Domestic Violence Conference

Program Guide

• Family Violence and its Aftermath: Rebuilding Generations one Family at a Time [PDF]

Presentation

• Childhood Stress and Adverse Childhood Experiences [PDF]
• Building Cultural Diversity and Cultural Competency

Fact Sheets

• How Does Domestic Violence Affect Children? [PDF]
• Keeping Your Children Safe and Responding to Their Fears [PDF]
• Managing Challenging Behavior of Children Living with Domestic Violence [PDF]
• Where to Turn if You Are Worried About Your Child [PDF]

Resources

• Domestic Violence: Impact on Kids [PDF]
• Emergency Assistance List [PDF]
• Post Separation Power and Control Wheel [PDF]
• Safety Planning During Legal Proceedings [PDF]
• Safety Planning Checklist - English [PDF]
• Safety Planning Checklist - Español [PDF]
• Victim Assistance Referral List [PDF]

Frequently Asked Questions

• Protective Orders in Texas [PDF]

Addressing the mental health needs of children, youth and families is fundamental to the future of Fort Bend County. COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our communities and we must not overlook the psychological impact on our children’s mental health.

Mental Health in Children

• ADHD, behavior problems, anxiety, and depression are the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children.

• Anxiety in children may present as fear or worry, but can also make them irritable and angry. Anxiety symptoms can also include trouble sleeping, as well as physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or stomachaches.

• Depression in children may present as sadness, hopelessness or anger and irritability. Depression symptoms can include not wanting to do fun things, changes in eating, sleeping patterns, or energy, trouble with concentration, feeling worthless, useless, or guilty, showing self-injury and self-destructive behavior.

• It is important to recognize the symptoms of anxiety and depression in children, so they can seek treatment with a health care provider.

Childhood Trauma

• Traumatic events can include a death, divorce, a pandemic, natural disasters, exposure to violence, or bullying.

• Understanding a child’s trauma and making an effort to help them heal from it can significantly reduce the effects of possible behavioral disorders that could result from the trauma.

Traumatic stress can also lead to increased use of health and mental health services and increased involvement with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

Resiliency in Children

• Resilience is important to development during childhood because it allows children to deal with hardships in life without it being overwhelming for them.

• Providing children healthy parent-child relationships, safe and stable homes, healthy foods, education, and support systems is key to their emotional and overall wellbeing.

• Playing supports and enhances the development of resilience

• To help foster resilience, parents can play, show warmth, listen, reassure, and be consistent with their children.

It is important to support children during the pandemic by…

• Trying to keep up with regular routines.

• Reassuring them that they are safe and letting them know that it is okay to feel upset.

• Addressing fears and concerns in a developmentally appropriate manner.

• Sharing with them how you deal with stress.

• Spending time with your child in meaningful activities, reading together, exercising, and playing games.

• Limiting exposure to social media.

Helpful Links on Children’s Mental Health:

• Children’s Mental Health Basics

• Information for Parents and Caregivers

• About Child Trauma

• Children’s Mental Health Network

• Center for Developing Child: Harvard University

• CDC’s Guide to Helping Children Cope During the Pandemic

KITS Conference Selected Material 

            Presentations

• • Improving Retention and Success in Treatment Settings: Making Needed Modifications
  • An Overview of Evidence-Based Assessment and Treatment among Traumatized and Grieving Youth
  • Mental Health Disorders in Children and Adults: An Overview
  • Sex Trafficking
  • TCOM and The Myths
  • Therapeutic Alliances: What Helps from an Individual and Family Perspective
  • Effects of Drug and Alcohol on Children and Families
  • Child Testimony Article [PDF]
  • Fighting the Odds Speaking for Infants and Toddlers in the Child Welfare System [PDF]
  • Motion for Recorded Testimony [PDF]
  • Order for Recorded Testimony [PDF]
  • Protective Factors [PDF]
  • Ages and Stages of Advocacy Infant - Toddler Program [PPTX]
  • Advocating on Behalf of Children with Disabilities [PPT]
  • Breaking Down and Understanding the Psychological [PPT]
  • Caring for Children Who have Experienced Trauma Early Childhood [PPTX]
  • CPS Visitation Policy: Best Practice & Recent Policy Changes [PPTX]
  • Early & Appropriate Intervention for Child Abuse Prevention [PPTX]
  • Effects of Drugs & Alcohol on Children & Families [PPTX]
  • Improving the Outcomes for Families Impacted by Alcohol and Drugs [PPTX]
  • Interventions for Parents & Families [PPSX]
  • Mental Illness and Co-Occurring Disorders: Assessment & Treatment [PPTX] 
  • Successfully Preparing Caseworkers for Trial and Testimony [PPTX]
  • The Inherent Dangers of the Dual CPS and Criminal Case [PPTX]
  • Understanding Intimate Partner Violence [PPTX]
  • Working with Batterers [PPTX]

Please view tabs below of the latest Trainings and Seminars

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Come join our workshop focused on providing adolescents with skills to help create awareness and regulate their emotions. Topics covered include:

Emotional Resilience: Learn to identify emotions when you start to feel distressed. 

