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[Veteran Affairs Commission on May 8, 2025.]
LET'S GET THIS UNDERWAY.WE HAVE A QUORUM, SO WE'RE GONNA GET UNDERWAY.
UM, FIRST THINGS FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ON STAFF PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES REPUBLIC.
YOU NEED THE DALLAS DALLAS MOTTO.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA DO A ROLL CALL RIGHT QUICK.
PRESENT ALL COMMISSIONER BIRDWELL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONER SCOTT CHASE.
COMMISSIONER RAY A SMITH HERE.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEW BELL HERE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? HE MIGHT BE ON MUTE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY? SO HE'S HERE.
DID YOU, UH, CHAIR, DID YOU ALSO GET COMMISSIONER SMITH? RAY SMITH? HE'S ALSO LINE, FOR SOME REASON THE SOUND ISN'T WORKING WELL.
OKAY, SO BOTH, SO ALL THREE, UH, COMMISSIONERS, HASKET, SMITH, AND BELLA ARE ALL ONLINE.
THE FIRST, UH, ITEM ON THE AGENDA AND WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MEETINGS FOR LAST MONTH OR THE MINUTES.
SO, UH, WILL EVERYBODY HAVE A CHANCE TO GO OVER THAT THERE? SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, IF I MAKE A MOTION, HAVE WE ACCEPT THE I'LL SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO OUR GUESTS WHO ARE, ARE HERE TODAY.
UM, THE F OH, THE FIRST ITEM IS, UM, ARE WE GONNA GO THE ORDER, THE, THE DISTANCE? WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE, UM, YOU CAN FOLLOW THE SCHOLARSHIP, YOU CAN FOLLOW WHATEVER ORDER YOU'D LIKE.
UH, CHAIR, IF YOU WANNA START WITH OUR GUESTS THAT ARE HERE TO PRESENT, YOU CAN DO THAT.
YEAH, I'LL GO START WITH THE GUESTS BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE, SO OURS, BUT I THINK THAT BUSINESS IS MORE IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND COMMISSION.
MY NAME IS MICHELLE WENDY, AND I AM CHIEF OVER THE COMMUNITY COURTS.
AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR VETERANS TREATMENT COURT.
TODAY I AM JOINED BY JUDGE BLACKLOCK, OUR SOCIAL SERVICE COORDINATOR FOR THE CORE DESIREE BAILEY AND ALSO OUR ASSISTANT COURT MANAGER, NVA BELTRAN.
SORRY, I'M THINKING THIS IS NOT WORKING.
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TRY AGAIN.THIS DOES NOW COUNT TOWARDS MY 15 MINUTE
THIS AIDE, I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU THAT THE VETERANS OF TREATMENT COURT IS A PART OF A LARGER SYSTEM OF COMMUNITY COURTS RUN BY THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THE COMMUNITY COURTS HAVE HAD A LONG HISTORY HERE IN THE CITY.
OUR FIRST COMMUNITY COURTS STARTED IN 2004, SO WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2016.
SO AGAIN, OUR VETERANS TREATMENT COURT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR OVER EIGHT YEARS.
SO WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE VETERANS OF TREATMENT COURT? WELL, THE PURPOSE IS TO REHABILITATE INDIVIDUALS AND TO RESTORE THE COMMUNITY WHERE OFFENSES OCCURRED.
AND HOW IS IT THAT WE DO THAT? WELL, THE FIRST WAY IS THAT WE ROUTE VETERANS WITH ELIGIBLE CITY OF DALLAS CITATIONS TO APPEAR AT OUR VETERANS TREATMENT COURT TO, FOR A TIMELY AND EFFICIENT ADJUDICATION.
SO BASICALLY WHEN A CITATION IS ISSUED AND BY THE TIME THEY GET IN FRONT OF A JUDGE, IT CAN BE AS LITTLE AS ONE TO TWO WEEKS.
SO THAT IS VERY FAST FOR A COURT SYSTEM.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ALSO HAVE A SOCIAL SERVICE COORDINATOR WHO DOES AN INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT WITH OUR VETERANS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THEIR SOCIAL SERVICE NEED AND WHAT SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER WE CAN CONNECT THEM TO.
WE ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY SERVICE COORDINATORS.
AND AGAIN, THERE IS AN INDIVIDUAL EVALUATION WHERE WE CONNECT OUR VETERAN WITH AN APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT.
SO INSTEAD OF PAYING FINES AND COURT FEES, THEY PAY THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS.
SO WHERE IS OUR COURT PHYSICALLY LOCATED? IT IS LOCATED OVER IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL PORTION OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
BUT ALTHOUGH IT IS LOCATED IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL PORTION OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, WE SERVE THE ENTIRE CITY OF DALLAS.
THE COURT HAS A RUNNING DOCKET EVERY SINGLE WEEK ON MONDAYS THAT RUNS FROM 4:00 PM TO 6:00 PM SO OUR COURT TEAM IS MADE UP OF A MULTI-DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION.
WE'RE MADE UP WITH THE JUDICIARY WHO IS REPRESENTED TODAY BY JUDGE BLACKLOCK.
WE ALSO HAVE THE DALLAS PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, WHO IS THE ATTORNEY FOR OUR DEFENDANTS, AND THAT IS FREE OF CHARGE TO OUR VETERAN DEFENDANTS.
WE ALSO HAVE COURT AND DETENTION SERVICES AND MULTIPLE PLAYERS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHICH INCLUDES A PROSECUTOR, SOCIAL SERVICE COORDINATOR, COMMUNITY SERVICE COORDINATOR, ASSISTANT COURT MANAGER, AND A SECTION CHIEF.
SO HOW IS IT THAT YOU ENTER INTO THE VETERAN'S TREATMENT COURT? WELL, FIRST OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO BE A VETERAN, BUT ALSO ON TOP OF THAT, AN ADULT HAVE TO HAVE A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR CITATION THAT WAS ISSUED IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO IT HAS A FEW MOVING PARTS, BUT WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF CITATIONS THAT WE SEE THAT COME IN THROUGH OUR COURT? WELL, THE MOST COMMON ONES ARE PUBLIC INTOXICATION CODE VIOLATIONS, SO THINGS LIKE GLITTER, HIGH WEEDS, STRUCTURAL ISSUES, AND THEN ALSO TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.
