CHAPTER 267. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR BUILDING HEALTHY FAMILIES - Texas Statutes

FAMILY CODE

TITLE 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE

PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP

SUBTITLE E. PROTECTION OF THE CHILD

CHAPTER 267. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR BUILDING

HEALTHY FAMILIES

For expiration of this chapter, see Section 267.002.

Sec. 267.001. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR BUILDING

HEALTHY FAMILIES. (a) The Interagency Coordinating Council for

Building Healthy Families is established to:

(1) facilitate communication and collaboration concerning

policies for the prevention of and early intervention in child

abuse and neglect among state agencies whose programs and

services promote and foster healthy families;

(2) facilitate improvements in the coordination of service

delivery among those agencies;

(3) provide information and other resources to assist those

agencies; and

(4) receive input from those agencies in order to develop and

improve policies for the prevention of and early intervention in

child abuse and neglect.

(b) The council consists of one representative from each of the

following agencies appointed by the executive director or

commissioner of each agency:

(1) the Department of Family and Protective Services;

(2) the Health and Human Services Commission;

(3) the Department of State Health Services;

(4) the Department of Aging and Disability Services;

(5) the Texas Youth Commission;

(6) the Texas Education Agency;

(7) the Texas Workforce Commission;

(8) the office of the attorney general;

(9) the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission;

(10) the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs; and

(11) the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services.

(c) A representative of an agency appointed to the council must

have an overall understanding of the agency's mission and purpose

and substantial experience and expertise relating to the

administration of the agency's policies, programs, and

activities.

(d) The representative from the Department of Family and

Protective Services serves as the presiding officer of the

council.

(e) The council shall meet at least quarterly and shall submit

to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of

representatives, and the legislature the minutes of each council

meeting.

(f) The council shall evaluate:

(1) the potential for streamlined funding mechanisms for

programs and services for the prevention of and early

intervention in child abuse and neglect;

(2) the effectiveness and cost efficiency of state-funded

programs and services for the prevention of and early

intervention in child abuse and neglect;

(3) the effectiveness of state-funded child maltreatment

prevention programs and services in achieving their intended

outcomes and methods for transitioning those programs and

services to an increased reliance on evidence-based practices;

(4) methods for the ongoing identification of additional

opportunities for comprehensive improvements to the delivery of

services for the prevention of and early intervention in child

abuse and neglect; and

(5) the need for increased state funding for programs and

services for the prevention of and early intervention in child

abuse and neglect in order to ensure a sustained, long-term,

cost-effective investment in families in this state.

(g) Not later than December 1, 2008, the council shall prepare

and submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house

of representatives, and the legislature a report containing the

council's recommendations for improving the coordination and

collaboration of child abuse and neglect prevention and early

intervention programs and services among state agencies. The

council shall include in the report:

(1) the status of the council's findings based on the council's

evaluation under Subsections (f)(1), (4), and (5);

(2) details regarding the strategic plan for child abuse and

neglect prevention services developed by the Department of Family

and Protective Services in consultation with the council under

Section 265.005;

(3) the council's recommendations regarding implementation of

the strategic plan, including a detailed explanation of the

resources, the funds, and any interagency or intergovernmental

agreements necessary to accomplish the plan; and

(4) the council's recommendation regarding whether to continue

the council.

(h) Not later than December 1, 2009, the council shall prepare

and submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house

of representatives, and the legislature a report containing the

status of the council's findings based on the council's

evaluation under Subsections (f)(2) and (3).

Redesignated from Family Code, Chapter 266 and amended by Acts

2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

632, Sec. 3, eff. June 15, 2007.

Sec. 267.002. EXPIRATION OF CHAPTER. This chapter expires

January 1, 2010.

Redesignated from Family Code, Chapter 266 and amended by Acts

2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

632, Sec. 3, eff. June 15, 2007.