Thanks to an attentive reader for pointing out to me that the Ayres House - a halfway house operated in San Antonio by the Texas Youth Commission - is up for sale, and TYC may decide to end its operations at the location. The real estate listing declares:
So does anybody know anything about this statement that TYC will decide in the next month whether they will renew the Ayres House lease? I've never heard a peep that this facility might be closed soon, but apparently the possibility is at least under discussion somewhere, or that's what somebody told the landlord.5806 Culebra is also known as Texas Youth Commission (Ayres House).
+/- 6,461 square foot building
+/- .48 acres.The property is being used as a Texas Youth Commission Halfway House. It has 5 bedrooms and 5 baths plus a kitchen and administrative offices. A dayroom area is located in the center of the building. Outside is a weight area plus basketball court.
In addition there is a linen and laundry room on the property. Currently the tenant is deciding whether they want to renew the lease. This will be decided in the next month or so.
I'm getting really sick of discovering every important TYC decision through back door channels. If the property is for sale, TYC should buy it. Or if they're planning to close the facility, they should come out and say so publicly. I put in a call on this to TYC's PIO Jim Hurley, so I'll update this post with more information when I get it.
UPDATE: Hurley called back to say there's a possibility the Ayres House could be moved to a new site in San Antonio but they're not planning to close it outright. He's checking on the status and you'll have more details as soon as I've got them.
MORE: Mr. Hurley confirmed that TYC is looking at moving Ayres to a new location but says no final decision has been made. The current facility is old, he said, and the infrastructure has problems. Also, it's located in a high crime area. (The crime isn't caused by the kids, Hurley took pains to note, that's just where the facility was sited.) TYC hopes to find facilities better designed to meet their needs, and particularly a location that's accessible to bus stops to make it easier for people to get to work.
The agency has notified the city council, county commissioners, and SA-area legislators, he said, that they were considering relocation, so perhaps my earlier complaints of secrecy in this case were overblown. (Sorry if I jumped the gun on that.)
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64 comments:
Thanks to Grits and alert readers, followed the TBPC link on the public TYC site... and discovered that a possibility exists there will be no more psychologists, counselors or educational diagnosticians at TYC facilities...All such positions, from evaluations to services can be bid on by private contractors, then approved by the Education Department. Could get interesting: want to bet private contractors who evaluate will find many students who need services... services provided by that same contractor or maybe somebody else in his or her office? Even better, currently the contract psychiatrists are technically under the facility psych departments (primarily to coordinate psychologist screenings for possible medical intervention, as well as service follow up or transfers etc)... now that could mean supervision by a Physical Education teacher who spent summers getting those administrator courses...(sorry, that was tacky.. perhaps accurate, but tacky)....oops, just realized, they are PRIVATE contractors... NO supervision in TYC, just cancelled contracts and we already know how often that happens in TDCJjr. Now I know why that posting for an attorney to cover contracts... relatively high pay... probably somebody in Whitmire's group is available.
I only have hints at what's going on with private contractors, no detail or hard facts, but I've been told some of those TBPC listings are simply requests for qualifications, that RFPs haven't been issued for all of them. The RFPs for 10-13 year olds and older boys that were recently canceled, it's my understanding, are the main ones from that were actually moving, and those RFPs have been pulled.
I've heard no detail about psych services, but I'll keep my ears open. If anybody here knows more, please let us know.
Can you say CONTRACT CARE? I told all of you this is about taking TYC into CONTRACT CARE. I just heard Grits for Breakfast is blocked at TYC. Grits you are a bad boy and TYC employees cant read your blog any more.
As the former Attorney for Construction and Contracts, let me assure 12:01 that if they had someone in mind for that job they would not have posted it. Foster would have just hired another of his friends, which he has already repeatedly done.
