Statewide Blue Ribbon Task Force

---

Uresti bill expands scope, mission of the Blue Ribbon Task Force

The Blue Ribbon Task Force is going statewide, thanks to a bill passed by Sen. Carlos Uresti in the 81st Texas Legislature this year.

Senate Bill 2080 creates a nine-member task force — appointed by Gov. Perry, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst and Speaker Straus — that will develop a strategic plan to combat child abuse and improve child welfare. The plan could include specific statutory changes, new programs and methods to foster cooperation among state agencies and the state and local governments. It will ensure that the agencies most responsible for children get a top-to-bottom review of their policies, procedures and resources.

"Everyone involved in the Bexar County Blue Ribbon Task Force should be proud," Uresti said. "Their effort laid the groundwork for this larger, statewide initiative. The new task force will open a whole new front in the war against child abuse and neglect.

"It provides a fantastic opportunity to take a step back and look critically at how the state is addressing this problem," Uresti continued. "We need to know what we're doing right, but even more importantly, we must know what isn't working and fix it."

Uresti said there is little doubt that Child Protective Services needs more financial resources to wage this battle, but other problems can be solved simply with better communication and coordination among state agencies, service providers and child advocates. Some problems can be solved with new approaches, new policies and new laws. That's what the new task force is designed to do.