The Texas Family and Protective Services Council assists the DFPS Commissioner in developing rules and policies for the department. The council has eight members of the public appointed by the Governor.
Left to right: Liesa Hackett, Julie Krawczyk, Dee Dee Cantu Arismendez, Commissioner Muth, Bonnie Hellums, Dr. Connie Almeida, Cortney Jones, Michelle Treviño, and Enrique Mata.Meet the Council Members
Connie Almeida, Ph.D. (Chair), of Richmond is the director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services for Fort Bend County, and is a licensed psychologist and licensed specialist in school psychology with over 35 years of experience working with children and adults with disabilities. During the last decade, she has also worked with courts in Fort Bend and Harris Counties to implement the Infant Toddler Court Initiative. She is a member of the Texas Psychological Association, Lighthouse of Houston Board of Directors, and the Fort Bend CASA Advisory Council. Almeida’s term expires Feb. 1, 2027.
Omedi “Dee Dee” Cantu Arismendez of Alice is the American Recue Plan Project Manager for GrantWorks Inc. She is a life member of VFW Auxiliary and a member of the Rotary Club of Alice. Arismendez’s term expires Feb.1, 2027.
Michael Barton of Sugar Land is a Detective for the Houston Police Department, founder of Hyatt Solutions, LLC, an arbiter for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas. He previously worked for the U.S. Senate, The White House, and the Pentagon. In 2023, the Supreme Court of Texas appointed him to the Texas Commission on Lawyer Discipline. He is a board member of The Texas Lyceum, volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and a former board member of the Houston Police Officers Union and Houston InfraGard. Additionally, Barton is a U.S. Air Force Reserves veteran. Barton received a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the University of Houston–Downtown and a Master in National Security from the Naval War College. Barton's term is set to expire February 1, 2027.
Hon. Katrina Griffith of Pearland is an Associate Judge for the Harris County Child Protection Court. Previously, she was an attorney in private practice with a focus on child welfare law, family law, adoptions, and the STAR Family Intervention Court. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and its Child Welfare Law Section, member and former board member of the Houston Bar Association, and a member of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Additionally, she is a coach and has served in various board positions for the Texas Storm Track Club and is the former vice president and former board member of PACE Youth Programs, Inc. Griffith received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from The University of Texas at San Antonio and a Juris Doctor from the University of Houston Law Center. Griffith's term is set to expire February 1, 2029.
Liesa Hackett of Huntsville is a retired accountant for the City of Huntsville and is the current owner and mediator of Crystal Resolutions, LLC. Since retiring, she has started Yoga for Veterans and Seniors and a free Veterans Breakfast program. She is a member of Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation, HEARTS Veterans Museum of Texas, and Community Organization for Missionary Endeavor and is a member of St. Paul Methodist Church, where she is the communications and social media officer. She volunteers for veterans and seniors in Walker County, Huntsville Lions Club, City of Huntsville Veterans Affairs Advisory Board, Dispute Resolution Center of Montgomery County, American Red Cross, and as a veteran's representative for Alamo Hospice. She is the former chair of the Council for Diversity Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Huntsville Leadership Institute, former Chaplain and Presidents and Secretaries Council member of the Lions Clubs District 2-S2, and former board member of CASA of Walker, San Jacinto & Trinity Counties. She is a veteran and served 14 years in the U.S. Army. Hackett received a Bachelor of Science in Business from Excelsior College. Her term ends February 1, 2029.
Cortney Jones of Austin is the Founder and Executive Director of Change 1, a community based organization that collaborates with local agencies and individuals dedicated to foster care alumni success. In addition, she is a motivational speaker and previously worked for Child Protective Services. She is a member of the Child Welfare Race Equity Collaborative Advisory Committee and the Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Public Policy and Communications committees. She is a former board member of Adoption Knowledge Affiliates and Head Start Child Inc. and a former member of the Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission Foster Care School Discipline Committee. She previously served on the National Foster Care Youth and Alumni Policy Council, and served as a field instructor with the University of Texas’ School of Social Work. Cortney received a Bachelor in Social Work from Texas A&M University-Commerce and a Master in Social Work from Texas State University. Jones’ term expires February 1, 2025.
Julie Krawczyk of Garland is Director of the Elder Financial Safety at The Senior Source. She is a member of the Adult Protective Services of Dallas Community Board and treasurer of the Rowlett High School Parent Teacher Student Association. Krawczyk received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and English from Southern Vermont College and a Master of Arts in Management from Dallas Baptist University. Krawczyk’s term expires February 1, 2025.
Enrique Mata of El Paso is the Executive Director of the Paso del Norte Center at Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. In this role, he works to cultivate collaborations by providing technical and policy support and strengthening connections to state and national programs and other resources so that individuals and families can access mental health services and support where and when it is needed. Prior to his current role, Enrique served as Senior Program Officer with Paso del Norte Health Foundation. He has more than 25 years of experience in health philanthropy including designing, implementing, and evaluating multi-million dollar initiatives. He is also certified as an advanced public health nurse and advanced nurse executive by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. He is a member of the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, and The University of Texas at El Paso Alumni Association. He serves on the UT El Paso School of Nursing Advisory Board, The El Paso Behavioral Health Consortium, and the El Paso 211 Advisory Board. Mata received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UT El Paso and a Master of Science in Public Health from Walden University. Mata’s term expires February 1, 2025.
Michelle Liles Treviño of Leander is a managing editor for the Journal of the American Planning Association. She volunteers as a librarian, testing monitor, and chaperone for Founders Classical Academy – Leander. Treviño received a Bachelor of Arts in English and Art History from Florida State University and a Master of Arts in Art History and Archeology from New York University Institute of Fine Arts. Her term ends February 1, 2029.