The Bridge, Volume [3], Number [1], January 1997 Page: BACK COVER
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Why A Family?
Imagine your childhood if you did not have a
relation with your parents, your very best friend in the
whole wide world, your grandparents, cousins, neighbors,
friends and relatives. Through these life long bonds most
of us developed our sense of trust, interpersonal skills,
faith in ourselves and others, and coping strategies.
Through your family and friends you learned about and
participated in traditions, beliefs and history. The lifelong
relationships you have had helped create who you are
today.
Permanency planning is a concept which
incorporates the significance of enduring relationships
and assumes life long bonds are just as significant for
children with severe disabilities.
In Texas, attention is given to the relationships of
children with severe disabilities, especially those in out-
of-home placements. We begin to question the quality of
their relationships and look for ways to improve services
and supports for these children and their families.
Through the State CRCG Office's Families Are
Valued Project, permanency planning for children with
disabilities will be integrated into the human service
delivery system. Agencies serving children will be
challenged to direct energies and resources into preserving
the natural home and supporting the child-at-risk in his/
her own community.
Statewide activities of the project include the
strengthening of policies and practices directed to keeping
families and their children with disabilities together,
strengthening interagency collaboration, public awareness
campaigns, training and technical assistance. In addition,
support will be provided to four local family support
partnerships to increase and support the number of
children with disabilities who live in homes through:
independent case management and case review models;
transition services to unite children with their families;
and alternative support services for families such as shared
parenting, long-term foster care placement and adoption.
How can local CRCGs participate? Become
familiar with permanency planning. Learnthe philosophy
and practices. Incorporate the tools and methods of
permanency planning into the CRCG process. Become
an expert on permanency planning and promote it within
your agency and community.
For additional information about the Families
Are Valued Project, contact Yolanda Montoya, project
coordinator at (512)424-6528 or via e-mail
(yolandam@hhsc.tx.state.us).State CRCG Office
Gets Wired!
Beginning in mid-February you can retrieve a
variety of information about CRCGs via our
homepage (http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/creg).
There will be a special section on technical
assistance tips such as grant writing or requests for
proposal information.
We would like to be able to send you electronic
mail on the latest legislative and other important
information. If you have an e-mail address or
someone on your CRCG has one, please e-mail
Kelley Knight (kelleyk@hhsc.state.tx.us) with the
address. If you do not have Internet or e-mail
capabilities we will still get the important info you
to via mail or fax. If you have any questions, please
call Kelley at (512) 424-6544.
Make Sure You're Counted
Guess what? It's time to get the Staffing Forms into
the State Office. If your,CRCG has been holding on to
1996 Initial Staffing or Follow-up forms, you have till
January 15, 1997 to turn them in.
All data received will become part of the 1996
CRCG Statewide Data Report, which helps the State CRCG
Team, agency CEOs, legislators and local CRCGs identify
valuable information about the work of CRCGs.
The State Office has seen dramatic improvements in
the data collection process. Over the past three years and
based on the actual number of staffing forms submitted,
CRCGs have collectively accounted for the development
of approximately 1,337 interagency service plans. In 1995,
of the 214 counties served by CRCGs, 65% of the CRCGs
submitted their staffing forms. A staffing increase is
expected for 1997 due to all 254 counties now served by a
CRCG.
Many CRCGs have taken advantage of the data
generated to identify service gaps in their areas and/or to
determine the need for a paid CRCG Coordinator. Others
have used the information to gain support for new programs
and increase agency involvement in their areas.
The State Office will continue to serve an active
role in 1997 to provide technical assistance to local CRCGs
who are not utilizing the current CRCG reporting
instruments. Instructions for filling out the staffing forms
appropriately can be found in the blue CRCG Handbook
in pages 22-33.
For further CRCG data information, contact
Silvester Guzman at (512) 424-6575. If you need annual
or data reports, please call us at (512) 424-6561.
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Community Resource Coordination Groups (CRCG) of Texas. The Bridge, Volume [3], Number [1], January 1997, periodical, January 10, 1997; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1543391/m1/2/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.