Page 109

Prevention and Early Intervention

Overview

PEI helps communities build strong families by
1) Designing programming and targeting high-risk communities based on an understanding of both risk factors and protective factor for child abuse, neglect and juvenile delinquent behavior
2) Contracting with community organizations to provide a variety of evidence-based child and family support services; and
3) Funding public awareness campaigns to promote community parenting norms and child safety.

PEI services include home visiting to educate at-risk parents of newborns to school-aged; parenting classes and supports groups; and crisis intervention and counseling for families and teens. PEI services exist in all 254 counties however all services are not available in all counties.

Programmatic Effectiveness and Achieving Outcomes

DFPS currently measures programmatic effectiveness using 1) a validated pre and post services survey of these protective factors; and 2) data on entry into the child welfare and the juvenile justice system (if applicable). DFPS is currently exploring further measures of program effectiveness and illustrating outcomes through contracts with several higher education partnerships, the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, and the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs.

UT School of Social Work will evaluate the effectiveness of HOPES as well as make recommendations for future programmatic evaluation and data collection based on historical PEI data and a national review of other prevention programming effectiveness measures. Texas A&M will evaluate the effectiveness and propose outcome measurements for the (Community Youth Development) Program. Evaluations efforts for Fatherhood programs and the Military Families pilot will also propose measures of effectiveness and review current programming.

Description of Contracting with PEI

Step 1: PEI identifies potential programs based on community needs, gaps in services and alignment with strategic plan and goals.
Step 2: PEI conducts statistical research and programmatic evaluations to identify program design and funding availability.
Step 3: PEI works with HHSC Procurement to develop a Scope of Work and the best method of procurement (RFP, PEN, etc.).
Step 4: Solicitation is posted on Electronice Business Daily.
Step 5: Respondents are evaluated by a team of Programmatic and Budget Subject Matter Experts.
Step 6: HHSC Procurement prepared recommendations for DFPS based on scores and once approved, DFPS begins the negotiation process.
Step 7: At the conclusion of all negotiations, a contract is awarded to the Contractor.

Back to top

Page 110

Legal Responsibility for the Division of Prevention
and Early intervention

Federal: Title XX, Social Security Act
Federal: Title IV-B, Part 2, Social Security Act
State: Texas Family Code, 264.301 also Chapter
265 – created through SB1574 below
State: Senate Bill 1574, 76th Legislature
State: Human Resources Code, 40.0561

The Division of Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) was created to consolidate child abuse prevention and juvenile delinquency prevention and early intervention programs within the jurisdiction of a single state agency. Consolidation of these programs is intended to eliminate fragmentation and duplication of contracted prevention and early intervention services for at-risk children, youth, and families.

  • Community Youth Development (CYD) - The CYD program contracts with community-based organizations to develop juvenile delinquency prevention programs in ZIP codes with high juvenile crime rates. Approaches used by communities to prevent delinquency have included mentoring, youth employment programs, career preparation, youth leadership development and recreational activities. Communities prioritize and fund specific prevention services according to local needs. CYD services are available in 15 targeted Texas ZIP codes.
  • Services to At-Risk Youth (STAR) - The STAR program contracts with community agencies to offer family crisis intervention counseling, short- term emergency respite care, and individual and family counseling. Youth up to age 17 and their families are eligible if they experience conflict at home, truancy or delinquency, or a youth who runs away from home. STAR services are available in all 254 Texas counties. Each STAR contractor also provides universal child abuse prevention services, ranging from local media campaigns to informational brochures and parenting classes.
  • Texas Families: Together and Safe (TFTS) - The TFTS program funds evidence-based, community-based programs designed to alleviate stress and promote parental competencies and behaviors that increase the ability of families to become self-sufficient and successfully nurture their children. The goals of TFTS are to: improve and enhance access to family support services; increase the efficiency and effectiveness of community-based family support services; enable children to remain in their own homes by providing preventative services, and to increase collaboration among local programs, government agencies, and families.
  • Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) - The CBCAP program seeks to increase community awareness of existing prevention services, strengthen community and parental involvement in child abuse prevention efforts, and encourage families to engage in services that are already available. CBCAP funds a variety of contracts with community-based organizations to provide child abuse and neglect prevention services. These include the Respite/Parent Education, Basic Parent Education, Fatherhood Effects, and the Home-Visiting, Education, and Leadership (HEAL) programs, as well as various special initiatives and public awareness campaigns
  • Community Based Family Services (CBFS) - The CBFS program serves families who were investigated by CPS but whose allegations were low-priority or unsubstantiated, through community and evidence-based services. Services include home visitation, case management, and additional social services to provide a safe and stable home environment.
  • Statewide Youth Services Network (SYSN) - The SYSN program contracts provide community and evidence-based juvenile delinquency prevention programs focused on youth ages 10 through 17, in each DFPS region.
  • Helping through Intervention and Prevention (HIP) - The HIP program provides an extensive family assessment, home visiting that includes parent education and basic needs support to targeted families. Eligible families are those who have previously had their parental rights terminated due to child abuse and neglect in year 2011 or later who currently have a newborn child, families who have previously had a child die with the cause identified as child abuse or neglect in year 2011 or later who have a newborn child, or current foster youth who are pregnant or who have given birth in the last four months.
  • Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Support (HOPES) - The HOPES program provides child abuse and neglect prevention services that target families with children between 0-5 years of age. Contracts have been awarded in eight counties and each include an evidence-based home-visiting component as well as other services that meet the needs of the target county. Each HOPES contract also has a focus on community collaboration that focus on early childhood and the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
  • Texas Youth and Runaway Hotlines - The 24-hour toll-free Texas Runaway Hotline and the Texas Youth Hotline offer crisis intervention, telephone counseling, and referrals to troubled youth and families. Volunteers answer the phones and interact with callers facing a variety of problems including family conflict, delinquency, truancy, and abuse and neglect issues. The program increases public awareness through media efforts that may include television, radio, billboards and other printed materials.

