Minutes
Collin County Child Protection Services
Board of Directors
Monday, July 22, 2013
5:35 p.m.
Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center
2205 Los Rios Blvd.
Plano, TX 75074
Vision: All children are living in a loving, nurturing, safe family and community enjoying
good health and well-being.
Mission: The mission of Collin County Child Protective Services Board is to provide
leadership to achieve excellence in the protection, care, support services, and utilization of
resources to enrich and enhance the quality of lives of abused children and their families in
Collin County.
Board Members in Attendance: Michael Perez, Terri Green, Mike Bronsky, Linda
Carrington, Laveta Sealy, Derek Baker, Susan Etheridge, Candy Noble and Jill Crowe
Staff Members in Attendance: Janyne Strange (CPS), Alice Graham (CVS), Tanya
Rodriguez (CPS), Lynne McLean (CCCAC), and Suzanne Arnold (CPS) attended briefly to
give background information on a particular SNR she had submitted on the behalf of 1 of
her kinship placements.
Special Guests in Attendance: Jeff May, Collin County Auditor, Phyllis Cole, former Collin
County Commissioner and former CPS Board member, Susan Fletcher, member of the Collin
County Health Care Advisory Board, and Bill Bilyeu, Collin County Administrator
AGENDA
5:34PM
Executive Session Discussion
Special Needs Requests
CPS Board/Staff
Special Guests Jeff May
& Phyllis Cole
I.
Call to Order at 5:58 PM
Mike Bronsky
II.
Minutes
Linda Carrington
June minutes were presented. Mike Bronsky asked that the minutes be corrected on
page 5, the last paragraph of Old Business, where his name was misspelled. Terri
Green moved to accept the minutes as corrected. Susan Etheridge seconded the
motion. The vote carried the motion.
The secretary, Linda Carrington, informed the Board that each month she would be
sending the county, the approved minutes electronically immediately following the
meeting. The minutes would be sent to Rhonda Keisling at the county offices.
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III.
Financial Reports
Derek Baker
Financial Reports were presented to the Board by the Treasurer, Derek Baker. Derek
Baker had sent the reports to all Board members electronically on July 19th, prior to
the board meeting.
Mr. Baker reported that there is, as of June 28, 2013, a balance of $122,860.84 in
the Money Market account. Mr. Baker reported that the financial reports showed a
register balance of $3,449.06 in the American National checking account but this was
misleading as there is close to $5,000 in that account due to the uncleared
transactions which total $2,262.000.
Mr. Baker reported a total of $18,408.07 remaining in the CPS Board FY13 Budget.
The beginning budget amount was $46,330.00. Thusly, the Board has spent, as of
June 28th, $27,921.93 of the county budget. The Board has 3 more reporting
months before the end of the fiscal year.
Also Mr. Baker told the Board that he would have a plan to discuss with the board
next month to remedy the uncleared transactions issue.
Terri Green moved to accept the Financial Reports as presented. Susan Etheridge
seconded the motion. The vote carried the motion.
IV.
CPS and CCCAC Reports
Lynne McLean CCCAC
Alice Graham CPS
The following was reported by Lynne McLean (CCCAC):
The CCCAC has a new community educator who will work with Region 10 to help
train over 3,300 educators and law enforcement personnel to train the trainers in the
area of internet safety.
The CCCAC has instituted a new planned giving program which has taken over 2
years to produce. It is called the Legacy of Hope and is expected to bring in more
consistent and increased funding.
The Advocacy Center is presently in the process of installing bullet proof glass in the
front areas and entrances of the Center which is a very welcome and much needed
addition to the building.
The Back to School Fair is set for August 4th at the Advocacy Center and there are
already 450 children signed up to attend. Lynne is expecting about 600 children to
attend the event.
The CPS Board is providing the free shoes for the Back To School Fair. Discussion
was held by the Board and Lynne on the best way to accommodate the distribution
of shoes. It was decided that a voucher would be printed for, and not exceeding $25
per child. There also would be an expiration date on the voucher. The voucher
could be taken to a Payless store for redemption and for immediate acquisition of the
children’s shoes.
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The following was reported by Alice Graham (CPS):
By Sept all vacancies will be filled. However, Alice announced she is retiring and
leaving CPS by September 3rd. Having worked for CPS for over 31 years, Alice felt it
was time to step down.
There will be changes made in her position. The person taking her place will have a
smaller territory. Alice also added that it has been proposed that there will be an
additional 18 new positions in the very near future and 2 new units which will result
in probably many more removals and thusly an expected increase to the number of
children placed into foster care.