Creating Emotional Awareness: Learn to identify distressing emotional triggers, the concept of tolerance, develop skills to accept and cope with distressing situations.

Effective Communication: Learn to communicate more effectively through understanding your values around relationships, your boundaries and communication styles.

VIRTUAL TRAINING WORKSHOP

Trust-Based Relational Intervention Caregiver Training

This 24 hour training is specifically designed for those working with children who come from “hard places,” such as maltreatment, abuse, neglect, multiple home placements, and violence, but can be used with all children. TBRI consists of three sets of harmonious principles: Connecting, Empowering, and Correcting Principles. They are designed for use with children and youth of all ages and risk levels.

*Lunch is provided*

The Intro and Overview of TRBI sessions is a pre-requisite to attend any other training principle. 
Training dates: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays (10am to 4pm)

 Registration — Fort Bend TBRI Collaborative

Behavioral Health Services: Crisis Response and Intervention Project (CIT)

BHS works closely with the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), which is a specialized unit formed within the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office (FBCSO). The objective of the specialized trained team of officers is to assist mental health consumers in crisis, ensure safety, and connect individuals with needed mental health services. BHS has worked closely with the FBCSO to develop protocols, provide training, and track outcomes for CIT to ensure it can divert people away from incarceration or emergency rooms when possible. CIT also provides follow up checks when necessary to prevent further crisis and to assist in recovery.

*In case of an emergency, call 911; ask for a CIT Officer
*For non-emergencies, call 281-341-4665

CIT Supervisors

Lieutenant Jerome Ellis
Office: 281-341-8530
Email: Jerome.Ellis@fortbendcountytx.gov

Sergeant Alexander Rey
Office: 281-341-8533
Email: Alexander.Rey@fortbendcountytx.gov

For more information please visit FBC CIT Team Website:
https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov//government/departments/sheriff-s-office/chief-deputy/crisis-intervention-team-cit

Infant Toddler Initiative

Infant Toddler Court (ITC): Healing the Youngest Victims is a service enhancement to the existing Infant Toddler Court and to the Cluster Court. It focuses on implementing a continuum of relationship-based services to facilitate reunification, attachment, emotional and behavioral regulation, parenting capacity, permanency, and overall healing of young victims of abuse and neglect. The Infant Toddler Court (ITC):  Healing the Youngest Victims enhances relationship-based and family-centered services for infants, toddlers, and children. Our goal is to work collaboratively with the Court, CASA, DFPS, and attorneys to improve the well-being of children and support family reunification. VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) provides support to the ITC: Healing to Youngest Victims.

The Infant Toddler Court Initiative provides:

• Education about the importance of early relationships and early development of children
• Parent-child relationship assessments
• TBRI interventions
• Enhanced visitation practices
• Enhanced case management services
• Mental health supports and services

The 328^th District Court in Fort Bend County was one of the five Courts nationwide that began the initiatives for infants and toddlers over 13 years ago.

We work collaboratively to:

• Keep infants and toddlers safe
• Heal trauma
• Preserve and support families where possible
• Divert children from further involvement in the child welfare or criminal justice system

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Scan QR Code or Fill Out Referral Form: https://form.fortbendcountytx.gov/Behavioral_Health_Services_Referral.html

For questions or assistance, please call: 281-238-3079

Questions and Inquiries: BHSdept@fbcx.gov  

Recovery & Reintegration Program

A Clinical Forensic Service for Adults

The Recovery & Reintegration program offers clinical forensic services for adult clients, who have complex behavioral health needs, such as mental illness, substance abuse disorders, and complex trauma, and who are at risk of criminal justice involvement. This program is individualized by addressing needs, identifying strengths, helping build resilience, improving wellness, and supporting recovery. The program aims to prevent ongoing incarceration, as an individual’s health easily deteriorates by being further involved in the criminal justice system.

It is estimated that 15% of men and 31% of women being booked in jails have a mental illness, with most having co-occurring substance abuse. This program is critical to ensure that these individuals who are at high risk of recidivism receive specialized therapy, intensive case management, and access to community based support.

The program’s goal is to increase access to primary and specialty care services, specifically for underserved populations, to ensure all clients receive the most appropriate care, regardless of their location or ability to pay. The program reduces recidivism rates and promotes recovery in the community by providing the services below:

R & R services are free to participants

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Scan QR Code or Fill Out Referral Form: https://form.fortbendcountytx.gov/Behavioral_Health_Services_Referral.html

For questions or assistance, please call: 281-238-3079

Questions and Inquiries: BHSdept@fbcx.gov