SO WHEN SOMEBODY IS INSIDE OF OUR COURT, WHAT TYPE OF SOCIAL SERVICES CAN WE CONNECT OUR VETERANS WITH? SO THE FIRST THING IS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS OTHER OUTSTANDING CITATIONS.
WE CAN KIND OF GROUP THEM TOGETHER AND BRING THEM INTO THE COURT.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY ACTIVE WARRANTS, WE CAN WORK TO LIFT THOSE WARRANTS.
ALSO, THERE IS ACTIVE CASE MANAGEMENT.
AGAIN, NONE OF THIS IS FREE OF, UH, ALL OF THIS IS FREE OF CHARGE TO OUR VETERANS.
AND SO IN THE CASE OF MANAGEMENT, WE HAVE OUR CASE MANAGER WHO IS HERE REPRESENTED BY DESIREE BAILEY, WHO DOES ACTIVE CONTACT WITH OUR VETERANS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK OR IF ANY TYPE OF SOCIAL SERVICES NEED TO BE TWEAKED, THEY CAN BE DONE.
NOW OUR NEXT TWO BULLET POINTS ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST TYPES OF PRO UH, PROVIDER SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR VETERANS.
AND IT'S GONNA BE DRUG TREATMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.
AND AGAIN, FREE OF CHARGE TO OUR VETERANS.
THESE ARE PAID FOR BY GRANTS THAT COME THROUGH OUR COURT.
AND SO WITH THOSE THAT TYPES OF TREATMENTS, WE REALLY, REALLY ARE MAKING A HIGH IMPACT WITH OUR VETERANS.
BUT ON TOP OF THAT, WE ALSO DO HOUSING ASSISTANCE.
SO WE CAN PAY FOR UTILITIES, MORTGAGE, RENT, FINANCIAL EDUCATION, DIGITAL LITERACY, HEALTH AND WELLNESS CLASSES, LIFE SKILLS, EDUCATION ASSISTANCE.
SO IF THEY NEED A GED, WE CAN CONNECT THEM WITH THAT TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, USUALLY IN THE FORM OF DART BUS PASSES, JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT, AND ALSO BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS GETTING THEIR IDENTIFICATIONS THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS, CLOTHING, FOOD, AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES IF THEY HAVE CHILDREN.
SO WHEN THE VETERAN IS IN OUR COURT, WHAT TYPES OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS CAN WE CONNECT THEM TO SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR FINES AND COURT COSTS FREE OF CHARGE? WELL, WHAT THEY CAN DO IS THEY CAN DO LAWN CARE FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY CAN DO LITTER PICKUP PROJECTS SUCH AS AT PARKS OR BESIDES ROAD OR BESIDE ROADWAYS.
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STRUCTURAL PAINTING, UM, ASSISTING AT FOOD PANTRIES AND ALSO ASSISTING IN SETUP OF TAKE DOWN OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS SUCH AS SCHOOL EVENTS.SO JUST TO PROVIDE YOU ALL SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT AT A GLANCE, AND THIS IS, THIS SLIDE PERTAINS PARTICULARLY TO OUR SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT.
WE DO HAVE THREE PHASES THAT WE NEED OUR VETERANS TO GO THROUGH IN THE COURT BEFORE THEY CAN GRADUATE OR LEAVE OUR COURT WITH A DISMISSAL OF THEIR CITATIONS.
AND SO BASICALLY THE FIRST PHASE THAT WE HAVE TO PERFORM WITH THEM IS ASSESSMENT, CRISIS STABILIZATION AND INTERVENTION AND EARLY RECOVERY.
THEN THE SECOND PHASE IS GONNA BE INTEGRATION, ACTIVE RECOVERY, RELAPSE PREVENTION.
AND THEN THE THIRD AND FINAL PHASE IS GOING TO BE CONTINUING CARE SO THAT WE ENSURE THEY DO NOT SLIP BACK INTO THEIR ADDICTION.
SO WE'RE SETTING THEM UP FOR SUCCESS RIGHT BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY LEAVE OUR COURT.
SO HERE IS A MORE VETERAN TREATMENT COURT INFORMATION AT A GLANCE HAVING TO DO WITH THE DEMOGRAPHICS.
SO THE MAJORITY OF THE VETERANS THAT WE SEE ARE GOING TO BE MALE, ALSO BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN, AND THEN ALSO NON-HISPANIC.
SO MORE AT A GLANCE INFORMATION.
AND THIS IS LIMITED TO THIS FISCAL YEAR OF 24 25.
SO IN TERMS OF THE VETERANS SERVED, WE HAVE SERVED 87 VETERANS.
NOW, WHEN WE SERVE THEM, THAT MEANS WE MAKE A CONNECTION WITH THEM AND WE DETERMINE, HEY, IS OUR COURT A GOOD PLACE FOR THEM TO BE? AND IF THEY ARE, WE BRING THEM IN.
IF NOT, WE CONNECT THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT IS A BETTER FIT FOR THEM.
SO IN TERMS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WE ACTIVELY HAVE INSIDE OF THE COURT, THIS PIE CHART SAYS 16, BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME IT IS 19.
EARLIER THIS WEEK WE HAD A FEW MORE PEOPLE WHO PLED INTO THE COURT.
SO WE ACTIVELY HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE INSIDE OF OUR VETERANS TREATMENT COURT.
THEN IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS THAT ARE GIVEN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE OVER 388 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS THAT HAVE BEEN ORDERED BY THE COURT.
AND AT THIS POINT WE HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF THOSE HOURS THAT HAVE ACTIVELY BEEN PERFORMED PROVIDING OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF COMMUNITY SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY COMING FROM OUR VETERANS TREATMENT COURT DEFENDANTS.
AND WE'VE CALCULATED THAT, UH, MONETARY AMOUNT BASED ON MINIMUM WAGE.
SO HERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VIDEO TESTIMONIAL FROM ONE OF OUR VETERANS THAT HAS GONE THROUGH OUR COURT.
I WOULD LOVE TO THINK THAT OUR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION WILL SHOW YOU THE HEART OF OUR COURT, BUT REALLY IT CANNOT.
WHAT CAN IS GOING TO BE THE VETERANS THAT GO THROUGH ARC PORT, BUT OUR VIDEO DOES NOT WORK.
SO THE VIDEO WORKS, I APOLOGIZE, IT'S THE SOUND.
