* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. MEETING OF THE CHILDHOOD [00:00:01] AND YOUTH COMMITTEE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY, AND [Childhood and Youth Committee on May 11, 2023.] THANK YOU AS WELL FOR YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN SUPPORTING THE SUCCESS OF THE CITY'S YOUNGEST RESIDENTS. THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD IN HYBRID MODE, UM, AS BOTH AN IN-PERSON AND A VIRTUAL MEETING ON MICROSOFT TEAMS AND HTV AS THE CHAIR AND PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE CHAMBER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 5 1 0.127 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE APPLICABLE TO, UM, A GOVERNMENTAL BODY THAT EXTENDS INTO THREE OR MORE COUNTIES. ALL OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE THE OPTION TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS. TODAY, WE WILL HEAR FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ABOUT CITY INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT THE SUCCESS AND HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN. I'M COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS, CHAIR OF THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE, AND I'M JOINED BY, UM, OUR COMMITTEE, VICE CHAIR, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZ. COUNCIL MEMBER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, JUST VERY BRIEFLY? I ALWAYS LIKE TO JUST GREET THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO COME AND LISTEN TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION. I ALSO ALWAYS HAVE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE INFORMATION THAT'S GOING TO BE SHARED TODAY. AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL EVERYONE HELLO AND HAVE A DRY AND WONDERFUL DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. UM, WE ARE ALSO JOINED, UM, HERE IN THE CHAMBERS BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK, AND, UM, ALSO A NUMBER OF, UH, STAFF MEMBERS. UM, UM, SOME IN PERSON, UH, FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S OFFICE. WELCOME, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S OFFICE. WELCOME TO YOU TWO. AND THEN ONLINE WE HAVE, UM, STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, UM, VICE MAYOR PRO, TIM CASTEX, TATUM, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. AND I THINK THAT'S IT FOR NOW. MAYBE WE, WE'LL HAVE SOME OTHERS TO JOIN US. UM, WE WILL, PARDON? COUNCIL ROBINSON IS OH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON IS ON HIS WAY. WE SHOULD BE SEEING HIM SHORTLY. UM, WE WILL HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS TODAY. WE WILL HEAR ABOUT YOUTH INITIATIVES UNDERWAY AT THE HOUSTON HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. UM, AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S PRENATAL, PARENTAL, AND INFANT WELLNESS LEAVE FROM THE HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT. BUT FIRST, A FEW HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS FOR THIS HYBRID MEETING. COPIES OF TODAY'S AGENDA AND PRESENTATIONS ARE POSTED ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON WEBPAGE FOR CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES. WE HAVE NO PUBLIC SPEAKERS WHO'VE SIGNED UP, UM, BY NOON TODAY TO SPEAK AT THE MEETING. SO AS THE DEADLINE TO SIGN UP WAS NOON. TODAY, WE WILL NOT HEAR FROM ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. LET'S BEGIN BY REVIEWING THE FOUR GOALS OF THIS COMMITTEE. THEY ARE TO BE A CATALYST FOR CHANGE BY INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND DIALOGUE ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF A CHILD AND THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT KIND OF PERSON THAT CHILD WILL GROW UP TO BE FOCUSING ON DATA AND WELLBEING INDICATORS AS TOOLS FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND ACCOUNTABILITY, SEEKING EQUITY AND WORKFORCE READINESS, BEGINNING AT BIRTH, AND SUPPORTING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN CITY DEPARTMENTS TO STRENGTHEN AND ENHANCE THE WEB OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY AT LARGE. I WANT TO THANK OUR PRESENTERS FOR COMING TODAY AND FOR SHARING IMPORTANT INFORMATION WITH CITY COUNCIL. SO LET'S BEGIN. CHILDCARE ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY IS A HUGE ISSUE IMPACTING FAMILIES IN, IN HOUSTON. WORKING FAMILIES OFTEN FACE BARRIER AFTER BARRIER TO CHILDCARE AND ON THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING AND ACCESS TO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. THAT IS PARTICULARLY TRUE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATIONS. AND OUR FIRST TOPIC TODAY, YOUTH INITIATIVES OF THE HOUSTON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. UH, WE WILL HEAR ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS DOING TO ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES. SO ANNA MARTINEZ IS THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE, UH, HOUSTON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. AND MELODY BARR IS THE ASSISTANT DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. SO WELCOME TO YOU BOTH TO, UM, MS. MARTINEZ AND MS. BARR. THANK YOU FOR COMING. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR PRESENTATION. PLEASE BEGIN. THANK YOU. UM, SORRY. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. UH, SO WE'LL BEGIN TO DO AN OVERVIEW OF OUR DEPARTMENT. UM, YOU SEE HERE ON THE SLIDE, OUR NAMES LISTED. AND SO WE ARE EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS INFORMATION, AND WE HAVE INTENTIONALLY LEFT SOME TIME AVAILABLE AT THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION FOR SOME DIALOGUE. [00:05:01] NEXT SLIDE. SO, AT THE HOUSE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, WE ENVISION A CITY WHERE EVERYONE HAS A HOME THEY CAN AFFORD AND A COMMUNITY WHERE THEY CAN THRIVE. WE ACHIEVE THIS VISION THROUGH SEVERAL WAYS. WE PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOMES, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ALONG WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, NEIGHBORHOOD, AND SUPPORT SERVICES. AND WE WORK TOWARDS THIS MISSION. THE NEXT SLIDE THROUGH NINE DIFFERENT GOALS. THOSE GOALS ARE THAT WE PRESERVE AND EXPAND THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EXPAND HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS AFFECTED