V.
Special Needs Requests
LaVeta Sealy
Special Needs Requests:
1. $54.17
Approved – deducted from county/family preservation
2. $478.00
Denied – - see note below
3. $205.97
Approved – deducted from county/clothing
4. $209.29
Approved – deducted from county/clothing
5. $350.00
Approved – deducted from county/clothing
*$14.71
Approved – deducted from county/clothing
6. $525.00
Approved – deducted from county/drug testing
7. $246.75
Approved – deducted from county/legal
8. $92.33
Approved – deducted from county/clothing
9. $108.27
Approved – deducted from county/clothing
Special Note: SNR #2 was a request for payment for childcare assistance in a kinship
placement. The CPS worker assigned to this case, Suzanne Arnold spoke to the
board giving the particulars surrounding this special case. The paternal
grandmother’s childcare assistance funding from the state expired on May 18th yet
the grandmother continued to bring the 3 children in her care to the daycare center
not realizing that the childcare payment would be an out of pocket expense. The 3
children are in temporary placement with their grandmother which is a kinship
placement.
The Board, along with the CPS worker assigned to the case, discussed at great
length this SNR and the circumstances surrounding this request. Initially LaVeta
Sealy explained to the Board that traditionally policy has been that the Board does
not pay for daycare as the state provides for this assistance. Also, as LaVeta further
explained, the Board had problems in the past with exhausting funds by utilizing
Board funds for childcare that is normally state funded and paid directly by the state.
Those conditions, according to LaVeta had precipitated a policy of not paying for
childcare as to reserve funds for all the other needs that are not necessarily state
subsidized presented to the Board for payment.
Susan Etheridge supported LaVeta’s explanations and further explained that word
travels fast among the foster parent community. Susan continued to explain that
once the Board policy was broken then it would open the door for many more foster
parents submitting childcare special needs requests which could easily be much more
monetarily than the Board budget could afford. Jill Crowe interjected that in the past
the Board has only approved such childcare expenses if there was an emergency
situation.
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Derek Baker strongly questioned the policy as described by LaVeta and wanted the
minutes to reflect his disapproval of the policy. Mr. Baker also felt that some others
on the Board felt the same as he did. However, when the vote was taken there was
only 1 no vote which was Mr. Baker’s.
Candy Noble brought to the Board a remedy to the situation that the Board and the
CPS staff felt would work very well for both the grandmother and the Board’s budget
parameters. The grandmother had incurred medical bills of over $6,800 for the
children due to the fact that the children have not yet acquired Medicaid benefits.
The Board asked the CPS staff members in attendance if it was feasible for the
grandmother to submit a SNR for some of these medical expenses and the Board
could more easily and reasonably approve out of pocket and non-governmental
subsidized medical expenses for the children. Such an approval would not break any
previously preset policy and also give the grandmother much needed monetary
assistance.
It was also brought up by the CPS staff that kinship placements are much better
solutions usually and any help the Board can offer would be universally beneficial to
all involved.
Special Note: SNR #5 had to be divided due to the fact that the total amount
submitted exceeded the limit amount of $350 for clothing from the county budget.
The remaining amount of $14.71 was carried over to the Board budget funds.
Special Note: SNR #6, $525.00 for drug testing now brings the total dollars spent on
drug testing, as of June 28th, up to $10,630 for the fiscal year. This amount exceeds
the year budget for drug testing by $2,105.00.
LaVeta Sealy moved to approve SNRs #1 through #9 excluding #2. Candy seconded
the motion. The vote carried the motion.
Linda Carrington moved to deny SNR #2 as it was submitted. LaVeta Sealy
seconded the motion. The vote carried the motion.
Candy Noble moved that a quick check up to $499.00 be written out for the
grandmother upon the submission of the proper documentation supporting the
medical costs. Linda Carrington seconded the motion. The vote carried the motion.
VI.
New Business
Mike Bronsky
At 5:57 p.m., after the close of the Executive Session and prior to calling in Susan
Fletcher and Bill Bilyeu into the open session, President Mike Bronsky offered to the
Board his apologies for his demeanor and behavior at the June meeting.
The Call to Order was announced at 5:58 p.m.
Bill Bilyeu presented to the Board a proposal called Live Here/Give Here which is a
possible fundraising plan to help fund the CPS Board’s Budget.
This proposal as presented by Mr. Bilyeu has been developed through the thoughts
and ideas of Judge Keith Self, the Collin County Judge.
