Accomplishments (continued)
Nurturing Parent Program
CPS started the Nurturing Parent Program (NPP) in five FBSS units across the state (Lubbock, Potter, Val Verde, Burnet, and Smith Counties). NPP is a trauma-informed, evidence-based program to prevent, intervene in, and treat child abuse and neglect. The Nurturing Parenting Program helps parents:
- Better understand what constitutes abuse and neglect.
- Better identify, talk about, process, and manage feelings such as anger, stress, loss, grief, and guilt.
- Better understand the stages of child development and what behavior is appropriate at each stage. This includes safety, emotional, and relational aspects.
- Better understand varied approaches to positive parenting including discipline, conflict resolution, and problem-solving strategies.
- Be aware of their children's emotional and physical needs and respond appropriately and consistently with empathy, caring, and respect for their children, themselves, and others.
The program also increases community resources that help built the capacity of parents to care for and nurture their children.
Treatment Foster Family Care Program
CPS began the Treatment Foster Family Care program to increase capacity in the foster care system and reduce the number of young children (under the age of 10) in residential treatment centers. At end of July 2019, there were 53 TFFC homes and 39 children placed in those homes. Here are the number of TFFC homes by region:
- Eight in Region 1
- 10 in Region 3e
- 13 in Region 6
- Nine in Region 7
- Seven in Region 8a. (Community-Based Care)
- One in Region 8
- Five in Region 11
Domestic Violence
In FY 2019, CPS enhanced how it works with and engages families when domestic violence is a safety and risk factor. CPS created the Domestic Violence Best Practice Resource Guide and nine web-based domestic violence training videos. These resources focus on effective practice and addressing common challenges in CPS cases when an adults is not only harming children but also the adult caretaker of the children. CPS released the first of these web-based trainings in FY 2019. CPS will release additional trainings every other month in FY 2020 to provide ongoing education on the subject.