[Public Safety Committee on December 2, 2025.]
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I AM AMY PECK, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
WE ARE JOINED TODAY BY STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM KAT'S, OFFICE, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S OFFICE, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S OFFICE, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ'S OFFICE, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ'S OFFICE, AND VICE CHAIR JACKSON'S OFFICE.
UM, WE HAVE ONE PRESENTATION TODAY.
IT WILL BE THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER.
AND BEFORE THE PRESENTATION, WE HAVE CARRIE MCCRACKEN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHO'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AND IF YOU COULD STEP IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING THIS OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING.
I AM NOT GONNA SAY MUCH BECAUSE I WANT OUR WHOLE ALLOTMENT OF TIME TO BE, UH, FOR THESE GUYS TO GIVE YOU A PRESENTATION TODAY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS A BIG ISSUE.
IT'S NOT ONE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANNA HEAR ABOUT, NOT ONE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANNA TALK ABOUT.
SO, YOU KNOW, HERE IN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, WE HAVE THIS WONDERFUL RESOURCE, WHICH IS THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER, WHICH IS THERE A SAFE HAVEN FOR THE, THE HEALING, UM, AND THE RESTORING FAMILIES BACK, BACK TO NORMAL AFTER THIS HORRIBLE THING HAS HAPPENED.
SO TODAY WE HAVE, UH, DR. BRIAN GIBSON, OUR DIRECTOR OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION, AND TODAY, DAVIS, OUR DIRECTOR OF PARTNER RELATIONS, WHO'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE PRESENTATION, UH, TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO.
UM, IT'S HARD TO GET A LOT DONE IN 20 MINUTES, SO PLEASE KNOW WE ALSO HAVE KAREN ARD WITH US TODAY, WHO IS OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
UM, YOU CAN CALL ANY OF US ANYTIME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, THINGS YOU WANNA HEAR MORE ABOUT, YOU WANNA BRING PEOPLE OVER FOR THE TOUR, ANYTHING YOU NEED, PLEASE CONSIDER US THAT RESOURCE.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THIS PLATFORM TO SHARE OUR MESSAGE.
STAFF FROM COUNCILMAN CARTER'S OFFICE.
WE ALSO HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCILMAN CARTER'S OFFICE ONLINE.
AND WE ARE READY WHENEVER YOU ARE.
OR SIT, WHICH DO YOU PREFER? WE CAN LOWER IT IF YOU WANT TO SIT.
WE CAN RAISE IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PARTNER RELATIONS WITH THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER.
AND MY NAME IS DR. BRIAN GIBSON.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING.
I WANT TO FOCUS OUR TIME THIS MORNING, UH, WITH OUR MISSION AT THE CAC.
THE MISSION OF THE CAC IS TO PROVIDE A PROFESSIONAL, COMPASSIONATE, AND COORDINATED APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF SEXUAL ABUSE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND TO SERVE AS AN ADVOCATE FOR ALL CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
CACS WERE STARTED IN 1985 IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.
AND BEFORE CACS WERE STARTED WHEN A CHILD MADE AN OUTCRY OF ABUSE, THEY HAD TO GO TO MULTIPLE LOCATIONS TO TELL THAT STORY AND SPEAK WITH MULTIPLE PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS POLICE OFFICERS, CPS WORKERS.
AND SO THAT WOULD RESULT IN REVICTIMIZING, RETRAUMATIZING THAT CHILD.
AND SO CACS WERE CREATED TO HELP MITIGATE THAT RETRAUMATIZATION AND TO MAKE FOR MORE EFFECTIVE AND, UM, COLLABORATIVE, UH, CASE INVESTIGATION.
AND SO, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE HAVE 70 CACS, 70 ADVOCACY CENTERS, AND NATIONWIDE WE HAVE 1000.
AND SO IN 2024, OVER 60,000 CHILDREN RECEIVED CRITICAL SERVICES AT A TEXAS CAC.
AND HERE IS HARRIS, HARRIS COUNTY.
WE SERVED JUST OVER 78 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
AND SO WE ARE LOCATED IN RICE VILLAGE.
WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN 1991 TO ESTABLISH A SAFE HAVEN FOR, UH, CHILD ABUSE SEXUAL SURVIVORS.
AND, UH, THEIR FAMILIES WE'RE ACCREDITED THROUGH CACS OF TEXAS AND THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE.
UH, WE ALSO REPRESENT A TRUE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR.
UH, WE ARE A HARRIS COUNTY AGENCY, BUT WE HAVE A GENEROUS FOUNDATION AND GENEROUS DONORS THAT FUNDS US AT THE CAC.
SO WE HAVE TWO PRIMARY GOALS AT THE ADVOCACY CENTERS.
OUR FIRST GOAL SPEAKS TO OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND ENSURING THAT WE'RE NOT RE-VICTIMIZING THEM AND ALSO HELPING THEM SUPPORT THEIR HEALING PROCESS.
AND THEN OUR SECOND GOAL SPEAKS TO OUR MULTIDISCIPLINARY
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TEAM.AND SO AT THE CAC, WE WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS TO HAVE A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT CAN COLLABORATE AND COMMUNICATE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING JUSTICE FOR OUR FAMILIES AND ALSO WORKING TOWARDS THAT HEALING PROCESS.
THE STRONGEST TEAMS ARE THE ONES THAT CAN FOCUS ON BOTH OF THOSE GOALS AT THE SAME TIME AND PUT ALL THEIR EFFORTS TOWARDS THAT.
UM, CACS MUST BE CHILD FRIENDLY.
WE MUST CO-LOCATE WITH PARTNERS.
WE ALSO SHOULD OFFER TRAINING FOR OUR PROFESSIONALS AND ALSO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A COLLABORATIVE AND COORDINATED APPROACH TO OUR CHILD, UM, CASES AND OUR, OUR INVESTIGATION, BOTH IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES.
SO WE OFFER MANY SERVICES AND SOME OF OUR CORE SERVICES IS THAT FOR FORENSIC INTERVIEW, MEDICAL EVALUATION, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, CHILDREN'S COURT SERVICES, CHILDREN'S AND VOLUNTEER SERVICES, AND TRAINING AND OUTREACH.
AND SO WE SAY MDTA LOT, BUT IT MEANS MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM.
AND SO OUR MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM IS MADE UP OF OUR PARTNER AGENCIES.
SO WE HAVE 60 PARTNER AGENCIES WHO ALL FALL INTO ONE OF THE CATEGORIES ON THE SCREEN.
