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Overview Harris
County Protective Services for Children and Adults (HCPS) formerly Children’s
Protective Services, has been faced with the unique challenge of finding the
best way to provide quality, compassionate care to a wide range of children –
who come to the agency in bassinets and some who come in handcuffs. To meet this challenge, the County has designed a new Youth Services Center to function as a “hub” of support services for children and youth needing help. The Harris County Protective Services for Children and Adults Board of Directors has launched the “Caring for Our Kids Campaign” to fully fund this facility.
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Currently, the
youth services programs of HCPS are provided, in part, through the Chimney Rock
Center (CRC), which offers emergency shelter and a range of support services for
abused and neglected children and at-risk youth.
It is
projected that in the next 20 years the population in Harris County will likely
double. Faced with such a
challenge, HCPS created the Chimney Rock Center Task Force to determine how the
County could best use its resources to meet our community’s ever-increasing
need for services for at-risk youth and families.
The Task
Force concluded that Texas would experience a 21% increase in its juvenile
population between 1995 and 2015. This
projected growth, combined with the inefficiencies of the CRC’s current
facility, prompted the Task Force to recommend the creation of a new facility to
serve as a “hub” for providing comprehensive youth services to the
community.
With support from Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack, the County proposed the creation of a new Youth Services Center, which was approved by the Harris County Commissioners Court in 2001. The County has committed nearly $9 million for construction costs and has donated nearly $1.4 million worth of property at 6400 Chimney Rock Road directly across the street from the existing CRC. It is estimated that the entire project will cost nearly $14 million.
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Programs Housed at the Youth Services Center
Texas
Dept of Family and Protective Services -Point of Entry (POE)
The Youth Services
Center will serve as the point of entry facility for the state-managed Child
Protective Services program. CPS
staff will be on site 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to provide
intake/assessment services for abused and neglected youth, to handle abuse and
neglect calls and to investigate reports of suspected abuse and neglect.
TRIAD
Prevention Program – Intake/Diversion Program
Harris County Protective
Services for Children and Adults (HCPS), the Harris County Juvenile Probation
Department and the Mental Health/Mental Retardation Authority coordinate their
resources to serve at-risk youth through the TRIAD Prevention Program.
At the new Youth Services Center, HCPS and Juvenile Probation staff
members will work side by side around the clock to provide screening/assessment,
crisis intervention, short term counseling, information/referral and follow up
services for youth involved with Class C misdemeanors, status offenses or
otherwise considered at-risk.
Community Youth Services - CYS
CYS is a crisis intervention and case management program of HCPS that offers free, voluntary assistance to at-risk children, youth and their families who are experiencing individual and family problems. CYS partners with local school districts to offer confidential, free services to all students throughout most of the school districts in Harris County. The CYS administration will be housed at the Youth Services Center.
Community
Unit Probation Services (CUPS) Unit Zero
The Harris County Juvenile Probation Department’s CUPS “O” program will operate from the Youth Services Center. CUPS staff will provide a range of services for younger juveniles with Class B misdemeanor offenses who have received Deferred Prosecution from the Courts. Specialized programs, with the goal of helping youth avoid adjudication and diverting them from Juvenile Justice System, include: counseling, parent training, HIV/AIDS education, substance abuse therapy, Shoplifters Anonymous, Kickit, monthly educational workshops and community service.
Medical/Dental Clinic
The HCPS Clinic will be moved from its current location ad 2525 Murworth Dr. to the Youth Services Center. In addition to helping CPS caseworkers identify suspected child abuse and neglect, the clinic provides medical care to all child clients of CPS. If is staffed by a contracted dentist and doctors from the University of Texas Medical School which provides the opportunity for third year medical students to receive a 30-day rotation to train in identifying child abuse cases. The clinic offers Infant, Child & Adult CPR, First Aid and AED training for CPS Staff and foster parents. A Class “D” Pharmacy is also available on-site for filling routine medication prescriptions.
DePelchin Children’s Center Unit
A 2-person unit from DePelchin Children’s Center will be on site to provide counseling for shelter residents and other youth and families served through HCPS.