As to Ayres, it is not uncommon for TYC leased properties to be sold to other investors. In recent years that has happened to Beto, Tamayo, and even to Ayres before. The current Ayres lease has a renewal option and also there is a bid for a new facility outstanding. When I left TYC, no one would make a decision to award the new facility or to renew the lease. It appears two months later, they still haven't made a decision.
Howard A. Hickman
kfyjiHoward, you exist!!!! My last in-house emails to you had to do with not bugging you recently. If I recall, you noted that TYC and TDCJ were the only NOT at will agencies, until this legislature. I remember being reassured that policies etc would protect youth... until after you left and the policies changed. In any case, honored to have an attorney with ethics listening in to the only information source.
UTMB is leaning on TYC by indicating that they will not renew the contract with TYC unless psych services are included in any new deal.
I have a question for Mr. Hickman. Where are all of our legal grievances sir? When an employee filed a grievance about unlawful conduct at TYC, they seemed to "disappear" any idea what happened to them?
12:47...Thats probably a good thing where I work ( McFadden) Our administrators don't get much work done when they are sitting in the office reading your blog and conspiring to remove employees for having opinions that don't agree with theirs.Maybe now they can actually watch the youth in our care instead of planning their next move.
To 1:52 PM, there ain't no such things as "legal grievances." Under TYC policy, grievances go to the grievance coordinator who assigns them for resolution. That resolution can be appealed per TYC policy. I have no idea about what you are making reference.
I know the overall grievance process was slowed down because the grievance coordinator was suspended under the criminal conviction fiasco and 2900 of the complaints filed with TDCJ's inspectors general were dumped in the complaint process rather than the investigation process.
Howard A. Hickman
@12:47 et. al, As of 2:30 this afternoon I'm still getting visitors from TYC domains, so I don't think I've actually been blocked. Maybe just a rumor?
And I HOPE McFadden administrators aren't spending their days combing comments to target employees - if it's true they should be ashamed of themselves.
And thanks, Howard, for the clarification.
No, I'm at TYC CO reading this right now. It's not blocked.
Grits, They need to be ashamed for a lot more then just reading blogs at work. Howard, thanks for the clarification too! Its nice to know that nobody heard our cries for help and that explains why they went unanswered. Thank You.
For those of you who have no prior contact with Howard, welcome to the pleasure. Note: his comment about Foster and appointments,followed by Ayres House is not unusual, then grievances vs. complaints (not to mention "legal"). He forced me to get my facts straight.. something we all need to be doing.
E.g. I started this string with the concern about TBPC link and psychologists etc. It is likely that this is the routine posting in case they can't find enough professional staff at any point (just like they are doing with peace officers contracting to work security in some places). Trouble is, these listings fall in the same group of 16 with the residential treatment alternatives that went to RFP's so quickly and quietly.
The absence of information breeds paranoia.
Howard, on another string, the concern about restraint/pepper spray policy is continuing to be raised, again because nobody is being told. The memos from Humphreys (posted on Grits) went to supts, the least likely person to be involved in a restraint; JCO VI's may not been informed, training was cancelled etc So who tells the staff?
Scott: not sure you jumped the gun. San Antonio area legislators notified, San Antonio city council notified... that leaves about 95% of the state in the dark. When El Paso's new Schaeffer House was being built for some of the same reasons, most of us were kept informed and could take pride that the safety and other needs of our successful students from the bigger facilities was being considered...
somebody check and see if the new law firm of Hinojosa and Uresti has a building for lease in the San Antonio area...
MOAU TYC employee told me this morning Grits was blocked on their computer. It may not be TYC wide but aleast some Marlin TYC people cannot connect to Grits.
Comrades for what it is worth, we at TYC can track who connects to this blog if we choose to. If you use your TYC computer our computer police can find you and fire you! So be very careful comrade or the party chairman will eradicate you! We have ways to track you down and take care of people like you. You are trouble makers by wanting truth and openness. We will tell you what we feel you need to know when we feel the time is right. Remember our employees are our most valuable asset and we at TYC would never screw any of our loyal workers unless it became necessary or we just felt like it.