UM, THAT INCLUDES LAW ENFORCEMENT, MEDICAL LEGAL, SO, UM, BOTH CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LEGAL, UH, ATTORNEY'S OFFICES, AS WELL AS OUR FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, THERAPY AND PSYCH SERVICES, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM IS TO HAVE TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE SERVICES SURROUNDING THOSE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND ENSURING THAT THEY'RE COLLABORATING, COMMUNICATING AND COORDINATING THROUGHOUT THAT CASE, SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE'S AWARE OF THE NEXT STEPS AND WHERE THEY ARE IN THAT INVESTIGATION.
SO WE DO PARTNER WITH SEVERAL AGENCIES AND WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF SEXUALLY ABUSE CHILDREN.
ALL OF OUR PARTNERS FALL UNDER ONE OF THESE THREE CATEGORIES.
THAT'S INVESTIGATION, LEGAL, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS.
AND SO, WE ARE CO-LOCATED AT THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER WITH MULTIPLE AGENCIES.
OUR BIGGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE HPD AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE ALSO HAVE THE INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN METRO TASK FORCE.
IN OUR BUILDING AS WELL, WE HAVE PASADENA PD AND BAYTOWN PD, WHO ALSO CO-LOCATE, BUT THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT SMALLER OF OUR PARTNERS.
AND THEN OUR BIGGEST CIVIL PARTNER IS THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, OR CPS.
SO, TEXAS FAMILY CODE STATES THAT WE ARE TO PARTNER WITH AGENCIES WHO INVESTIGATE ABUSE AND NEGLECT WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION.
AND SO WE HAVE OVER 60 PARTNERS.
UH, AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, UH, THE INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES ARE LISTED THERE, VARIOUS SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY.
UM, AND THEN ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE OUR LEGAL PARTNERS, UH, AND THEN SERVICE PROVIDERS.
AND SO, BEFORE A CASE CAN BE PRESENTED TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THERE MUST BE A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF FACT FINDING.
SO LAW ENFORCEMENT BASICALLY MUST COMPLETE AN INVESTIGATION FOR THE CRIMINAL ASPECT.
AND SO THAT FACT FINDING INVESTIGATION STARTS OFF WITH THAT CHILD'S DISCLOSURE.
THAT CAN BE TO THE OFFICER, OR THAT CAN BE DURING THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW.
AND IN A SECOND, WE'RE GONNA KIND OF GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THE FORENSIC INTERVIEWS THAT WE OFFER AT OUR FACILITY.
DURING THAT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, THE OFFICER IS OBTAINING EVIDENCE.
AND SO EVIDENCE CAN BE WITNESS STATEMENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, TEXT MESSAGES, PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, UM, IT CAN BE PICTURES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
ALSO, THE SUSPECT STATEMENT IS A PART OF THAT EVIDENCE COLLECTION.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE AGE OF LEGAL ACCOUNTABILITY IS 10 YEARS OLD.
SO AT 10 YEARS OLD, CHILDREN CAN BE CRIMINALLY CHARGED.
AND SO THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE A FULL FACT FINDING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION THAT'S THOROUGH, AND THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHEN WE'RE LABELING CHILDREN AS PERPETRATORS, THAT WE TRULY HAVE ALL THE FACTS.
SO, WHO SENDS THE CHILD AND THE FAMILY TO THE CAC? SO ALL OF OUR, UH, REFERRALS COME TO US EITHER THROUGH D-F-P-S-C-P-S OR A LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNER.
AND SO AN ALLEGATION OF ABUSE, UH, MUST BE REPORTED, UH, TO ONE OF TWO OF THOSE AGENCIES BEFORE ONE COULD RECEIVE CAC SERVICES.
AND SO CPS INVESTIGATES, UH, YOUR FAMILIAL CASES.
SO THAT'S BLOOD FICTIVE, KIN, PARENT, STEPPARENT, AUNT, UNCLE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKS JOINTLY WITH CPS ON THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.
AND THEN LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATES NONFAMILIAL CASES.
SO A TEACHER, A COACH, OR A NEIGHBOR AND CPS DOES NOT WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.
SO ONE DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE IN OUR FACILITY OR OUR BUILDING, IS
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THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE, OR MEI.SO THIS SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT FOCUSES ON REVIEWING ALL OF THE CASES THAT DROP FROM THE STATEWIDE INTAKE.
WITH DFPS, THEY REVIEW ABOUT 200 INTAKES A DAY, SPECIFICALLY REGARDING SEXUAL ABUSE, SEX TRAFFICKING, NEAR FATALITY, FATALITY, AND SERIOUS BODILY INJURY.
AND SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS DEPARTMENT IS TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE CASES THAT REQUIRE A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY, SORRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESPONSE, UM, PER THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE, AND ENSURE THAT OUR PARTNERS ARE COLLABORATING THROUGH THEIR INVESTIGATIONS.
IT ALSO HELPS US STREAMLINE THE TIMELINES AND ALSO THE SERVICES THAT OUR FAMILIES NEED, GETTING THEM INTO SERVICES SOONER AND ENSURING THAT WE'RE REALLY MEETING THEIR NEEDS WHERE THEY ARE.
ALSO, IT HELPS US MAKE SURE THAT DFPS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE COLLABORATED EARLIER IN THEIR INVESTIGATION.
SO THEY'RE NOT WAITING SIX MONTHS OUT TO START TALKING TO EACH OTHER.
THEY'RE STARTING THAT PROCESS RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING.
THIS DEPARTMENT, UM, GOES THROUGH A LOT OF CASES A YEAR.
THEY'RE ABLE TO ALSO HAVE CASE COORDINATION WHEN NEEDED.
AND SO IF THERE'S DIFFICULT CASES OR COMPLEX CASES, THEY CAN HAVE THOSE SPECIFIC, UM, MEETINGS TO GO THROUGH AND BRING ALL OF THE MDT TEAM TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS AND WHERE WE ARE IN OUR INVESTIGATIONS.
SO, AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, PART OF OUR STANDARDS, UH, IS THAT WE A CHILD FRIENDLY LOCATION.
AND SO IN THE FAMILY AND CHILDREN ENTRANCE, UH, THEY GO THROUGH SECURITY AND THE RECEPTIONIST THERE, AND THE, THE PLACE IS, IT IS COLORFUL, IT'S BRIGHT, AND THEY ARE GREETED BY A WARM SMILE.
AND YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH KIDS ARE THERE, FAMILIES MAY HAVE JUST GOTTEN THE WORST NEWS OF THEIR LIVES.
WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THAT LOBBY, YOU SEE KIDS SMILING AND LAUGHING, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT IN, IN IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE.
AND SO THIS IS OUR CENTRAL INTAKE.
SO ONCE THEY SIGN IN AT THE RECEPTIONIST, OUR FAMILIES WAIT HERE, UM, TO BE BROUGHT UP FOR WHATEVER SERVICE THEY'RE COMING TO SEE US FOR.