Preparation
for Adult Living Program – (PAL)
The PAL program helps make the transition to adulthood less problematic for youth in foster care. PAL services include independent living assessments, time-limited financial help, aftercare services, and training in such areas as money management, job skills, educational planning and interpersonal skills. These training and case management services will take place at the Youth Services Center.
Training Institute
A Training Center consisting of several state-of-the-art conference rooms on the second floor of the facility will be used for various youth groups, staff training sessions, administrative meetings and other County needs.
Emergency Shelter
The Youth Services Center will be home to the County’s 24-bed Emergency Shelter for abused/neglected. Youth, ages 12 to 17, may reside at the shelter for up to 90 days. During this time, caseworkers help them resolve their immediate crises and counsel their families so that the young people may return home, or to a more permanent, long-term residence.
Shelter School and Library
Resident youth are required to attend the shelter’s own full-time, year round school. Fully accredited HISD teachers focus on tutoring the youth in all subject areas. A library and books and videos of interest to young people will be available for shelter residents.
Youth Recreational Areas
Shelter residents will be able to enjoy a large recreational area within the shelter, as well as the patio for outdoor meals and events, a basketball pavilion, volleyball court and track.
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Don't miss out on the fun, excitement and opportunity to memorialize your contribution to this great effort. You may purchase one of several items to honor a member of your family, a group or yourself.
Each item will be identified with an inscription up to 3 lines, 30 characters per line.
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The Donors' Walk
The Donors' walk will consist of an architectural design of individual bricks (or pavers). The Donors walk will be constructed at the main entrance of the building (public entrance) and adjacent to the back parking lot). Employees or other donors may select the entrance on a first come first serve basis. The brick may be donated in honor or memory of an employee, family member, etc. cost: $150 each ITEM: TDW150 |
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Tile Wall
The Tile Wall will consist of an artist design of individual tiles. The location of the Tile Wall is not determined, but probably will occupy a foyer at the buildings main entrance. Employees or other donors may elect to memorialize themselves, a family member, etc. cost: $250 each ITEM: TLW250 |
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Picnic Tables or Benches
Picnic tables and benches will embellish the scenery of the Youth Services Center campus. These items will create a relaxing environment for clients and staff. The tables or benches may be donated on behalf of an employee, family member, sorority, etc. cost: $650 each ITEM: PTB650 |
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Plaque of Honor
The Plaque of Honor will provide tree levels of contribution. The plates will be approximately 2x3" in size. The plates will also have 3 lines of print with a maximum of 30 characters per line. cost: Gold Plate $100, Silver Plate $75, and Copper Plate $50 ITEM: PGP100, PS75, PCP50 |
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In support of the Caring for Our Kids Capital Campaign, the employees of HCPS have launched an employee fundraising campaign to demonstrate our total support and commitment to the Youth Services Center Project.
Our Goal is to achieve 100% employee participation by:
-Participation through a direct cash contribution either by check, cash or payroll deduction;
-Participation in the Naming Opportunities Program. (The Naming Opportunities program allows an employee to memorialize a contribution by honoring a family member, a group, or yourself.); or
-Participation through sponsoring a fundraising event.
All contributions are tax deductible.
Payroll deduction is permitted with a minimum total contribution of $50 at $5 per paycheck.
Checks must be made payable to : HCPS FUND BOARD
To place your naming opportunity order, please see the "Naming Opportunities for Employees of HCPS" order sheet in Adobe format.
Contact Debra at 713.394.4076 regarding payroll deduction procedures.
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In support of the Caring for Our Kids Capital Campaign, HCPS have launched a fundraising campaign to allow 'Friends of HCPS' contribution to the Youth Services Center Project. Friends of HCPS may participate via our Naming Opportunities Program.
To place your naming opportunity order, please see the "Naming Opportunities for Friends of CPS" order sheet in Adobe format.
To ensure your naming opportunity is recognized, all items must be paid in full by June 30, 2005.
NO REFUNDS are available on contributions once a receipt is issued. If an item for Naming Opportunity is not paid in full by the deadline, the donor will receive acknowledgment for total payments made.
All contributions are tax deductible. Checks must be made payable to the HCPS Fund Board.
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**Additional information regarding the Capital Campaign may be received by calling Delores at 713-394-4076.
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To report abuse or
neglect call 1-800-252-5400. |
