH.
NOW SOME OF 'EM NEVER BEEN TO THE BEACH BEFORE.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE BEACH? YOU KNOW, UM, WE DO EVERYTHING THAT WE WOULD DO WITH OUR CHILDREN, WE DO WITH THESE CHILDREN TOO, SO THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE IN FOSTER CARE.
UM, OUR, OUR SHELTER IS A HOME.
THE CAREGIVERS THAT WE HAVE, THEY HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE DAY ONE.
SO WE DON'T HAVE A BIG TURNOVER.
UM, THESE CHILDREN, WE CAN ONLY CATER SEVEN AT A TIME.
UM, BUT THEY SEE THE SAME MOM EVERY DAY WHEN THEY WAKE UP, WHEN THEY GO TO BED, WHEN THEY EAT.
UM, BUT YEAH, YOU HAVE SEVEN, SEVEN CHILDREN THERE AND CHILDREN AND THAT'S YOUR MAXIMUM.
I MEAN, AND YES, THAT'S, I MEANT WELL, I MEAN, IT'S AT SOME POINT, STATE REQUIRES YOU TO ONLY HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE.
WE'RE LICENSED FOR SEVEN AND THE REASON WHY WE'RE LICENSED FOR SEVEN IS BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE HOME, RIGHT? MM-HMM
SO IT'S IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S A FOUR BEDROOM HOME.
SO THE, IT WAS A 2,500 SQUARE FEET.
SO THEY ONLY LICENSE US FOUR, SEVEN GIRLS.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD LOVE TO TAKE MORE.
BUT THAT'S STATE HAS THE THING THIS YEAR TOO.
AND THEN WHERE YOU GET SOMETHING FROM, YOU KNOW, NO TAXES AND THE PROPERTY TAXES BE CUT AND ALL THAT.
I MEAN, JUST SAYING, I DON'T KNOW.
I UNDERSTAND IT A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT, BUT, AND I THINK A MINIMUM WAS FIVE I THINK, WASN'T IT? IN THE STATE LEGISLATOR.
THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LOOK INTO THAT.
THERE'S SOME BUT THERE'S SOME OTHER HELP FOR YOU.
WELL, NO, WE DON'T KNOW A LOT.
THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO, YOU KNOW, LOOK INTO, PAY ATTENTION TO.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FINAL BILL CAME OUT TO SAY OR WHAT IT WENT.
THEY NORMALLY PLACES A CHILD WITH UCPS.
CPS AND IS DALLAS, CCP, S DALLAS FORT WORTH.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO, AT ONE POINT, UM, WE WERE TAKING GIRLS FROM EVERYWHERE.
WE HAD CORPUS CHRISTI, SAN ANTONIO, UM, HOUSTON, WASHINGTON, NEW YORK.
SO THEY'RE NO LONGER LIKE DFPS IS NOT COMPLETELY IN CONTROL.
SO EMPOWER IS TAKEN OVER FOR DALLAS FORT WORTH.
SO WE'RE NO LONGER ABLE TO TAKE THEM OUT OF DALLAS FORT WORTH.
WE ONLY CAN GET KIDS THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN, WELL WE CALL IT REGION THREE.
THEY'RE IN DALLAS, FORT WORTH.
SO, AND REGION THREE SERVES 18 COUNTIES.
I THINK IT'S, UM, COLLIN COUNTY KAUFMAN.
[01:40:02]
UM, I DON'T THINK WE DO HUNT.IT'S A MOORE THAT'S NOT FORWARD.
I KNOW, UH, IN THE REGION THREE AREA THAT WE CAN SERVE.
THEY, UM, UM, IT'S A 24 HOUR OPERATION.
IF YOU HAVE SEVEN GIRLS IN THERE, IT IS 24, 24 SOMETHING
THERE'S NO, I I'M NOT EVEN QUESTIONING THAT.
THE, UH, UM, UH, AND THE CAREGIVERS DON'T SLEEP.
AND NO, AND, AND, AND OF COURSE WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE LAW TOO.
AND YOU KNOW, UNDER, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU'RE PROBABLY BRINGING IT IN A LITTLE LATE AND NOT SAYING ANYTHING.
BUT WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE ALL GONNA DISCUSS IT.
BUT, BUT SEE THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW GUIDELINES TOO.
AND THEY GOT A BOX ON ALL THE THINGS.
NOT EVERYBODY CHECKS 'EM AND DOES 'EM.
BUT THE, THE, UH, UM, WE NEED INFORMATION ON YOU, WHETHER WORDS WE NEED, WHAT KIND OF INCOME, WHERE IT COMES FROM, HOW IT'S DEVELOPED, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE IT HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE DOES.
I BROUGHT IT, UM, I SENT, SENT IT OVER.
IF YOU DON'T MIND PASSING THAT OUT TO EACH PERSON OR SOMETHING SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT.
YOU HAVE THE ATTACHED OH, DID YOU HAVE IT ON EMAIL? I, I DON'T.
AND WHY? I DON'T HAVE IT PRINTED, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER HAVING IT ON EMAIL.
I DON'T, YOU DON'T RECEIVE ANY MONEY FROM LIKE, LOCAL CHURCHES AND STUFF TOO.
'CAUSE SOME OF THE STATE STUFF DOESN'T LET YOU DO THAT.
SO ARE Y'ALL IN THAT CATEGORY WHERE YOU CAN'T RECEIVE FUNDING FROM LIKE YOUR LOCAL CHURCHES OR ANYTHING? WE CAN RECEIVE, UM, DONATIONS.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW WE, WE, I GUESS WE WENT IN IT SO FAST.
WE DIDN'T DO A LOT OF RESEARCH OURSELVES.
WE JUST SAVED THE MONEY THAT WE HAD.
AND WE DO KNOW THAT WE OPERATE OFF OF REIMBURSEMENT THAT THE STATE GIVES US.
SO WE NEVER SOUGHT OUT ANYTHING ELSE.
AND WE HAVE A FRIEND, UM, THAT TOLD US ABOUT THIS.
THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY WE EVEN KNOW ABOUT, YOU KNOW, APPLYING FOR THIS.
WE'VE NEVER, UH, REALLY APPLIED FOR ANYTHING IN FOUR YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN IN OPERATION.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, BUT WE REIMBURSED EVERYTHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T ADD THAT.
I, I HAD A PACKET ON EVERYTHING, BUT I PRINTED IT ALL OUT.
I JUST DON'T REMEMBER SEEING THAT ONE.
THIS GOOD? WHAT I NEEDED, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
WELL Y'ALL SPEND A LITTLE MONEY.
AND YOU PROVIDE A GOOD SERVICE.
I MEAN, NOT, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY IS.
AND ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, ANYWAY, JUST GIMME SOME INFORMATION, YOU KNOW.
I'M GONNA GONE BACK AND LOOKED IT UP, BUT ANY QUESTIONS APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.
ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY BEFORE WE, I, AND THEN I'LL MAKE
[2. Adjourn Meeting.]
A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.