AND SO ONE OF THE UNIQUE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE AT THE CAC IS THAT WE HAVE FAMILY ADVOCATES AND VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICES.
AND SO WHEN OUR FAMILIES ARE WAITING IN THIS WAITING AREA, THEY'RE ABLE TO BE GREETED BY SOMEONE WHO'S FRIENDLY, THAT'S ABLE TO KIND OF WALK THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS, THAT FAMILY ADVOCATE CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHY THEY'RE THERE.
AND ALSO TALKING TO THE PARENT WHILE THE CHILD IS IN THE INTERVIEW ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT NEEDS THEY MAY HAVE.
THEY CAN CONNECT THEM WITH RESOURCES IN THEIR COMMUNITY OR REFER THEM TO RESOURCES WITHIN OUR BUILDING.
AND ALSO UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE FULL FAMILY UNIT IS.
UM, THIS SERVICE IS UNIQUE TO OUR CAC, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND TO ALSO HAVE CHILD ADVOCATES THAT CAN ALSO WALK WITH THE CHILD THROUGH THOSE SAME STEPS.
SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE INITIAL SERVICE THAT, UH, FAMILIES, UH, CHILDREN RECEIVE FORENSIC SERVICES.
SO, THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW IS A DEVELOPMENTALLY SENSITIVE AND LEGALLY SOUND METHOD FOR GATHERING, UH, INFORMATION REGARDING ABUSE AND OR EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE.
THAT INTERVIEW IS CONDUCTED BY A COMPETENTLY TRAINED NEUTRAL PROFESSIONAL UTILIZING RESEARCH AND PRACTICE INFORMED TECHNIQUES THAT BECOME A PART OF A LARGER INVESTIGATION.
AND SO THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THAT FOR FORENSIC INTERVIEW IS TO GATHER INFORMATION FROM THE CHILD IN HIS OR HER OWN WORDS THAT WILL BE USED TO HELP THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM, UH, IN FAIR DECISION MAKING.
AND SO SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW IS THAT IT DECREASES THE NUMBER OF TIMES AND INTERVIEWERS THAT THE CHILD IS EXPOSED TO.
IT GIVES MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHILD, AND IT ALSO HELPS THE PROSECUTOR ASSESS THE CHILD'S ABILITY TO TESTIFY IN COURT.
AND SO THIS IS A PICTURE OF OUR CURRENT FORENSIC INTERVIEW AND OBSERVATION ROOM.
WE'RE ACTUALLY UNDERGOING CONSTRUCTION TO ENHANCE THIS AND GET BETTER TECHNOLOGY.
UM, WE'RE TRYING TO BE STATE OF THE ART AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST EQUIPMENT THAT IS NEEDED FOR THESE INTERVIEWS.
AND SO OUR TECHNOLOGY, OUR VIDEOTAPING, THE AUDIO WILL ALL BE ENHANCED ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH OUR CURRENT CONSTRUCTION AND THE OBSERVATION ROOM.
ONLY THE, UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNER AND OR DFPS PARTNER ARE ALLOWED IN THE OBSERVATION ROOM.
THE NON-OFFENDING CAREGIVER CANNOT SIT IN, UM, WHOEVER'S ATTORNEY CANNOT SIT IN.
IT'S JUST THAT PARTNER DFPS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE INTERVIEW ROOM.
ONLY THE CHILD AND THE INTERVIEWER ARE IN THAT ROOM.
AND THAT ALLOWS THE CHILD TO SPEAK IN THEIR OWN TERMS, TO TELL THEIR STORY IN THEIR OWN WORDS.
UM, WE DON'T FORCE CHILDREN TO DO INTERVIEWS, SO IF THEY DON'T WANNA DO THE INTERVIEW, WE DON'T LOCK THEM IN THERE AND SAY, NO, YOU CAN'T LEAVE UNTIL YOU TELL ME WHY YOU'RE HERE.
UH, WE DO IT ON THEIR OWN TERMS. THE INTERVIEW ROOMS ARE ALSO VERY, UM, NEUTRAL.
IF YOU SEE IN THE PICTURES, THERE'S NOT REALLY LIKE TREES ON THE WALL OR ANYTHING BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA HAVE ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE SUGGEST SUGGESTIVE
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TO THE CHILD.SO ANYTHING THAT WOULD TRIGGER SOMETHING, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A NEUTRAL SETTING THAT THEY REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE IN.
ALSO, UM, OUR FORENSIC INTERVIEWS ARE FOR CHILDREN AGES TWO YEARS OLD TO 17 YEARS OLD.
UM, AND THE INTERVIEWERS ARE TRAINED TO CONDUCT THESE INTERVIEWS IN AGE APPROPRIATE AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE MANNERS.
AND SO THEY DON'T TALK TO A 2-YEAR-OLD THE WAY THEY WOULD TALK TO A 17-YEAR-OLD.
AND SO UNDERSTANDING WHERE THAT CHILD IS IN THAT DEVELOPMENT, WE ALSO DO FORENSIC INTERVIEWS FOR ADULTS WHO ARE INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED OR, UM, UH, MENTALLY CHALLENGED, UM, IN CASES WHEN THAT IS NEEDED AS WELL.
WE OFFER INTERVIEWS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, BUT IF OTHER LANGUAGES ARE NEEDED, WE WOULD REQUEST AN INTERPRETER FOR THAT INTERVIEW TO PROCEED AS WELL.
SO WE DON'T HAVE JUST LIMITED ENGLISH AND SPANISH, WE CAN DO OTHER LANGUAGES AS WELL.
THE MAJORITY OF SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN AT SOME POINT SAY IT DID NOT HAPPEN.
AND GENERAL REASONS FOR THIS IS THAT NUMBER ONE, ABUSE DID NOT HAPPEN.
NUMBER TWO, THE CHILD DOESN'T KNOW TO TELL, AND THREE, THE CHILD DOESN'T WANT TO TELL.
SO ONCE OUR FORENSIC SERVICES, OUR FORENSIC INTERVIEW IS COMPLETED, THE NEXT STEP IS THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
SO OUR FACILITY HAS A MEDICAL DEPARTMENT THAT'S OVERSEEN BY DR.
SHE'S A MEDICAL DIRECTOR, UM, AFFILIATED WITH BAYLOR COLLEGE MEDICINE AND TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
OUR FACILITY ALSO OFFERS CO OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS. SO WE'RE NOT JUST DOING SEXUAL ABUSE EXAMS THERE.
WE CAN DO FULL BODY EXAMS. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS MOST OF OUR CHILDREN HAVE NOT HAD A A PHYSICAL BEFORE, THEY'VE NEVER BEEN TO A DOCTOR.
AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER THAT FOR OUR VICTIMS AS WELL AS THEIR SIBLINGS, UM, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE CHILDREN ARE PHYSICALLY WELL.
AND AS A WHOLE, WE DON'T TAKE INSURANCE.
WE DON'T TAKE PAYMENT FOR OUR SERVICES.
ALL OF OUR SERVICES FOR OUR CLIENTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE.
UM, WE'RE WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE A FOUNDATION THAT HELPS US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, UM, OUR SERVICES AS WELL.
A LOT OF TIMES OUR KIDS JUST WANNA KNOW THAT THEIR BODY'S OKAY.
THEY WANNA KNOW THAT THEY LOOK THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE.
THEY WANNA KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT DAMAGED BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THEM.
AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS.
ALSO FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION, SAME THING LIKE THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW.
WE DON'T TIE KIDS DOWN AND MAKE THEM DO AN EVALUATION IF THEY DON'T WANT TO.
WE DON'T STICK THEM WITH NEEDLES AND SEDATE THEM, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING KIDS WHERE THEY ARE.
AND SO IF A KID SAYS, NO, I'M NOT DOING THE EXAM, BUT I'LL TALK TO THE NURSE OR THE DOCTOR, THEN THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND BE ABLE TO TALK THROUGH WHAT THEY'RE FEELING AND WHERE THEY ARE.
UM, AT OUR FACILITY, WE SEE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED 120 HOURS OR MORE AGO.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE ANY ABUSE THAT'S HAPPENED WITHIN 120 HOURS, THAT CHILD WOULD GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM FOR EVIDENCE COLLECTION.
WE DON'T DO EVIDENCE COLLECTION AT OUR FACILITY.
SO ANY CHILD THAT'S BEEN ABUSED MORE THAN 120 HOURS ARE THE ONES THAT WE WOULD SEE.
UM, 90 TO 95% OF OUR EXAMS ARE NORMAL, AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT ABUSE DIDN'T HAPPEN.
THE REASON FOR THAT, THERE'S A MULTITUDE OF REASONS, BUT ONE OF THEM IS THAT PERPETRATORS ARE TYPICALLY KNOWN TO THEIR VICTIMS, AND SO THERE'S NO FORCE USE.
ANOTHER REASON IS ALSO BECAUSE THERE'S USUALLY A DELAYED OUTCRY.
SO IT COULD BE WEEKS, IT COULD BE MONTHS, IT COULD BE YEARS SINCE THE ABUSE HAPPENED.
SO WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE SOMETHING FROM JUST HAPPENING YESTERDAY OR JUST 30 MINUTES AGO.
ALSO, CHILDREN'S BODIES HEAL THEMSELVES VERY QUICKLY.
AND SO WE'VE HAD CASES WHERE WE KNOW THAT THIS CHILD HAS GIVEN BIRTH, WE KNOW SHE HAS A BABY, WE KNOW SHE'S HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ACTIVE, BUT THAT EXAM SHOWS NONE OF THAT.
AND IT'S BECAUSE KIDS' BODIES HEAL THEMSELVES VERY QUICKLY AND THERE'S NOT ALWAYS SCARRING.
AND SO A LOT OF TIMES WE SEE TV AND THEY SEE ALL THIS EVIDENCE ON LAW AND ORDER AND ALL THESE THINGS, BUT THAT'S JUST NOT THE REALITY.
AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ABUSE DIDN'T HAPPEN JUST BECAUSE THE EXAM IS NORMAL.
AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG EDUCATION PIECES THAT WE TRY TO DO WITH OUR FAMILIES BECAUSE WE SOMETIMES HAVE UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS BASED ON WHAT WE SEE ON TV.
WE ALSO HAVE, UM, IN THE PICTURE, YOU'LL SEE LIKE A LITTLE DEVICE NEXT TO THE, UM, HOSPITAL BED.
WE HAVE A, WE ARE ALLOWED OR ABLE TO DO COPOSCOPY EXAMINATIONS WITH THIS, UM, MEASUREMENT.
IT ALLOWS TO ZOOM INTO THE CHILD'S PRIVATE AREAS AND ALLOW THE DOCTOR TO REALLY EXAMINE FULLY AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY IN THOSE EXAMINATIONS.
SO THE NEXT AREA, UM, WHEN FAMILIES A ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AFTER THAT FORENSIC INTERVIEW, THEY'RE BROUGHT IN FOR A CLINICAL ASSESSMENT.
UH, OUR CLINICAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM IS ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD.
AND SO IT REALLY HELPS TO DECREASE THE WAIT TIME FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
SO THE CLINICAL ASSESSMENT IS A TRAUMA-INFORMED MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT FOCUSED ON THE IMPACTS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE BY MEASURING, UH, TRAUMATIC SYMPTOMS, A CHILD'S FUNCTIONING, THEIR DEVELOPMENTAL TRAJECTORY.
AND IT ALSO GIVES THE CLINICIAN, UM,
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INFORMATION TO HELP THEM MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT THAT CHILD WILL NEED.AND SO, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT THE CAC, UH, THE CLINICAL ASSESSMENT HAS TO BE COMPLETED EXCEPT FOR SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS. SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS ARE PRIORITIZED, SO THEY RECEIVE THOSE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES RIGHT AWAY.
WHILE FAMILIES ARE ON THE WAIT LIST, WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL CARE SESSIONS.
AND THESE CARE SESSIONS HELP TO PROMOTE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, AND THEY HELP TO, UM, WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THE, THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA AND, UH, HOW TO DECREASE SOME OF THAT.
AND SO THE BENEFITS OF THE CLINICAL ASSESSMENT, IT IDENTIFIES COPING SKILLS.
UM, THEIR OTHER CARE SESSIONS, THEY, UH, HELP, UH, WITH ADDITIONAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.
UH, YOU LEARN ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA AND UH, IT HELPS TO, UH, STRENGTHEN THAT PARENT AND CHILD RELATIONSHIP.
AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE ALL OF OUR SERVICES UNDER ONE ROOF.
SO ONCE THEY COMPLETE THE, UM, CLINICAL ASSESSMENT, AND THEY'RE REFERRED TO THERAPY, THERAPY, WE HAVE THERAPY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES ON, ON OUR CAMPUS.
SO WE HAVE STAFF PSYCHOLOGISTS, STAFF THERAPISTS.
WE ALSO HAVE INTERNS FROM ALL DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES.
WE ALSO HAVE A LICENSED SEX, UM, OFFENDER TREATMENT PROVIDER WHO'S ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE L-S-O-T-P SERVICES OR THERAPY SESSIONS FOR CHILDREN OR ADULTS.
AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE, UM, ATTENDING PSYCHIATRIST.
SO IF THERE'S A CRISIS INTERVENTION NEEDED, THEN WE'RE ABLE TO COMPLETE THOSE PSYCHOLOGICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATIONS AS WELL.
OUR THERAPY SERVICES ARE OFFERED IN GROUP, INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY SETTINGS.
WE DO THERAPY FROM AGES THREE YEARS OLD UNTIL 17 FOR CHILDREN.
AND THEN WE ALSO OFFER SERVICES FOR OUR NON-OFFENDING CAREGIVERS.
SO THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY MOM OR DAD, THAT CAN BE AN AUNT, UNCLE, WHOEVER'S THAT NON-OFFENDING CAREGIVER FOR THAT CHILD.
WE KNOW THAT SEXUAL ABUSE AFFECTS THE WHOLE FAMILY UNIT.
AND SO IS, THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE OFFER SERVICES TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY UNIT.
AGAIN, WE DO NOT CHARGE FOR OUR SERVICES.
WE DON'T KICK PEOPLE OUT AFTER SIX SESSIONS.
WE MEET THE NEEDS OF THAT CHILD.
SO IF THAT CHILD NEEDS TO COME TO THERAPY FOR THREE YEARS, THEN WE OFFER SERVICES FOR THREE YEARS.
IF A CHILD COMES FOR A YEAR AND SAYS, HEY, I'M GOOD, I WANT TO GO AWAY.
AND THEN MAYBE TWO YEARS LATER THEY'RE HAVING SOME KIND OF FEELING AND WANNA START BACK UP, WE WILL ACCEPT THAT CHILD BACK THAT TWO YEARS LATER.
SO WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY AT THIS TIME.
ALSO, WE OFFER THERAPY IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
LIKE DR. GIBSON SAID, WE ARE LOCATED IN RICE VILLAGE.
SO IF OUR FACILITY IS TOO FAR FOR A FAMILY OR IT'S NOT CONVENIENT, 'CAUSE THERAPY IS USUALLY WEEKLY.
THEY JUST CAN'T MAKE IT TO RICE VILLAGE.
EVERY WEEK WE DO CONTRACT WITH THERAPIST OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY ON THE OUTSKIRTS.
SO IF THEY'RE IN KATY, WE WOULD FIND SOMEONE IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
UM, SO WE DON'T TURN PEOPLE AWAY SIMPLY 'CAUSE THEY CAN'T COME TO RICE VILLAGE.
SO OUR BASE PROGRAM, UH, IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND SO THIS PROGRAM IS A DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE ENGAGED IN PROBLEMATIC SEXUAL BEHAVIORS THAT COULD RESULT IN CRIMINAL CHARGES.
SO HERE IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHIFT OUR TERMINOLOGY FROM OFFENDER PERPETRATOR TO YOUTH WITH PROBLEMATIC SEXUAL BEHAVIORS BECAUSE, UH, AN ADULT PERPETRATOR IS NOT THE SAME AS THE YOUTH.
AND SO, WHENEVER A YOUTH HAS A BEHAVIOR THAT IS DEEMED AS, UH, MORE APPROPRIATE, APPROPRIATE FOR TREATMENT, WHERE THE, RATHER THAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WILL MAKE A REFERRAL FOR THE BASE PROGRAM.
AND SO IF THE CLIENT COMPLETES THE THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM, UH, THERE IS NO ARREST AND THERE'S NO CHARGES FILED FOR THE REFERRED BEHAVIOR.
ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUR BASE CLIENTS DO RECEIVE THERAPY SERVICES THEMSELVES FOR, UH, BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN SEXUAL, UM, VICTIMIZATION.
AND SO THERE'S JUST A LIST OF OUR TREATMENT GOALS FROM THE BASE PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THING ABOUT THE BASE PROGRAM IS THE YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM ARE OFTEN REMORSEFUL.
THEY'RE OFTEN VERY SCARED AND THEY'RE EMPATHETIC.
UM, THEY ARE NOT THE SAME AS OUR ADULT PERPETRATORS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO WORK TO CHANGE THAT LANGUAGE, UM, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA LABEL KIDS EARLY WITH THINGS THAT THEY'RE REALLY NOT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
WE ALSO HAVE LEARNED THAT WITH THE BASE PROGRAM FROM RESEARCH, THERE'S A VERY LOW, UM, REOFFEND RE-OFFENDING RATE FOR THOSE WHO COMPLETE THE BASE PROGRAM.
IT'S ABOUT TWO TO 5% FOR RE-OFFENDING AS AN ADULT.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THAT GO THROUGH THE BASE PROGRAM, APPROPRIATE COPING SKILLS, WAYS TO DEAL WITH THEIR BEHAVIORS, THE RIGHT STRATEGIES
[00:25:01]
TO HAVE AS THEY CONTINUE TO GROW AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR BODIES AND OTHERS.AND SO WITH THIS BASE PROGRAM, LIKE DR. GIBSON SAID, IF THEY COMPLETE IT SUCCESSFULLY, THEY'RE NOT CRIMINALLY CHARGED.
THEY'RE NOT LABELED AS A SEX OFFENDER.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT LABEL CARRYING ON WITH THEM AS THEY GO INTO THEIR ADULT LIFE.
MOST OF OUR CHILDREN WHO GO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATE.
THERE'S A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE THAT WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DA AND SAY, HEY, THEY'RE NOT PARTICIPATING, THEY'RE NOT SHOWING UP.
BUT A MAJORITY OF OUR CHILDREN ACTUALLY GRADUATE FROM THIS PROGRAM AND GO ON TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
SO ONE OF THE SPACES THAT WE HAVE AT THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER IS THE CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY CENTER.
AND SO, UH, KIDS CLIENTS ARE THERE, UM, WAITING FOR APPOINTMENTS, A FORENSIC INTERVIEW, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
SO THIS SPACE IS WHERE THEY CAN GO TO ENGAGE IN MANY DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES, UH, BOARD GAMES, VIDEO GAMES, THEY CAN EAT SNACKS.
ONLY THE, UH, ACTIVITY CENTER STAFF AND THE CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED IN THIS SPACE.
AND SO ANOTHER UNIQUE SERVICE THAT OUR, UH, CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER HAS IS CHILDREN'S COURT SERVICES.
SO, CHILDREN'S COURT SERVICES IS AN ADVOCACY PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE ON OUR FACILITY WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO BE PAIRED WITH A FAMILY AND THE CHILD FROM THE DAY THAT CHARGES ARE FILED THROUGHOUT THE CRIMINAL CASE.