    • Back to top

    Page 111

    Prevention and Early Intervention Staff and Expenditures*

    PEI Programs Expenditures* Percent of Total
    Services to At-Risk Youth (STAR)
    $19,212,514.00
    46.4%
    Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Support (HOPES)
    7,035,006.00
    17.0%
    Community Youth Development (CYD)
    5,836,340.00
    14.1%
    Texas Families: Together and Safe (TFTS)
    2,585,487.00
    6.2%
    Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP)
    2,578,021.00
    6.2%
    Statewide Youth Services Network (SYSN)
    1,536,983.00
    3.7%
    Community-Based Family Services (CBFS)
    621,195.00
    1.5%
    Helping through Intervention and Prevention (HIP)
    141,037.00
    0.3%
    Subtotal - Contracted Expenditures
    $39,546,583.00
    95.6%
    PEI Staff Costs
    Expenditures*
    Percent of Total
    Program Support and Training
    $1,829,324.00
    4.4%
    Total Expenditures
    $41,375,907.00
    Total Average Filled Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Staff
    26.5

    *Source: DFPS Office of Finance and FY 2016 Operating Budget (plus benefit replacement pay).

    Back to top

    Page 112

    STAR (Services To At-Risk) Youth Who are Registered and Received a Service by Fiscal Year

      2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
    Average Monthly Number of Youth
    6,438
    5,863
    5,351
    5,629
    5,676
    Annual Number of Youth
    30,168
    26,834
    23,677
    23,943
    24,097

    STAR (Services To At-Risk) Youth by Presenting Problem Fiscal Year 2015

    Presenting Problem Number of Youth Percent of Total
    Family Conflict*
    19,227
    79.8%
    Truant
    3,103
    12.9%
    Misdemeanor Offense
    1,502
    6.2%
    Runaway
    208
    0.9%
    State Jail Felony Offense
    35
    0.1%
    Youth Under 10 Delinquent
    22
    0.1%
    Total
    24,097
    100%

    *Abuse/Neglect Prevention

    Back to top

    Page 113

    Community Youth Development (CYD) Youth Served
    by Fiscal Year

      2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
    Average Monthly Number of Youth
    6,158
    5,530
    5,530
    6,914
    5,951
    Annual Number of Youth
    19,731
    16,900
    16,767
    17,932
    16,526

    NOTE: For FY15, as a result of a new procurement, the overall number of youth served decreased however the service requirements were enhanced with additional programmatic components.

    Community Youth Development (CYD) Average Monthly Clients Served

    City Zip Code of Site County Average UnduplicatedYouth Served per Month
    Amarillo
    79107
    Potter
    306
    Austin
    78744
    Travis
    390
    Brownsville
    78520
    Cameron
    250
    Corpus Christi
    78415
    Nueces
    405
    Dallas
    75216
    Dallas
    420
    Dallas
    75217
    Dallas
    480
    El Paso
    79924
    El Paso
    550
    Fort Worth
    76106
    Tarrant
    437
    Galveston
    77550
    Galveston
    374
    Houston
    77081
    Harris
    245
    Lubbock
    79415
    Lubbock
    369
    McAllen
    78501
    Hidalgo
    508
    Pasadena
    77506
    Harris
    482
    San Antonio
    78207
    Bexar
    384
    Waco
    76707
    McLennan
    352
    Statewide
    NA
    NA
    5,951

