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Community Resource Coordination Groups (CRCG) are groups of local partners and community members that work with parents, caregivers, youth, and adults to make a service plan. The service plan helps a person with special needs get benefits and services.
CRCGs are in almost every county in Texas. The needs of each community are different, so a local CRCG might serve one or all of the following ages:
Children and youth: 22 and younger
All CRCGs provide support to people and families using the same basic guiding principles.
CRCG Representatives
Each CRCG should include members from:
State agencies or their local affiliates that have signed an agreement called the Memorandum Of Understanding
Someone who has received services, either as a client, a family member, or a caregiver, and who understands the process. At least one person with lived experience (individual, family member, or caregiver who understands the CRCG process)
All CRCG members should have the authority to commit services or resources for people and families referred to the CRCG.
Role of a CRCG
The CRCG will create an Individual Service Plan based on the person's or family's strengths. The plan will help the person or family get the services they need. It is developed with the person or family and the agency representatives.
Services should be provided in the most homelike, nurturing environment and the least restrictive setting possible. Whenever possible, the service plan will recommend services within the community. When services outside the community are necessary, they will be in the least restrictive environment possible.
When placement outside the community is necessary, the service plan will include a plan for bringing the person back into the community and, as appropriate, into the family.
The involvement of the person or family is vital to successfully create and carry out the service plan.
People referred to CRCGs are those who face barriers or obstacles to having their entire needs met through existing resources and whose needs can be met only through agencies working together. The referring agency will explore services and resources within and outside the agency before sending someone to a CRCG.
Agencies must be as flexible as possible when committing services and resources for people referred to the CRCG, within existing eligibility criteria and funding policy.
Plan Oversight and Follow-Up
The CRCG will assign an agency (usually the agency who is providing most of the services on the plan) to help oversee the service plan and follow-up with the person or family.
Each CRCG member is responsible for ensuring confidentiality for people and families referred to a CRCG. Members who represent an agency or organization should follow their agency’s/organization’s policies for confidentiality.
CRCG HISTORY
Over the last 30 years, CRCGs have grown exponentially in both size and ability to serve Texans. Under the guidance of the Texas Legislature and their MOU, local state agencies came together in order to assist those whose needs could not be met by one agency alone.
As of August 2016, there are 141 unique CRCGs that cover 236 counties. During this time period, the State CRCG Office has transitioned from an implementation team to a permanent office housed within the Texas Health and Human Services division under Medicaid Access and Eligibility Services. Currently, CRCGs offer help and assistance to children, youth, and adults with nearly 1,000 individual service plans created each year.
1987 - The Texas Legislature enacted S.B. 298, 70th Legislature, Regular Session, 1987, requiring eight public agencies to work together to assist children and youth with complex needs whose needs could not be met by a single agency.
1988 - The CRCG model established interagency service planning at the local county level. This model was piloted in Henderson, Tarrant, Travis, and Val Verde counties in 1988 and 1989.
1990 – The State CRCG Team was established to develop the CRCG process and oversee implementation of the MOU.
1991 – Local CRCG training materials were developed and disseminated by the State CRCG team. An outside consultant assisted the State CRCG Team and local Texas counties to establish CRCGs to assist youth and children with complex needs.
1993 – The State CRCG Office was established as a permanent office under HHSC to provide ongoing technical assistance and training for CRCGs.
1995 – Local and state agencies requested assistance from the State CRCG Office to adapt the CRCG model to include adults with complex needs.
1996 – Total statewide coverage for CRCGs serving children and youth was accomplished. A local CRCG to serve children and youth was available to all 254 counties in Texas.
1996 - The Texas Legislature enacted Senate Bill 118, 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1996 requiring that a local CRCG be notified when children and youth with developmental disabilities were being placed in a nursing facility. The purpose of this requirement is to promote enhanced permanency planning, provide assistance transitioning back into family life, as well as create long-term housing options.
1998 – Due to interest from local and state agencies, a study was commissioned to examine the possible addition of CRCGs for adults to the existing model. Results showed strong support for a new model that included adults. In addition, support was shown to acquire a specific State CRCGA Coordinator and a Local CRCG Oversight Board to help prevent overburdening of services.
1999 – The University of Texas at Austin, School of Social Work conducted an evaluation of CRCGs for children and youth. The evaluation determined CRCGs were meeting the objectives of the MOU and the intent of CRCG legislation.
