tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post5360469108546473460..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Overtime Pay for TYC Renewed: Full 2-year OT budget spent in first 2 months, now cannibalizing vacant positionsGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-7072013605434020012007-12-01T18:42:00.000-06:002007-12-01T18:42:00.000-06:009:57, I'm not sure we disagree that much. My poin...9:57, I'm not sure we disagree that much. My point was that contracted psychology services will be most problematic at programs with the more seriously mentally ill youth. However, I never meant to suggest that contracted psychology services are the ideal at any TYC unit. I agree with you that fully employed, invested, and integrated psychologists are best for TYC, period. <BR/>>Don BrantleyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-34579712902322023112007-11-30T21:57:00.000-06:002007-11-30T21:57:00.000-06:00I disagree with Dr. Brantley. There is no way that...I disagree with Dr. Brantley. There is no way that a rehabilitation program or mental health services can be effectively provided by contracted psychologists at facilities other than Corsicana and Crockett. Mart, Giddings, Evins, Al Price, Brownwood, all have a significant proportion of youth who really should placed at a residential treatment program but there are not the resources to do so. Psychologists play an essential role in working with caseworkers to try to identify creative solutions to working with troubled youth in non mental health facilities. Contracted staff cannot have the knowledge of institutional programs and policies, as well as staying abreast of quick changes in youth presentation and trend of behavior in institutional settings. If anything TYC needs to have more clinically trained treatment staff at these facilities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-83785383465399331962007-11-30T03:43:00.000-06:002007-11-30T03:43:00.000-06:00Hey 09:10:00 PM(Would anyone like to compare this ...Hey 09:10:00 PM<BR/>(Would anyone like to compare this answer from the guy they ran off with the likely answer from the people currently in charge?)<BR/><BR/>Please Do Tell !!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-80263817836122796492007-11-29T23:45:00.000-06:002007-11-29T23:45:00.000-06:00Don: regarding your 4:51 post; TDCJ uses UTMB or ...Don: regarding your 4:51 post; TDCJ uses UTMB or TxTech Health Services under contract, including psychiatrists and psychologists. Psychologists are warned in the hiring posting that if the warden says he doesn't want you at the facility, your job ends. Seems working at the pleasure of the administration is not unusual. In this case, hard to show retaliation if he/she is smart enough to just say you can't come in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-49141598694312476502007-11-29T22:37:00.000-06:002007-11-29T22:37:00.000-06:00Good point, 9:10! I have worked with Don, and wit...Good point, 9:10! I have worked with Don, and with the folks he mentions - they all worked hard to overcome the "super corrections" folk who gave Whitmire and crew the excuses they needed to destroy TYC. <BR/><BR/>11:14 doesn't have a clue. <BR/><BR/>Old SaltyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-44087935391503937162007-11-29T22:27:00.000-06:002007-11-29T22:27:00.000-06:0011:14 sounds like one of DaPope's shills.11:14 sounds like one of DaPope's shills.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-465870520604350742007-11-29T21:10:00.000-06:002007-11-29T21:10:00.000-06:00Would anyone like to compare this answer from the ...Would anyone like to compare this answer from the guy they ran off with the likely answer from the people currently in charge?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-48616346000970242082007-11-29T16:51:00.000-06:002007-11-29T16:51:00.000-06:00Good questions 6:29AM.“Does or has TYC ever had a ...Good questions 6:29AM.<BR/>“Does or has TYC ever had a psych treatment program where real treatment took place or has it been a hire psych's for a show on paper?”<BR/>IMO, TYC has done an excellent job of providing mental health treatment in many cases. I have seen very ill youth make significant improvement for a variety of reasons – connection with a competent psychiatrist who found the correct diagnosis and medications, contact with psychologists, social workers and JCO staff who provided much needed counseling and support, experience with a safer and more stable living environment than they may have ever had before (keep in mind, despite TYCs many problems, for some youth it is still the most stable place they have ever lived). Has TYC always been able to provide the care some youth need for their mental illness? That is a definite NO. There have never been enough resources to meet all the youth’s need. Even when money is available, we often had problems hiring competent professionals in some locations. In some cases, the nature of the youth’s illness is just not one that can be effectively treated in a correctional setting far from their family. Sometimes it may not have been enough, but I never felt that TYC was hiring psychologists/psychiatrists “just for show.” The need was and is real and I believe the desire to meet that need from people like Dr. Reyes, Dr. Alvarez-Sanders, Ms. Logterman and many others was genuine as well.<BR/><BR/>“Will UTMB be able to have a better treatment program when they are given the complete Psych program from TYC?”