WE CAN PLAY IT, BUT YOU'LL NOTICE THE SOUND IS GONNA BE VERY LOW YOU.
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SO MR. JACKSON WAS VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THAT VIDEO RECORDING DONE AND BE PRESENTED TODAY.HE ALSO WANTED US TO SHOW SOME PHOTOGRAPHS OF HIM.
AND THE FIRST PHOTOGRAPHS THAT'S GONNA BE ON THE LEFTMOST SIDE IS WHEN HE FIRST ENTERED INTO THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT.
AND THEN THE SECOND TWO ARE, ARE HOW HE'S DOING TODAY.
SO I FEEL LIKE JUST BY LOOKING AT THESE PHOTOGRAPHS, YOU SEE HIS SMILE, YOU SEE HIS DEMEANOR, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT HIS LIFE REALLY HAS CHANGED.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND WE ARE READY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS ONLINE? ARE, ARE COMMISSIONER WALKER, COMMISSIONER WALKER, DISTRICT COURT, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THESE VETERANS ARE HOMELESS? SO I'M GONNA TURN THAT OVER TO OUR SOCIAL SERVICE COORDINATOR, DESIREE BAILEY.
SHE'S THE ONE WHO HAS THE MOST CONTACT WITH OUR VETERANS AS THE ACTIVE CASE MANAGER.
UM, CURRENTLY, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, WHICH ONES ARE, UM, HOMELESS, BUT I WOULD SAY WE'RE ABOUT HALF AND HALF BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT LIVING ON THE STREETS, WE DO HAVE THEM, UM, STAYING AT EITHER THE VA SALVATION ARMY OR IN CRISIS HOUSING THAT IS ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, PAID FOR BY OUR GRANTS.
SO I WOULD GO WITH HALF AND HALF OF THIS TIME.
COMMISSIONER BIRDWELL, UH, IF THE SHELTERS ARE HELPING IT, ARE THE, THE, OH GOSH, I'M TRYING TO THINK.
LIKE CHICKEN OR THE EGG, THEY END UP IN COURT BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TICKETS OR THEY WERE ARRESTED.
SO DEPENDING, SO SOME OF THEM HAVE CITATIONS THAT MAYBE THEY'VE JUST BEEN AVOIDING AND THEY'VE GONE INTO WARRANT STATUS.
BUT WHEN WE'RE DOING OUTREACH, SO WHETHER I'M ATTENDING EVENTS, WHETHER I'M GOING UNDER THE BRIDGES, YOU KNOW, HANDING OUT FLYERS, TALKING TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS, OR THEY ARE WORD OF MOUTH, WHICH IS THE GREATEST BLESSING FOR ME, IS WHEN ANOTHER VETERAN SAYS, I WENT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, YOU SHOULD GIVE THEM A CALL.
SO NOW SOME OF 'EM WILL GO THROUGH THE JAIL SYSTEM.
JUDGE WILL SIT HERE AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT OUR COURT OR OTHER STAFF DOES, AND THEN THAT'S WHEN THEY REACH OUT TO ME AND THEN I DO THEIR ASSESSMENT ON THEM AND THEN WE EVALUATE THEM AS A TEAM TO SEE IF THEY ARE A GOOD FIT FOR OUR COURT.
THE REASON WHY I ASK IS 'CAUSE I'VE WORKED, UH, AS A VOLUNTEER OFF AND ON FOR 40 SOME ODD YEARS WITH UNION GOSPEL MISSION AND THEY WILL TELL THE MEN OR THE WOMEN THAT WE'LL BE HERE WHEN YOU GET OUT, BUT YOU CAN'T BE AVOIDING
AND SO DO YOU SEE COOPERATION THAT WAY ACROSS DIFFERENT FACILITIES? ABSOLUTELY.
AND AND UGM IS ACTUALLY ONE THAT I DO, UM, CORRESPOND WITH A LOT AT EVENTS AS WELL AS WE, UM, WE'LL SEND MESSAGES TO EACH OTHER AND I'LL, HE'LL MESSAGE ME TO LET ME KNOW WHENEVER SOMEBODY COMES IN AND I ALWAYS TELL HIM I'M HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, CHECK ANY OF THEM THAT THINK THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE AN ELIGIBLE CITATION SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE THAT BARRIER AS WELL AS WE KNOW THAT PART OF GETTING THEM PLACED, UM, IN HOUSING IS TO NOT HAVE THOSE BACKGROUNDS THAT ARE COMING BACK, FLAGGING THEM FROM BEING APPROVED.
SO I DO WORK CLOSELY WITH UGM AND DALLAS LIFE AND, UH, AND GOOD MORNING.
WELL GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
AGAIN, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT, I ALSO SERVE AS, UM, OUR CITY'S MAGISTRATE.
AND SO, UM, AS FOLKS HAVE COME IN OFF THE STREET WITH MAYBE A WARRANT FOR THEIR ARREST OR OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS, UM, I TAKE THE TIME WHILE THEY ARE IN CUSTODY TO DETERMINE, UM, WHETHER OR NOT THIS PROGRAM WILL BE A GOOD FIT.
WILL ALSO, BASED ON THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE ALL ACROSS, ALL THROUGHOUT THE COURTHOUSE, EACH, UH, OF OUR MUNICIPAL JUDGES, UM, MAKE THAT CONNECTION AS WELL.
JUST LAST WEEK A VETERAN CAME INTO MY COURT WITH A LANYARD THAT SAID, UH, UNITED STATES ARMY AND THAT TRIGGERED ME TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
AS A CONSEQUENCE, WE'RE GONNA REACH OUT TO HIM THIS WEEK AND SEE HOW WE CAN ASSIST, UM, HIM AS WELL.
SO THEY COME FROM ALL KINDS OF PLACES, BUT UM, JUST AS LONG AS THEY COME, WE CAN, UH, WE DEFINITELY
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CAN SERVE THEM AND, AND MEET, MEET, MEET THEM.UH, WHAT PERCENTAGE ARE DEALING WITH THE, THE DRUG AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS? SO IT'S GOING TO BE THE MAJORITY OF OUR VETERANS THAT ARE COMING IN, UM, I WOULD SAY BE AROUND 90% THAT OR HIGHER THAT ARE COMING IN WITH A SUBSTANCE USE, UM, ISSUE.
