Travis County Commissioners Court
July 10, 2007
Item 2
Number 2 is to approve resolution recognizing the 10th year of the healthy families Travis County program. And a few individuals have come to receive it. Shall I read it? It reads: whereas looking to the future through the bright eyes of a child we recognize that we are all responsible for the health, well-being and care of the most vulnerable yet most promising contributors to the world. Whereas the goals of the healthy families Travis County program are to systematically assess the strengths and needs of new parents, enhance family functioning, promote positive parent-child relationships, and healthy childhood growth and development. Whereas healthy families Travis County began serving this community 10 years ago and has continued to offer vital parenting and child development information as well as community health and social services referrals to well over 800 families in Travis County. Whereas the healthy families team has worked tirelessly to prevent child abuse and neglect, and since its inception has not had one enrolled family with the substantiated case of abuse or neglect. Whereas in 2004 healthy families Travis County became one of only two sites in Texas to receive national accreditation status awarded by prevent child abuse america. Recognizing commitment to the high standards and quality of service to families and program operations. And whereas healthy families Travis County continues to adhere to the healthy families america motto which is grounded in research and proven to revent costly affordable social challenges such as teen crime and pregnancy and now therefore be it resolved on the eve of the program's 10th anniversary in Travis County that the Travis County Commissioners court urges all citizens to celebrate the achievements of the children and parents who have participated in the healthy families Travis County program and recognize the success of this model prom. I move approval.
>> second.
>> services. We are very pleased to be here today because without your support this program could not have the tremendous outcome that it has for the residents of Travis County. And with that I will turn the mike over to princess katana who will have a brief word about the program.
>> good morning. It is an honor to be here to talk about healthy families because I was the first Travis County employee hired for healthy families Travis County on may 15, 1997. And since I have moved on to different programs but stayed connected with the healthy families program and I wanted to celebrate with them their 10th and verse ai wanted to thank you for your investment, for you believing in what was then a novel 10 years ago about that home visitation program and how it would make a difference. Your continued investment really did result in tremendous benefit for the new families. More than 800 families have benefited from the home visitation program, have developed positive parent-child interaction with their children, have improved school
>> [inaudible], self-sufficiency. It's been an amazing journey and we thank you for your investment, for your support and for your encouragement through all these years and are here to show you the benefits of your investment, and thank you for that.
>> thank you.
>> I would like to -- I'm judy swartsz, one of the program supervisors. I would like to introduce you to two very special people who have been with the program since its begin and that is rosemary Austin and maggie connell. They are both home visitors and they have been with the program since the day it started so we're very happy to have them still with us.
>> thank you all.
>> and who are the others? Just supporters?
>> the rest of our staff.
>> it's the healthy families team, judge. Would you like to say your names?
>> elizabeth harris.
>> judith light.
>>
>> [inaudible].
>>
>> [inaudible].
>> natalie hendricks.
>> keep up the good work. All in favor?
>> jim
>> [inaudible].
>> thank you so much. That passes by unanimous vote with Commissioner Davis temporarily off the dais.
>> we have a family member. We weren't sure they would be here.
>> [inaudible] microphone.
>> tell us your names my baby, antho before he was born. And what she has done is like -- we have done a lot of activities that help us with anthony to communicate and to express what he wants. Like every month -- no, every two months she brings us books for him to read which has been very helpful. We point out his body parts so he knows like nose. He kind of knows how to express himself a little bit more by doing that.
>> how old is he? 2?
>> he's two and a half. He's going to be 3.
>> we've had a long morning.
>> trying to find parking.
>> and if you all haven't had a chance to go see the program in action, it is really, really wonderful. And the stimulation of babies, of infants to get them to get into that learning mode. It's just totally wonderful. It's a wonderful investment.
>> thank you.
>> thank you so much.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
>> thank you very much.
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.
Last Modified:
Wednesday, July 11, 2007, 11:00 AM