Collaboration is at the core of every aspect of our programming. The Center for Child Protection's involvement in the Child Protection Team collaboration established a process for systemic change in the way that child abuse cases are investigated and prosecuted in Travis County, and sets the stage for a number of other collaborations that have benefited abused and neglected children in this community.
Other Inter-Agency Contracts and Partnerships
Travis County Child Fatality Review Team - The Travis County Child Fatality Review Team, which is comprised of prosecutors, child protective services investigators, law enforcement, medical examiners, physicians, public health professionals, emergency services personnel, mental health professionals, and community representatives, is improving the community's response to child fatalities by examining the circumstances surrounding child deaths in Travis County at regularly scheduled meetings, and providing our community with accurate information on how and why children die in our community through the compilation of an annual report.
Austin Police Department's Internet Exploitation Investigations - When Internet exploitation became a concern for children in Travis County, the Center worked with the Child Protection Team to identify equipment that was needed to enhance their efforts to detect and arrest perpetrators using the Internet to gain access to children. As a result, the Center was able to provide some of the needed equipment, thereby improving the protection of Travis County children from Internet exploitation.
Child Assessment Team at Children’s Hospital (CATCH) - A newer addition to our collaborative efforts is the Child Assessment Team at Children's Hospital. This group of nurses, physicians, social workers, Child Protective Services caseworkers, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and Center for Child Protection staff meets weekly to discuss and assess all inpatient cases of child abuse and neglect. This program, in place since 2005, staffed more cases in its first five months than were diagnosed and evaluated as child abuse the previous year. This process allows more immediate access to medical information and a collaborative assessment of each child's safety.
Disproportionality Advisory Committee - The Disproportionality Advisory Committee, a group of community and agency stakeholders, has as its vision “ to identify and develop ways to address the negative impact of systemic and historic racism in the CPS system and other youth-serving institutions, to alleviate their continuing effects on families, children and communities. Our purpose is to help citizens learn why it happens, to understand who is affected by it, to find out what is being done by Child Protective Services to put a stop to it, and to identify what you can do to help."
Drug Endangered Children Committee - In response to new legislation in 2006, the Child Protection Team has developed a sub-committee to evaluate the specialized needs of children who are found in homes that contain methamphetamine labs in our community. The needs for decontamination, assessment and intervention are different than the needs of many children that come into the system. This committee, in the early development stage, will use the model approach to bring to the table other divisions of law enforcement and other community professionals to develop a plan to respond collaboratively to the specific needs of these children.
Texas Bar Association Foundation - The Center has received funding since 2005 to develop and offer child abuse and neglect-related trainings for attorneys representing children in foster care. Funding from 2006 will help provide this training to other Children's Advocacy Centers across Texas. Funding received in 2007 provided training dollars for those investigating and prosecuting child abuse cases. Funding given in 2008 provides multidisciplinary training for investigators to keep children safe from Internet exploitation.
Community Task Forces
The Center is actively involved in the Victim Services Task Force, Interagency Council on Sexual Assault, Community Mental Health Planning Partnership, Children’s Services Network, Parent Leaders Network, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas Regional Peer Review, and KidsSafe Austin.
Outreach Partnerships
Austin Independent School District - The Center has been working closely with counselors and nurses in the Austin Independent School District to enhance their understanding of child abuse and neglect, reporting, and the intervention process that follows. Additionally, staff will continue outreach with schools to improve services to children.
Pflugerville Independent School District - In October 2006, the Center worked with counselors within the Pflugerville Independent School District to enhance their understanding of child abuse and neglect, reporting, and the intervention process that follows.
We work closely with CASA, Communities in Schools, the Austin Children’s Shelter, Family Forward and SafePlace to not only coordinate the provision of services, but also in volunteer training and in community outreach and education.
The Center is a member of Texans Care for Children, a grassroots coalition of child-serving organizations that work to improve the lives of Texas children by building commitment and action for public policies that support children's health, safety, and development. They bring together voices from all over Texas in a united campaign for children's interests.
The Center is also a member agency of the I Live Here, I Give Here campaign.