AND THEN, UM, FOR A GOOD MAJORITY OF THEM, THEY ALSO HAVE A CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER.
COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER, I'M SORRY.
I DID HAVE ONE MORE, UH, TOTAL OF 87 FOR THE YEAR.
THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT DO YOU TR EVERYBODY THAT COME YOU ARE ABLE TO SEE AND DEAL WITH EVERYBODY? SO WITH THE 87 THAT ARE COMING IN, WE DEFINITELY HAVE A HANDS-ON FACE-TO-FACE CONNECTION WITH THEM.
NOW WHETHER THEY COME INTO THE COURT TO BUY COURSE OF A PLEA, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ALL 87 OF THOSE BECAUSE OF COURSE WE CAN'T FORCE PEOPLE TO PLEAD INTO THE COURT.
BUT WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THAT AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR SERVICES.
UM, BUT IN, IN TERMS OF WHAT SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, THAT IS ALL DONE ON THE FRONT END IN TERMS OF AN ASSESSMENT.
UH, COMMISSIONER AYERS, WHAT'S YOUR FAILURE RATE? I WILL TURN THAT OVER TO JUDGE BLACKLOCK
SO THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
UM, WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SERVICE EVERYONE, BUT WE HAVE A REVOLVING DOOR, MEANING THAT AT ANY POINT WE KEEP IN MIND, WE HAVE, UM, SOME VETERANS WHO COME IN, UM, AFTER YEARS AND YEARS OF ADDICTION.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST A REAL CYCLE.
AND SO OFTENTIMES WHEN THEY COME, EXCUSE ME, I SLIDE UP, OFTENTIMES WHEN THEY COME, THEY MAY NOT BE READY FOR THE HELP THAT WE ARE OFFERING.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE WE'VE HAD A VETERAN SAY, WELL YOU KNOW WHAT, JUDGE, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR ME, BUT I PREFER TO USE COCAINE.
AND THAT THAT'S REALLY HAPPENED.
THAT SAME VETERAN HAS ALSO COME BACK AFTER BEING TIRED AND, AND BEING ON THE STREET AND PENDING CASES.
AND IT'S ALSO DECIDED THAT, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, JUDGE, I'M READY TO REENGAGE.
AND SO WE DON'T GIVE UP ON ANY OF OUR VETERANS.
SO THERE MAY BE OCCASIONS WHERE A VETERAN'S MADE A DECISION TO SAY, HEY, I NO LONGER WANT TO CONTINUE BECAUSE FOR WHATEVER REASON, BUT THEY ALSO KNOW THAT THEY CAN COME BACK TO US.
AND, AND CURRENTLY WE HAVE, UH, TWO VETERANS, ONE VETERAN, EXCUSE ME, THAT GRADUATED OUR PROGRAM, FELL BACK ON HARD TIMES AND HE'S RIGHT BACK WITH US.
JUST GOT APPROVED FOR HOUSING THIS WEEK AND IS CELEBRATING 60 DAYS OF SOBRIETY.
SO DO YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE ALMOST AT 90 PEOPLE IN, IN ALLY, THE ESTIMATES THAT JUST FOR THE HOMELESS VETERANS IN THE DALLAS COUNTY AREA IS ONLY ABOUT A LITTLE OVER 360 THAT ARE ACTUALLY HOMELESS.
SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A HUGE AMOUNT THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY FULFILLING SOME OBLIGATIONS.
BUT JUST AS A SIDE NOTE, OKAY, SO THE QUESTION I, THE FIRST QUESTION I HAVE IS THAT, SO WITH THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE FUNNELING PEOPLE INTO, ARE THOSE, ARE THOSE SERVICES MOSTLY DALLAS, CITY OF DALLAS SERVICES, COUNTY OF DALLAS SERVICES, OR ARE THEY WITH THE GRANT INTO JUST LOCAL, YOU KNOW, OTHER, YOU KNOW, NGOS IF YOU WILL? SO FOR ME IT'S GONNA BE WHATEVER'S BEST FIT FOR THAT VETERAN.
SO WHETHER IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S THE CITY IS PROVIDING, THE COUNTY IS PROVIDING EVEN OUT OF OUR COUNTY.
SO SOME OF 'EM, IT'S SENDING 'EM TO THE BOTTOM VA IN WHICH I GO TO THE BOTTOM VA AND I WORK WITH THEM THERE AT THE BOTTOM VA AS WELL AS DENISON.
SO IF NO MATTER THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES, IF THAT'S THE TREATMENT THAT THEY SEE FIT, 'CAUSE SOME OF THEM SAY IF I CONTINUE TO BE SERVED HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, I'M HANGING AROUND THE SAME PEOPLE THAT I'M USING WITH.
SO I NEED TO TAKE A STEP ASIDE, WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING HOW WE HAVE ONE THAT IS IN CORPUS CHRISTI RIGHT NOW, THAT WE ARE GONNA HELP ASSIST AS WELL.
SO IT'S NOT JUST DIRECTLY HERE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY'S TREATMENT PLAN IS GONNA BE DIFFERENT FOR THAT VETERAN AND THEIR NEEDS.
RIGHT? YEAH, BECAUSE THE FOLLOW UP ON THAT WAS, UH, SO A LITTLE BIT OF MY BACKGROUND IS IN FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, SO I'M CURIOUS AS TO HOW THE THEISMS WORK ITSELF BACK OUT ON THE BACKSIDE.
SO, AND ALSO WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED WITH HOW THE CITY OF DALLAS IS ACTUALLY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THIS PARTICULAR POPULATION BECAUSE THAT'S THE POPULATION THAT WE'RE FROM.
UM, AND SO THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS, THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU PUT THEM INTO UNDERSTAND IT'S A GOOD FIT AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE WAY TO DO IT.
THE QUESTION IS, IT COMES FOR US, IS THAT, DOES THE CITY HAVE THOSE SERVICES AND ARE THEY ADEQUATE? ARE THEY NOT ADEQUATE BECAUSE THE CITY COULD PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE
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SERVICES? IS THE COUNTY ADEQUATE OR NOT ADEQUATE? AND THE, AND THE VA WE KNOW THE VA PRETTY WELL AT THAT POINT.SO THAT, THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION.