<BR/>I have serious reservations about this, but not because of UTMB per se. Whether intended or not, I believe that contracting out something like this essential makes it an ancillary service. I believe that psychiatric treatment, especially for seriously disturbed children and adolescents, requires a holistic approach that includes close communication, collaboration and coordination between MH “professionals”, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, etc. and those who spend the majority of time with the youth, the JCO staff and case managers. The observations and insight that JCOs and case managers can provide the MH professionals is invaluable to their understanding of the youth’s problems and needs. The input and suggestions the MH professionals can provide to the JCOs and case managers in managing and responding to the youth’s symptoms in the living environment is also critical. Let’s face it, with seriously disturbed youth, much of the “treatment” has to occur in their daily living environment by the JCO and case managers. 30 to 60 minute sessions every few weeks with a MH professional is just not sufficient. But JCOs and case managers who do not understand a youth’s illness can actually respond in ways that make it worse. It truly needs to be a team approach. This is difficult to develop and sustain when the chain of command for various elements (JCOs vs. Psychologists, for example) run through entirely different agencies who interface only at the point of a contract. For less disturbed youth, an “outpatient” model of contracted services may be fine. But for more seriously ill youth, such as those at Corsicana and Crockett, I think a treatment team united under effective local management is the best approach. I am not saying it cannot be done under a contract model, it will just be more difficult. Luckily, there are always some individuals who just do what is needed for the youth despite a less than conducive organizational structure. However, they tend to be the exception rather than the rule and when the organizational structure doesn’t support their efforts, they tend to move elsewhere.<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/>>Don BrantleyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-87606804700241721412007-11-29T12:35:00.000-06:002007-11-29T12:35:00.000-06:00It does not matter who, how, what or why the OT ge...It does not matter who, how, what or why the OT get's paid. The OVERWHELMING majority of it is and has always been bogus and ripe with theft. While this has been the case statewide with TYC, this is especially true here at Evins. Staff heard Eric Young speak of it years ago. Fix that first and you might have a chance of spending our tax dollars more wisely.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-67227425288986326032007-11-29T11:21:00.000-06:002007-11-29T11:21:00.000-06:00WERE YOU FIRED FROM TYC DUE TO A PAST CRIMINAL REC...WERE YOU FIRED FROM TYC DUE TO A PAST CRIMINAL RECORD?<BR/><BR/>If you would be interested in joining a class action law suit against TYC please email your contact information to firedfromtyc@swbell.net . Your information will only be used in relation to a class action law suit against TYC. The class action law suit will be on a contingency basis requiring no money from you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-87468570777038646272007-11-29T08:28:00.000-06:002007-11-29T08:28:00.000-06:00Staffing Crisis in TYC! Problems with UTMB contrac...Staffing Crisis in TYC! Problems with UTMB contract care in TYC! Problems with private prison contracts! Let us initiate actions to correct these problems.<BR/><BR/> TDCJ had these same problems for the last 15 or more years; how did they address them? How did our Government help out?<BR/><BR/> Merry Christmas!<BR/><BR/>Retired 2004Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-21858940517751946802007-11-29T06:29:00.000-06:002007-11-29T06:29:00.000-06:00Don Brantley;I would like your thoughts please,Doe...Don Brantley;<BR/>I would like your thoughts please,<BR/><BR/>Does or has TYC ever had a psych treatment program where real treatment took place or has it been a hire psych's for a show on paper?<BR/><BR/>Will UTMB be able to have a better treatment program when they are given the complete Psych program from TYC?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-77524027015932885102007-11-28T23:57:00.000-06:002007-11-28T23:57:00.000-06:0011:14And who might they be?11:14<BR/>And who might they be?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-69376238712662884512007-11-28T23:14:00.000-06:002007-11-28T23:14:00.000-06:00Hindsight is 20/20. All of these so-called "People...Hindsight is 20/20. All of these so-called "People with integrity" should have stepped up to the plate LONG ago if you ask me and this agency would not be the shambles it is today.These "great" people are anything but....lets save our praise for people that actually did something to change this agency!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-66617237145940835822007-11-28T22:49:00.000-06:002007-11-28T22:49:00.000-06:00There are a lot of folks who miss Don Brantley, Ne...There are a lot of folks who miss Don Brantley, Neil Nichols, Emily Helm, Linda Reyes and Marie Murdoch (and others like them). Those were competent folks, who have integrity, and had a balanced interest in protecting society, youth and the staff who worked with the youth. I even miss old Howard. ;) Old SaltyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-73144591830958750932007-11-28T19:45:00.000-06:002007-11-28T19:45:00.000-06:00Lt. Gov. Dewhurst should be held accountable to of...Lt. Gov. Dewhurst should be held accountable to offer more support and guidance regarding TYC. <BR/><BR/>Lt. Gov. Dewhurst, from what I understand, is all about kiddos. But maybe not TYC kids... just the good kids? <BR/><BR/>If Gov. Goodhair is not going to assist other than offering us DaPope, then maybe this would be a good time for the Lt. Gov. to shine. <BR/><BR/>I propose Lt. Gov. Dewhurst take the imitative to share his thoughts, goals and plans on how he can save TYC from itself, other than hold hands and sing Kum by ya.