WITH HIV AND AIDS. WE ALSO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS AND STRIVE TO MAKE HOMELESS RARE, BRIEF AND NON-REOCCURRING, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES, PROMOTE HEALTH AND SAFETY, FOSTER COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND PROMOTE FAIR HOUSING. WE STRIVE TO MEET ONE OR MORE OF THESE GOALS THROUGH THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AT THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND UTILIZE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL FUNDS THAT HELP WITH THIS WORK. NEXT SLIDE. YOU'LL SEE HERE OUR FUNDING PRIORITIES. THIS IS, UM, TYPICAL OF OUR ENTITLEMENT GRANTS. AND JUST AS REMINDER, ENTITLEMENT GRANTS ARE, UH, GRANTS THAT COME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON THROUGH THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. UM, WE RECEIVE, UM, OUR FUNDING PRIORITIES ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES, COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES. NEXT SLIDE. SO, THE CITY RECEIVES AROUND 45 TO $48 MILLION ANNUALLY THROUGH OUR ENTITLEMENT GRANTS. UH, THOSE GRANTS INCLUDE CDBG, WHICH, UH, INCLUDES ACTIVITIES SUCH AS HOME REPAIR, HOME OWNERSHIP, PUBLIC SERVICES, PUBLIC FACILITIES, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO HAVE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP FUNDS, WHICH COVER, UH, AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR RENTERS AS WELL AS HOMEOWNERS. UH, OUR HOPWA GRANTS, UH, OFFER HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH HIV AIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND OUR EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT OFFERS SHELTER AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. UH, ALL OF THESE GRANTS ARE INTENDED TO PRIMARILY SERVE LMI PERSONS OR COMMUNITIES. NEXT SLIDE. SO, THE LMI OR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME POPULATION INCLUDES HOUSEHOLDS OR COMMUNITIES, UH, THAT ARE AT OR BELOW 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME. UH, THE CHART YOU'LL SEE HERE OUTLINES THE, UH, THRESHOLD AMOUNT, UH, BASED ON HOUSEHOLD SIZE. WE ALSO HAVE A MAP THAT ILLUSTRATES LMI AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. NEXT SLIDE. AND THIS SLIDE, YOU KNOW, OUTLINES OUR, THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS, UH, IN THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. SO WE HAVE OUR SINGLE FAMILY DIVISION, UH, WE HAVE OUR MULTI-FAMILY DIVISION, PUBLIC SERVICES, DISASTER RECOVERY PLANNING AND GRANT REPORTING, UH, COMPLIANCE AND GRANT ADMINISTRATION, UH, FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND THEN PIVOTING OVER, I'LL, I'LL DIG INTO THE PUBLIC FACILITIES PIECE OF THIS. SO, THE PUBLIC FACILITIES DIVISION PROVIDES FINANCING TO CITY FACILITIES AS WELL AS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TOWARDS FACILITIES THAT SERVE AND ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. UH, EXAMPLES OF THOSE TYPES OF FACILITIES ARE PARKS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, LIBRARIES, EARLY CHILDCARE FACILITIES AND SHELTERS, OR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. WE'VE PROVIDED SOME REAL LIFE EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS THAT YOU ALL HAVE SEEN IN THE, IN THE PAST FEW YEARS COME ONLINE. UH, AVENUE CENTER IS A PROJECT THAT WE DEVELOPED IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE, TOGETHER WITH THE AVENUE CDC, UH, WE INVESTED $3.4 MILLION. UH, THIS FACILITY IS, IS OPEN. UH, IT PROVIDES HOME OWNERSHIP EDUCATION CLASSES, RESIDENTIAL RESIDENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHCARE CLINIC THAT SERVES FAMILIES EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM, UH, BY THE YMCA, UH, AS WELL AS IN HIGH SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, WHICH, UH, ENSURES, YOU KNOW, GRADUATION RATES FOR YOUTH ARE, ARE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. NEXT SLIDE. WE ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, IN RECENT YEARS, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN INVESTMENT FOR A PLAYGROUND FOR A FACILITY THAT, THAT SERVES CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY ABUSE. SLIDE. ONE OF OUR MORE RECENT PROJECTS THAT'S, UH, ABOUT TO START CONSTRUCTION IS COVENANT HOUSE. UH, THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY MADE A $6.7 MILLION INVESTMENT FOR A FACILITY PROVIDING HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO YOUTH. UH, THIS IS GONNA BE A 2.7 ACRE CAMPUS WITH HOUSING, AS WELL AS SUPPORT SERVICES FOR YOUTH, UH, THAT ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. UH, SOME OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, QUITE HIGHLIGHT HERE, BUT [00:10:01] THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COMMUNITIES. WE'VE INVESTED IN A HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS OVER IN DISTRICT K. UH, OVER THE YEARS WE'VE PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS TO, UH, OUR CITY PARKS DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS OUR SPARK PARKS DEPARTMENT, UM, TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, OUTDOOR SPACE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. UH, WE ALSO HAD AN INVESTMENT, UH, TO THE STAR OF HOPE FOR THEIR FAMILY SHELTER. THOSE ARE JUST A FEW THAT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THERE. AND I'LL PIVOT OVER TO MULTI-FAMILY. SO, UH, THROUGH OUR MULTIFAMILY PROGRAM, UH, THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES SUPPORT RESOLUTIONS, UH, FOR TAX CREDITS, UH, AS WELL AS OUR ANNUAL NOFA, WHICH PROVIDES FINANCING FOR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS, WHICH BRING AFFORDABLE UNITS TO THE CITY. UH, PROGRAM PRIORITIES ARE ALWAYS ALIGNED, YOU KNOW, WITH THE MAYOR'S COMPLETE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVES, WHAT WE LIKE TO SEE FROM COMPETITIVE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE COMING TO US FOR TAX CREDITS OR FOR FINANCING, WE LIKE TO SEE THAT THEY'RE LEVERAGING THEIR OTHER FINANCING SOURCES. WE LIKE TO SEE THAT THEY'RE CREATING MIXED INCOME HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES. UH, ONE THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I KNOW WILL BE IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMITTEE, IS THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE CLOSE TO PUBLIC TRANSIT, BUT THAT