Hey Howard!!! Good to hear from you! I understand you filed an ORR regarding Foster's quals? Wuz up man? What are you planning now?
No apologies needed Grits...go ahead jump the gun, ask those questions!!! You're doing TYC employees a huge favor by doing so, and that makes you a hero to many people! Collectively, we aren't half as powerful as you are for getting answers and discovering TYC secrets. Go get em' Grits!
The TBPC postings are unusual in the sheer number that were dropped at one time. Those were usually done throughout the year and in a timely manner, so that a thousand contracts would not need to be decided and prepared at the end of the fiscal year.
The restraint/pepperspray issue illustrates a problem that TYC's new management has yet to comprehend. Written policy contained in GAP should be changed by making changes in GAP through the appropriate procedure(preferably by the time it becomes effective).
Howard A. Hickman
12:47 anon: Please convince us that TYC is moving to CNTRACT CARE in a format other than "I told you so". Why are you so convinced that TYC is going to total CONTRACT CARE...do you know something we don't? Doesn't the cancellaion of the contract care bids for 10-13 year olds go against what you are saying?
Howard, IMO your procedural complaints are right on the money. Do you think these guys have a clue about how agency rulemaking is done?
Jim Hurley used to work at the Department of Insurance and they have a single commissioner. But TDI rulemaking has open process, public hearings, Stakeholder lists that must be notified, and all sorts of formalities that seem alien to the folks running TYC. How is it that if some unemployed blogger didn't read the Texas Register on Saturday mornings (yes, I'm an utter geek with no life) nobody would ever hear of this stuff?
Honestly, that part in particular just seems like amateur hour to me. You've got to at least get that much right, or the lack of stakeholder buy-in is almost guaranteed to come back and bite you later. That's like Politics 101.
What does TBPC stand for? I assuming it has something to do with private contracting.
TBPC = the Texas Building and Procurement Commission. Here are the items folks have been talking about. I've not written about them (except the contracts for young kids) because I don't totally understand what's going on with them and haven't had time to comb through it all to figure it out. Like Howard said, it's a lot of stuff to toss out there at once, plus some of it seems to be dated.
As I mentioned previously, "I've been told some of those TBPC listings are simply requests for qualifications, that RFPs haven't been issued for all of them." But that's not confirmed, just the last word I got when I tried to figure it out a couple of weeks ago. best,
These TDCJ idiots don't have a clue. They couldn't manage their own system, much less a juvenile justice system. I think the finger now needs to point at those idiots that made this happen, no partisanship here as they’re all to blame:
Pena
Chuy
Whitmire
Madden
And the Gov. himself, Perry
Kiss my ass to you fabulous five idiots. What’d you do? Have an idiot contest and hire all the losers?
Perry, you might want to think about this again because it's just not working with this coup. I'd hope your clan will see the displeasure in the next election.
You five have simply thrust public safety into a state of uncertainty like no other. Nice job you idiots.
RFQ's are the required pracice for professional services - doctors, engineers, etc. One negotiates price with the most qualified. If an agreement cannot be reached one negotiates with the next one down the lineand so on until an agreement can be reached. There are no RFP's for professional services per the Government Code.
Howard A. Hickman
So does that mean they're actually planning to contract out those services where they're just asking for qualifications, Howard? That's been a big confusion for me.
And of that list, which ones do you think are important changes from how things have been done in the past, for good or ill?
Contract Care will happen. Grits and DMN is the only reason it is not already happening for the younger youth. Time will prove what I have said is right on target.
Given the direction that Rick Perry has steered social services in over the last several years there's no doubt that some kind of privatization is in the works (aka CONTRACT CARE). I don't think it's a good idea, but it's reality. Look at the Accenture madness! IMHO, the real issue at hand, as Grits and DMN have pointed out, is the quality of care provided, the transparency of the bidding and awards process, and the performance and accountability measures.
