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Senate Bill 769 |
Senate Author: Uresti |
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Effective: 9-1-13 |
House Sponsor: McClendon |
Senate Bill 769 amends the Family Code to require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to establish a pilot program to provide specialized training by DFPS or another state agency to foster parents of children who have been traumatized or have serious mental health needs if such services can be provided using existing resources or if a local governmental entity or charitable organization is able to provide the training at no cost to the state. The bill requires DFPS to establish the pilot program in a county with a population of at least 1.5 million that is within 200 miles of the Texas-Mexico border, to coordinate the specialized training as part of community-based services and supports provided under a Wraparound individualized planning process for foster children as prescribed by the Texas Integrated Funding Initiative Consortium, and to evaluate the pilot program not later than the second anniversary of the date the program is established. The bill sets out reporting requirements for DFPS regarding the pilot program.