Blazing a New Trail in Health and Human Services
State health officials started forging a new trail in how health and human services will be organized and delivered in Texas. September 1 marked the beginning of a new state fiscal year and the day new legislative mandates took effect.
As you may remember, during the 84th Texas legislative session (2015), several bills passed that directed the consolidation of two state agencies (Department of Aging and Disability Services and Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services) and several administrative functions from all health and human service agencies to the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
As part of the consolidation process, a transition legislative oversight (Oversight) committee has been appointed with 11 members from both the House and the Senate and public to oversee the consolidation process. Governor Greg Abbott named three public appointees to serve on Oversight Committee. They are: John D. Colyandro, Billy C. Hamilton, and Heather Griffith Peterson, all of Austin.
Speaker of the House, Joe Straus has appointed four staterepresentatives to serve on the committee. They are Rep. Four Price, Amarillo; Rep. Richard Raymond, Laredo; Rep. Toni Rose, Dallas; and Rep. Cindy Burkett, Garland.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick appointed four state senators to the committee this week. They are St. Sen. Jane Nelson, Flower Mound, Sen. Brian Birdwell, Granbury; Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, McAllen; and Sen. Charles Schwertner, Georgetown. Texas HHSC Executive Commissioner Chris Traylor will serve on the committee in an ex officio, nonvoting capacity.
Changes to Public Input for Some Health and Human Service Programs
As part of the consolidation process, HHSC has formed an interagency task force to take an inventory of the councils and advisory committees to find out which should continue, end, or be consolidated with existing committees. These advisory entities provide an opportunity for advocates and the public to give state health officials input about their programs and populations they serve. In addition to identifying the committees, the task force made recommendations about the status the advisory entity; however, HHSC executive commissioner, Chris Traylor, will ultimately decide the final disposition of these committees/councils. Anyone wishing to submit comments on health and human services advisory committees can do so by emailing HHSAdvisoryCommittees@hhsc.state.tx.us. Comments are due by September 25.
Below is a table that identifies committees/councils that advise the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). A complete list of the task force recommendations can be found here.
| Committee/Council |
Recommendation |
| Advisory Committee for the Office of Protective Services for Families and Children |
discontinue |
| Advisory Committee on Promoting Adoption of Minority Children |
continue |
| Caseload Standards Advisory Committee- |
discontinue |
| Child Abuse Program Evaluation Committee |
discontinue |
| Children’s Policy Council |
continue |
| Committee for Advancing Residential Practices |
continue |
| Consumer Direction Workgroup |
Consolidate functions with another committee |
| Council on Children and Families |
Consolidate functions with another committee |
| Foster Grandparent Program Advisory Committee |
continue |
| Public Private Partnership |
continue |
| State Child Fatality Review Committee |
continue |
| Statewide Parent Collaboration Group |
continue |
| Task Force to Address the Relationship between Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect |
discontinue |
| Task Force to Reduce Child Abuse and Neglect and Improve Child Welfare |
discontinue |
| Texas Family Violence Interagency Collaborative |
continue |
| Texas Medical Child Abuse Resources Education System Advisory Committee |
discontinue |
| Youth Leadership Council |
continue |
Foster Care Redesign Expansion
The Texas legislature decided to expand the initiative, Foster Care Redesign to one more catchment area in the state during the 2016-17 state fiscal year that began September 1. DFPS officials have not yet identified the part of the state the redesign initiative will expand to nor when the next request for proposals will be issued. We will update you as new information becomes available. DFPS maintains a section of their web site for Foster Care Redesign, you can learn about the history of the Initiative and learn the latest news here.
If you are located in the Austin area, you have an opportunity to learn more about the initiative by attending a provider meeting on Monday, September 28 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The meeting is hosted by TNOYS and LifeWorks. Wayne Carson, CEO of ACH Child and Family Services (the Foster Care Redesign Single Source Continuum Contractors for Region 3B) and Kaysie Reinhardt, Director of Foster Care Redesign at the Department of Family and Protective Services will both present on the initiative and be prepared to answer your questions. To get more information and/or to RSVP, go to the TNOYS web site.