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The Live Here/Give Here Program would be a voluntary program seeking donations
from the citizens of Collin County to help the foster children of Collin County.
When learning that the CPS Board would be seeking an increase in their budget
funds from the Commissioners’ Court, Judge Self felt that his idea of a voluntary
citizen donation program was a perfect fit for the CPS Board.
The purpose of the Live Here/Give Here campaign is to encourage the residents of
Collin County to direct their charitable giving to local non-profit groups such as the
CPS Board.
Mr. Bilyeu emphasized that the County and the Commissioners would assist the CPS
Board in making certain this bold, new fundraising plan would be as successful as
possible by:
 Creating, maintaining, and administering web pages and links on the county
website
 Creating and delivering regular media releases with placement in local media
outlets to promote CPS’s needs and especially the need to donate to the Live
Here/Give Here program
 Creating publications as well as effective distribution of such marketing
materials promoting the needs of CPS and the CPS Board
 Supporting CPS fundraising efforts using county resources and county
personnel where and when appropriate
 Utilizing low cost and no cost marketing media sources such as PSAs and
advertisements
Mr. Bilyeu added that additional benefits to the CPS Board if they decide to adopt
this proposal could be the possible expansion of the CPS fundraising base by
identifying and soliciting new public and private donors.
Another suggestion in Judge Self and Mr. Bilyeu’s proposal was to seek and apply for
grant opportunities utilizing the county grant writer.
The main way this program would solicit and acquire additional monies for the CPS
Board Budget would be online donations through the county website. The
expectation as presented by Mr. Bilyeu, is that a steady stream of donations would
develop allowing the CPS Board more opportunity to support and provide for the
foster families in the county. This also ideally would allow for a steady income
replenishing the Board’s 501©(3) account as all donations would go directly into the
Board’s 501©(3) account.
Judge Self and Mr. Bilyeu felt that the Live Here/Give Here campaign should focus on
foster children’s clothing and supply needs as citizens are more apt to donate in
order to help provide those staples versus donating to drug testing or other
administrative expenses.
The comprehensive handout that Mr. Bilyeu provided the Board during his
presentation, stated that this endeavor, Live Here/Give Here, would launch “…as a
county initiative with the expectation that the program will expand to incorporate
more CPS needs as well as those of other local nonprofit organizations”.
During discussion with Mr. Bilyeu about the CPS Budget and this new fundraising
proposal, it was discovered that the budget numbers as prepared by Jeff May and
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those provided by Laura to Derek did not reconcile or match. Phyllis Cole also
commented that the Title IVE reimbursements from the state back to the Board
budget should be reflected in the numbers as produced and distributed by Mr. May’s
office.
Terri Green stressed that the Board desperately needs accurate numbers not only for
their Budget presentation but also in regard to effective administration of the Board’s
disbursement of funds.
Mr. May suggested that the problem might be the encumbrance of spent funds
causing the discrepancy in the budget reports.
Mr. Bilyeu stressed that the Commissioners would be looking at the exact same
spreadsheet he was using for his presentation to our Board that evening and he had
acquired that budget spreadsheet from Jeff May’s office. He continued to explain the
budget spreadsheet he printed from Jeff May’s office shows that the CPS Board has
not historically spent all their budget monies from the county and up to this date do
have money remaining in the budget.
Several Board members tried to explain to Mr. Bilyeu and Mr. May that last year the
Board did spend all the county budget money several weeks prior to the close of the
fiscal year and had to use funds from their 501©(3) account.
At this point the Board questioned Mr. May as to where the Title IVE reimbursement
funds go when returned from the state after the fiscal year.
Terri Green emphasized to the Board that the budget monthly expenditure
spreadsheets do not give the Commissioners an accurate picture of the Board’s
monetary activities so therefore it is imperative that each Board member meet with
their individual commissioner who has appointed them to the Board. In these
individual meetings, the Board members are to explain and show the “whys and
what fors” in regard to the Board Budget Proposal.
Discussion continued and ended with a suggestion that all agree to disagree with the
budget reports from Mr. May and Laura. Jeff May did agree that he would research
the problem and inform the Board of his findings. More importantly he would work to
get more accurate reports.
In regard to the Title IVE fund reimbursement funds, both Susan Etheridge and
Phyllis Cole stated that the Commissioners do not understand or have a general
knowledge how the procedure operates. Jeff May stated that the Board gets about
$3,300 in reimbursement funds. It was suggested that possibly a Title IVE
reimbursement statement be provided to the Board so that they are aware of what
funds are returning back to their budget from the state.