THEY'RE ALSO CLOSE TO HIGHLY RATED SCHOOLS. UH, AND IN SOME CASES, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN MORE RECENT YEARS HAS BEEN THE INCLUSION OF EARLY CHILDCARE PROGRAMS. WITHIN THOSE DEVELOPMENTS, UH, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING, UH, FOR REINVESTMENT IN COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND OTHER CRAS, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, DEVELOPMENTS THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES OR PROGRAMS FOR RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY. NEXT SLIDE. SO THIS SLIDE OUTLINES, THESE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS IN, IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAVE INCLUDED EARLY CHILDCARE PROGRAMS WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT. UM, AND SOME OF THE, UH, THE FIRST TWO, UH, WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD RIBBON CUTTINGS FOR THOSE ARE, ARE COMPLETE. THE EDISON LOFTS IN DISTRICT K WAS 126 UNITS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BRING ONLINE. UH, INCLUDES AN EARLY CHILDCARE COMPONENT, REGENCY LOFTS IN DISTRICT D 120 UNITS AS ALSO COMPLETE. UH, AND THEN OST LOFTS IN DISTRICT D IS ACTUALLY, UH, CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. NEXT SLIDE. AND THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE TARGETED YOUTH AGING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. SO, UH, SUNRISE LOFTS, UH, 89 UNITS IN DISTRICT. I, UH, I BELIEVE THAT ONE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, BUT PRETTY CLOSE TO BEING COMPLETE. UH, THE HAY CENTER ALSO IN DISTRICT I IS, IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. 50 UNITS WILL BE BROUGHT ONLINE THERE. UM, THEY'LL BE PROVIDING HOUSING AS WELL AS SUPPORT SERVICES FOR, FOR THE YOUTH. WE'RE GONNA, SORRY, AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA GO INTO PUBLIC SERVICES. SO PUBLIC SERVICES PROVIDES FUNDING TO A VARIETY OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, ALL OF WHICH WE BRING, UM, TO THIS COMMITTEE FOR, AND I'M SORRY, NOT TO THIS COMMITTEE, BUT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR VOTE AND APPROVAL THAT PROVIDE HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS, ELDERLY, YOUTH, DISABLED, AND OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATION. I DO WANNA TAKE A MINUTE TO EXPLAIN THAT HUD DEFINES YOUTH AS 18, UH, TO 24 YEARS OF AGE. SO WHEN YOU HEAR US SAY YOUTH, WE ARE TYPICALLY TALKING ABOUT THAT ADOLESCENT, UM, UH, GROUP. SO COVID FUNDING HAS PROVIDED US, UM, AN ENRICHMENT OF FUNDS OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. AND SO I HAVE, I THINK WE'RE ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, PLEASE. SO I HAVE THAT LISTED OUT. UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S NOT THERE. THERE WE GO. GO ONE, I THINK IT'S TWO SLIDES BEFORE IF WE CAN, IT HAS THE, IT'S THE SLIDE WITH THE HANDS, BUT I WILL, I'LL KEEP GOING. SO, COVID, UH, PROVIDED US ADDITIONAL FUNDING OUTSIDE OF OUR ENTITLEMENT GRANT FOR, FOR THREE DIFFERENT, UM, FUNDING STREAMS AT CDBG, HOPWA AND ESG. AND THEN WE ALSO HAD OUR, OUR HOME A RP FUNDS THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT IN COMBINATION OF THOSE FOUR FUNDING STREAMS. THAT'S APPROXIMATELY $76 MILLION. UM, MORE THAN HALF OF THAT IS GOING TO BE EXPIRING, UH, WITHIN THE NEXT, UH, YEAR TO YEAR AND A HALF. WE WILL HAVE PUT COMMITMENTS ON THOSE DOLLARS. AND THEN, UM, MOST RECENTLY AS WELL, WE HAD, UM, EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THROUGH TREASURY. AND THAT TREASURY, UM, FOR BOTH OF OUR ROUNDS OF ERA ONE AND TWO WAS APPROXIMATELY $151 MILLION TO THE CITY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, BECAUSE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT CHILDCARE AND WE THINK ABOUT THESE SERVICES, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE FAMILY. WE'RE LOOKING AT THE IMPACT OF OUR PROGRAMS. AND THEN THE OTHER PROGRAMS WE HAVE LISTED OUT, UM, IS HOPWA THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT AND OUR CDBG ACTIVITY AS WELL AS OUR STATE FUNDS. AND THEN WE HAVE SOME HOME DOLLARS, UM, THAT WE UTILIZE FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE. [00:15:02] SO ON THIS SLIDE HERE, UM, WE JUST ARE SHOWING YOU AND ILLUSTRATING A COUPLE OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROGRAMS THAT WE SUPPORT. UM, AGAIN, WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO NONPROFITS WHO PROVIDE THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON. AND THESE SERVICES DO INCLUDE HEALTHCARE, CHILDCARE, JOB TRAINING, LEGAL SERVICES, AND THE LIKE. WE ALSO PROVIDE SERVICES TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND PROVIDE HOUSING TO FAMILIES, UH, WITH, WITH, UM, HIV, LIVING WITH HIV OR AIDS. AND THEN, UM, WE, UH, AS IN, IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THIS, WE DO PROVIDE SOME FINANCIAL CAPACITY FOR OUR OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS. UM, PRIMARILY PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THE LIBRARY. UH, NEXT SLIDE. SO, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF OUR PROJECTS. UH, WE HAVE, UM, I THINK THE CURRENT NUMBER IS ABOUT 95, UH, NONPROFITS THAT WE FUND THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICES, IF I HAVE THAT CORRECT. UH, IT MAY BE MORE, WE'RE JUST GONNA GO WITH ABOUT 1995. AND SO THE ONES I WANNA HIGHLIGHT TODAY ARE RELATED TO THE CHILDCARE SERVICES DIRECTLY. SO WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SEARCH CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER, WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER, AND THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF MEXICAN AMERICANS. WE ALSO HAVE TWO HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT WE PROVIDE FUNDING FOR, UM, THAT DEAL WITH YOUTH. AND THIS IS MORE OF THE ADOLESCENT PIECE. AND THAT WOULD BE, UM, THROUGH OUR HARRIS COUNTY PROGRAM, WHICH IS A FAMILY UNIFICATION PROGRAM AND COVENANT HOUSE. AND I'LL GET INTO THAT IN JUST A MINUTE. NEXT SLIDE. SO HERE YOU'RE GONNA SEE, UM, SOME PICTURES. 