1. Development of Fiscal Year 2016-2017 Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR)
Stakeholder Forum
May 15, 2014

2. Judge John J. Specia, Commissioner LAR Exceptional Item Development
Agenda
Welcome
Judge John J. Specia, Commissioner
LAR Exceptional Item Development
Tracy Henderson, Chief Financial Officer
Public Comments
Closing
Commissioner Specia

3. Progress Report
Adult Protective Services (APS) implementing improved client assessment and decision-making tools on September 1, 2014
Child Care Licensing has increased staff dedicated to proactively searching for illegal child care operations
Since November 1, 2013: 408 operations investigated
As of February 2014: 52 previously illegal operations have submitted applications

4. Progress Report (continued)
Reduction in Child Protective Services (CPS) investigator caseloads
Fiscal Year (FY) 2012: to 1
FY 2013: to 1
Reduction in CPS investigation delinquencies (open more than 60 days)
March 2012: percent
March 2014: percent

5. Progress Report (continued)
Increases in adoptions, particularly those involving relatives
All adoptions Percent to Relatives
FY 2012: , %
FY 2013: , %
Increase in the number of children in kinship placements
FY 2012: ,982
FY 2013: ,059
Continued reduction in the number of foster children receiving psychotropic medication

6. External Reviews Sunset Advisory Commission Operational review of CPS
Late May: public release of staff report
June 24th and 25th: public hearing
August 13th: Commissioner decision hearing
Operational review of CPS
February: analysis began
June: report to be delivered
Casey Family Programs review of Harris County
December 2013: assessment began
April: report submitted

7. LAR Timeline
May 2014
Governor and Legislative Budget Board (LBB) provide instructions, including policy guidance
Public hearing
June 2014
Submit Baseline Request
Continue preparing LAR documents

8. LAR Timeline (continued)
July 2014
Brief DFPS Council
Finalize items to be included as exceptional items
Complete preparation of LAR documents
August 2014
Submit LAR to Governor and LBB
Publish on agency and LBB home pages

9. Baseline vs. Exceptional Items
Baseline Request: may not exceed the sum of amounts expended in FY 2014 and budgeted for FY 2015, per policy guidance
Exceptional Item Request: any request for General Revenue (GR) funding in excess of the Baseline Request
DFPS anticipates the policy guidance to allow an increase in GR funding to maintain entitlement caseload growth

10. Categories for Exceptional Item Development
Ensure Solid Foundation for Delivery of Current Services
Improve Safety for Children
Increase Prevention Services
Improve Staff Retention, Recruitment and Safety
Improve Program Infrastructure
Additional Initiatives

11. Ensure Solid Foundation for Delivery of Current Services
Maintain FY 2015 Staffing Levels and Costs for FY
This request would annualize the increases in staffing and support costs for a full 24 months
Maintain Caseload Growth for Non-Entitlement Services
This request would fund the projected caseload in non-entitlement services such as day care and other purchased services
Replace Statewide Intake Automated Call Distributor
This request would replace certain components reaching their end of life and directly impact the ability to take incoming calls

12. Improve Safety for Children
Focus on Review of Child Fatalities
This request would increase centralized, independent review of child abuse/neglect fatalities and serious/near fatal injuries
Improve Operation of Child Care Licensing
This request would allow improvements and efficiencies in the operations of both Residential Child Care and Day Care Licensing
Enhance Background Check Process
This request would dedicate staff to evaluating compliance with background check rules and automate the process for a “Clearance Pass” for persons working in or fostering children in a licensed child care setting

13. Increase Prevention Services
Help Military and Veteran Families
This request would fund family support services for military families experiencing deployment to reduce the stress that may result in child abuse and neglect
Expand the Project HOPES, focusing on Young Children
This funding would expand these prevention services to five at-risk counties. Project HOPES stands for Project Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Support.

14. Improve Staff Retention, Recruitment and Safety
Worker Safety
This request would provide staff dedicated to provide trauma support and assistance in navigating safety procedures
Improve Staff Retention
This request would fund additional training staff and support staff initiatives to handle staff complaints, analyze exit surveys, and manage and implement a comprehensive plan to improve retention and increase accountability
Improve Staff Recruitment
This request would provide an educational stipend to Child Care Licensing staff
Recommendations from CPS Operational Review
This is a placeholder for recommendations needing funding

15. Improve Program Infrastructure
Continue IMPACT Modernization
This request would continue the funding for the next two years of modernizing the IMPACT system
APS Improvements
This request would add staff to review facility investigations to ensure quality and timeliness and decrease the ratio of supervisors to caseworkers to 1:5
Improve CLASS Modernization
This request would review the current automated system for child care licensing as well as other external systems and recommend a automated solution for the biennium

16. Additional Initiatives
Streamline Adoption Processing
This request would fund solutions such as expediting redaction requests
Enhance Forensic Assessment Center Network
This request would improve access to medical professionals in order to improve timely diagnoses of injuries and medical emergencies and to improve medical outcomes

17. DFPS Exceptional Items in HHSC LAR
Certain technology-related requests may be carried by HHSC on behalf of all or some of the HHS system agencies. For DFPS those items include:
DIR Data Center
CAPPS Financial Upgrade
Telecommunications Management Services
Cyber-security Advancement
System to manage and secure mobile devices, laptops, and desktops

18. Public Comment
Public Comment

19. Questions or Additional Comments?
Stakeholder website:
Thank you for your attendance today.
We value your input.