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-79973168083948062672007-11-28T19:27:00.000-06:002007-11-28T19:27:00.000-06:00Those in Austin who sit in their ivory towers and ...Those in Austin who sit in their ivory towers and point there fingers should understand where the money is going. At our facility we have over a million dollars in new cameras that do not work. And in our security unit I have $68,000 worth of the new radios sitting on a shelf gathering dust because they have not figured out how to make them work yet. Well doneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-19091462218615023702007-11-28T19:16:00.000-06:002007-11-28T19:16:00.000-06:00Just a couple of thoughts to throw out:1) In one ...Just a couple of thoughts to throw out:<BR/><BR/>1) In one of the most recent agency wide e-mails from our acting (though not a very good act) Executive Director, why did she copy Ed Owens, Conservator? I thought he had hung up his hat. . .<BR/><BR/>2) Echoing Scott's point . . . Gross.Fiscal.Mismanagement. Overtime for JCO staff was halted but how much are the movers making? How much was spent on boxes and boxes of boxes (to use for a day to move across the hall)?And the shuffle game in CO is to who's benefit? How does it help the youth?<BR/><BR/>3) How about that treatment program? What's been approved? Who knows about it? <BR/><BR/>And as a final comment, Don, thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments. There are a lot of us left behind who really miss your integrity. Thanks for taking care of you so that you could still look back and take care of us!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-76010715033194253232007-11-28T18:40:00.000-06:002007-11-28T18:40:00.000-06:00Vernon victory field and Sheffield bootcamp are cl...Vernon victory field and Sheffield bootcamp are closing...where have you guys been???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-64440556560586558272007-11-28T17:55:00.000-06:002007-11-28T17:55:00.000-06:00Don,In cases of staff injury, staff are limited to...Don,<BR/><BR/>In cases of staff injury, staff are limited to claims under the Workers' Compensation Act. There is a gross negligence exception for employers that creates unlimited damages but that provision does not apply to governmental entities.<BR/><BR/>Youth(bystanders, victims of organized youth attacks) injured as a result of lack of staff would be in a great litigation position.<BR/><BR/>Howard A. HickmanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-32167958074242581612007-11-28T17:52:00.000-06:002007-11-28T17:52:00.000-06:00TYC is not going anywhere.Go work for TDCJ were yo...TYC is not going anywhere.Go work for TDCJ were you never hear from Brad.And thats a good thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-68323970229051083492007-11-28T17:06:00.000-06:002007-11-28T17:06:00.000-06:00After reading all the blogs lately I can't help bu...After reading all the blogs lately I can't help but wonder why Perry is turning a blind eye to the situation at TYC. We have a staffing crisis putting staff and youth at risk, overtime budget spent, but the Executive, I sorry, acting Executive Director is more concerned about uniforms, carpeting, and office arrangements? Then she says she does not read emails? TYC went into conservatorship for this? I looked at the job postings, talk about a waste of the tax payers money, a Incident Report Center Supervisor? What do they need that job for? Now it seems that TYC will have more Purchasers than JCO's? Hinojosa and Whitmire were so up in arms over the abuse of youth, why are they not screaming about pepper spray?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-86574697240156001182007-11-28T16:11:00.000-06:002007-11-28T16:11:00.000-06:00FinallySomeone speaks the truth.....Finally<BR/><BR/>Someone speaks the truth.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-90796366604671167412007-11-28T15:50:00.000-06:002007-11-28T15:50:00.000-06:00"In the long run, we're all dead." I agree TYC is ..."In the long run, we're all dead." <BR/><BR/>I agree TYC is one step closer to the grave. As TYC bleeds out the stumbling hulk will stager from one supposed quick fix to another. The grave is ready, all TYC has to do is wander over and fall in! Not to fret though Contract Care will save the day, not to mention insulating the public officials from the day to day operation of the new agency.<BR/><BR/>If you are looking for short term employment, contact TYC. The job probably won’t last long enough for your insurance to kick in though. Also TYC might not look good on your resume but then the hog farm and chicken plant don’t do the resume thing anyhow! The good news is you can draw unemployment for 6 months when TYC closes down. Don’t forget to burn off all the sick leave you can! May I suggest 30 days of stress leave to help lower the Sick Leave Balance. The ship is going down so you might as well salvage all you can. It is time to start thinking of your family and yourself, screw TYC!<BR/><BR/>Have a Happy Holiday SeasonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-72847037420668205262007-11-28T12:30:00.000-06:002007-11-28T12:30:00.000-06:00This information that Don referes too needs to get...This information that Don referes too needs to get out to all JCO staff in the field, the majority of them are not aware of GFB. If this can be accomplished we can hold them accountable. I would also say that all youth who were sprayed with OC in violation of GAP.97.23 should file suit against TYC. This seems to be the only message our leaders understand and if the parents get involved (hopefully) we can create a better working environment for both the youth and staff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com