UH, THE SECOND THING IS THAT ON SOME OF THE VOCATIONAL COMPONENTS, IF THEY'RE COMING OUT, UM, MEAN THERE'S, THERE'S BLUE CREW STUDIES, ACADEMIC STUDIES ABOUT HOW THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT SOMEONE'S, YOU CAN LOOK AT A VETERAN'S IF THEY MISS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION AND YOU CAN, I CAN GIVE YOU A PRETTY GOOD PERCENTAGE THAT WITHIN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS THEY'LL BE HOMELESS AND, AND IT, THE ACCURACY ON THIS 30 YEARS WORTH OF ACCURACY AT THAT POINT.
SO I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE DEALING A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT COME INTO COURT, JUDGE IF YOU COURT, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HOMELESS AT THAT POINT.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU GO BACK AND YOU SAY, HOW MANY OF 'EM HAVE MENTAL ISSUES? WELL, THE ANSWER IS IT'S, IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT AT SOME POINT JUST, YOU KNOW, EVEN EVEN CHOOSE BE HOMELESS IS ACADEMICALLY BECOMES A MENTAL ISSUE.
UH, 'CAUSE YOU JUST DON'T BELONG AT THAT POINT.
AND IF I COULD ADD TO THAT, AS WILL WE HAVE TWO TRACKS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ESSENTIALLY NOT LEAVING ANY VETERAN BEHIND.
AND SO WE HAVE A HIGH RISK, HIGH NEED TRACK, WHICH SPEAKS TO THE VETERAN THAT'S COMING OFF OF THE STREET WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND THEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES AS WELL.
BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE A LOW RISK, LOW NEED TRACK WHERE THAT VETERAN, UM, JUST BY NATURE OF THAT SERVICE WOULD PREFER TO, UH, BE ENGAGED WITH US AND OUR TREATMENT REPORT.
AND WE STILL DO AN ASSESSMENT, BUT WE'VE HAD VETERANS WHO HAVE JUST DECIDED TO PAR PARTICIPATE JUST DUE TO THE, THE COM COMRADERY OF THE PROGRAM AS WELL.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR AS WELL, THAT WE HAVE A A CATCHALL FOR BASICALLY ANY VE ANY VETERAN THAT WANTS TO ENGAGE, UM, WITH US IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, THEY CAN DO SO.
IS, IS, DOES DALLAS COLLEGE HAVE ANY INVOLVEMENT WITH YOU GUYS? THEY DO.
SO THE, I ATTEND ANY EVENTS THAT THEY HAVE OFFICIALLY WHEN THEY DO A MENTAL HEALTH SUMMIT.
I ALWAYS GO AND I SPEAK AT THE MENTAL HEALTH SUMMIT, WHICH IS BROADCASTED ACROSS ALL THEIR CAMPUSES.
UM, EVEN WHEN THEY IN MES UH, AT, UM, IN MESQUITE, THEY'RE UM, WHEN THEY DO THE MILITARY FAMILY EVENTS, I ATTEND THAT EVERY YEAR AS WELL.
SO THEY'RE VERY GOOD ABOUT SITTING US OVER ANY INVITES THAT THEY HAVE AS WELL AS JUST WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
SO WITH, UM, COMBINED ARMS, UM, THEY, YOU KNOW, HAVE OVER 700 RESOURCES FOR OUR VETERANS IN NORTHEAST TEXAS.
SO WE'RE ON THAT NEWSLETTER AND I MAKE SURE I ATTEND THOSE EVENTS WITH THEM AS WELL.
AND SO, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO JUST SAY ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS WE FOLLOW UP WITH EACH GRADUATE SIX MONTHS POST-GRADUATION.
SO IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE SAYING YOU'VE GRADUATED GOOD LUCK, DON'T COME SEE US AGAIN.
WE'RE ACTUALLY CHECKING ON THEM.
AND WE HAVE SOME THAT HAVE BEEN OUTTA THE PROGRAM.
I'VE BEEN AT THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT FOR THREE YEARS AND I STILL HAVE SOME OF MY VERY FIRST GRADUATES THAT ARE CONTACTING ME TO SAY HOW THEY'RE DOING.
AND SO SOMETIMES I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO CONTACT THEM, THEY JUST WANT ME TO KNOW I'M STAYING CLEAN, I HAVE MY JOB SKILL, YOU KNOW, WE JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE.
AND SO I THINK THAT SAYS A LOT FOR, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, THE RELATIONSHIP WE ARE BUILDING WITH THEM IS, IS DALLAS COLLEGE HELPING WITH VOCATIONAL COMPONENTS? I'VE NOT HAD THEM, UM, NECESSARILY AS FAR AS VOCATIONAL WISE.
UM, WE ARE USING A LOT WITH, UM, OF COURSE WITH THE VA BECAUSE THEY HAVE TWO DIFFERENT TRACKS.
THE ONES WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND THEN, YOU KNOW, NOT, UM, I ALSO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH, UM, TBCS EMPLOYMENT.
UM, WE HAVE A BUNCH THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE VETERANS JUST CAN'T BE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY'RE AROUND A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO DO GETTING THEIR CDL IS SOMETHING THAT THEY, UM, PREFER TO HAVE.
SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY WILL ALLOW THEM TO GET THEIR CDL FOR FREE.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT, UM, ORGANIZATIONS KIND OF, UM, EMPOWERS ONE OF 'EM THAT THEY DO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT TRAINING FOR THEM.
THEY DO, THEY HAVE THEM DO AN APPRENTICESHIP AND THEN THEY ALSO HAVE SOME JOB PLACEMENT FOR THEM IF THAT'S WHAT THEY CONTINUE TO WANNA DO.
SO WE'RE SEEING A DIFFERENT RIGHT WITH THESE, NOT JUST THROUGH DALLAS COLLEGE.
I I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS UP.
ARE, ARE YOU DIVIDING THESE, UH, UM, AND ALL VETERANS ARE, ARE IMPORTANT TO US, BUT THE ERA O OF WHAT, OF WHICH ERA THEY SERVED? 'CAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE THE VIETNAM VETERANS, THEN WE'VE GOT GULF WAR AND WE'VE GOT AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, YOU KNOW, SO IS THIS BEING LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, AND THEN I GUESS THE SECOND PART, IS IT THE MALE VETERAN AND THE FEMALE VETERAN? AND THEN MY THIRD PART IS POLICE.