RFQ's are the method for getting professional services. As to which ones have much significance, depending on what is actually awarded the whole package could vary from what is effectively little or no change to a shift to contract care. My guess would be that there would be a shift to contract care because the reconfiguring of the open bay dorms would result in a reduction in beds in TYC institutions at least for a time until the authorized new facility is built.
Howard A. Hickman
Scott, did you ask Howard to be Grits' General Counsel? Personally, I think Consigliere might work better, especially for certain contracts. I doubt if you could find a more qualified man.. after all, he remains pro TYC, even pro govt, perhaps not as much regarding those occupying some offices these days.
I suggest a vote: anybody in favor of Howard in that position, vote YES by committing to the $8/month recommended fee to support Grits. Anybody voting NO, also commit to the 8 bucks.
Howard: from your years of experience, which contract care facilities worked (either general type or specific contractors)? From my quarter century, seems that providing resources for uncommon needs (pregnancy, sexual offender victim, severe learning disabled (despite normal to high intelligence) come to mind.) Most may come in the 10-13 age range. Presuming all 10-13 year olds (and Texas and TYC) would benefit from contract care seems as foolish as assuming all sex offenders should be registered. So, Howard, what has been your
experience?
And, one last question: did Neil deserve the treatment he got Whitmire et al?
The 10 to 13 contract care is probably a reaction to the legislative mandate to segregate the younger youth from the older youth, future lack of bed space, and the inability to dedicate one facilty to that age bracket. Is that the best solution? Probably not. It has not been in the past.
As you stated special needs contract care seemed to function the best.
As to Neil, do you really need to ask?
Howard A. Hickman
MOAU
http://gfb.bounceme.net
You got it. Here's the deal folks. You wanted them out, you got'em.
Still want more?
Good Luck:
http://www.ksat.com/news/13815754/detail.html
I start my new job in 2 weeks. Yippee,
I almost turned it down to stay at VFCA.
You see; my new employer has treated me in a helpful, fair, courteous, and professional manner. I was so taken aback and scared by the uncharted sea of decent treatment that I drove to walmart to beat my head on the wall, paid a kid $20 in the parking lot to call me a Hoe ASS bitch. To make sure I got the complete TYC feeling, I then went inside and attempted to return something without a reciept. This way an overpaid, under educated, arrogant idiot that probably should go back to TDCJ can treat me like crap.
Ah, now I get it! Sure, they canceled the RFP's, so we have nothing to worry about. I guess you can't complain now Grits because this wasn't posted on the Texas Register. This is only the second half. If you read The first half, (the 1st sentence), you'll see that this is "NOT A RFP" It is DaPope flipping us the bird!
Description of Services Provide residential treatment services twenty four hours a day, seven days a week for female/male youth committed to TYC and determined appropriate for a residential treatment center program. The facility may be secure or non secure depending on the immediate needs of TYC. A secure facility is defined as locked doors and/or perimeter fence to prevent egress and escape.
Agency: TEXAS YOUTH COMMISSION (694)
Open Date: 08/31/07 05:00 PM Agency Requisition Number: RA07003
Grits:
I wonder if the tax payers know that they are buying all of us new uniforms to wear, while we are at work? It seems the new leaders want us dressed like the kids in TYC. Guess your job title equals your phase and the color of your shirt and pants.
Want we all look nice in these colored shirts and gee we will get to wash them several times a week so I am sure they will be fresh and crisp for work. I did not see where CO employees will be sporting these new duds!
What is the purpose of this mess? We are not restraining kids anymore? Just another way to degrade us on the job and treat us like inmates.
Like several have said, oh well we will wear the worn out shirt and stained shirts to work. If they want us to look like trash then we will be following policy now want we. Hell if we an't got a clean one oh well, can't go to work out of dress code, just have to put a dirty one on and keep on going.
If you want a dress code and you don't like what people are wearing then inforce the dress code you have in place now. They don't have to waste money on shirts. Can you imagine how many shirts will be given to people who want last a month on the job? I guess we can turn them back in and then the new hires will get a used one.
