Looking back over the last year, we are proud of everything that we've accomplished together for Texas kids -- and fired up to do a lot more work together with you when the Legislature convenes in a few weeks. Here are a few moments from 2016 that stand out.
New Report Finds that Texas Schools Continue to Rely on Police Officers, Courts, and Juvenile Probation to Address Minor School Misbehavior
Top Texas Kids' Issues for 2017 & Our Policy Recommendations
Update on Kids and the Texas Legislature
In the News: Keep Preteens Out of Juvenile System, Texas House Panel Told
Ensuring the Success of Youth Dually Involved with CPS & Justice Systems
Testimony to the House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee
The abuse and neglect that leads to children’s involvement with Child Protective Services leads to involvement with the juvenile justice system. However, there is little coordination and data sharing between the juvenile justice and child welfare systems, resulting in costly, and sometimes counterproductive, duplication of services and worse outcomes for youth. Local efforts in Texas show that improved coordination can lead to better results. Texas policymakers should study the current population of “dually involved youth,” establish a data collection and information sharing system, and create a taskforce to improve coordination.
In The News: Juvenile Justice Agency Making Case to Escape Budget Cuts
If state leaders insist, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department has identified ways to cut its budget by $16.8 million, or 2.8 percent, for the 2018-2019 biennium. But the agency really wants a $170 million bump so it can comply with state and federal laws, fix up some of its battered facilities and bolster behavioral programs.