The discussion progressed into the possibility of using the Live Here/Give Here
donations to help pay for clothing and emergency shelter. Terri Green stressed that
the public would probably only respond to those 2 needs. Terri Green also asked at
this time if the county was trying to shift the budget burden from county coffers to
the Board’s 501©(3) account. Terri Green questioned Mr. Bilyeu on why the Board
was just now hearing about this proposal of Live Here/Give Here. Mr. Bilyeu
explained that Judge Self has had the idea for several years but just recently felt it
would be a good fit for CPS.
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Vice President Sealy asked Mr. Bilyeu if there as a fail safe system set up to protect
the Board and their budget if they decide to try the Live Here/Give Here program.
Mr. Bilyeu suggested that the Board go ahead with their plans to submit their budget
to the Commissioners Court. According to Mr. Bilyeu, if the Board decided to go
ahead with their participation in the Live Here/Give Here campaign, there would be a
90 to 120 day lag time before results would be seen. Mr. Bilyeu also suggested that
the program be in place on the county website by the end of the year to capture
those wanting to donate for tax purposes by the end of the year.
Treasurer Derek Baker interjected that he agrees with Judge Self’s plan and does not
support the new Board Budget proposal which is requesting an increase from the
county.
Susan Etheridge however explained to the Board that she feels the new proposal will
not provide enough funds to totally support all the clothing needs the Board receives
within the budget year.
In discussing sources of income for the CPS Board, both Mike Bronsky and Lynne
McLean brought up the special state license plate program. A percentage of the
funds for a special license plate supporting the work of CPS and the Department of
Family & Protective Services is available to the Board budget. Lynne related that
there was about $64,500 distributed out all of last year to deserving agencies and
boards statewide.
LaVeta Sealy questioned Mr. Bilyeu on who would administer the website. Mr. Bilyeu
stressed that the county would create and administer everything needed to promote
this special program. Mike Bronsky also added that 100% of all donations would go
to the Board’s 501©(3) account fund.
Candy Noble suggested that a recurring payment/donation be tied to the website to
possibly further increase the amount of donations.
Mr. Bilyeu concluded his presentation and explanations to the Board with
emphasizing that there are about 1.4 million visitors a year to the Collin County
website. Using a mockup handout of the county webpage, Mr. Bilyeu showed the
Board how effectively the county graphics personnel could promote a donation
program for the CPS Board.
Terri Green then questioned Mr. Bilyeu in regard to the budget submission process to
the Commissioners’ Court in light of the Live Here/Give Here proposal.
Mr. Bilyeu urged the Board to go ahead with their plans to submit their budget
proposal to the Commissioners’ Court. Phyllis Cole also urged the Board to also
continue with their plans to have individual meetings with their individually assigned
Commissioners to present the Budget Proposal packet.
Jeff May discussed necessary procedures and the correct structure that the Board
needed to adopt for their 501©(3) organization.
Mr. May initially established with the Board that the Board’s 501©(3) must be a
separate organization from the Board and is kept an arm’s length from the county
operations. The county will audit the operations of the Board’s 501©(3) but the
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Board is ultimately responsible for all other procedures and operations of the
501©(3). Moreover, the Board controls all the 501©(3) funds and donations.
Mr. May along with Lynne McLean told the Board that they need to have separate
meetings and separate minutes in regard to the activities of the 501©(3) as this is
considered a private arm of the Board.
It was also brought to the Board’s attention that Duncan Webb was the author of the
Board’s 501©(3) several years ago. Therefore it is possible that the Board
Committee might need some assistance from Commissioner Webb if questions arise.
President Mike Bronsky made suggested appointments to a separate committee in
order to research and establish the correct procedures for the Board’s 501©(3)
separate organization, but emphasized that any and all Board members were
welcome to serve on this committee.
LaVeta Sealy brought up the fact that she also wanted to set up a Bylaws Committee
to revise the Board’s Bylaws as it has been several years since they have been
revised. LaVeta suggested that each Board member receive binders containing
many necessary document sets such as the newly revised Bylaws, Board Roster,
Board Event Roster, etc.
Terri Green moved to have 1 committee to review both the bylaws and the 501©(3)
operations. Included in the motion was to have Michael Perez chair this committee.
Candy Noble seconded this motion. The vote carried the motion.
Jeff May reiterated that his office could not be involved in the 501©(3) internal
operations such as filings if his office would be auditing the 501©(3).
Phyllis Cole presented to the Board the opportunity to join the Collin County Council
on Family Violence.