DO Y'ALL DO ANY KIND OF, UH, SENSITIVE TRAINING OR 'CAUSE OF ALL THE GREAT WORK YOU DO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS THIS BLACK EYE THAT COMES UP AND, AND I, I JUST KEEP THINKING ABOUT THIS VETERAN VETERAN THAT WAS IN DEEP EL THAT WAS, UH, HUMILIATED, YOU KNOW, NOT THAT LONG AGO.
AND IT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE GREAT WORK KIND OF GETS PUSHED ASIDE WHEN YOU GET THESE INS.
YOU KNOW, THESE, I DON'T KNOW, INDIVIDUAL INCIDENTS, YOU KNOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, UH,
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IS THERE ANY TRAINING GOING ON? YOU KNOW, CONTINUING, CONTINUING TRAINING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? SO TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST PART AS FAR AS WHAT AIR THEY HAD SERVED IN.SO IF PART OF MY ASSESSMENT IS, IS FINDING OUT WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY SERVED, IF THEY WERE AT COMBAT EXPOSURE OR NOT.
AND SO WHEN I RUN WITH CALL THE SQUARES REPORT ON THEM AND IT TELLS ME EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM, THEIR DISCHARGE, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT THEY DID.
UM, WE DON'T SEPARATE OUR VETERANS WITHIN OUR COURT.
WE'RE A BIG FAMILY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BROTHER AND SISTERHOOD THERE.
SO, BUT I DO LOOK AT THOSE, UM, DETAILS BECAUSE THERE ARE OUR ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT THAT WILL HELP LIKE JUST OUR VIETNAM VETERANS.
SO IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO KNOW.
THAT WAY I CAN SAY THIS ORGANIZATION HELPS DIRECTLY WITH ANYBODY THAT SERVED IN, YOU KNOW, AT NINE 11.
AND SO, UM, I FOR THAT, WE DO KEEP TRACK OF THAT ON OUR VETERANS.
AND THEN AS FAR AS MALE AND FEMALE, UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE A HIGH RATE OF FEMALES THAT ARE COMING IN.
WE ACTUALLY, I WOULD THINK THAT THE FEW FEMALES WE HAVE HAD, THEY'RE ACTUALLY, UM, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOT A BUNCH OF BIG BROTHERS, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE THEY'RE DOING COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENTS TOGETHER AND STUFF.
SO IT'S AGAIN, JUST A FAMILY UNIT THERE.
AND THEN, UM, YOUR THIRD PART WAS WHAT DID OH, DPD? YES.
SO WE ACTUALLY DO TRAININGS WITH DPD ON OUR CITATIONS.
AND THEN ANYTIME I AM AT ANY EVENT, AND WE DO WORK CLOSE WITH LIKE OUR, UM, NPOS, BUT ANY EVENT THAT WE SEE OFF OF THAT, WE, UH, WE TALK TO THEM ABOUT TRIGGER WARNINGS THAT THEY COULD HAVE.
WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE LET THEM KNOW IF THEY HAVE VETERAN ON THERE DRIVER'S LICENSE, PLEASE WRITE IT DOWN ON THAT CITATION IMMEDIATELY SO THAT THAT WAY THOSE ARE BEING ROUTED OVER TO US.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE DEFINITELY WORK CLOSE WITH, UM, OUR DPD TO LET THEM KNOW, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT, THAT THEY SHOULD BE AWARE OF AND WHAT TRIGGERS, BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S JUST THE LIGHTS THAT ARE GOING OFF, YOU KNOW, THAT CAN TRIGGER A VETERAN AND THEY THINK THEY'RE BEING HOSTILE WHEN IT'S REALLY NOT.
THAT'S JUST A TRIGGER FOR THEM.
ANYBODY ONLINE QUESTIONS? I DON'T SEE ANY.
UH, WALKER DISTRICT FOUR, WHERE ARE YOU ACTUALLY LOCATED? SO OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED INSIDE OF A DART POLICE, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE SUBSTATION.
AND SO IT'S A 2111 SOUTH CORINTH STREET ROAD.
SO RIGHT NEAR THE ACTUAL, UH, DART LIGHT RAIL STATION COMMISSIONER, CHAIRMAN, UH, DISTRICT FIVE.
UH, UH, THIS COURT ALSO HAS LOCATIONS LIKE SOUTH DALLAS AND WEST DALLAS AS WELL.
UH, SO THERE IS MORE THAN JUST ONE LOCATION.
SO, UH, IT'S KIND OF KNOW IN
SO WE DO HAVE A TOTAL OF SEVEN COMMUNITY COURTS, AND THE VETERAN TREATMENT COURT IS ONE OF THOSE SEVEN.
SO WE HAVE GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED COURTS WEST OF DALLAS, IN SOUTH CENTRAL, SOUTH DALLAS, NORTHEAST AND DOWNTOWN.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A SPECIALTY DRUG COURT ON TOP OF THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, THE PRESENTATION WAS EXCELLENT.
WE'RE GONNA GO ON, WE'RE GONNA STAY WITH THE NEW BUSINESS AND FINISH THIS UP WITH THE VETERANS WELLNESS ASSESSMENT, WHICH INFORMATION WE'VE GOT FROM THEM.
IS IT, IS, UH, TINA AND YOU HERE? OH, SHE'S ON WHAT? YES, I'M HERE.
MS. MCGEE, YOU'RE ON? UH, YES, DR. MCGEE.
DR, CAN YOU HEAR US? YES, I CAN HEAR YOU JUST FINE LOUD.
APPARENTLY YOU CAN'T HEAR, HEAR ME.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? I'M SPEAKING AT THE MOMENT.
[00:35:09]
I CAN'T HEAR A WORD.I I THINK THE PEOPLE ON THE LINE, RICK CAN HEAR YOU NOW.
WHO WAS THE HERE? WELL, I WAS, I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING.
UH, SO I'M, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE READY FOR YOU, DR.
MINDEE, WHENEVER YOU, YOU'RE READY.
I WAS JUST WAITING TO, UM, TO BE ASKED TO TALK, BUT, UM, I JUST, UH, PRESENTING, UH, YOU HAVE THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF OUR WELLNESS INIT INITIATIVE FOR, UM, APRIL IN FRONT OF YOU.
OUR CONTRACT WAS OFFICIAL ON APRIL 1ST, AND SO WE, UH, SENT THIS AS WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE MONTH OF APRIL.