Put this money in something that helps kids, not some stupid shirt. This is going to be in the thousands of dollars out of the budget for this to just get it started. Wasted tax payers money.
What is next for us, a menu for lunch telling us what we can eat on the job?
11:47...be thankful that you have a job and that you don't have as many work clothes to buy because the state of Texas is paying for them!! VFCA has issued uniforms since they opened in 1997, and many of us like not worrying about what clothes to wear or how to pay for them. There are a lot more serious issues to worry about at TYC than the clothes we wear.
@11:47 - you're the kind of person who'd bitch if you were hung by a new rope. You just don't seem happy where you work so why don't you just go smagma on cry baby.
So we're supposed to be happy if we're hung as long as it's by a new rope?
No...Just be happy you have a job, or go find another one. The agency has hit hard times. No, I don't like it either, but if you like working with the kids (and I do,) then you basically have only two choices:
#1 Hang with TYC, wear their clothes, follow their directives, and pray that things get better.
#2 Get another job.
If you can think of another option..PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!
I say get another job. We're sick of the cry babys.
2:13/8:31 a.m.
While I may not or may not disagree with your sentiment the fact that your are quick to demean others and act in such an juvenile and hostile manner gives me pause that you are working with and modeling behavior for student(s)in TYC.
Sad thing is you're probably are or were in management! Do you kick puppies and use kittens for shark bait? You sound like a time bomb waiting to explode. Get help!
And who is "we?" Are they the voices in your head that tells you to deliver insults and tirades?
na, just get another job.
Who is going to be required to wear uniform (shirts only? JCO's? caseworkers? Teachers?) and what are the different colors?
If the shoe fits.
Some of the people on these blogs are so rude and disrespectful to others. What might not be an issue to you might be an issue for others. Do "we" really have to respond in such negative ways? Is this what the kids see everyday?
I see the point of the shirts as the people of Texas are paying for clothing and clothing has nothing to do with reforming the agency. But I guess if you really want some free clothes you would be excited about them. The other point is that if you don't want to be dictated to on what you wear to work from the new heads in Austin and see it as another control issue with everything in TYC then you might be upset.
Jumping on people who simply post an opinon about a topic will discourage others to post eventually and the blogs will not be a place to voice your opinon. Remember everyone has one and has the right to it. Telling people to get another job sounds like TYC because that is and has always been there MO.
One final note if we continue to start battles on the blogs over topics then you will have people posting on here for fun to get a rise out of everyone.
:( :( :/ :(
(sniff, sniff)
3:36, this is 1:58. I am assuming you work for TYC, therefore you work in a correctional setting. When you were hired, you lost some of your regular freedoms. No, you can't bring tobacco products, cans, sharp or glass items into a facility. Yes, you may get searched and patted down before entering, and yes, they can tell you what you will or will not wear inside the facility. We are working with crimminals, and that in itself poses risks that other places of employment don't have to worry about.
As for the clothes...no, I am not looking for free clothes. I just consider it one less thing to worry about. I think following the rules equates with professionalism, and the dress rules are probably in place because some people don't know how to dress appropriately in front of incarcerated people, which can lead to a lack of respect from the inmates. Nonetheless, a dress code is a dress code and if you want to work somewhere that has a dress code in place, then you must abide by it.
Don't get me wrong, I was not trying to be rude when I said find another job if you don't like the rules...I am just saying it is an option, and it is probably the only option you have. As for this blog shutting down, that's up to Grits. Whether or not he has a problem with what someone says is not for me or you to decide. My guess is that everyone's opinion is welcome, but the childish, name calling, cursing and degrading of others is where we need to draw the line.
Care to comment on that Grits?
