Travis County Commssioners Court
May 4, 2004
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Item 4
4. Approve resolution recognizing the month of may 2004 as "foster care month" in Travis County.
>> I'm happy to read the resolution, whereas the family serving as the primary source of love, self-esteem, support, is the very foundation of our community, every child has a right to live in good health, learn and grow in a safe environment and receive care and protection and whereas 542,000 children were in u.s. Foster care system on September 30th of 2001, about twice as many as in 1997 -- 1987, most children are in foster care due to abuse or neglect, whereas Travis County has a significant need for more foster parents, with fiscal year 2003 more than 1,262 children were in Travis County foster care, including emergency shelters, foster family homes, foster group homes, therapeutic foster homes and residential facilities. Only 7 to 3 foster parents living in Travis County were available through child protective services for those children who required basic outfit home care. Out of home care, whereas the child protective services board [indiscernible] recruitment of foster and adoptive parents as a priority initiative for our community and foster families who open their homes and hearts to children whose families are in crisis play a vital role helping children heal and launching children into successful adulthood, whereas there are numerous individual, public and private organizations who work in Travis County to increase public awareness of the needs of children in foster care, as well as the valuable contribution of foster parents, whereas may observance of foster care month is an ideal community to come together with child advocates and the protective services board to honor the foster parents who serve with these children throughout the month and the recognition event on may 15th, 2004, whereas the president and the u.s. Departments of health and human services recognize may as foster care month, now therefore be it resolved that we the members of the Travis County Commissioners court do here by proclaim the month of may as' foster care month in Travis County, we urge all citizens to volunteer their talents and energies on behalf of children in foster care. Foster parents and the child welfare professional staff working with them during this month and throughout the year. I would move approval.
>> sending.
>> I am the chair of the Travis County child protective services board. I thank you so much for this proclamation. Foster care is a big issue across the nation. We just want to -- to thank all of you for bringing up the -- to light here today, there's actually four things that they asked me, what can someone do for foster care awareness. And how can we be a part of it? And four things that come to mind are to, one, become a foster parents. We have sometimes 300 new warrants coming to shelters because there's not enough homes out there, that is a problem. Two, appreciate a foster parent and we are doing that on may 15th by doing our foster parent appreciation luncheon. You all are invited to come and enjoy us. Maybe after the walk you can join us there, we will be there until 2:00 at lutheran church and third, be a mentor to a foster child. It makes such an impact when someone cares and gives their time to a child. And lastly, hire our youth. There's a lot of youth out there who want to -- want to learn and need a job. So if you have -- if you have the capability of hiring a youth, that would be a great impact. So just on behalf of our board we want to thank you and just -- just bringing the issue to light. Thank you so much.
>> thank you.
>> I just thought of one more thing, we do have a summer youth employment program along with the city of Austin. So it may be they start early like engine or February, but I think next year we really ought to try to help some of the foster kids that were just mentioned. I never thought of that until you just --
>> I'm laura atkins the director for the office of children's services for the county's health and human services department. I just want to add since there's been also a lot of state doosh wide attention to the issue of foster care fairly recently, this particular month is a good time to remind everybody about the amazing foster parents that are out there and caring for kids, our kids in particular across the entire state. There are two other events this month. At 11:30 today the foster parents association for central Texas is having an event on the capital steps, 11:30. That everyone is welcome to come down to. And the other event on Saturday, may 22nd, the children's protective services board is partnering with shoreline church to do a recruitment fair, anybody interested in fostering or learning more information can come to that or call our office to get more information about how to get involved. 854-9004.
>> we really appreciate the fine job the board does. We are blessed in this community to have a whole lot of volunteers, some of the work is a little bit tougher than other work, working with children's protective services board is about as tough as it gets really. We appreciate that. For the public this does come without compensation, doesn't it? The board opportunity?
>> yes. [laughter]
>> it comes from the heart.
>> yeah.
>> this is a good time, also, to mention the Austin children's shelter. They are unsung heroes, we are one of their social service funders. We have a contract on that interim transition so that he can get a child [indiscernible] foster care, they are on that emergency basis.
>> so the appreciation luncheon starts at what time?
>> starts at 10:30, we are having a petting zoo for the children, a clown and some activities for the children and the barbecue lunch for the foster parents. It will go from 10:30 to 1:30.
>> okay.
>> and the program itself is at 12:15 when we will give the awards.
>> we will try to join us on that occasion.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> thank you.
Last Modified: Wednesday, May 5, 2004 7:38 AM