    Back to top

    Page 114

    Texas Youth and Runaway Hotlines Incoming Calls
    by Fiscal Year

      2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
    Total Calls
    9,757
    9,011
    7,462
    7,295
    5,528

    Texas Youth and Runaway Hotlines Contacts
    Fiscal Year 2015

    Type of Contact #
    Phone Calls
    5,528
    Text Sessions
    1,014
    Online Chats
    1,000
    Total Contacts
    7,542

    Characteristics of Hotline Contacts
    Fiscal Year 2015

    Gender Totals Phone Text Sessions Online Chats %
    Female
    4,558
    3,925
    281
    352
    60.4%
    Male
    1,758
    1,603
    66
    89
    23.3%
    Unknown
    1,226
    0
    667
    559
    16.3%
    Totals
    7,542
    5,528
    1,014
    1,000
    100.0%
    Age Group Totals Phone Text Sessions Online Chats %
    Adult
    4,557
    4,257
    143
    157
    60.4%
    Youth
    2,049
    1,271
    476
    302
    27.2%
    Unknown
    936
    0
    395
    541
    12.4%
    Total
    7,542
    5,528
    1,014
    1,000
    100.0%

    Back to top

    Page 115

    Number of Families (Primary Caregivers) Served in the Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention Programs
    Fiscal Year 2015

    Total Families Served 2015: 5,529

    Unduplicated Families Served by Program

      2013 Count 2013 Percent 2014 Count 2014 Percent 2015 Count 2015 Percent
    Texas Families: Together and Safe (TFTS)
    1,736
    57.6%
    2,096
    64.3%
    2,208
    39.9%
    Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP)
    990
    32.9%
    837
    25.7%
    1,468
    26.6%
    Healthy Outcomes thru' Prevention & Early Support (HOPES)
    n/a
    n/a
    n/a
    n/a
    1,371
    24.8%
    Community-Based Family Services (CBFS)
    287
    9.5%
    329
    10.1%
    424
    7.7%
    Helping through Intervention and Prevention (HIP)
    n/a
    n/a
    n/a
    n/a
    58
    1.0%
    Statewide
    3,013
    100%
    3,262
    100%
    5,529
    100%
    Primary Caregivers Ethnicity Totals Percent TFTS CBCAP HOPES CBFS HIP
    Hispanic
    4,192
    75.8%
    1,678
    1,084
    1,132
    279
    19
    Anglo
    724
    13.1%
    271
    223
    118
    104
    8
    African American
    523
    9.5%
    237
    125
    100
    31
    30
    Other
    53
    1.0%
    10
    20
    15
    7
    1
    Asian
    30
    0.5%
    9
    13
    5
    3
    0
    Native American
    7
    0.1%
    3
    3
    1
    0
    0
    Statewide
    5,529
    11%
    2,208
    1,468
    1,371
    424
    58
    Primary Caregivers Gender Totals Percent TFTS CBCAP HOPES CBFS HIP
    Female
    4,734
    85.6%
    2,082
    931
    1,283
    380
    58
    Male
    795
    14.4%
    126
    537
    88
    44
    0
    Statewide
    5,529
    100%
    2,208
    1,468
    1,371
    424
    58
    Primary Caregivers Age Group Totals Percent TFTS CBCAP HOPES CBFS HIP
    Under 18
    243
    4.4%
    12
    70
    141
    16
    4
    18-25
    1,109
    20.1%
    229
    290
    418
    132
    40
    26-35
    2,128
    38.5%
    813
    565
    551
    188
    11
    36-45
    1,429
    25.8%
    779
    358
    220
    69
    3
    Over 45
    620
    11.2%
    375
    185
    41
    19
    0
    Statewide
    5,529
    100%
    2,208
    1,468
    1,371
    424
    58

    Back to top

    Page 116

    Number of Youth Served in the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Programs by Fiscal Year

    Unduplicated Youth Served

    Program 2013 Count 2013 Percent 2014 Count 2014 Percent 2015 Count 2015 Percent
    Services to At Risk Youth (STAR)
    		 23,677 52.8% 23,943 52.0% 24,097 53.8%
    Community Youth Development (CYD)
    		 16,767 37.4% 17,932 38.9% 16,526 36.9%
    Statewide Youth Services Network (SYSN)
    		 4,384 9.8% 4,191 9.1% 4,198 9.4%
    Total
    		 44,828 100% 46,066 100% 44,821 100%

    "Characteristics of Youth Served in the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Programs "
    Fiscal Year 2015