Oh this is a great video on this topic:
http://www.jibjab.com/view/120780
On occasions, I get lambasted for feeding at the public trough... generally doesn't bother me, since I figure that puts me in pretty good company...right up there with Washington and Lincoln and the men and women who served with them and continue today through over 200 years. Regarding the uniforms, look back over the distinquished history of our military. Come to think of it,if I remember right, dress blues for a Marine are blue pants with a red stripe, tan shirt ('cause it goes so well with blue?)blue jacket right up to that tight collar and don't forget those white gloves. Just don't try to tell him (or her) THEY put him that uniform to degrade him and he should be humilated. Did everybody forget what we were taught in R********? If someone tries to degrade me, be it peer, staff, or central office, the second I feel degraded is when THEY win. Nobody can shame me unless I choose to let them. If I recall, those badges out at WTSS say Standing Tall with WTSS Staff; dig deep and wear the uniform with pride and know that Central Office can't wear them 'cause they didn't earn them. (of course it is a mind game, right up until it works).
Joseph Waumbaugh, a cop turned very successful author from 1970 on, made his one of his many extracurricular "fortunes" when he saw a chance during the period when all cops were being put down for the actions of some. He started selling T-shirts and sweatshirts with this slogan: "Support your local police--take a pig to lunch" and sold them to fellow officers in Los Angeles. A few years later, a very politically incorrect Richard Pryor may have taken the power if not the sting out of the "n" word by repeatedly and consistently using the word without any derogatory
baggage. I do not care what it takes for you, but I do not choose let any punk, be it Central Office, legislator or committed student decide how my day is going to go, much less the rest of my life. {'sides, nothing blows a punk's mind better than you remaining in control of yourself when he is doing everything to jerk your chain)
Well said!
Must suck having all those girls over there. I heard the local BBQ place is hiring. Check it.
San Saba to Brownwood? Oh I forgot, we don't want anyone knocking on your door to come to work. Cry baby. You wore that TDCJ uniform. Bitch then? Ran you off. Bitch now Ron Jackson? You're stupid. No we are Ron Jackson and San Saba and we know what the "Mata" is chica....
I'm not with TYC anymore (thank-you God!) and won't have to wear the uniform so it's easy for me to be objective. That being said, I agree with 8:27 that wearing a uniform can be a badge of pride and honor. Also, it will help by differentiating staff/youth, not just visually but psychologically. You're supposed to be setting an example not trying to emulate the kids! There were times when I was visiting a facility and was appalled by the dress of some JCOs and Caseworkers. Often the men looked like gangsters and the women were too loud with their cleavage. I also believe that all visitors to a facility should be required to wear some article that identifies THEM as not being a student but not a regular staff member either. Maybe a bright vest (or in the case of CO a Halloween Mask or Dunce Cap--Ha Ha). No really, I work in a public school now and while we don't have a uniform we are expected to dress appropriately as an adult role model for our students. It all relates back to professionalism (safety too for TYC). Anyway, good luck to all of you sticking it out and listen to 8:27-don't let anyone decide how your day or life is going to go.
Sincerely,
Casper
8:27
I agree whole heartly with you about the uniforms our military puts on and the pride that it brings. Total respect for them and forever owing them for what they do for all of us.
On the TYC pride to wear something that has its name on it and be proud of where we are and what were doing is going to take a hell of a long time for the public to see it that way after the mess that has happened to all of us in TYC.
It is hard to have that pride right now and will be for along time. We were told by our superindent when all of this took place this.
Do not go out in public with your badge on. Take it off.
Do not talk about TYC in public where others can hear where you work.
Don't tell anybody where you work!
Now talk about being proud of what we do?? That broke our hearts that the public was looking down on us like child molestors.
Our public school district will not hire anyone that is associated with TYC, not even interview you! No districts in a 30 mile radius will hire Teachers at this point. Black balled is the name.
Pride , find another job. Don't think the pride will come back for along time and finding another teaching position in the area we live is not going to happen anytime soon for many. Daily fear that some one will lie on you and cost you, your license to teach! Not just the job but what you went to school for so many years ago.