UM, I DO HAVE ONE UPDATE TO THIS, AND THAT IS OUR IRB APPROVAL HAS GONE THROUGH, WE FOUND OUT ON MAY 5TH THAT WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED, WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR US, UM, BECAUSE WE, UM, THAT WILL ALLOW US TO, UM, BE ABLE TO HOLD THE VETERANS INFORMATION AND INSIGHT FORUM AND ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED TO ASK WITH THE APPROVAL OF OUR INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD.
SO, UM, BUT THAT'S THE MAIN UPDATE.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ONGOING WORK AS FAR AS THE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS.
AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO, UM, UH, DIG INTO, UM, WELL, DYLAN HARVEY, I SHOULD SAY IS, UH, AND DR.
UH, ZAGA ARE, UM, DIGGING INTO AGENDAS AND VIDEOS FROM THE, UM, VAC AND ALSO, UM, OTHER PUBLIC DOCUMENTS TO DETERMINE WHAT FACILITIES OR WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE.
UM, AND THEY ARE PRODUCING SUMMARY DOCUMENTS FOR THAT.
AND, UM, AS FAR AS THE, UH, THE PLANS FOR THE VETERAN IN INNOVATION AND INSIGHT FORUM ARE FAIRLY COMPLETE, UM, WE'RE STILL PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THAT.
AND THE MAIN THING THAT WE NEED IS LIST OF PEOPLE TO INVITE.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD LOVE YOUR HELP, UM, WITH, UH, CONTACTS AND, UM, UH, INFORMATION ON THOSE CONTACTS.
AND, UH, I THINK I, AFTER HEARING THE PRESENTATION EARLIER TODAY, I WAS ONLINE FOR THAT.
I, I WOULD, WILL PROBABLY CONTACT, UH, THE, UM, VETERANS, UH, COURT AS WELL.
'CAUSE THEY SOUND LIKE A GREAT RESOURCE ALSO.
I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER HARRIS AND, UH, UH, COURT, UH, ABOUT ATTENDANCE AFTER SYMPOSIUM.
UH, WE GOT THE INITIAL REQUEST AND I FILLED THAT OUT, SEND IT IN.
BUT I'VE GOTTEN NO FEEDBACK AS TO WHETHER THE JOB, SO THE NUMBER OF, WE WERE TOLD AT SIX OUT OF A HUNDRED PEOPLE SHORT, UH, SIGN UP, BUT WE DIDN'T GET ANY FEEDBACK.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GETTING THE INFORMATION, AND YOU KNOW, ALL I KNOW ALL OF US WILL PROBABLY SUGGESTED
I MEAN, THROUGH AS FAR AS, UH, SUGGESTING, UM, INDIVIDUALS THERE, THERE'S A PLACE ON THE FORM THAT YOU SEND TO DO THAT.
SO I THINK THERE ARE BLANKS TO SUGGEST THE NAMES OF FIVE INDIVIDUALS ON THAT FORM WHEN YOU FILL OUT YES, WE DID THAT.
I'M JUST SAYING, I GOT NO FEEDBACK FOR PRI THE PRIMARY.
UM, AND I KNOW PEOPLE I RECOMMENDED GOT NO FEEDBACK, SO, OKAY.
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT YOU GOT, THAT YOU'RE GETTING THESE PEOPLE TO LINED UP? OKAY.
I, I DO NOT HAVE, OR AT THE MOMENT, I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE, UM, TO THE INVITATIONS.
UM, SO I WILL ASK ABOUT, UH, WHAT FEEDBACK THAT IT SHOULD GENERATE AN AUTOMATIC FEEDBACK TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AT LEAST YOUR INFORMATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
BUT IF THAT'S NOT HAPPENING, THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW AND SO WE CAN TRY TO FIX THAT.
I NEED ALL OF MY, SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS COMMISSIONER COLE, SO WHAT I DID FOR ALL OF MY SUBMISSIONS, SO I FILLED OUT
[00:40:01]
THE FORM, BUT I ALSO FOLLOWED UP WITH AND SENT THEM EMAILS AND JUST SAID, THERE'S THE EMAIL ADDRESSES AND THE PEOPLE IN THE ORGANIZATIONS.AND SO THERE'S PROBABLY, AS THEY'RE GETTING STARTED, THERE'S A DISCONNECT AS THEY PUT 'EM INTO THE DATABASES WHO THEY WANNA GO BACK TO CONTACT.
AND SO THEY'RE PROBABLY GETTING THAT NOW, BUT THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UH, DR. MCGEE, UH, IN THE EARLIER MEETING, UH, YOU ALL HAD, I GUESS YOU ASKED FOR THE COMMISSION'S HELP AND IDENTIFYING THE, THE VETERANS TO BE INVITED OR THE, THE PARTICIPANTS TO BE INVITED, ESPECIALLY THE VETERANS, I GUESS.
BUT THEN IT, IN THE APRIL, YOUR EMAIL SAID THAT THE COMMISSION MUST TAKE THE PRIMARY ROLE NOW IN RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS.
I GUESS AFTER YOU ONLY GOT SIX.
SO I WAS, I GUESS I WAS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED.
UH, IS THIS, DOES IT DEPEND ON THE COMMISSION NOW TO GET EVERYBODY GET A HUNDRED PEOPLE THERE? OR WHAT IS, WHAT'S THE SITUATION? WELL, WHAT WE'RE DEPENDING THE COM ON THE COMMISSION FOR IS THE LIST OF NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU SUGGEST THAT WE INVITE.
SO THAT'S, I MEAN, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE SENDING INVITATIONS TO EACH ONE OF YOU AND WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT AND, UM, EVEN IF YOU CAN'T, TO BE ABLE TO SEND US NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS TO INVITE, UM, TO THE, TO THE FORUM.
SO THAT IS, THAT IS IS WHERE OUR DEPENDENCE IS.
WE WANNA BE, UM, WE WANNA BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE CAN CAST A, A WIDEST NET AS POSSIBLE.
BUT, UM, WE DON'T, UH, NECESSARILY HAVE, I MEAN, WE HAVE LISTS OF INDIVIDUALS OR WE HAVE LISTS OF DALLAS CITY SERVICES.
UM, UH, THERE WAS A PAMPHLET, I THINK, UH, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND ONLINE.
