Exploring Rolls in the ECE Community: State and Local Levels

Children’s Advocacy Centers™ of Texas, Inc. (CACTX) is the statewide membership association representing all local children’s advocacy centers in the Lone Star state.

Founded in 1994 with a membership of 13 local centers, today the CACTX membership roster includes 69 developing and established centers in large urban cities as well as in small rural communities.

Our membership reflects the vast diversity of Texas, all with their own unique approaches to fulfilling our shared mission of protecting and providing for children.

CACTX offices are located in the Beth C. Swalm Center in Austin, Texas, adjacent to the CACTX Conference Center where specialized CAC training's are offered throughout each year.

Mission

 At the heart of our mission is a commitment to support the sustainability of local children’s advocacy centers so that they may continue to help young victims rebuild their lives.

CACTX has Six core priorities of their services

Membership Services:

We believe access to strong, local CACs will provide young victims with the unique services they need to begin their journey to hope, justice and healing.

Evaluation and Assessment:

We believe ongoing success in the fight against child abuse requires continual evaluation of current efforts and exploration of new, more effective ways to do this work.

Collaboration:

We believe that information sharing and networking is critical to innovation in the child abuse field.

Advocacy:

We believe in the power of a collective voice to successfully effectuate systemic change that will impact the lives of children scarred by violence and abuse.

Community Awareness:

We believe that the eradication of child abuse from our society begins with building informed; empowered communities that stand ready to embrace this issue with courage, making it a top priority.

Funding:

At the heart of our mission is a commitment to support the sustainability of local children's advocacy centers so that they may continue to help young victims rebuild their lives.

Texas Alliance of Child & Family Services: A Voice for Children

Our Mission

Strengthening Services to Children and Families through Quality Care and Advocacy

Strengthening Services...
The Alliance seeks to ensure that services are adequately funded, correctly regulated, properly monitored and of the highest quality possible.

to Children and Families...
Alliance member agencies focus primarily on children and families who are at risk for serious problems, children who have been victimized by abuse and neglect, families dealing with low income, loss of jobs, domestic violence, drug and alcohol and mental illness.

Some Alliance members place children in adoptive homes including infants, special needs children and children adopted internationally.

through Quality Care...
Alliance members care about quality. The Alliance seeks to provide service and support to help agencies provide the highest quality, state of the art services to children and families.

and Advocacy.
Since its inception, the Alliance has focused policy and law makers on the needs of abused, neglected, and high risk children. The Alliance provides a continual presence in Austin, both in state office and the capitol. The Alliance formulates policy positions based on members' extensive experiences working with children and seeks to advance an agenda that protects the rights of children and insures that funding is adequate to meet each child's needs.

Our History

Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services (Texas Alliance) was founded in 1975 as the Texas Association of Licensed Children's Services by a group of child care and adoption agency directors with the primary purpose of strengthening Texas' child care laws. The Association quickly became known as a strong advocate for responsible legislation concerning children's well-being and established a formidable position within the legislative arena.

In 1998, the Association instituted a reorganization and took on a new name, Texas Association of Leaders in Children and Family Services, to transition into their new organizational structure. Through reorganization, the Alliance broadened its membership and created an even larger presence in Texas.

With the completion of reorganization, the current name, Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services, was adopted and remains as the symbol of what the Association represents. With the Texas Alliance at the forefront of change, Texas child care laws have dramatically improved. Through the leadership of the Alliance, child care laws have been strengthened, funding for children's services has increased, and innovations in service delivery have been introduced and refined.
Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services member agencies realize how much can be accomplished through mutual assistance and cooperation. Additionally, the Texas Alliance now provides stronger services for member agencies on behalf of the children and families who receive their care.
Over the years, as our reputation has grown, Texas Alliance has evolved into the premier association for professionals and organizations serving vulnerable children and families in Texas.

TEXAS CASA: Court Appointed Special Advocates

EVERY CHILD DESERVES A CHANCE – IT’S YOU.

By becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA volunteer, you can help keep abused and neglected children safe, giving them a chance at finding happiness.

CASA volunteers are individuals from all walks of life who speak up for a child’s best interests in court. You are not a foster parent; you are a voice making a real difference at a critical turning point in the child’s life.

WHAT DO CASA VOLUNTEERS DO?

CASA volunteers get to know the child and gather information from everyone involved in his or her daily life, including family members, foster parents, teachers, daycare providers, doctors, lawyers, social workers and other relevant persons. You spend a significant amount of time with the child, gaining his or her trust.

CASA volunteers use the information gathered to report to the judge, advocating for the child’s needs while in the foster care system. As a volunteer, you commit to represent a child’s best interests until the child reaches a safe, permanent home.

TO BECOME A CASA VOLUNTEER MEANS YOU ARE:

·         Willing to commit at least one year of your time

·         Able to effectively communicate orally and in writing

·         Willing to participate in an in-depth training program

·         Able to pass criminal and CPS history background checks

·         Over age 21

Organizations I’d like to work for

Texas Children’s Hospital: Bereavement Coordinator- Palliative Care Services, as I understand it this position allows you to be in place of the arrangements of a child’s hospital stay who maybe in a Hospice type of stay, and consoling family members after the unfortunate death of a child while in hospital stay, etc.

Texas Children’s Hospital: Animal Assisted Therapy Coordinator- Child Life Play Therapy Department: Child Life Play Therapy, children to gain a sense of mastery offering play and learning experiences, and encourages family and peer interaction through animal assisted therapy. Supports the emotional developmental and social needs of children in care offering play & learning experiences.

References

www.cactx.org/children’sadvocacycentersoftexas

www.texascasa.org/volunteer