85 th Regular Session Legislative Update

1. 85th Regular SessionLegislative Update Senate Bill (SB) 1220 House Bill (HB) 1608 Senate Bill (SB) 1758

2. SB 1220 • Required DFPS to collaborate with the following to create a Career and Development Education program: • local Workforce Development Boards, • Foster Care Transition Centers, • Community and Technical Colleges, • Schools • and any other appropriate Workforce Industry Resources • A Workgroup, consisting of the above entities and others, met from January-April 2018 to examine available resources, conduct gap analysis and develop recommendations.

3. SB 1220 The Career Development and Education program, for youth and young adults currently or formerly in foster care youth, is expected to accomplish the following: • assistance in obtaining: • A High School Diploma or Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency Certificate (commonly known as GED); and • Industry certifications that are necessary for occupations in high demand • provides career guidance; and • informs about Tuition and Fee Waivers for institutions of higher education that are available under Section 54.366, Education Code.

4. SB 1220Recommendations DFPS, in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency, produced a report by September 1, 2018 to include the following recommendations: • Create a DFPS Internet page for the program. • Convene a workgroup, as least semi-annually, to update each organization, share changes to programming and discuss the impact of any new related state or federal legislation. • Establish and execute a plan to improve communication between the organizations and youth and youth adults currently or formerly in foster care and their families through the DFPS internet page and agency specific plans for internal and external stakeholders to include, but not limited to: • Marketing and publicity on available resources. • Coordination between DFPS, local ISD foster care liaisons, and college foster care liaison. • Share the youth’s CPS transition plan for education and career with the school counselor for better coordination of college and career goals. • Require schools to document informing youth about ETV and the Tuition and Fee Waiver in their Personal Graduation Plan (PGP) and in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) transition plan. • Require CPS to document informing youth about ETV and the Tuition and Fee Waiver in the CPS education and career section of their case plan and transition plan.

5. HB 1608 • Requires DFPS to establish a summer internship pilot program that provides foster youth age 15 and older with the opportunity to: • Develop marketable job skills; and • Obtain professional work experience through a summer internship with a participating business, nonprofit organization or governmental agency.

6. HB 1608Other DFPS Requirements • May collaborate with other state agencies to establish the internship. • May be implemented in more than one department region. • May enter into more than one agreement to provide the internship. • May be paid or unpaid. • Not later than April 1st of each year, DFPS shall select youth for the internship. • Each youth participating in the pilot must enter into an agreement with the organization offering the internship and department relating to the terms of the internship. • DFPS shall complete an evaluation of the pilot and submit a report to the legislature not later than the 2nd anniversary of the date the program begins (June 2020).

7. HB 1608 • Collaboration between DFPS, Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas and Marshall’s Department store in Plano, Texas included: • Planning meetings, materials, training and assessment • 6 weeks/20 hours a week (flexible schedule, may work 20-40 hours) internship • Paid internship through Workforce Solutions • In 2018, Goal: 5 youth participants • 4 youth selected (1 did not pass assessment and 3 did not complete 6 weeks due to various reasons) • Next step is to debrief and discuss what worked/areas for improvement for next summer. Marshall’s is open to a Workforce partnership in the future.

8. Other known summer internships in Texas • Houston and Alumni Youth (HAY) Center (8th year for summer internship) • Established guidelines and agreements, interview process, training • 8-10 weeks/32 hours a week • Paid internship • In 2018, 15 youth participated. • Youth are employed through a temporary agency contracted by Harris County.  Multiple businesses employ the youth in the community.  Typically, a few youth are hired on full time as a regular employee as a result of the internship.

9. Other known summer internships in Texas • El Paso County Attorney’s Office (6th year for summer internship) • 6 weeks/20 hours a week • Paid internship/Various agencies pay for the internship/$11 per hour • In 2018, 12 youth completed the internship and attended a ceremony. • Placed in different County job areas.   For example they were in purchasing, the 65th district court, Veterans Court, and JPD just to name a few.  • Participants attend a weekly lunch and learn where they receive life skills information for example healthy relationships, budgeting and the transition center presented.  

10. Senate Bill (SB) 1758Independent Living Skills Assessment • An independent living skills assessment must be conducted: • For youth in DFPS Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC) who are age 15 starting in FY 18 and age 14 starting in FY 19. • If a youth was not eligible to receive the assessment at age 14 or 15, an assessment must be provided to all youth in DFPS conservatorship at age 16 or older. • As a result, youth will be assessed only one time. • An annual update of the independent living skills the youth learned the preceding year must be conducted: • To ensure the youth is being prepared for their successful transition to adulthood. • The annual update must be conducted through the youth’s plan of service in coordination with the youth, the youth’s caseworker, PAL staff and youth’s caregiver. • The annual update should include a review of the original assessment responses and documentation of the youth’s progress and continued need in the youth’s plan of service.

11. Senate Bill (SB) 1758PAL Standardized Curriculum • In coordination with stakeholders, DFPS is required to develop a plan to standardize the curriculum for the PAL program that ensures youth ages 14 and older receive relevant and age-appropriate information and training. • Established workgroup with various stakeholders to explore the current process, what is available now, what does research say about this population and identify needs and gaps • Met January-June 2018. • Sub-workgroups: 1) Life Skills and Learning and 2) Caregiver Participation • Report due to legislature 12/1/18

12. Contact Gaye Vopat Transitional Living Services Team Lead 512-438-5442 gaye.vopat@dfps.state.tx.us