Statutory References
Title XX, Social Security Act
Title IV-B, Subpart 2, Social Security Act
Texas Family Code, 264.301 also Chapter 265
Texas Human Resources Code, 40.0561
The Division of Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) was created to consolidate child abuse prevention and juvenile delinquency prevention and early intervention programs within the jurisdiction of a single state agency. Consolidation of these programs is intended to eliminate fragmentation and duplication of contracted prevention and early intervention services for at-risk children, youth, and families.
- Community Youth Development (CYD) - The CYD program contracts with community-based organizations to develop juvenile delinquency prevention programs in ZIP codes with high juvenile crime rates. Approaches used by communities to prevent delinquency have included mentoring, youth employment programs, career preparation, youth leadership development and recreational activities. Communities prioritize and fund specific prevention services according to local needs. CYD services are available in 15 targeted Texas ZIP codes.
- Services to At-Risk Youth (STAR) - The STAR program contracts with community agencies to offer family crisis intervention counseling, short- term emergency respite care, and individual and family counseling. Youth up to age 17 and their families are eligible if they experience conflict at home, truancy or delinquency, or a youth who runs away from home. STAR services are available in all 254 Texas counties. Each STAR contractor also provides universal child abuse prevention services, ranging from local media campaigns to informational brochures and parenting classes.
- Texas Families: Together and Safe (TFTS) - The TFTS program funds evidence-based, community-based programs designed to alleviate stress and promote parental competencies and behaviors that increase the ability of families to become self-sufficient and successfully nurture their children. The goals of TFTS are to: improve and enhance access to family support services; increase the efficiency and effectiveness of community-based family support services; enable children to remain in their own homes by providing preventative services, and to increase collaboration among local programs, government agencies, and families.
- Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) - The CBCAP program seeks to increase community awareness of existing prevention services, strengthen community and parental involvement in child abuse prevention efforts, and encourage families to engage in services that are already available. CBCAP funds a variety of contracts with community-based organizations to provide child abuse and neglect prevention services. These include the Respite/Parent Education, Basic Parent Education, Fatherhood Effects, and the Home-Visiting, Education, and Leadership (HEAL) programs, as well as various special initiatives and public awareness campaigns
- Community Based Family Services (CBFS) - The CBFS program serves families who were investigated by CPS but whose allegations were low-priority or unsubstantiated, through community and evidence-based services. Services include home visitation, case management, and additional social services to provide a safe and stable home environment.
- Statewide Youth Services Network (SYSN) - The SYSN program contracts provide community and evidence-based juvenile delinquency prevention programs focused on youth ages 10 through 17, in each DFPS region.
- Helping through Intervention and Prevention (HIP) - The HIP program provides an extensive family assessment, home visiting that includes parent education and basic needs support to targeted families. Eligible families are those who have previously had their parental rights terminated due to child abuse and neglect in year 2011 or later who currently have a newborn child, families who have previously had a child die with the cause identified as child abuse or neglect in year 2011 or later who have a newborn child, or current foster youth who are pregnant or who have given birth in the last four months.
- Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Support (HOPES) - The HOPES program provides child abuse and neglect prevention services that target families with children between 0-5 years of age. Contracts have been awarded in eight counties and each includes an evidence-based home-visiting component as well as other services that meet the needs of the target county. Each HOPES contract also has a focus on community collaboration that focus on early childhood and the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
- Texas Youth Helpline - The 24-hour toll-free Texas Youth Helpline offers crisis intervention, telephone counseling, and referrals to troubled youth and families. Volunteers answer the phones and interact with callers facing a variety of problems including family conflict, delinquency, truancy, and abuse and neglect issues. The program increases public awareness through media efforts that may include television, radio, billboards and other printed materials.