SO AS WE KNOW, SOMETIMES THE CRIMINAL CASE CAN TAKE A WHILE, IT CAN BE A COUPLE YEARS, CAN BE LONG FOR MULTIPLE REASONS.
AND SO THAT ADVOCATE IS ABLE TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT CHILD AND THAT FAMILY FROM DAY ONE, BUILD A TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP, WALK THEM THROUGH THE PROCESSES, WALK THEM THROUGH WHAT TO EXPECT WITH THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, KEEP THEM UP TO DATE ON UPDATES.
IF THE CASE HAS TO GO TO TRIAL, THEY'RE ABLE TO PREPARE THAT CHILD FOR TRIAL AND HELPING THEM GO THROUGH LIKE WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN THEY WALK INTO COURT, WHERE THEY'RE GONNA SIT, WHERE THE JURY'S GONNA SIT, WHERE THE JUDGE IS GONNA SIT.
WE BELIEVE THAT NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO WALK IN COURT ALONE AND FACE THEIR PERPETRATOR OR THEIR ABUSER.
AND SO ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS THAT THAT ADVOCATE CAN SIT NEXT TO THAT CHILD OR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEM, WHERE THEY JUST LOOK AT THEM WHILE THEY TESTIFY.
AND SO THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SOMEONE THAT THEY CAN TRUST AND THAT THEY, THAT THEY KNOW IS THERE TO SUPPORT THEM.
A LOT OF TIMES THE PARENT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SIT IN BECAUSE THEY MAY ALSO BE A WITNESS FOR, SO THEY CAN'T SIT IN TO LISTEN TO THEIR CHILD'S TESTIMONY.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT KIDS DO NOT WALK INTO COURT FEELING LIKE THEY'RE ALONE, UM, OR FEELING SCARED THAT ADVOCATE SEES IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
SO IF THE CASE IS RESET MULTIPLE TIMES IN COURT, THAT ADVOCATE IS THERE EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY.
IF THAT, UM, PERPETRATOR PLEASE AND TAKES A GUILTY PLEA, THEY'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT HEALING AND THAT CLOSURE TO THAT FAMILY AND SIT WITH THEM THROUGH THAT DECISION.
SO THIS IS A REALLY GOOD SERVICE THAT WE HAVE.
UM, IT'S A SERVICE THAT WE'VE KIND OF ARE ENHANCING AND REALLY, REALLY BELIEVE IT'S HELPFUL FOR THE HEALING PROCESS OF OUR FAMILIES.
SO BEFORE WE CLOSE, I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THE TRAINING THAT WE PROVIDE AT THE CAC.
UM, TRAINING IS SO FOUNDATIONAL TO THIS WORK AND SO CRITICAL TO THE WORK.
UH, WE TAKE HUGE PRIDE IN PREVENTION.
WE OFTEN SAY AT THE CAC, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK OURSELVES OUT OF JOBS.
AND SO WE DO PROVIDE, UH, CONTINUING EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR PARTNERS.
AND THE MDT, UH, ONE OF OUR CORE COMPONENTS OF OUR PREVENTION TRAINING IS OUR CHILD SAFETY AND TEEN SAFETY MATTERS PROGRAM THAT WE DO IN SCHOOLS.
AND SO THIS PROGRAM IS FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GRADES KINDER THROUGH 12TH.
AND SO THE PROGRAM TEACHES KIDS TO RECOGNIZE, PREVENT, AND RESPOND APPROPRIATELY TO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO PUT THEIR SAFETY AT RISK.
AND THAT'S GONNA INCLUDE CYBER BULLYING, BULLYING, DIGITAL DANGERS, AND THE FOUR TYPES OF ABUSE, PHYSICAL NEGLECT, EMOTIONAL, UH, AND SEXUAL.
BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY TRAINING FOR ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY CALLED DARKNESS TO LIGHT.
UM, AND IT'S ALSO AN EVIDENCE-BASED, UH, INFORMED TRAINING.
AND SO THIS TRAINING HELPS ADULTS TO RECOGNIZE, PREVENT, UH, AND RESPOND APPROPRIATELY TO, UH, INSTANCES OF CHILD ABUSE OR SEX TRAFFICKING.
AND SO IT GIVES ADULTS PRACTICAL ACTIONS THAT THEY CAN TAKE TO HELP REDUCE INSTANCES OF CHILD ABUSE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, FAMILIES AND ORGANIZATIONS.
AND WE ALSO PROVIDE OUR TEXAS MANDATED REPORTING, UH, PREVENTION AND PROTECTION TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONALS.
AND SO THIS TRAINING PROVIDES A CLEAR OVERVIEW OF THE TEXAS FAMILIES CODE'S DEFINITION OF CHILD ABUSE, UH, GIVES EFFECTIVE RESPONSE STRATEGIES, MANDATED REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ALL THOSE THAT ARE, UM, WORKING WITH CHILDREN OR ADVOCATING FOR THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF CHILDREN.
AND WITH THAT, UM, WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
[00:30:01]
THANK YOU.UM, FIRST, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE JOINED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION BY VICE CHAIR JACKSON, UM, AT COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AND STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS'S OFFICE AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER'S OFFICE ONLINE ALSO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER AS WELL.
UM, BEFORE WE GET TO QUESTIONS, I WANNA FIRST JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
UM, ALAN AND I TOOK A TOUR TWO MONTHS AGO OR SO, AND WE WERE JUST BLOWN AWAY BY EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
UM, AND NOT JUST WHAT YOU DO, BUT HOW YOU DO IT WITH SUCH RESPECT AND CARE FOR CHILDREN.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.
UM, FIRST IN THE QUEUE IS COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.
AND, UH, LET ME JUST SAY, UH, I COULD NOT WAIT TO THIS DAY COME, I I WAS, WHEN I WAS NOTIFIED.
I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIRMAN FOR BRINGING YOU GUYS IN BECAUSE FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
SO LET ME START FIRST OF ALL WITH OF COURSE, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MS. UH, CARRIE MCCRACKEN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH, UM, AND TO YOU, DR. GIBSON GIBSON, AND DIRECTOR DAVIS TO YOU ALL.
YOU, YOU, YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST.
UM, I CAN BRAG ON THE FACT, I THINK I WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE, THE FIRST, IF NOT THE FIRST COUNCIL TO COME AND, AND WILL WITNESS WHAT YOU GUYS DO.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VICE, MR. TIM PECK IS RIGHT.
YOU, WHAT YOU GUYS DO IS EVEN MORE EXTRA.
YOU ALL ARE SUPERSTARS IN THIS CITY, IN THIS COUNTY.
AND I THINK EVERYBODY, NOT ONLY FROM THE ELECTED OFFICIALS PERSPECTIVE, BUT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW WHAT CAC DOES.
