TSEU/CWA

TSEU proposals for consideration in restructuring the Texas Youth Commission
<CLICK HERE> to dowload this as a PDF

I. The rehabilitative component of TYC’s mission should get more attention
Up to 1995 the Texas Youth Commission was considered to be a rehabilitative agency, and was funded in Article II of the appropriations act. The environment from the late 1970's to the mid 1980's was heavily influenced by the results of the Morales federal lawsuit, which found that many youth committed to TYC were subjected to treatment that violated their constitutional rights. From the late 70's to the mid 80's, TYC and its staff were dedicated to a mission that was defined as rehabilitation
___ The gradual change to consideration of TYC as a corrections agency brought many philosophical and policy changes to the agency. It has reached the point that general public and legislative discussion revolves around concepts like “youth prisons,” “inmates,” “guards,” and the like.
___ A return to an understanding that the mission of TYC is rehabilitation is vital. This has to be reflected in policies, design of physical plant, expectations of staff, and in many other areas. This change will not happen quickly, with a simple set of legislative prescriptions, but would be a program to be enacted over several years. Such a change would have to be accompanied with the understanding that it would cost more to operate such an agency.

II. The problems in TYC are part of a broader crisis of reduced resources in communities.
___ Many of the questionable commitments to TYC result from desperation of local authorities who have no other resources. While funding for mental health and similar services has been continuously reduced, the number of youth committed to TYC who have severe mental health/ behavioral issues has increased. This reflects the realities for local authorities, who feel as though they have no other options for many youth. The State of Texas must address these issues if the TYC crisis is to be addressed constructively.

III. Adequate staff is the central problem in TYC facilities
___ TYC is, and has been, dangerously understaffed for years. The agency is allocated too few staff positions to assure adequate staffing on a day-to-day basis, and staff turnover makes it worse. Work in the agency is so difficult, dangerous, and poorly compensated that the turnover – over 50% annually – constantly drains the pool. We need to be able to attract and keep qualified staff. Not everyone is cut out for work in TYC: it takes high levels of emotional and intellectual maturity, patience, and courage.
___ Adequate staff – in both numbers and skills – can defuse dangerous situations and deal with problems in constructive ways, and when there are too few staff, potentially violent situations turn into actually violent ones. One staff person alone in a group of 20 or more youth cannot control situations, and very often becomes the targer of violence. TYC staff have an on-the-job injury rate of about 22% annually, over four times the average for state agencies.
___ Better pay, access to the special retirement supplement now available to employees in the adult prison system, and affordable health care would allow the agency to be more selective in hiring, and to keep trained staff. On-the-job safety issues and basic working conditions are also part of the equation, and they won’t get better until we have more staff on the job.

IV. Key issues that should be addressed in SB 103
A. Include provisions that provide a fair and transparent system to address allegations of impropriety, malfeasance, substandard work performance, or related issues.
1.) Incorporate specific provisions into Section 14 (Office of the Inspector General) that allow employees to report any allegations of impropriety or violations of policy directly to the OIG.
2.) Incorporate the provisions of 79R HB 1843, which set policies and procedures to resolve employee complaints and grievances, into a section of SB 103.

B. Include provisions that will promote recruitment and retention of good employees
1.) Incorporate the provisions of 80R HB 3330, which make the LECOSRF supplemental retirement plan, accessible to TYC employees.
2.) Incorporate provisions that mandate the agency to create a career ladder plan for case managers that gives these employees incentives to remain with the agency in front-line, youth-contact positions.

TYC / TSEU Organizer Contact: Ron Day AGENCY CAUCUSES HOME PAGE	TEXAS YOUTH COMISSION
		TSEU proposals for consideration in restructuring the Texas Youth Commission <CLICK HERE> to dowload this as a PDF I. The rehabilitative component of TYC’s mission should get more attention Up to 1995 the Texas Youth Commission was considered to be a rehabilitative agency, and was funded in Article II of the appropriations act. The environment from the late 1970's to the mid 1980's was heavily influenced by the results of the Morales federal lawsuit, which found that many youth committed to TYC were subjected to treatment that violated their constitutional rights. From the late 70's to the mid 80's, TYC and its staff were dedicated to a mission that was defined as rehabilitation ___ The gradual change to consideration of TYC as a corrections agency brought many philosophical and policy changes to the agency. It has reached the point that general public and legislative discussion revolves around concepts like “youth prisons,” “inmates,” “guards,” and the like. ___ A return to an understanding that the mission of TYC is rehabilitation is vital. This has to be reflected in policies, design of physical plant, expectations of staff, and in many other areas. This change will not happen quickly, with a simple set of legislative prescriptions, but would be a program to be enacted over several years. Such a change would have to be accompanied with the understanding that it would cost more to operate such an agency. II. The problems in TYC are part of a broader crisis of reduced resources in communities. ___ Many of the questionable commitments to TYC result from desperation of local authorities who have no other resources. While funding for mental health and similar services has been continuously reduced, the number of youth committed to TYC who have severe mental health/ behavioral issues has increased. This reflects the realities for local authorities, who feel as though they have no other options for many youth. The State of Texas must address these issues if the TYC crisis is to be addressed constructively. III. Adequate staff is the central problem in TYC facilities ___ TYC is, and has been, dangerously understaffed for years. The agency is allocated too few staff positions to assure adequate staffing on a day-to-day basis, and staff turnover makes it worse. Work in the agency is so difficult, dangerous, and poorly compensated that the turnover – over 50% annually – constantly drains the pool. We need to be able to attract and keep qualified staff. Not everyone is cut out for work in TYC: it takes high levels of emotional and intellectual maturity, patience, and courage. ___ Adequate staff – in both numbers and skills – can defuse dangerous situations and deal with problems in constructive ways, and when there are too few staff, potentially violent situations turn into actually violent ones. One staff person alone in a group of 20 or more youth cannot control situations, and very often becomes the targer of violence. TYC staff have an on-the-job injury rate of about 22% annually, over four times the average for state agencies. ___ Better pay, access to the special retirement supplement now available to employees in the adult prison system, and affordable health care would allow the agency to be more selective in hiring, and to keep trained staff. On-the-job safety issues and basic working conditions are also part of the equation, and they won’t get better until we have more staff on the job. IV. Key issues that should be addressed in SB 103 A. Include provisions that provide a fair and transparent system to address allegations of impropriety, malfeasance, substandard work performance, or related issues. 1.) Incorporate specific provisions into Section 14 (Office of the Inspector General) that allow employees to report any allegations of impropriety or violations of policy directly to the OIG. 2.) Incorporate the provisions of 79R HB 1843, which set policies and procedures to resolve employee complaints and grievances, into a section of SB 103. B. Include provisions that will promote recruitment and retention of good employees 1.) Incorporate the provisions of 80R HB 3330, which make the LECOSRF supplemental retirement plan, accessible to TYC employees. 2.) Incorporate provisions that mandate the agency to create a career ladder plan for case managers that gives these employees incentives to remain with the agency in front-line, youth-contact positions.	Missouri model stresses rehabilitation: The much-admired Department of Youth Services in Missouri has dispensed with large, penitentiary-like facilities in favor of smaller facilities. All programming is based on a rehabilitation model. Notably, staff levels are such that the ratio of staff to youth is never less than 2 to 12. The Missouri programs also stress: * the importance of providing a safe environment – physically and emotionally – that eliminates violence and intimidation as parts of day-to-day life * the importance having facilities located within reasonable driving distance of youth’s families * the importance of well-trained staff who are considered “youth specialists” rather than “correctional officers”