[Steppes] OT: SB 1952/Current legislative issue

[Aaron Robb]

I've never sent something like this out to my personal acquaintances,
as it's rare my work and personal life overlap. This one is important
folks. If every one of you faxes just one letter we may be able to
make a difference with the lawmakers in Austin.

--
OK, just found out about this one today...apparently had been low on
the radar down in Austin.

Basically, we were getting a record number of kids killed when I
worked at CPS and part of this (IMO) was due to a high worker to
supervisor ratio. Just too many cases for to few people, often with
lack of good supervision due to time crunch. We got it down to 7:1
before I left and (go figure) we were able to provide better service.


Now the state wants all agencies to go to an 11:1 ratio. While you
may be willing to live with poor response from your government in
return for lower taxes, there are many children who quite literally
cannot.

Please read the forwarded e-mail (below) for more details, as well as
a list of state senate finance committee members with phone and fax
numbers. Please write to the finance committee and to your state
senator to amend this bill to exclude CPS.

Thank you for your time,

Aaron Robb

--- Madeline McClure <maddymc at flash.net> wrote:
> Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 13:02:24 -0500
> Subject: BILL HURTING CPS WORKERS:  NEEDS AMENDMENT!
>
> CAPAC MEMBERS,
>
> SB 1952 IS A BAD BILL FOR CPS.  It increases the supervisor: CPS
> worker
> ratio from a current 1 SUPERVISOR TO 7 WORKERS TO 1 SUPERVISOR TO
> 11 WORKERS
> by 2007!  (phased in over the next 4 years- see the portion of this
> bill that describes this change at the bottom of this message).
>
> This bill has passed out of the Senate committee and will be heard
> shortly
> on the Senate floor.  It will be difficult to defeat in the house
> (more on
> this later), so our best strategy is to try to get it amended on
> the Senate
> floor.  I am currently working on getting Senator Corona to
> introduce the amendment.
>
> PLEASE FIND YOUR Senator by going directly to this web-site, type
> in your address and call your SENATOR:
>
> http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/address.htm
>
> The message should be:  "RE:  SB 1952, Please exempt CPS from the
> proposed
> increases in the supervisor to staff ratio.  One of the main
> factors of high
> caseworker turnover is insufficient supervisory support based on
> current
> staffing ratios of 1 supervisor to 7 workers.  Currently,
> caseworkers carry
> an average 27 cases per worker.  This translates to over 189 cases
> that the
> supervisor is ultimately responsible for.  A measure to increase
> this ratio
> further would be disastrous for children needing protection by
> caseworkers that are supported by supervisors."
>
>
> Also, here's a quick list of the Senate Finance Committee members
> that carry
> a lot of weight.  Please try to call at least one in your area or
> all 15 ASAP!
> Ask to speak with the Senators Legislative aid that works on
> PRS/CPS issues.
>
> SENATE FINANCE COMMITTE MEMBERS PHONE NUMBERS
> All of the following are 512-463-
>
> Teel Bivens-R (Amarillo) Chair, 0131
> Judith Zaffirini, Vice Chair -0121
> Kip Averitt-R (Waco) -0122
> Gonzalo Barrientos-D (Austin)  -0114
> Kenneth Brimer-R (Fort Worth) -0110
> Robert Duncan-R (Lubbock) -0128
> Kyle Janek-R (Houston) -0117
> Jane Nelson-R (Flower Mound) 0112
> Steve Ogden-R (Bryan) -0105
> Florence Shapiro-R (Plano)  -0108
> Eliot Shapleigh-D (El Paso)  -0129
> Todd Staples-R (Palestine)  -0103
> Royce West-D (Dallas) -0123
> Jphn Whitmire-D (Houston) ­0115
> Tommy Williams--R (The Woodlands)  -0104
>
> Or write a note using the letter attached and copied below as a
> guide and fax it to the Senators today:
>
>
> Fax Number List (All numbers are 512 area code)
>  Address all letters with "The Honorable (Sen. first and last name)
> P.O. Box 12068 Austin, TX  78711-2068.
>
>
> Sen. Teel Bivins    Sen. Judith Zaffirini
> 463-5752    475-3738
>
> Sen. Eliot Shapleigh    Sen. Kip Averitt