Those people who caused all of this mess have hurt so many in so many ways. I wish I could have my pride back! When someone ask where I work, I cringe and I don't want to say the words TYC. Find another job, love to, can't find one. Continue to work for tyc, have no choice as I have a family to feed.
This is a sad day for all of us. Wear that uniform with Pride, can't, it has taken away the life we all knew at one time. But I will wear it cause I have no choice at this point. Yes, I could find a job doing something else, but I like what I do and I make a difference every once in awhile with a student. I don't want to hide the fact that I work where I work.
We are all in this together and all of us with different views of how it is affecting our lives. It is affecting everyone differently and this is a wonderful place for all to express the saddness we all have in TYC at this point and time.
To sniff , sniff god bless you , you are in need. There is no reason to be that mean to a fellow co worker if your employed at TYC. We should be working together and listening to each other without these attempts to put someone down for the way they feel. I hope no one does that to you. No one who works for TYC and is feeling the pain and stress and scared for their livelyhood should be taunted like that during diffuclt time.
12:22...Very nicely summed up. I teach at Victory Field and I'm hanging in there too. It's hard to think of losing one's income and a career you enjoy. I hope the storm is over soon. Those of us remaining are getting a little weary.
I am proud of the facility I work at and my coworkers. I am not proud of TYC. I have not done a thing to bring shame and disgust to this agency. However, I like the rest of you, have been put in position to cringe when I'm asked where I work. We are now at their mercy!! As at will employees, we are not free to disagree with a supervisor. I would like to thank our legislators for the pleasure of watching an employee be terminated just a few months prior to retirmenent because that person was being harassed by a supervisor. When the supervisor was reported to their superior, all heck broke lose and the game was on. No need to tell you who lost out. It didn't matter that the employee went above and beyond and knew the job so well that it threatened the supervisor. That person will be missed terribly. I am angry that this happened! I am even angier that it can happen to any one of us currently employed at TYC! There is no recourse no help for the employee and certainly no advocate!
Now they are wanting to contract out psychiatrists, educational diagnosticians & counselors. More unemployed and destroyed lives!
Madden, Whitmire and Hinojosa, if you are reading this blog, please wake up. One thing is to reform an agency and another thing is to put employess at the mercy of TDCJ who are self-destructing who don't have the courage to admit they are in over their heads!
Personally, I don't care about a dress code, that in itself does not guarantee qualifed employees nor does it guarantee loyalty and respect. It is obvious that these TDCJ folks, that were appointed for whatever reason, know nothing about valuing employees and treating them with dignity and respect.
Owning up to a mistake takes guts, please admit the error and get these folks out of TYC!! Take care of the employees you now have because they are a valuable resource! You will have more credibility, dignity and honor by admitting it than trying to camflouge by forcing TDCJ on us!! It doesn't taste good, not even with sugar!
Here is a thought
Do you think the reason they are hiring all of these TDCJ people at TYC could be that they are the only ones that would want the jobs?
Do you think that any person who reads the newspapers or watches the news on TV would be stupid enough to want to work in a place like this now? Any well read educated person with a license to protect would take the risk?
I read on the other blog that they were hiring five wardens from TYC to take positions in TYC in the comming weeks, true or not true but who else would want a job here?
Who is beating down the doors to get hired? Can't get the numbers up for the student ratio so they have to contract us out.
I am sure we all are trying to refer our friends and others to take jobs at TYC. I am sure we all are working for the agency to fill those positions. You bet! Fire as many as you can, hell they are standing in line to take you place.
Oh I am sorry our last report said that we were able to hire one jco this month? Now that ought to help.
If the Lege does not step in here and stop all of this mess and they want most of us will be out of job and kids will suffer. They have washed their hands of this and turned it over to TDCJ to blame for the faliure at the next lege.session. We all are working day by day with no future with this agency. Most staff will tell you that they are just working day to day and what tomorrow brings , brings. Nothing they can do about it at this point. Just work as long as you can or until they can find another job.