UM, THEY'RE IN THAT COMMUNITY.
YOU ALL BOTH KNOW BEFORE I BROUGHT MY STAFF THERE AND WE TOURED THE FACILITY.
I TALKED ABOUT IT WHEN I CAME BACK TO COUNCIL.
AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL ARE HERE TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.
WHAT YOU DO CANNOT BE MATCHED BECAUSE WE HEAR THESE INCIDENTS KIND OF PASSE.
WE HEAR IT ON THE NEWS AND OTHER THINGS, BUT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A, A CLUE OF WHAT IT TAKES TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE PROCESS OF ANALYZING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THE TRAUMATIC SITUATIONS, UH, THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO DO AND THE FACILITY TO ACCOMMODATE THE CRISIS THAT AFFECT THE LIFE OF THESE CHILDREN.
SO I I, I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT OF COURSE, I INTEND TO BRING A TEAM.
UH, I'M GONNA ASK THE CAC GROUP, AS I SAID BEFORE, TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION TO OUR MINISTRY ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH IS A GROWING LARGE BOARD.
WE AVERAGE ABOUT 60 FAITH LEADERS IN A MEETING SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT PRESENTATION AND GET THEM TO TOUR THE FACILITY.
THIS INFORMATION MUST GET IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, AND THEN I WANT TO THANK OF COURSE THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT AND HPD FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AND GOT A CHANCE TO MEET THEM AND, UH, AND ALL THIS BEING DONE, BUT JUST PHENOMENAL.
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND TO, UH, IN THIS MOMENT BECAUSE IT'S CERTAINLY STUFF THAT WE NEED TO KNOW.
AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EACH OF ONE OF YOU.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR, UM, THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I ECHO, UM, MY COUNCIL MEMBER, COLLEAGUE, UM, THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS, UM, CENTER.
I HEARD ABOUT IT BUT DIDN'T GET REALLY KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL I VISITED THE FACILITY.
UM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, UM, MS. KENARD, UM, YOU GUYS WERE, YOUR HOSPITALITY WAS HIGH LEVEL.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, JUST THE TREATMENT.
AND SO DURING OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD, UM, WHICH WE HAD VERY GOOD CONVERSATIONS, UM, ONE OF THE, THERE WAS AN OFFICER THERE THAT MENTIONED THAT INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN ABUSED IN THE PAST CAN STILL REPORT IN THE FUTURE.
AND SO I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS, UM, THAT, THAT, THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE, UM, TO REPORT SOME ABUSE THAT THEY HAD IN THE PAST THAT THEY DIDN'T REPORT IN THE PAST, THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO REPORT IN THE FUTURE.
UM, AS WE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, DURING OUR CONVERSATION THAT SOME, SOME CULTURES DO NOT TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO PROTECT FOLKS.
AND SO SOMETIME PEOPLE, WHEN THEY GET TO A CERTAIN AGE, THEY WOULD LIKE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF THE SITUATION BY REPORTING IT.
AND THE OTHER THING IS HOW DO PEOPLE CONNECT WITH THE
[00:35:01]
TRAINING? I THINK THE TRAINING IS VERY CRITICAL, UM, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, UM, TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO IDENTIFY OR EVEN JUST INTERVENE, UM, IN THESE TYPE OF, UM, IN THESE TYPE OF CASES.SO I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO, UM, ELABORATE ON THAT.
BUT MOST OF, MOST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR OPENING YOUR DOORS TO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UM, I AGREE FAITH-BASED SHOULD VISIT, UM, CIVIC CLUB SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENTS, EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT THIS FACILITY.
UM, EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, I HAVE ONE HICCUP IS THAT IT'S IN ONE LOCATION.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE Y'ALL IN DISTRICT B, YOU KNOW, BUT UM, YOU ARE HERE, YOU ARE HERE IN HOUSTON, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO MAXIMIZE, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO JUST MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU'RE THERE SO YOU CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
SO I'LL TAKE THE TRAINING REQUEST, UH, QUESTION.
SO ON OUR WEBSITE, UNDER THE TRAINING SECTION, THERE IS A, A TRAINING REQUEST FORM.
AND ON THAT FORM IT HAS, UH, THE LIST OF ALL THE TRAININGS THAT WE PROVIDE.
BUT IT ALSO HAS MY CONTACT INFORMATION IN, UM, THE TRAINING CENTER'S CONTACT INFORMATION.
'CAUSE IN SOME INSTANCES WE MAY NEED TO CUSTOMIZE OR TAILOR A TRAINING, UH, BASED ON THE NEED OF THE ORGANIZATION.
AND SO, UM, ONE WOULD GO COMPLETE THAT FORM AND SUBMIT IT BACK TO US.
AND THEN IF A MEETING, GENERALLY WE FOLLOW UP WITH THE TEAMS MEETING TO, UH, PLAN AND ORGANIZE AND DISCUSS THE CONTENT OF THAT TRAINING.
AND THEN IN REGARDS TO THE OTHER QUESTIONS, SO LIEUTENANT HUTCHINSON FROM HPD IS WHO WAS THERE.
AND SO WHAT HE SPOKE ABOUT WAS THERE'S NO STATUTE OR LIMITATIONS ON REPORTING.
AND SO IF YOU WERE ABUSED 10 YEARS AGO, 20 YEARS AGO, YOU CAN STILL GO INTO THAT POLICE STATION AND MAKE THAT REPORT.
WE SPECIFICALLY DEAL WITH CHILDREN, HOWEVER, THERE ARE ADVOCACY CENTERS BUILT WITH THE SAME FORENSIC INTERVIEW TYPE SETTING, UM, AND HEALING TYPE SETTING FOR ADULTS WHERE THEY CAN GO AND KIND OF GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AS WELL.
BUT OUR FACILITY SPECIFICALLY STOPS AT CHILDREN.
STAFF FROM COUNCIL MURMER RAMIREZ'S OFFICE.
GOOD MORNING AND KIND OF ECHOING THE SENTIMENTS OF EVERYONE ELSE.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.
IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WORK AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY TO, TO LISTEN TO IT AND GET TO LEARN MORE.
UM, I BELIEVE ON SLIDE 11, YOU TALKED ABOUT, UM, FOLKS WHO ARE ABLE TO REPORT AND SEND CHILDREN TO YOUR CENTER.
AND YOU HAD SAID THAT IT'S ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTED SERVICES.
COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THE REFERRAL PROCESS IF THERE ARE CONCERNED FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY OR TEACHERS OR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS OR OTHER PEOPLE KIND OF IN THAT CHILD'S LIFE WHO ARE NOTICING PATTERNS OR WHO MIGHT BE MANDATORY REPORTERS AND, AND WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE? YEAH, I CAN DO IT.