'CAUSE I LIKE PICTURES. THEY TELL A BETTER STORY THAN I COULD EVER TELL. AND WHAT YOU SEE ON THE LEFT IS THE FHE FAMILY HOUSE OF TINY TREASURES. AND THIS IS THROUGH SEARCH. AND THIS IS LOCATED IN THE ZIP CODE IS 7 7 0 0 4, AND THEY SERVE APPROXIMATELY 23 CHILDREN AGES TWO TO FIVE YEARS OF AGE. THIS IS, UM, LET'S SEE, THIS IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT D AND THEY, THEY PROVIDE A NUMBER OF SERVICES, INCLUDING, UM, THE SITE IS USED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH FOR INTERNS AND STUDENTS TO OBSERVE AND STUDY. THEY DO DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENTS FOR PARENTS, UH, AND PARENT CONFERENCES, WHICH ARE HELD, UM, I BELIEVE EVERY QUARTER, UM, HOLIDAY PARTIES AND ALIKE. I I WILL NOTE THAT SEARCHES ALSO CURRENTLY, UM, IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS TO BE ACCREDITED UNDER THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN. THEN THE, THE SLIDES ON THE RIGHT OR THE PICTURES ON THE RIGHT ARE WITH THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER. AND HERE THEY, UM, THEY CAN SERVE UP TO 79 CHILDREN AGES 18 MONTHS TO FIVE YEARS. THIS IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT F, UM, IN THE ZIP CODE IS 7 7 0 3 6. AND THIS YEAR THEY COLLABORATED WITH THE DUN. A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE FAMILY LEARNING ACTIVITIES ON A MONTHLY BASIS. THEY HOST EVENTS THAT INCLUDE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT DAYS AND BOOK FAIRS, LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL. BUT THE GOAL OF THESE WORKSHOPS THAT THEY PUT ON FOR THESE FAMILIES IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS TO GAIN INFORMATION ON DIFFERENT TOPICS, INCLUDING NURTURING, THE GROWING MINDS, CULTIVATING CALMNESS AND CONCENTRATION. SO IT'S A HOLISTIC PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE. WE HAVE HERE WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF MEXICAN AMERICANS ON THE LEFT SIDE. UM, AND, UH, COUNCILMAN SINS, YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH WESLEY. THIS IS IN DISTRICT EIGHT. UM, THEY SERVE APPROXIMATELY 186 CHILDREN, AGES SIX WEEKS OLD TO 12 YEARS OF AGE, LOCATED IN THE 7 7 0 0 9 ZIP CODE. UM, THEY HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS, AND THEY OFFER HIGH QUALITY OF CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT. THEY HAVE THE TRS FOUR STAR, UM, UM, WHICH IS A TEXAS RISINGS AND STAR DESIGNATION FOR THEIR CHILD PROGRAM. THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF PARENTS WHO'VE GONE THROUGH GED PROGRAM. SO THEY DO OFFER THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND OFFER DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS FOR FAMILIES. THEY, THE, UM, THE FACILITY ON THE RIGHT IS AMA, THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN, THE ADVANCEMENT OF MEXICAN AMERICANS, AND THEY'RE LOCATED IN THE 7 7 0 2 3 ZIP CODE DISTRICT. I, AND THEY SERVE ABOUT 72 CHILDREN AGES SIX WEEKS TO THREE YEARS OF THREE YEARS OF AGE. AND THEY ALSO OFFER BILINGUAL PRE-K THREE TO FOUR YEARS OLD. UM, SO THIS, THIS WAS THIS CHILDCARE CENTER. UH, THIS ESSENTIALLY WAS CREATED FOR A SAFE AND WELLNESS ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR FAMILIES. AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO GET THEIR FAMILIES BACK TO WORK WHILE TAKING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OFF THEM WHILE DURING THEIR TRANSITION. UM, THEY PROVIDE COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND REFERRALS FROM THEIR STAFF AND FAMILIES. UM, ALSO, UM, OFFER TUITION ASSISTANCE AND WEEKLY CREDITS ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT THESE FAMILIES. UH, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT, UM, THIS IS SPECIFICALLY THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT. WE DO OFFER ADOLESCENT SERVICES, AND THAT'S REALLY ABOUT 12 [00:20:01] TO THE AGE 18 THROUGH OUR JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAM. OUR CHARA PROGRAM IS, UH, FUNDED ABOUT $360,000 OF CDBG PUBLIC SERVICE FUNDS. AND THEN WE MATCH THAT WITH OUR ADOLESCENT SERVICES PROGRAM. SO, UM, PER TOTAL OF $720,000. WE ALSO PROVIDE, UM, SERVICES TO COVENANT HOUSE TO HELP WITH THEIR SHELTER FOR THE YOUTH OF 18 TO 24. AND OUR FAMILY UNIFICATION PROGRAM THROUGH HARRIS COUNTY, WHICH IS PAIRED UP WITH HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY. AND SO THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY GIVES VOUCHERS. WE PROVIDE THE CASE MANAGEMENT TO KEEP THE YOUTH HOUSED AND TO ADDRESS THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES. AND THAT COMES FROM OUR STATE HOMELESS HOUSING SERVICES PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE. AND IT IS, IT IS TIME FOR DIALOGUE . AND I DID WANNA ADD, BEFORE WE DIG INTO THE COMMENTS, UH, WHAT, AND I MENTIONED TO YOU RIGHT BEFORE THE MEETING COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT FEEDBACK AS WE GO INTO OUR NEW FUNDING CYCLES. UH, WE'RE LOOKING TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, NOFA S FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES FOR MULTIFAMILY THAT WILL LIKELY, YOU KNOW, BE COMING OUT, YOU KNOW, LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL. NOW IS THE TIME TO GET THAT FEEDBACK IN TERMS OF WHAT COUNCIL FEELS SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED, UM, WITHIN THOSE, THOSE NOFA APPLICATIONS, UH, AS WELL AS LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, THE 2024 TAX CREDIT ROUND. RIGHT. AND IF THERE ARE ANY PRIORITIES THERE THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS HAS BEEN EXCELLENT. UM, UH, WE DO HAVE A QUESTION FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, WHO, WHO JOINED US DURING THE, UM, JUST THE BEGINNING OF YOUR PRESENTATION. UM, BUT, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, GO AHEAD WITH YOUR QUESTION. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS PRESENTATION FORWARD. UM, ONE THING I WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT, I NOTICED ONE OF THE HU HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY HAD ONE OF THOSE PARTNER GRAPHICS AND ONE OF THE IMPORTANT SERVICES THAT THEY HAVE LAUNCHED AT THE CITY, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION IN THE BARBARA BUSH LITERACY FOUNDATION IS THE FAMILY PLACE PLAY SERIES AS WELL. UM, AND I, I THINK THAT, I JUST WANNA SPOTLIGHT OR HIGHLIGHT THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING AS A CITY. I KNOW IT'S NOT Y'ALL'S DEPARTMENT, BUT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WHAT Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, RIGHT. PROVIDING A, UM, PLACE WHERE PARENTS CAN LEARN WITH THEIR CHILDREN MM-HMM . ABOUT PARENTING IN OUR LIBRARIES AND JUST BRINGING ATTENTION TO THAT. BUT THE ONE THING, MADAM CHAIR THAT, UM, AND MAYBE YOU ALL CAN SPEAK TO THIS, UH, THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING, THE HOUSING AS WELL AS THE CHILDCARE AND THE CHILDCARE COMPONENT BEING CRITICAL, ONE OF THE BIG GAPS THAT WE'RE SEEING, UM, AND I BELIEVE THE YMCA USED TO PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF SERVICE IS DROP IN CARE. SO SOMEONE MAY NOT NEED TO DO, UH, FULL ENROLLMENT FOR THEIR CHILD, RIGHT? BUT WE DON'T HAVE PLACES RIGHT NOW THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE WHERE A PARENT CAN COME AND TAKE THEIR KID FOR A FEW HOURS, LET'S SAY THEY'RE SICK AND THEY NEED TO GO TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT, OR THEY HAVE ERRANDS THAT THEY NEED TO RUN. AND BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, WE LOST A LOT OF THOSE SERVICES CITYWIDE. SO I, I JUST MADAM CHAIR, WANNA ENCOURAGE US AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING AND INCORPORATING THOSE SERVICES, THAT WE DON'T LOSE THE COMPONENT OF TEMPORARY OR DROP IN SERVICES AS WELL, BECAUSE MANY, MANY FAMILIES DESPERATELY NEED THAT RIGHT NOW. YEAH. I, I DON'T, UH, I DON'T BELIEVE WE OFFER THAT AT THIS MOMENT. I KNOW THAT PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, NOT ONLY DID WE OFFER DROP IN CARE FROM SOME OF OUR SUB RECIPIENTS, BUT I BELIEVE WE HAD ONE OR TWO THAT OFFERED, UH, NIGHTTIME DAYCARE FOR, FOR PEOPLE THAT WORK AT NIGHT. UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE LOST A LOT OF SERVICE PROVIDERS, UH, AS A RESULT OF COVID. YEAH. SO IS THERE ANY, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THAT? WE CAN, WE CAN ADD ADDITIONAL POINTS IN THE NEXT ROUND OF LIKE NOFA WHEN WE GO OUT TO BID FOR DIFFERENT PROVIDERS. I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN, WE CAN START LOOKING AT. WE CAN ALSO, SO CHILDCARE COUNCIL OF GREATER HOUSTON IS OUR, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT FOR OUR CHILDCARE SERVICES PROGRAM. AND WE CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT DOING SOME WORKSHOPS TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL INTEREST. UM, OUR MONEY IS NOT AN EASY POT OF MONEY TO ACCESS, MEANING THAT YOU HAVE TO COME WITH SOME CAPACITY, AND THESE AREN'T CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS. SO IF YOU'RE A SMALLER ENTITY, IT IS HARDER TO UTILIZE FEDERAL FUNDS. BUT I THINK THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO START THAT DISCUSSION. OKAY. I APPRECIATE IT. AND MADAM CHAIR, IF THERE'S ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO FROM COUNCIL, ENCOURAGING THAT THROUGH THE CHILDCARE COUNCIL AGAIN, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL MENTION AS WE DISCUSS PARENTAL LEAVE, YOU KNOW, THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION AS WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE EAGER TO HELP JUST LOOKING FOR THAT AVENUE TO DO SO. THANK YOU. [00:25:01] UM, AND MS. MARTIZ, I WANNA GO BACK TO SOMETHING YOU WERE JUST SAYING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UM, SOLICITING, YOU KNOW, IDEAS FROM, FROM COUNCIL AND OTHERS. UM, AND I, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO, TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED CHILDREN AND YOUTH IS, IS A REAL BIG GOAL. AND, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALREADY DOING THAT. AND, AND, AND IN FACT, AS WE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND YOU WERE, UM, GIVING US KIND OF A HIGH LEVEL VIEW OF, OF WHAT THOSE PROGRAMS ARE. I, I KNOW SOME DETAIL ABOUT THEM, THAT THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE AMAZING. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, UM, THE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, SUNRISE LOFTS AND THE HAY CENTER, YOU KNOW, AND THAT, THAT THOSE ARE TARGETING YOUTH WHO ARE AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE. THAT IS AN EXTREMELY, UM, FRAGILE GROUP. AND MANY OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY PARENTS TOO. SO, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE, THEY ARE REALLY IN, IN, IN DESPERATE NEED OF STABILITY AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. AND, AND I THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT WE'VE GOT TWO CENTERS THAT DO THAT. YOU KNOW, AND I, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH NEED THERE REMAINS, BUT, BUT THANK YOU FOR, FOR THAT. UM, ANOTHER ONE THAT YOU, YOU JUST BRUSHED OVER VERY QUICKLY, AND WE SAW, YOU KNOW, ADORABLE PICTURES OF, OF LITTLE KIDS PLAYING IS HOUSE OF TINY TREASURES. UM, I DID NOT HEAR YOU REALLY BRAG ABOUT THAT, AND I THINK YOU SHOULD. UM, THAT'S TARGETING, UH, TWO TO 5-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS. AND IT'S A, IT'S A PROGRAM TO GET THEM BACK ON TRACK AND BE PREPARED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN KINDERGARTEN. THAT'S WONDERFUL. I VISITED THERE AND, AND WAS JUST SO IMPRESSED WITH WHAT I SAW. BUT I THINK EVERY SINGLE PROGRAM THAT YOU'VE, YOU'VE SHARED, THERE'S, THERE'S STORIES, YOU KNOW, OF SUCCESS, STORIES OF, OF REALLY LIVES THAT YOU'VE SAVED BECAUSE IT'S THERE, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, AND EVERYONE DESERVES A FAIR SHOT AT A GOOD LIFE. AND THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. SO, SO AS YOU LOOK TO, UM, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE FOR FUNDING AND GRANTS THAT ARE COMING, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD, I WOULD REALLY CONCENTRATE MOST OF ALL ON THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST BECAUSE, UM, NOT TO SAY THAT EVERY CHILD DOESN'T NEED EVERYTHING, BUT WE REALLY DO GET THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK WHEN WE, WHEN WE SERVE THOSE THAT, THAT, THAT HAVE THE LEAST. I SEE NO OTHER, UM, PEOPLE IN THE, IN THE QUEUE TO SPEAK. SO LET ME JUST THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING ALL THIS GREAT INFORMATION. UM, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. I JUST, UM, JUST TO ADD TO YOUR LAST COMMENT, UM, AND I'LL PARAPHRASE FROM, UH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALEX, LOVING FROM SEARCH IS THAT BEHAVIOR AND TRAUMA THAT'S NOT TREATED IS REPEATED. AND SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE HOUSE OF TINY TREASURES, THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE HOMELESS OR YOU ARE NEWLY HOUSED FROM THE