    Race/Ethnicity Totals % STAR CYD SYSN
    Hispanic
    27,809
    62.0%
    13,501
    12,330
    1,978
    Other
    10,848
    24.2%
    10,417
    279
    152
    African American
    4,657
    10.4%
    64
    3,213
    1,380
    Anglo
    1,332
    3.0%
    115
    554
    663
    Asian
    154
    0.3%
    0
    133
    21
    Native American
    21
    0.0%
    0
    17
    4
    Statewide
    44,821
    100%
    24,097
    16,526
    4,198
    Gender Totals % STAR CYD SYSN
    Female
    22,759
    50.8%
    13,014
    7,807
    1,938
    Male
    22,044
    49.2%
    11,083
    8,702
    2,259
    Unknown
    18
    0.0%
    0
    17
    1
    Statewide
    44,821
    100%
    24,097
    16,526
    4,198
    Age Group Totals % STAR CYD SYSN
    Under 6
    2,059
    4.6%
    2,038
    21
    0
    9-Jun
    8,173
    18.2%
    5,032
    2,749
    392
    17-Oct
    34,589
    77.2%
    17,027
    13,756
    3,806
    Statewide
    44,821
    100%
    24,097
    16,526
    4,198

    Back to top

    Page 117

    Prevention and Early Intervention Performance Outcomes, Outputs and Efficiencies by Fiscal Year

    Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Programs

    Community Youth Development (CYD) 2012 2013 2014 2015
    Percent of CYD Youth Not Referred to Juvenile Probation
    98.1%
    98.6%
    98.8%
    98.6%
    Annual number of youth served
    16,900
    16,767
    17,932
    16,526
    Average monthly number of CYD youth served
    5,530
    5,530
    6,914
    5,951
    Average monthly cost per CYD youth served
    $69.91
    $71.63
    $62.11
    $81.05
    Statewide Youth Services Network (SYSN) 2012 2013 2014 2015
    Percent of SYSN Youth not referred to juvenile probation
    98.3%
    98.5%
    98.6%
    98.6%
    Annual number of youth served
    5,273
    4,384
    4,191
    4,198
    Average monthly number of SYSN youth served
    3,055
    2,506
    2,251
    2,345
    Average monthly cost per SYSN youth served
    $43.65
    $50.71
    $56.48
    $52.56

    Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention Programs

    Texas Families: Together and Safe (TFTS) 2012 2013 2014 2015
    Percent of TFTS Children who remain safe
    99.0%
    98.6%
    99.5%
    99.5%
    Annual number of families served
    1,870
    1,736
    2,096
    2,208
    Average monthly number of families served by TFTS Program
    586
    574
    391
    457
    Average monthly cost per family served in the TFTS Program
    $362.54
    $334.79
    $460.56
    $472.49
    Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) 2012 2013 2014 2015
    Percent of CBCAP Children who remain safe
    99.1%
    99.8%
    99.7%
    100.0%
    Annual number of families served
    577
    990
    837
    1,468
    Average monthly number of CBCAP families served
    132
    234
    159
    303
    Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Support (HOPES) 2012 2013 2014 2015
    Percent of HOPES Children who remain safe
    n/a
    n/a
    n/a
    99.7%
    Annual number of families served
    n/a
    n/a
    n/a
    1,371
    Average monthly number of HOPES families Served
    n/a
    n/a
    n/a
    502
    Community-Based Family Services (CBFS) 2012 2013 2014 2015
    Percent of CBFS Children who remain safe
    96.6%
    97.9%
    98.9%
    98.5%
    Annual number of families served
    206
    287
    329
    424
    Average monthly number of CBFS families Served
    58
    75
    83
    110
    Helping through Intervention and Prevention (HIP) 2012 2013 2014 2015
    Percent of HIP Children who remain safe
    n/a
    n/a
    n/a
    100.0%
    Annual number of families served
    n/a
    n/a
    n/a
    58
    Average monthly number of HIP families served
    n/a
    n/a
    n/a
    10

    Child Abuse/Neglect and Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Programs

    Services to At-Risk Youth (STAR) 2012 2013 2014 2015
    Percent of STAR Children remain safe
    99.7%
    99.7%
    99.6%
    99.6%
    Percent of STAR Children not referred to juvenile probation
    96.6%
    93.6%
    93.8%
    94.1%
    Percent of STAR Youth with better outcomes 90 days after termination
    87.5%
    86.4%
    86.8%
    84.6%
    Annual number of youth served
    26,834
    23,677
    23,943
    24,097
    Average monthly number of youth served
    5,863
    5,351
    5,629
    5,676
    Average monthly cost per STAR youth served
    $243.84
    $255.16
    $252.48
    $281.72

    Back to top

    Previous Section | Back to top | Next Section