Quick recap

The team discussed concerns about draft rule SV12 and its potential impact on prevention programs, particularly regarding school district practices and consent forms. They addressed challenges with the new Texas legislation similar to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill, which has led to service pauses and consent form requirements across various school districts. The conversation ended with discussions about system issues in CMBHS, including late report submissions and technical problems that need to be addressed with HHS.

Next steps

• Lisa and Noelle to meet with Dwayne on Monday to discuss SB 12 and its implications for prevention programs.

• Noelle to send the TEA draft rules regarding SB 12 to ASAP members after the call.

• Noelle to organize a follow-up meeting with all prevention providers after the Monday meeting with Dwayne to discuss SB 12 impacts.

• Abigail to share the consent form from Northside ISD as an example for the group to review.

• ASAP members to email Noelle identifying specific problems they're experiencing with SB 12 implementation in schools.

• Lisa to meet with CARE consulting to discuss training implications related to SB 12.

• Noelle to bring up CMBHS system issues with HHSC, particularly regarding late submission markings and notification improvements.

• Noelle to set up a separate call specifically to address CMBHS questions and concerns.

• ASAP to continue advocating for the removal of travel restrictions in contracts with HHSC.

  
  

Summary

SV12 Rule Concerns and Updates

The team discussed concerns about draft rule SV12 and confirmed that Noelle and Lisa had not found any positive aspects in it. Lisa reported that she had spoken with Abby who gave her approval, though the details weren't specified. Jennifer shared that she had recently returned from her first vacation in three years. The team confirmed that Lisa would be joining them later that day for a meeting with Trina, despite initially considering not attending.

ASAP Huddle: Updates and Challenges

The monthly ASAP huddle began with Abigail sharing updates about the new fiscal year starting September 1st and the agency's receipt of opioid settlement recovery dollars. She highlighted several achievements, including Andrea Salazar being named State Prevention Specialist of the Year and the upcoming events of Red Ribbon Week and National Recovery Month. The meeting then transitioned to Noelle, who invited participants to share challenges with HHS, and Lisa, who reported that a school campus had paused all services due to SB12.

Texas LGBTQ+ Education Bill Concerns

Lisa discussed the implications of SB 12, a Texas bill similar to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" legislation, on prevention programs. She highlighted concerns about permission slips, disclosure of screening tools, and restrictions on discussing gender and DEI topics. Lisa noted that TEA needs to set rules for the bill's implementation, and she and Dwayne plan to meet with TEA to address these concerns. Abigail shared her experience with a consent form from her son's school district, which she believes is a result of the new law.

School District Consent Form Review

Lisa and Abigail discussed the need for additional meetings to address concerns about school district practices and their impact on services, emphasizing the urgency of gathering community and school district data to inform advocacy efforts. Lisa highlighted the importance of addressing consent forms and parent permission for various programs, including vaping presentations, and assured that she and Noelle are actively working on the issue. Leandra and Tracy shared their experiences with consent forms and pauses on implementing services due to ongoing reviews, expressing concerns about meeting program numbers and the complexity of the process. Lisa encouraged prevention providers to email Noelle with their issues to compile a comprehensive list of challenges to present to Trina Ita.

SB 12 Impact on Services

The team discussed the impact of SB 12, which went into effect September 1st, on their services. Lakeysha reported that Grand Prairie ISD requested a pause in services to review the bill, while other districts are preparing consent forms for various activities. Lisa and Leandra expressed concerns about the bill's requirements and potential conflicts with existing laws, particularly regarding cultural competency training. The group decided to contact Care Consulting, their state trainer, to discuss the implications of SB 12 and the need for potential retraining of staff.

School Services Advocacy and Barriers

The group discussed concerns about school districts pausing services and compiled a list of affected agencies, including Region 3. Tasha requested language examples for Capitol Hill advocacy to ensure compliance with allowability, and Noelle shared that about 12 agencies were planning to attend, with more welcome to join the legislative call. Abigail confirmed ongoing discussions with HHSC about unlocking the travel category, which remains a barrier to service delivery, though no final decision has been made.

Consent Forms and Data Collection

The meeting focused on discussions about consent forms and demographic data collection for youth programs. Tasha expressed gratitude that removing restrictions remains under consideration. Tracy raised concerns about a school district's discomfort with sharing individual student demographics, and Cassie shared a workaround of using classroom demographics instead. Jennifer inquired about handling one-off presentations for drug trends, to which Cassie explained that they typically do not require consent forms for such presentations, but this may change as implementation progresses. Julie from Region 10 reported no updates or challenges.

CMBHS System Challenges and Solutions

The group discussed issues with the CMBHS system, particularly regarding late report submissions and the inability to correct errors in uploaded data. Jennifer raised concerns about the system marking reports as late due to technical issues, such as contract availability and submission timing, which could negatively impact funding and compliance scores. Tasha and others shared similar experiences and suggested improvements, including system updates, notifications for status changes, and better contract management. Noelle agreed to address these concerns with HHS and proposed a separate call to discuss CMBHS-related questions in detail. Jorge from Region 9 highlighted additional challenges with the system, including issues with deliverables tab uploads, and expressed optimism about upcoming solutions.