> 463-0129    475-3729
>
> Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos    Sen. Kim Brimer
> 463-5949    463-0326
>
> Sen. Robert Duncan    Sen. Kyle Janek
> 463-2424    463-0639
>
> Sen. Jane Nelson    Sen. Steve Ogden
> 463-0923    463-5713
>
> Sen. Florence Shapiro    Sen. Todd Staples
> 463-7579    463-1526
>
> Sen. Royce West    Sen. John Whitmire
> 463-0299    475-3737
>
> Sen. Tommy Williams
> 463-6373
>
>
>
>
> Senate Research Center   S.B. 1952
> 78R16740 MTB-FBy: Ellis, Rodney
> Government Organization
> 5/15/2003
> ARTICLE 11.  AGENCY STAFFING AND PRODUCTIVITY
>
> SECTIONS 11.01-11.07.  Authorizes state agencies, to enhance the
> recruitment of competent personnel, to offer an employee at the
> time of
> hiring a one-time recruitment payment not to exceed $5,000.
> Authorizes
> state agencies, to enhance the retention of competent personnel, to
> offer
> an employee under certain conditions a one-time retention payment
> not to
> exceed $5,000. Sets forth provisions relating to a management
> performance
> program.  Requires state agencies with 100 or more full-time
> equivalent
> employees to reach a 1:11 manager to staff ratio by August 31,
> 2007.
> Repealer: Section 656.048(b) (relating to the governor's approval
> of training and education rules adopted by agencies).
>
> Many thanks,
> Madeline McClure
>
>
> May 20, 2003
>
>
> Paul Reyes
> Senator Corona¹s Office
> Fax 512-463-3135
>
> RE: Amendment for SB 1952:
>
> Dear Paul,
>
> Please ask Senator Corona to add an amendment to SB 1952 exempting
> CPS from
> the proposed increases in the supervisor to staff ratio.  One of
> the main
> factors of high caseworker turnover is insufficient supervisory
> support
> based on current staffing ratios of 1 supervisor to 7 workers.
> Currently,
> caseworkers carry an average 27 cases per worker.  This translates
> to over
> 189 cases that the supervisor is ultimately responsible for.  A
> measure to
> increase this ratio further would be disastrous for children
> needing
> protection by caseworkers that are supported by supervisors.
>
> As you may know, unlike other Health and Human service agencies,
> CPS workers
> and supervisors are on call 24/7 due to the emergency nature of
> their work.
> Also, there is a level of intensity and complexity in making
> life/death and
> life altering decisions that face all caseworkers.  It is
> imperative that
> CPS workers consult with her supervisor on her full case findings
> before
> taking action on removals or not removing.  The supervisor must be
> available
> for these workers and this proposed increase to almost 300 cases
> per
> supervisor would be translate into:  Compromising safety of
> children by
> delays in access to supervisors in making timely, life-saving
> critical
> decisions, CPS worker and supervisor burnout and turnover further
> exacerbating CPS caseloads and worker turnover.
>
> Currently, we are experiencing a high turnover rate in supervisor
> positions,
> as some level V CPS workers make as much or slightly more in salary
> than the
> supervisor.  This was due to last legislative sessions targeted pay
> increase
> for workers that didn¹t include supervisors.
>
> Please see if Senator Corona would add an amendment to SB 1952 that
> would
> read something to the effect of:
>
> ³This bill exempts management to staff ratio for TDPRS CPS direct
> service
> delivery staff, specifically CPS supervisors to CPS Specialists
> ratios.²
>
> PRS is willing to comply with the changed ratios for administrative
> manager
> to staff ratios.
>
> Please call with any questions and give my best regards to Senator
> Carona.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> Madeline McClure
>
>
>
>
>
> 9019 Broken Arrow Lane
> Dallas, TX   75209
> voice-214-654-9021
> fax-  214-654-0030
>
>



=====
---
Aaron D. Robb, M.Ed., NCC, LPC

"Well, I guess you could call me a lucky man," Confucius says wryly to his students. "Whenever I make a mistake, there's always somebody to point it out to me."   - T. R. Reid _Confucius lives next door_

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