Council on Children and Families

Background

The Council on Children and Families was established by S.B. 1646 during the 2009 legislative session, and later amended during the 2011 legislative session by SB717, to help improve the coordination of state services for children.

Vision

We envision a Texas that provides all children, youth and their families a seamless linkage to coordinated, comprehensive and effective services resulting in stronger families, children and youth.

Mission

The Texas Council on Children and Families collaborates and leverages resources in the pursuit of efficient delivery of services to children, youth and their families.

The Texas Council on Children and Families comprised of membership of Directors from state agencies serving children and youth in partnership with family and youth representatives, will achieve its mission by:

• Promoting healthy, responsible children and strengthening families.
• Targeting and addressing cross system issues, with an emphasis on disproportionally and disparities, across the health, education, justice, workforce, and human services continuum.
• Creating and exploring new opportunities to leverage existing resources by eliminating duplication of services and functions, and integrating the efforts of other similarly missioned state councils and task forces.
• Inviting public input and building relationships with communities on issue identification and solution development to improve access and quality of services.
• Creating new avenues to better serve the needs of Texans by increasing the opportunities for focused communication and collaboration.

Reports

• Council on Children and Families 2012 Report:  Strong Families, Healthy Communities, and Successful Youth (PDF)
• 2012 Biennial Legislative Appropriations Request Analysis Report - Part 1 (PDF)
• 2012 Biennial Legislative Appropriations Request Analysis Report - Part 2 (PDF)

Members

Agency Representatives

Member	Authorized Designee
Debra Wanser, Commissioner Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Austin, Texas	Kim Wedel, Assistant Commissioner Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services Austin, Texas
John J Specia, Commissioner Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Austin, Texas	Debra Emerson, Director of CPS Permanency Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Austin, Texas
Mike Griffiths, Executive Director Texas Juvenile Justice Department Austin, Texas	Linda Brooke, Chief of Staff Texas Juvenile Justice Department Austin, Texas
Larry Temple, Executive Director Texas Workforce Commission Austin, Texas	Reagan Miller, Division Director Workforce Development Texas Workforce Commission Austin, Texas
April Zamora, Director Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments Austin, Texas	B.J. Wagner, Assistant Director Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments Austin, Texas
Michael L. Williams, Commissioner Texas Education Agency Austin, Texas	Jan Lindsey, Deputy Director Federal and State Education Policy Texas Education Agency Austin, Texas
Dr. David Lakey, Commissioner Department of State Health Services Austin, Texas	Luanne Southern, Deputy Commissioner Department of State Health Services Austin, Texas
Kyle Janek, M.D., Executive Commissioner Health and Human Services Commission Austin, Texas	Mark Chassay, M.D., Deputy Executive Commissioner for Health Policy and Clinical Services Health and Human Services Commission Austin, Texas
Jon Weizenbaum, Interim Commissioner Department of Aging and Disability Services Austin Texas	Katharine McCormick Department of Aging and Disability Services Austin, Texas

Parent Representatives

Member	Authorized Designee
Angie Jackson, Parent Representative Round Rock, TX	Kathy Lee, Parent Representative Gatesville, TX

Youth Representatives

Member	Authorized Designee
Jonathon Taylor, Youth Representative Round Rock, TX	Angel R. Olivo, Youth Representative San Antonio, TX

HHSC Project Staff

• Sherri Hammack*
• Terry Beattie
• Cassandra Marx

P.O. Box 13247
MC:  1214 
Austin, TX 78711

Upcoming Meetings

August 20, 2013 9 a.m.- noon
Brown Heatly Building, Public Hearing Room 1420

October 2, 2013 9 a.m.- noon
Brown Heatly Building, Public Hearing Room 1420

January 28, 2014 9 a.m.- noon
Brown Heatly Building, Public Hearing Room 1420

Meeting Minutes

• October 17, 2012
• September 12, 2012
• July 18, 2012
• April 18, 2012
• January 18, 2012

*For additional information about the Council on Children and Families, or to contact Council members, please contact:
Sherri Hammack
E-mail: Sherri.Hammack@hhsc.state.tx.us
Phone: (512) 420-2858
Fax: (512) 706-7340

Texas Health and Human Services Commission
PO Box 13247, MC 1214
Austin, TX 78711