They can't know that they can't find someone else if they don't post the jobs. They're not even trying to get other people. It's pure cronyism.
Okay, this is all true and disheartening, BUT I am one dedicated person who will remain with the agency FOR THE KIDS. Isn't that our mission?
Said Doris Day in a song from the 1960's:
Kay serrah, serrah(sp?)... whatever will be, will be...the future's not ours to see... kay serrah, serrah.
1:13
In other words, you can't do anything about it so don't worry about it?
Like a tornado is heading towards your home, you sit there and wait for it to hit and if it does it does. If you die , you die so be it.
I guess that is the way we should look at it? Don't prepare for the storm just ride it out.
For 12:22
Do you have any evidence that the local school districts won't even interview teachers from TYC? I applied for a job in a local district for a teaching position for which I was very qualified and didn't get a call. Could the fact that I work for TYC be the reason? There must be some way to find out but I don't know how to go about it. Is there any legal action that can be taken to help us at least get an interview or to find out if TYC employment affected the decision? I need to plan for my future and don't want to get caught without a job.
2:55
You will never know. A district is not going to admit to discrimantion aganist employee's of TYC that would be a death warrant for them. One clue would be if a position you have applied for and are quailifed for by your certification stays open for quite sometime and is filled only at the last minute might give you some clue that they did not want you. Taking in consideration that you never recieved a call for an interview.
The Dallas Morning News story does not help our situations as far as finding teaching jobs. Makes look bad all over again.
I admire those of you staying to do the best you can to help the kids. I personally can't take the stress and bs anymore and am looking for another job.
I don't know how they'll ever meet the mandated 1:12 staffing ratio's.
2:51...this is 1:13. Sure I can do something about it. I can support the kids, my coworkers, and do my job. I can let the agency know I want to stay, and I can think about solutions to the problem instead of carrying on with incessant whining.
We already know we have a S.N.A.F.U. on our hands...now what are we going to DO about it?
Sorry, this was meant for the San Antonio Halfway House postings!
Found this... I am getting so tired of not hearing things like this unless someone e-mails me this kind of information. I am in Austin and still do not hear about these stories. News like this should have made it into the Austin Statesman!!!!!
Web Posted: 08/05/2007 10:25 PM CDT
Express-News
The 18-year-old man who went missing from a Texas Youth Commission halfway house was apprehended downtown Sunday evening.
After receiving a tip, bike patrol officers found Roger Gore, 18, at Rivercenter mall Sunday and caught him after a brief foot chase, police spokesman Joe Rios said.
Gore faces charges for his July 28 escape from the Ayers House on the city's Northwest Side and resisting arrest, Rios said.
A second escapee, Joshua Lattimore, 17, was arrested on Friday after police spotted the two and another unidentified suspect in a stolen car near Nolan and North Palmetto streets on the East Side.
Roger Gore was apprehended after he led police on a short foot chase at Rivercenter Mall Sunday afternoon.
Police said the pair then went to Abilene, where they kidnapped a woman at her apartment complex parking lot Wednesday.
Gore sexually assaulted the woman while Lattimore was driving, police said. The woman was then dumped at a field and the suspects drove back to San Antonio.
On Friday, San Antonio police spotted the pair in the woman's stolen car. Lattimore was arrested but Gore got away on foot.
Gore faces charged of evading arrest in San Antonio and kidnapping and sexual assault charges in Abilene, police said.
I am a crisis intervention specialist volunteer and see the fantastic efforts of the staff and the juvenile criminal justice coordinator.
He is ;positive and motivates them. In two weeks after they arrive, they have a totally different positive attitude.
They are great kids who have made bad decisions--most are victims of some kind of abuse If it was so terrible or dangerous why are their so many of us volunteers who have grown to love these boys. Take ice cream for them and they are so excited-----much more appreciative then other types of youths.
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