2000 – The MOU for adult serving CRCGs was executed in May. Following an evaluation study commissioned by the State CRCGA Team, a pilot program was concluded in November 2000 and a statewide CRCGA development initiative was implemented.
2001 - The Texas Legislature enacted S.B. 1468, 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, codified in Texas Government Code §531.055, requiring the development of an MOU for CRCGs that serve adults.
2001 - The Texas Legislature enacted S.B. 368, 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, requiring a local CRCG be notified of children and youth with developmental disabilities being placed in an institution in order to promote enhanced permanency planning and create long-term housing options.
2002 - The State CRCG Team and State CRCGA Team developed the MOU for statewide, county-based, interagency CRCG groups. These CRCGs coordinate groups and services for persons of all ages with complex needs.
2003 - The Texas Legislature enacted H.B. 2292, 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, containing Section 2.166 that required child-serving CRCGs to evaluate systems of care for children with severe emotional disturbances who have multi-agency needs. The evaluation was conducted and then provided to the Texas Integrated Funding Initiative (TIFI) Consortium to create a summary of the evaluation, due no later than 2005.
2003 - The TIFI and CRCG State Offices were joined under the HHSC Office of Long-term Care Services and Supports.
2004 - The State CRCG Office created an internal data collection system to gather and analyze information submitted by CRCGs serving all age groups.
2004 - The State CRCG and TIFI Offices were merged with additional programs at HHSC under the Office of Program Coordination for Children and Youth.
2005 - TIFI submits recommendations in its Report to the Governor and 79th Legislature: Systems of Care for Children with Severe Emotional Disturbances and Their Families, based upon the evaluations submitted by local CRCGs, per H.B. 2292, Section 2.166, 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003. They offered 18 specific recommendations that provided direct impacts on mental health services to children and youth.
2006 - As a result of H.B. 2292, updates were made to the MOU to reflect changes in agency names and needs as well as to reflect the abolishment of the State CRCG Team and State CRCGA Team. The State CRCG Office continued to operate.
2011 - Due to budget reductions from the 82nd Legislative Session, state level CRCG support activities were reduced and transferred from the Office of Program Coordination for Children and Youth to the Office of Family and Community Services within HHSC.
2014 - Health and Human Services hired a CRCG Statewide Coordinator who guided the office in providing statewide support in the areas of communication, training and technical assistance, and data and research.
2015 - The 84th Texas Legislature updated the Texas Government Code §531.055, that formalized the CRCG program, requiring a joint MOU between health and human services agencies, related state agencies, and state-level partners to reflect recent changes in agency names.
2016 - There are approximately 140 distinct CRCG groups covering 236 Texas counties.
Here you will find information and links to the legislation that created, provides guidance, and gives operational authority to Community Resource Coordination Groups.
Senate Bill 298, 70th Legislature, Regular Session, 1987
In 1987, the Texas Legislature first passed legislation requiring inter agency collaboration. Senate Bill 298 required a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) across eight state agencies to serve children with multiple needs that could not be solved by one agency.
The MOU dictated that each agency must clarify financial and statutory responsibilities, including funding, as well as define procedures for cost sharing and eliminating duplication of services. It also required that these agencies come together to create local level inter agency staffing groups to provide all the services a child would require.
To see the original bill, click here.
Senate Bill 1468, 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001
In 2001, the Texas Legislature formalized the CRCG program requiring a joint MOU between health and human services agencies, related state agencies, and state-level partners. Senate Bill 1468 also:
Updated the previous authorizing CRCG legislation for children and youth.
Added the requirement to implement a system for CRCG for adults.
Included the requirement to have a parent or family member as a standing representative on each type of CRCG.
Required a legislative report every two years to the Governor of Texas and to participating agency heads to report the benefits and barriers of CRCG activities.
A joint MOU was developed and signed by the participating agencies in 2001. The current MOU was signed by all mandated agencies in November 2006. The current MOU updates the earlier 2001 version and reflects the consolidation of HHS agencies as required by H.B. 2292, 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003.
To see the statute §531.055, click here.
Senate Bill 368, 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001 - CRCG Permanency Planning Requirements
In 2001, the Texas Legislature enacted Senate Bill 368, which strengthened permanency planning activities for children with developmental disabilities in Texas. S.B. 368 is related to local CRCGs for the following reasons:
Texas Government Code §531.151 defines permanency planning as a "philosophy and planning process that focuses on the outcome of family support by facilitating a permanent living arrangement with the primary feature of an enduring and nurturing parental relationship." Continuing, section §531.154 then dictates that, "no later than the third day after the date a child is initially placed in an institution, the institution shall notify several entities, including the local CRCG, where the parent or guardian of the child resides."