STREET, YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO TREAT THAT TRAUMA. AND, AND PART OF THAT IS DOING IT IN THAT DAYCARE FACILITY IN A SAFE, LOVING PLACE. WHEN OUR CHILDREN ARE IN DAYCARE, WHEN THEY ARE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEY TYPICALLY DO NOT LOSE THEIR HOUSING. AND SO THE MOBILITY RATES OF THE SCHOOLS END UP DROPPING BECAUSE PEOPLE COME BACK TO SCHOOL, THEY DON'T HAVE TO START OVER AND, AND, UM, GET A NEW SUPPORT SYSTEM. AND I, AND I DID BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT THE EMERGENCY RENTAL, UM, ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE, UM, THE ERA O PROGRAM. I JUST WANT TO SAY, AND, AND I, AND I GOTTA GIVE KUDOS TO MY TEAM THAT WE JUST COMPLETED THE FIRST, UH, FINAL REPORT FOR ERA A ONE, HOUSTON CITY OF HOUSTON'S SPENT OVER $81 MILLION IN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, $81 MILLION. WE SERVED OVER SEVEN, NO, I'M SORRY, IT WAS 40,000 FAMILIES. WITH THAT $81 MILLION. THOSE FAMILIES DID NOT HAVE TO LEAVE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN FAMILIES LEAVE THROUGH EVICTION, THEY DON'T GO INTO BETTER HOUSING. UM, THEY HAVE TO GO INTO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND THEY HAVE TO GET DIFFERENT, UM, SUPPORT SYSTEMS. AND SO IT'S VERY TRAUMATIC FOR THOSE FAMILIES. AND THOUGH IT'S NOT DIRECT CHILDCARE, IT IS A FAMILY COMPONENT. AND SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO TREAT, UM, TRAUMA, UM, AND WE DO FEEL LIKE IT IS THROUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND WE'LL KEEP DOING IT. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO, UM, THAT WAS AMAZING, . I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT Y'ALL WERE HERE TODAY. UM, ENSURING EARLY CHILDHOOD SUCCESS IS A KEY STRATEGY TO A THRIVING CITY. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE AND THANK THE CITY'S HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP IN HELPING BABIES THRIVE BY SUPPORTING PRENATAL, PARENTAL AND INFANT WELLNESS. I'D LIKE TO NOW WELCOME DIRECTOR JANE CHEEKS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, AND, UH, ALYSSA FRANKLIN BROCKS THE, UM, HR DIRECTOR'S CHIEF [00:30:01] OF STAFF FOR AN UPDATE ON HOW THAT PROGRAM IS GOING. WELCOME DIRECTOR CHEEKS AND, UM, MR. FRANKLIN BROCK, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I WANNA SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. UM, TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO JUST RE-FAMILIARIZE YOU ALL WITH THE ORDINANCE, UH, WHICH HAS BEEN ABOUT OVER A YEAR NOW, UH, FOR, UH, PARENTAL PRENATAL AND INFANT WELLNESS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. BUT, UM, IF YOU WOULD, JUST GIVE ME A MOMENT OF TIME HERE BEFORE I GET STARTED WITH THE PRESENTATION. I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE THE HR TEAM MEMBERS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED AND ADMINISTERED THIS HISTORY BREAKING PROGRAM. SO, IF, IF, UH, SAMIRA RITO, IF YOU WOULD STAND, UH, SAMIRA RITO SERVES AS THE CITYWIDE PPI COORDINATOR. UH, SERGIO MARTINEZ, HE SERVES AS THE CITYWIDE FMLA COORDINATOR. I'D ALSO, AND, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL GOOD EMPLOYEES COME, GOOD MANAGERS. SO I, I LIKE FOR ASHANTA GEORGE AND FOR AISHA ROBINSON TO PLEASE, UH, STAND. THIS IS THEIR MANAGERS, AND I WANNA TELL YOU THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM DO THEIR REGULAR JOB. AND, AND THEY TOOK ON THE PPI IMPLEMENTATION, SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK. AS HR DIRECTOR, I'M NOT, I'M NOT THE ONE DOING THE WORK. AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE KNOWS WHO'S DOING IT. SO I WANNA THANK THEM PUBLICLY. WELL, LET'S, LET'S CUT FOR THAT. , THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THEM TODAY. WE'RE, WE ARE APPRECIATIVE TO THEM. WE KNOW LEADERSHIP MATTERS. WE KNOW IT'S A TEAM EFFORT, AND IT WAS A, A TEAM EFFORT TO CREATE THIS, AND THEN IT'S A TEAM EFFORT TO IMPLEMENT IT. AND SO, UM, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE WITH US TODAY TOO. UM, SO LET'S GET STARTED. RIGHT. UM, SO BESIDE ME IS, UM, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN AS SHE WORKED WITH US, SHE KNOWS THAT I HAVE A PHENOMENAL CHIEF OF STAFF. UH, ELISA FRANKLIN BROCKS WAS THE PERSON THAT ACTUALLY WORKED WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO HELP IMPLEMENT THIS POLICY. SO I ALSO WANT TO THANK ELISA FRANKLIN BROCK FOR ALL HER DILIGENT HARD WORK AS SHE, UH, GOT US OVER THE HUMP ACTUALLY GETTING THE POLICY DRAFTED. SO I AM NOT, UH, GOING TO, UH, FURTHER BELA THE, THE PRESENTATION. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THAT I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THIS ADMINISTRATION, UM, AND HOW THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED EXPLORING INNOVATIVE WAYS TO STAY COMPETITIVE WITH THE RELEVANT MARKETS BY LOOKING AT REVOLUTIONARY WAYS SO THAT WE IN HR, CAN ATTRACT AND, AND RETAIN TALENT. UM, THE PRENATAL, PARENTAL AND INFANT WELLNESS LEAVE POLICY DOES JUST THAT OUR EMPLOYEES NO LONGER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HAVING THE ACCRUED LEAVE TO BE ABLE TO GO AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR KIDS. SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO MY CHIEF OF STAFF, ELISA FRANKLIN BROCKS. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CHEEKS, AND GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UM, LET'S SEE, ARE WE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE GROWING NEEDS OF ITS EMPLOYEES TO BALANCE WORK AND THEIR HOME LIFE. AND KEEPING WITH OUR GOAL OF BEING A PREMIER EMPLOYER, THE CURRENT ORDINANCE PROVIDES PAID LEAVES FOR PRENATAL, PARENTAL, AND INFANT WELLNESS. AS STATED, THIS ORDINANCE HAS ASSISTED THE CITY IN BEING COMPETITIVE WITH OUR RELEVANT MARKETS, ATTRACTING NEW TALENT, AND RETAINING OUR VALUED EMPLOYEES WHILE STAYING CONSISTENT WITH HRS VISION AND GOALS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. PRENATAL LEAVE IS LEAVE AVAILABLE FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES TO USE FOR PRENATAL WELLNESS, HEALTHCARE APPOINTMENTS, AND OTHER ABSENCES RELATED TO THE PREGNANCY. THE LEAVE IS AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES IRRESPECTIVE OF GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR MARITAL STATUS, OR WHETHER BOTH EMPLOYEES ARE EMPLOYED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE ORDINANCE ALLOWSS FOR A MAXIMUM OF 160 HOURS IN A 12 MONTH PERIOD. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. PARENTAL LEAVE IS NOT COMPENSABLE AND IS FORFEITED FOR THE REASONS LISTED ON THE SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. PARENTAL LEAVE IS LEAVE FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES TO [00:35:01] USE TO BOND AND CARE FOR A CHILD AFTER THE BIRTH OR PLACEMENT OF A CHILD WITH EMPLOYEE FOR ADOPTION OR FOSTER CARE, THOUGH ORDINANCE ALLOTS FOR AN INITIAL MAXIMUM OF 320 HOURS IN A 12 MONTH PERIOD. AND THEN THIS YEAR WE'LL INCREASE TO 480 HOURS, BEGINNING WITH OUR NEW BENEFIT YEAR ON SEPTEMBER 1ST. THE LEAVE RUNS CONCURRENTLY WITH FMLA IF THE EMPLOYEE IS ELIGIBLE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND AGAIN, PARENTAL LEAVE IS NOT COMPENSABLE AND IS FORFEITED FOR THE REASONS THAT WE HAVE LISTED ON THE SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. INFANT WELLNESS LEAVE. INFANT WELLNESS LEAVE IS LEAVE FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES TO USE TO TAKE INFANTS TO A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER FOR EXAMINATIONS AND PHYSICALS, IMMUNIZATIONS, CHECKUPS, AND PROSPECTIVE HEALTH SCREENING, TESTING OF ANY KIND DURING THE INFANT'S FIRST YEAR AFTER BIRTH. THE ORDINANCE A LOTS FOR A MAXIMUM OF 40 HOURS IN A 12 MONTH PERIOD. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND AGAIN, INFANT WELLNESS LEAVE IS NOT COMPENSABLE AND IS FORFEITED FOR THE REASONS THAT WE HAVE LISTED ON THE SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AS DIRECTOR, CHIEF STATED, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST BEEN A YEAR SINCE OUR ORDINANCE PASSED. OUR ORDINANCE PASSED ON MAY 14TH, 2022. IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE LEAVES, AN EMPLOYEE WOULD NEED TO BE A FULL-TIME, HAVE AT LEAST SIX MONTHS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE WITH THE CITY. AND SO NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE, AT THE DATA THAT WE'VE GATHERED SO FAR WITHIN OUR FIRST YEAR. UH, WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THE DATA, WE ARE SHOWING THAT 400 EMPLOYEES HAVE AVAILED THEMSELVES OF PAY, PRENATAL LEAVE. 852 EMPLOYEES HAVE AVAILED THEMSELVES OF PAY, PARENTAL LEAVE, AND 212 EMPLOYEES HAVE AVAILED THEMSELVES OF INFANT WELLNESS LEAVE A TOTAL OF 990 EMPLOYEES, WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT 5% OF OUR WORKFORCE ELIGIBLE WORKFORCE HAVE USED SOME FORM OF PPI LEAVE SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN ON MARCH 14TH, 2022. THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. NEXT SLIDE. AND ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, WE HAVE A, A QUESTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. THANK YOU, CHAIR. UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR CHEEKS, YOU, YOU SAID IT AT THE OUTSET, UM, HOW SPECIAL AND COMMITTED AND DEDICATED THE HR TEAM IS, AND I REALLY WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ALL ON THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION. UH, NOT ONLY OF THIS, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS IN JUST A SECOND, BUT I ALSO, FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REMOTE WORK, UH, THAT HAS NOT GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION YET, BUT ALL OF THIS GOES TOGETHER AS WE TALK ABOUT COMPETITIVE, BUT ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF FAMILY LIFE AS WELL. SO I REALLY WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU AND LIFT THAT UP AS WELL. UM, AND ELISA, IT IT'S BEEN SUCH A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH THE TWO OF YOU, UH, TO SEE THIS NUMBER, UH, YOU KNOW, OVER 900 EMPLOYEES, ALMOST A THOUSAND EMPLOYEES, UH, HAVE USED THIS SO FAR. UH, IT IS JUST REMARKABLE. SO I FIRST AND FOREMOST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP, UH, AND WHAT IT TOOK TO GET THIS WORKING THROUGH, BECAUSE THIS WAS BASED ON THE REAL ANECDOTES OF EMPLOYEES AND WHAT THEY NEEDED. YES, THANK YOU. AND Y'ALL CRAFTED IT AND WE WORKED TOGETHER TO CRAFT IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT, UM, SUITED WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S EMPLOYEES NEEDED. TO THAT END, UM, I MEAN, I I'M VERY IMPRESSED BY THESE NUMBERS. ARE Y'ALL SEEING ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT TO IMPROVE UPON OR ADJUST, OR ARE WE SEEING ANY GAPS IN COVERAGE RIGHT NOW? THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION. SO COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, THAT'S, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION, AND YOU KNOW THAT I ALWAYS WANNA BE TRANSPARENT. UM, SO AS WE BEGAN THE PROGRAM, UM, ACTUALLY ADMINISTERING, UM, THE PROGRAM WAS, WAS WHERE WE HAD SOME HICCUPS, UH, AGAIN, UH, MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS GETTING SOMETHING NEW AND THEN NOT BEING TOTALLY SURE OF HOW THEY SHOULD HANDLE IT. AND, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS A LITTLE PROBLEMATIC AS WE STARTED. AND, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO UTILIZE THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY TWEAK THE POLICY SUM SO THAT MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS UNDERSTOOD THAT, YES, THIS IS A VERY BENEFICIAL BENEFIT TO OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT IT, WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS [00:40:01] THE SERVICE THAT WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN WITH THE CITIZENS AND THE RESIDENTS HERE IN HOUSTON. SO, UH, INITIALLY WE DID HAVE SOME HICCUPS. UH, WE WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH EACH AND EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT HAD SOME CONCERNS. UH, WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH SOME OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS, BUT WHAT I BELIEVE IS THAT NOW WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PATH FORWARD TO BE ABLE FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN DO, AND ALSO THIS IS WHAT THE POLICY STATES. AND I THINK THAT, THAT THAT WAS OUR BIGGEST THING. UM, PEOPLE ARE AFRAID WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING NEW AND THEY DON'T WANNA VIOLATE ANYONE'S RIGHTS, AND THEY DON'T WANNA BE BOTHERED WITH HR SAYING THAT THEY DID SUCH. BUT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT, ONCE WE SAT DOWN AND, AND EXPLAINED TO THEM EXACTLY WHAT THE RIGHTS WERE, NOT ONLY OF SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS TO KEEP RUNNING THE BUSINESS, BUT ALSO IT BALANCED OUT WITH INDIVIDUALS, UH, BEING ABLE TO TAKE THE LEAVE. I, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE DID FIND OUT THAT WE, WE, WE DO HAVE QUITE A FEW HUSBANDS AND WIVES HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND, UH, THAT THAT CAME TO OUR ATTENTION, UM, MORE PREVALENTLY AS WE ADMINISTERED, UH, THE PROGRAM. SO IT WAS ALSO WEIGHING THAT. SO WE, WE ACTUALLY, THIS YEAR WE'VE LEARNED A LOT. WE'VE ALREADY HAD ONE TWEAK TO THE ACTUAL POLICY. SO, UH, I BELIEVE WE ARE, WELL, WELL ON OUR WAY, UH, WITH, WITH, WITH MAKING SURE THAT IT'S ADMINISTERED CORRECTLY. TERRIFIC. WELL, UM, AGAIN, I'M HAP SO HAPPY TO SEE THESE NUMBERS IN THIS REPORT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I HOPE THEY CONTINUE TO GROW AND I, I RESPECT THE, UH, GROWING PAINS OF SORTING THIS OUT, BUT IT, IT SEEMS LIKE IT, I'LL ASK THIS AS A QUESTION. IS HR GETTING WHAT YOU ALL NEED IN ORDER TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT THIS RIGHT NOW? OR IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN BE DOING TO SUPPORT YOU WITH THAT? OH, COUNCIL MEMBER. WE, WE HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH SUPPORTED, NOT, NOT ONLY BY COUNCIL, BUT ACTUALLY BY THE ADMINISTRATION. SO THANK YOU. NO, THANK YOU SO MUCH AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME. YOU KNOW, UH, MY, MY STAFF BACK THERE IS PROBABLY SAYING, OH, YOU WORKING US TO DEATH, BUT , BUT JUST, JUST TO BE HONEST, BUT I, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT, UM, UH, THEY, THEY HAVE ACTUALLY MADE THIS LOOK, UH, PAINLESS. BUT I, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU, IT, IT, IT WAS A LOT OF WORK FOR THEM IN, IN THE INITIAL 90 DAYS TO SIX MONTHS. IT REALLY WAS. AND, UH, AGAIN, ONCE WE GOT THROUGH THOSE GROWING PAINS, I THINK NOW AGAIN, WE HAVE THAT PATH FORWARD AND IT'S A LITTLE MORE SMOOTHER. SO, GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OF COURSE. AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT MAYOR TURNER, I MEAN, FROM WHERE I SIT, HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT SUPPORTIVE IN MAKING SURE THAT THIS GOT DONE. UM, SO RECOGNIZING THAT ABSOLUTELY, AND IT WOULD BE VERY NICE WHEN Y'ALL HAVE TIME TO, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE NUMBERS, BUT TO HEAR SOME, UH, ANECDOTES IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, EVEN IF IT'S JUST IN A WRITTEN REPORT OF HOW SOME EMPLOYEES HAVE BENEFITED FROM THIS AND THE VALUE THAT THEY FOUND FROM IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE UNIQUE COMPONENTS OF THIS PROGRAM THAT WE DON'T SEE OTHER PLACES LIKE PRENATAL WELLNESS, RIGHT? AND HOW THAT HAS ENABLED FAMILIES TO THRIVE HERE AT THE CITY SO THAT THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO TAKE AWAY FROM, UM, THAT PARENTAL LEAVE BANK. SO ALL OR TAKING CARE OF A SICK CHILD IN THE FIRST YEAR. JUST SOME OF THAT, THOSE ANECDOTES WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. AND I, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION, I KNOW THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN THIS REPORT AS WELL, SO I'M SURE THAT THEY'RE VERY EXCITED, UM, TO GET TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. SO THANK YOU. OKAY. WE'LL PUT THAT TOGETHER FOR YOU. SO, UH, YEAH, I'M REALLY JUST REALLY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT YOU SEE HOW COMPETITIVE IT'S MAKING THE CITY WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH EMPLOYEES AND WITH THE TREMENDOUS, UM, ENGAGEMENT THAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT. WE, WE, WE KNOW THAT IT'S, UM, IT'S BEING REALLY PERCEIVED BY THEM AS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF FAMILY LIFE. UM, BUT ADDITIONALLY, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE INVESTMENT THIS IS IN THE, UM, IN THE LIVES OF, YOU KNOW, OF A YOUNG PERSON, UM, THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, TAKING THE LONG VIEW, MAKING SURE THAT THESE BABIES GET WHAT THEY NEED IN THE EARLIEST DAYS IS AN INCREDIBLE INVESTMENT FOR OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WILL EVENTUALLY SEE RETURNS ON, UM, WE KNOW THAT, UM, THAT DEVELOPMENTALLY THAT, UM, THAT THE, THESE VERY EARLY DAYS IN A PERSON'S LIFE ARE PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT AND, AND HOW THEY TURN OUT, YOU KNOW, . SO, SO, YES, MA'AM. SO THAT, THAT IS, THAT IS ANOTHER VERY LONG-TERM BENEFIT THAT WE WILL SEE. WE DON'T SEE IT NOW. I MEAN, WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE COMPETITIVE. WE SEE THAT THE PARENTS ARE HAPPIER, BUT, BUT, BUT WE ARE ALSO GONNA REAP THE REWARDS OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE [00:45:01] GETTING A, A, A BETTER START IN THEIR LIVES. UM, THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS. I'M JUST SO DELIGHTED ABOUT THIS, UM, THIS WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND CONTINUE TO DO AND, AND, UM, APPRECIATE YOUR OPENNESS TO TWEAKING IT AND MAKING IT BETTER, LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO, YOU KNOW, TO DO MORE, TO DO BETTER. SO, UM, YEAH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO ADDITIONAL REPORTS FROM YOU AND YOU KNOW, HOW IT GROWS AND HOW, UM, HOW IT'S SERVING OUR CITY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. UM, SO THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CHEEKS AND, AND, UH, THANK YOU MS. FRANKLIN BROCK FRANKLIN BROCKS. UM, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC SPEAKERS TODAY WHO'VE SIGNED UP FOR THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE. UM, SO AT, UM, SO AT THIS TIME, UH, SO AT THIS TIME, UM, LET ME JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, I ALSO THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED TODAY AND, AND THEIR STAFFS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO'VE TUNED IN. AND, UM, AND FOR PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S MEETING, TODAY'S PRESENTATIONS, AS WELL AS PAST MEETINGS ARE ALL POSTED ON THE COMMITTEE WEBSITE. UM, PLEASE JOIN US NEXT MONTH, UM, FOR THE NEXT CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE MEETING ON JUNE 14TH. THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S SCHEDULE MEETING OF THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE. A MEETING ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.