The Council on Family Violence was founded and is supported by the Junior League
of Plano. There are about 80 to 90 attendees each month to a luncheon meeting
that occurs on the first Wednesday of every month at the Junior League
headquarters at 11:30 a.m.
The purpose of the meeting is ultimately to find effective ways and methods to end
Family Violence in Collin County.
The attendees upon arrival at the meeting are divided into 2 groups. 1 group
represents the law enforcement sector and the other group represents the remaining
essential volunteers and workers interested in helping end family violence in our
community.
This organization has made great strides in changing the mindset and the methods
used to help end Family Violence. They have placed rape kits in all the hospitals.
They have produced shoe cards to make women aware of the resources available if
they are being abused. They have distributed these shoe cards all over the county in
appropriate locations. They have trained nurse examiners in all the hospitals in
regard to family abuse and violence. They have even put information into donated
lipstick tubes for a discreet and safe way to get much needed help to victims.
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Phyllis emphasized that communication is the key to their success.
She also remarked that changes in the law enforcement community’s attitude about
the subject of Family Violence has fostered and helped their efforts immensely.
The Council is sponsoring the White Ribbon Event on October 3rd. This will be an
activity filled family event for all citizens of the county.
At this event there will be a ceremony where husbands will take an oath not to
partake in any family violence. The wife will pin a white ribbon on her husband who
has just sworn to a non-violent partnership.
The Board can formally join the Council in January but Board members can begin
attending the meetings immediately. Lunch is served at these meetings and is
provided by the Junior League.
Commissioner Cole also presented the Board an opportunity to attend the 11th
Annual Family Facing Violence Conference being held on October 24 th and 25th which
also includes the additional benefits of CEU credits and CLEs for those Board
members needing those benefits.
Commissioner Cole added that this group offers faith conferences in order to show
religious leaders how to counsel their members in the area of family violence. Also
they offer business conferences to show HR personnel and other business leaders
how to deal with family violence issues in the work place as well as a very strong
educational component as a part of their efforts. The Council sends informative
brochures to every school counselor and encourages their membership to the group.
Commissioner Cole’s parting words was an urging that the Board not only join the
Council but send members to the monthly luncheon meetings.
Mike Bronsky suggested that the Board consider sending some of the Board
members and/or CPS staffers to the October Family Violence Conference.
At this point Mike Bronsky announced that he is taking a 6 week Leave of Absence
and LaVeta Sealy would take over as Interim President of the Board.
LaVeta Sealy suggested to the Board that they honor Alice Graham and her 30+
years of service to CPS by presenting her with a gift of a bracelet at the August CPS
Luncheon. LaVeta made the motion for the Board to buy the bracelet and to present
it to Alice at the August Luncheon. Terri Green seconded the motion. The vote
carried the motion.
VII.
Old Business
Mike Bronsky
LaVeta Sealy announced to the Board that all the plans are finalized for the luncheon
honoring the CPS staff. It will be held on August 8th at the Advocacy Center. It is
being catered by Petra’s of McKinney and will feature a Taco Bar with all the
condiments. There will also be Tres Leches cake for dessert. Linda Carrington and
LaVeta will decorate the tables and room the afternoon prior to the event. The
Board will also provide drinks for the luncheon. Petra’s has included a server in their
total cost of $1,200.
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Tanya Rodriguez announced to the Board that there might be 1 computer request to
the Board for 1 graduating foster child. She said she would double check and let the
Board know at the next meeting.
The Board was also informed that there had been a returned check for an approved
SNR from last month. It was a check payable for driving school and it seems the
foster child did not attend the school. More detailed information would be provided
at the next meeting.
It was brought up again as to who would make the Budget Presentation to the
Commissioners’ Court. Terri Green said she did not want to do it. Linda Carrington
asked if she and Mike Bronsky could do it together. Terri did agree that she would
finish the Budget Proposal and have it not only printed but bound so that each
member making the individual presentations to the Commissioner would all have a
copy for each Commissioner. There was no motion or vote on this issue.
VIII. Public Comments
Mike Bronsky
Public comments are limited to five (5) minutes per speaker. Please note
that no one requested speaking privileges for this meeting nor did anyone
other than the above noted individuals attend the meeting.
IX.
Meeting Adjourn
Mike Bronsky
Mike Bronsky called the adjournment of the meeting at 8:38 p.m. LaVeta moved to
adjourn. Terri Green seconded the motion. The vote carried the motion.
Respectfully submitted by:
________________________
Secretary Linda Carrington
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