Building a Stronger Community: Advocates for High Quality Health and Human Services October 20, 2014 Sign-In 8:30 am – 9:00 am Conference 9:00 am – 4:30 pm United Way of Greater Houston, 50 Waugh Drive, Houston, Texas 77007 Lunch will be provided *CEUs available *Total of .65 CEU Social Work Hours / 6.5 Participatory Hours - upon completion of full day AGENDA 8:30 – 9:00 SIGN-IN (Coffee Served) KEYNOTE Mr. Dale Craymer, President & Chief Spokesperson, Texas Taxpayers and Research Association (TTARA) The ability to bring about desired outcomes is largely dependent on appropriate funding. Mr. Craymer is an expert on state business tax as well as the state budget and will speak on the Texas budget and its impact on the upcoming 84th Texas Legislature. MORNING PRESENTATIONS Dr. Steve Murdock, Ph.D., Allyn R. and Gladys M. Cline Professor of Sociology, Rice University Texas is in the midst of many changes – racial, generational, economic, and education. In his third book, Changing Texas: Implications of Addressing or Ignoring the Texas Challenge, Dr. Murdock and his team have analyzed 2010 census data to better understand the challenges and opportunities Texas has to shape its future. Mr. Phil Ritter, JD, MPA, Chief Operating Officer, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute In April 2014 The Meadows Foundation established the Institute to work with partners across the state to identify best practices, explore innovative new approaches, and create successful policies to deliver efficient and effective mental health care to Texans. Many of its priorities closely align with those of One Voice Texas and, in preparation for the 84th Texas Legislature, Mr. Ritter will share the Institute’s perspective of the work of the Texas Sunset Commission and its impact on health and human services issues, particularly behavioral health, in the upcoming Session. 1:00 – 4:30 Issue Priority Workshops – Please see Registration Form for Details ATTENTION: PLEASE Submit Your REGISTRATION FORM ASAP SUMBIT FORM VIA FAX: 713-333- 2220 or EMAIL: [email protected] Payment must be received by Oct. 15TH CONFERENCE REGISTRATION ____ Member Organizations @ $40.00 per person ____ Non-Member Organizations @ $60.00 person Make Checks Payable to: One Voice Texas, 5120 Woodway Drive, Suite 6000, Houston, Texas 77056 or Pay Online at: http://www.onevoicetexas.org/ovtorderform.html PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY: NAME:_____________________________________________________________________________________________ TITLE:_____________________________________________________________________________________________ ORGANIZATION:____________________________________________________________________________________ EMAIL (REQUIRED):_____________________________________________________________ PHONE:_____________________________ Please Check the Workshops You Will Attend 1:15 – 2:45 WORKSHOP 1 (Choose One) 1A____ Kinship Families: Supporting Those Who Care for Others: The last US Census recorded over 100,000 grandparents in the state of Texas who were caring for relative children without a parent present in the household. Whether due to the involvement of Children’s Protective Services or the absence of a parent, these individuals and other relatives like them take up this challenge often without the support and guidance they need, including access to legal representation. This panel will provide personal insights into some of the issues faced by kinship families as well as solutions for practice and policy needs to ensure that kinship caregivers can take care of themselves and the relative children in their homes. Presenters: Angie Grindon, Relatives as Parents Program, Volunteers of America-Texas; Deborah Dickerson, Grandparent Support Group; Katherine Barillas, Ph.D., Director of Child Welfare Policy One Voice Texas 2A____ The Meaning of Home: How Our Community is Providing Supportive Services for Individuals With Housing and Behavioral Health Needs: Many individuals in need of housing assistance are also in need of on-going services that address their behavioral health needs. This panel will explore several of the funding methods currently being used and also those being proposed at the local and state level to meet the needs of this population. Presenters: TBA 3:00 – 4:30 WORKSHOP 2 (Choose One) 1B____ For the Children: Making Recovery a Reality for Families Involved With the Child Welfare System: Despite the fact that many families involved with the child welfare system are dealing with substance abuse, legal timelines and perspectives on treatment within this system frequently do not line up well with the recovery process. Over the last year, stakeholders have been working on policy and practice changes that aim to improve coordination between service providers and Texas Children’s Protective Services in order to strengthen outcomes for the families of children in foster care. The panel will include presentations on this work and personal perspectives about how the child welfare system can facilitate success for these families in their recovery process. Presenters: Michelle Hansford, Recovery Support Services, Santa Maria; Katherine Barillas, Ph.D., Director of Child Welfare Policy One Voice Texas; Others TBA 2B____ Addressing the Need for High Quality, Early Education: Investments to Secure Our Future: The need for high quality Pre-K is an issue that is building momentum both locally and across the state. This workshop will discuss the findings from a recently released, yearlong statewide study on the state of Pre-K in Texas as well as policy recommendations for the 84th Texas Legislature. In our community, Early Matters is a local Greater Houston initiative seeking to increase access to high quality, early education for children 0-3rd grade. The presentation will provide an overview of the 10 year plan to address the needs of children throughout the Greater Houston area. Presenters: Mandi Sheridan Kimball, Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs, CHILDREN AT RISK; Carol Shattuck, President & CEO, Collaborative for Children and Co-Chair, Early Matters Initiative