SO THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE MANDATES THAT A REPORT MUST BE MADE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OR DFPS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WOULD TAKE REFERRALS SPECIFICALLY FROM THERE TO ENSURE THAT THAT REPORT HAS BEEN MADE BASED ON THE TAM, TEXAS FAMILY CODE.
AND SO IF SOMEONE CALLS AND SAYS, HEY, I THINK MY NEIGHBOR'S BEING ABUSED, OUR FIRST QUESTION IS, DID YOU REPORT IT? AND IF NOT, THEN WE HELP GUIDE THEM TO THE PROPER JURISDICTION TO REPORT IT IN.
AND SO THAT MAY BE PASADENA PD, THAT MAY BE BAYTOWN.
WE WORK WITH ALL OF THE JURISDICTIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY, SO WE WOULD POINT THEM TO THAT RIGHT PERSON.
UM, IN REGARDS TO LIKE COUNCIL, UM, COUNSELORS OR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AT SCHOOL OR MANDATED REPORTERS, SAME THING.
WE WOULD SAY, HEY, DID YOU REPORT IT? IF IT'S FAMILY, IT WOULD GO TO DFPS.
IF IT'S SOMEONE THAT'S LIKE A STRANGER, UM, OR A NEIGHBOR THAT WOULD GO SPECIFICALLY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND SO WE DON'T TURN PEOPLE AWAY, BUT WE TRY TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE PROPER CO UM, PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT THEY'VE MET THAT STANDARD OF THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S OFFICE, UH, MS. DAVIS AND DR. GIBSON IS GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WHEN, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND I MADE THE VISIT, WE WERE JUST, UM, ABSOLUTELY INSPIRED.
UM, I THINK YOU, EVERYTHING FROM THE HALLWAYS TO EVERY MURAL AND EVERY TOY, EVERY ROOM, UM, IS SO THOUGHTFULLY, UM, YOU KNOW, CHOSEN AND MANAGED.
SO IT'S JUST A WARM AND WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
IT'S HONESTLY THE BEST VISIT THAT I'VE MADE THIS ENTIRE YEAR.
UM, SO REALLY THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
UM, I JUST WONDERED IF YOU COULD SHARE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL OF US, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE STATISTICS OF WHAT YOU MANAGE AT THE CENTER, SORT OF THE, UM, UH, THE PERCENTAGE OF TEXAS CASES, UM, PERCENTAGE OF HOUSTON, AND ALSO THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT YOU HAVE ON SITE AND THE CAPACITY THAT YOU HAVE TO UH, UH, THE NUMBER OF CASES YOU CAN MANAGE EACH YEAR.
UM, AND UM, AND ALSO JUST SHARING THE NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT YOU HAVE ON SITE AND ASSISTANT DA.
WE'RE GONNA PHONE A FRIEND FOR THIS ONE, SO WE'RE GONNA PULL UP
SO, UH, WE HAVE 120 STAFF THAT WORK AT THE CAC AND AS MENTIONED, WE CO-LOCATE WITH PARTNERS.
[00:40:01]
I AM GONNA JUST GUESS, I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT 50 HPD OFFICERS WHEN WE WERE THERE.I THINK IT WAS SIX O AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LED THE TOUR FOR US.
AND THEN SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS, PROBABLY, UH, 35 OR 40.
AND THEN PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR PASADENA.
AND THEN SOME OTHERS WILL COME AND JUST DROP DOWN AS NEEDED.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE PERCENTAGE OF CASELOAD FOR TEXAS AND HOUSTON, SO WE ONLY HARRIS COUNTY IS OUR SERVICE AREA.
SO FROM TIME TO TIME, ALL OF THE CENTERS WILL DO COURTESY INTERVIEWS IF, FOR INSTANCE, ABUSE HAPPENED IN ONE JURISDICTION, BUT THE FAMILY'S LIVING IN ANOTHER.
BUT HERE IN HOUSTON, UM, I HEARD YOU SAY IN YOUR SLIDE THAT THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT CAME THROUGH LAST LA OH, JUST OVER 7800, 7800 FOR HARRIS COUNTY, 7,800.
SO WE'LL GET NEW FORENSIC INTERVIEWS.
SO FIRST TIME CLIENTS COME IN FOR THAT FIRST INTERVIEW IS BETWEEN FOUR AND 5,000.
BUT THEN THEY STAY WITH US FOR THERAPY AND LIKE WAS MENTIONED, OUR FIRST POINT OF CONTACT IS GONNA BE THAT ABUSED CHILD.
BUT THEN WE ALSO OFFER THE SERVICES TO THE NON-OFFENDING CAREGIVER AND THE SIBLINGS BECAUSE AS TANAY SAID, IT AFFECTS THE WHOLE FAMILY.
SO THAT'S HOW OUR NUMBERS GET LARGER.
BY FAR HOUSTON IS GONNA BE THE LARGEST PROPORTION OF THE CHILDREN THAT WE SEE BECAUSE OF SHEER SIZE.
BUT IN TEXAS WE ARE DIVIDED BY COUNTY.
SO OUR NUMBERS ARE FOR HARRIS COUNTY.
I DO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE, UH, ARE CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT BUILDING SATELLITE CENTERS.
SO OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT
SO, UH, OUR, MY CFO WOULD PROBABLY BE MAD AT ME FOR EVEN SHARING THAT, BUT WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST BARRIERS TO SERVICE AS OUR PHYSICAL LOCATION.
IF YOU LOOK AT A MAP OF HARRIS COUNTY, WE ARE DEAD CENTER, BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP IF YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, SINGLE MOM IN PASADENA.
SO THAT IS ONE OF OUR, UH, OUR, OUR BIG GOALS FOR THE NEXT HOPEFULLY 18 MONTHS TO 24 MONTHS.
SO IF YOU KNOW DONORS OUT THERE THAT WANNA HELP A REALLY GREAT CAUSE UHHUH,
YOU SPEAKING IT OUT LOUD, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU GET THINGS DONE.
YOU HAVE TO SPEAK IT OUT LOUD.
NOW WE HAVE TO DO, LET, LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN GUYS.
AND CAC OF TEXAS HAS THAT ON OUR PLATE.
SO WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT PASADENA AREA AS WELL AS THAT SPRING AREA.
'CAUSE WE HAVE LARGE NUMBERS OUT THOSE IN THOSE AREAS FOR OUR FIRST STOPS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, WE APPRECIATE IT.
UM, NEXT WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
UM, WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, DOMINIC MAZO.
UM, THERE'S NOBODY ELSE HERE, SO, UM, ALL RIGHT.
OUR NEXT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 13TH AT 10:00 AM WE STAND ADJOURNED.