An "institution" is defined in S.B. 368 §531.151 as:
An Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability (ICF/IID).
A Medicaid waiver group home under the authority of HHSC, a foster group home, or agency foster group home.
An institution for people with an intellectual disability licensed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
A residential arrangement (other than a foster home) that provides care to four or more children who are unrelated to each other.
The CRCG and each entity receiving notice of the initial placement of a child in an institution may contact the child's parent or guardian to ensure that the parent or guardian is aware of services and support that could provide alternatives to placement of the child in the institution, available placement options, and opportunities for permanency planning.
To see the statute §531.151, click here.
To see the statute §531.154, click here.
For additional information on the role of the CRCG in permanency planning, please email the State CRCG Office.
House Bill 2292, 78th Legislature, 2003 - Provisions of Services for Certain Children with multi agency Needs
House Bill 2292, enacted in 2003, required each CRCG serving children and youth to evaluate the provision of Systems of Care services in the community that the CRCG serves.
As a result of the assessment required in H. B. 2292, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), in conjunction with the State Texas Integrated Funding Initiative (TIFI) Consortium, developed and implemented an assessment instrument and reporting process for use by local CRCGs to conduct this evaluation.
The assessment and subsequent report addressed the following:
Services needed by children with severe emotional disturbances in the community and priority of needs.
Review and assessment of the systems of care services that are available in the community to meet those needs.
Identify any barriers to the effective provision of systems of care services; and make related recommendations, including:
Suggested policy and statutory changes at agencies that provide systems of care services.
Recommendations for overcoming barriers to the provision of systems of care services and improving the integration of those services.
Two years later, in 2005, the TIFI in accordance with Government Code §531.423 delivered a summary report to the Legislature and Governor that included recommendations for policy and statutory changes for each agency involved in CRCGs.
The 18 recommendations presented encompassed five categories:
Family support and partnerships
Overall, the recommendations from local CRCGs outlined ways to overcome barriers to provide systems of care practices, and to improve the integration of services for children with severe emotional disturbances and their families. The majority of recommendations concerned increasing funding, collaboration/coordination, family and community-based support, and training.
To see the statue §531.422, click here.
For additional information, please refer to H.B. 2292, Section 2.166, available through Texas Legislature Online at www.capitol.state.tx.us.
Senate Bill 219, 84th Legislature, 2015 - Updated Permanency Planning Policies and Evaluations by Community Resource Coordination Groups of Services
In 2015, Senate Bill 219 updated government policies and evaluation requirements for permanency planning which involves CRCGs. Government Code §531.151 reaffirmed the mandate for state and local communities to work together to ensure the basic needs for safety, security, and stability for reach child in Texas, as well as the benefits of being a part of a successful permanent family.
Secondly, in Government Code §531.422 the Texas Legislature outlined evaluation requirements for systems of care services in the community in which the CRCG serves. As part of this evaluation, each CRCG must create a report that suggests policy and statutory changes as well as recommendations for overcoming barriers to the provision of care services and improving integration of those services.
Specifically, the CRCG evaluations must:
Describe and prioritize services needed by children with severe emotional disturbances in the community;
Review and assess the systems of care services that are available in the community to meet those needs;
Assess the integration of the provision of those services; and
Identify any barriers to the effective provision of those services.
CRCGs must:
Create a report that includes the evaluation in and makes related recommendations, including:
Suggested policy and statutory changes at agencies that provide systems of care services; and
Submit the report to the consortium. The consortium shall provide a deadline to each group for submitting the reports. The time frame for completing the reports must be coordinated with any regional reviews by the commission of the delivery of related services.
To see the statute §531.422, click here.
The Memorandum of Understanding is an agreement between CRCG members that explains the responsibilities of the group. The MOU contains information about the CRCG Program including:
Guiding Model(s)
Consumer Choice and the Role of Families, Consumers, and Caregivers
Functions of Local CRCGs
Membership and Organization of Local CRCGs
Responsibilities of HHSC and Member Agencies
Click the link to see the Memorandum of Understanding: *Memorandum of Understanding
* " Please contact the State Office at CRCG@hhsc.state.tx.us or (512)206-5255 for accessible versions of the linked documents "
CRCG@HHSC.STATE.TX.US
PH: 512-206-5255
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