UM, AND WE CAN LOOK AT THAT, BUT AS FAR AS KNOWING VETERANS IN THE AREA OR, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE DEPENDING ON YOU FOR THAT KIND OF PERSONAL TOUCH TO THAT.
IT WAS MOVED TO WHAT DATE? JULY 12TH, BECAUSE I GOT AN EMAIL FROM Y'ALL, SO I HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM Y'ALL, AND IT SAID THAT IT MOVED TO JULY, BUT I JUST COULDN'T REMEMBER THE DATE.
DID ANYONE ELSE GET THE EMAIL? OKAY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE TEAM KNOWS THAT.
UM, THERE'S NOT A, AN A, A RESPONSE GENERATED WHEN THE INVITATION COMES BACK.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, IS THERE ANY OTHER, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, MA'AM.
UM, SO THAT TAKES CARE OF THE NEW BUSINESS.
WE'RE GONNA GO BACK UP TO THE TOP AND, UH, START WITH THE OLD BUSINESS.
UH, WE'LL START WITH THE SCHOLARSHIP ON BEHALF OF DR.
KATRINA ROBSON, AND AN UPDATE, I DON'T KNOW, CHRISTINA'S NOT HERE, BUT HELLO COMMISSIONERS.
SO WITH REGARDS TO THE SCHOLARSHIP, UH, WITH REGARDS TO THE SCHOLARSHIP, WE DO HAVE AN UPDATE AND THAT IS, THERE'S BEEN SOME, UM, CHANGE OF POSITIONS WITH REGARDS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE YOUTH COMMISSION.
AND SO THEIR PREVIOUS DIRECTOR IS NO LONGER THERE.
AND, UH, THE NEWER PERSON WHO IS NOW BASICALLY MANAGING THEM DOES NOT HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS INITIALLY THERE.
AND SO WHAT THEY HAD SAID IS THEY ARE WORKING ON COLLECTING EVERYTHING JUST SO THAT THIS WAY THEY HAVE A COMPLETE AND THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING, AND THEN THEY WILL LOOK TO MEET WITH US, UH, TO HELP US UNDERSTAND.
AND THEN WE'LL SCHEDULE EVERYTHING WITH REGARDS TO THEM COMING TO PRESENT TO YOURSELVES TO THE COMMISSION.
SO WE HOPE THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN HAPPEN.
UM, SO CONSIDERING JUNE IS, UH, IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND THEN JULY THE, THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE OR CITY GOVERNMENT HAS OFF, WE MAY STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE, THAT'S SOMETHING USUAL WILL HAVE TO VOTE ON.
UH, BUT IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN BEFORE THEN, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
BUT WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED HOPEFULLY BY NEXT MEETING IN JUNE.
[00:45:03]
UH, THE NEXT, THE NEXT ITEM IS THE LETTER TO, UM, TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF BUILDING THREE VACANCIES.YEAH, SO WE WE'RE PLOW, WE'RE PROUD TO SEE THAT SINCE WE HAVE SENT THAT LETTER UP TO EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP, THAT WITHIN THE PAST MONTH TWO POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FILLED.
AND SO DESPITE THAT WE, AND, AND IT'S PROBABLY THAT WE DIDN'T REALLY ASK FOR THEM TO GIVE US ANYTHING OF A, OF A RESPONSE, BUT RATHER TO FILL THE POSITIONS.
AND SO I THINK THAT YOUR CALL HAS BEEN ANSWERED AND IT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.
AND NOW WITH, UH, THE ELECTIONS HAVING ALSO BEEN COMPLETED, THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOME MORE MOVEMENT WITH REGARDS TO THE NEW FOLKS THAT ARE COMING ON AND SO ON.
UM, BUT THE, THE HOPE IS THAT YOUR, YOUR PLEA HAS BEEN HEARD AND HOPEFULLY THE REMAINING POSITIONS WILL ALSO BE FILLED IN DUE TIME.
AND SO I THINK THIS IS A AGENDA ITEM THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, SAY THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AND HAS BEEN SATISFACTORILY ADDRESSED.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF THOSE, UH, AND I HEARD A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, BUT UH, ANY OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE, ARE IN THE ELECTION CYCLE.
YOU, YOU WILL COUNCIL PEOPLE, WELL THAT SOME THAT'S EXPEDITED.
I ASKED, UM, VIN TO LOOK INTO THAT FOR ME BECAUSE, UM, I'M DISTRICT SEVEN AND BESSEL DO WILL BE POINTING SOMEONE ELSE.
MY TERM IS UP IN SEPTEMBER AFTER THE SEPTEMBER MEETING, 'CAUSE OUR CURRENT TERM IS THROUGH SEPTEMBER.
SO I WILL BE LEAVING THIS COMMISSION IN SEPTEMBER.
HE'S GONNA APPOINT SOMEONE ELSE, SOMEONE ELSE GETS TO HAVE FUN AND SERVE.
BUT IF YOUR CITY COUNCIL PERSON SWITCHED, YOU KNOW, LIKE, UH, JANIE SCHULTZ IS NO LONGER ON THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL AND WHO ELSE? ATKINS.
RIGHT? SO THEY WILL HAVE NEW PEOPLE AND IT WILL TAKE TIME BECAUSE THEY GET SWORN IN IN JUNE, BUT THEY CAN SUBMIT SOMEONE LITERALLY THAT DAY OR SO, BUT IT, WITH JULY BEING THE HOLIDAY KIND OF MONTH, THEY PROBABLY WON'T GET SOMEONE HERE TILL AUGUST.
AND THEN REMEMBER, WE ALL HAD TO GO THROUGH THE BACKGROUND CHECK AND THE ETHICS TRAINING AND ALL OF THAT.
SO THAT'S GONNA BE ON YOUR OFFICE CORRECT.
TO GET THEM UP TO SPEED SO THAT THEY CAN COME ON AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE THE ONE WHO BASICALLY PROCESS, UM, ANYONE WHO IS NOMINATED FOR A BORDER COMMISSION.
AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS WITH THEM, AND THEN WHEN THEY HAVE ULTIMATELY FINISHED THE PROCESS, SO THEY HAVE SIGNED, THEY THEN COMMUNICATE THAT TO MYSELF, FOR EXAMPLE, AS THE COORDINATOR FOR THE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION.
SO ONCE THEY HAVE THAT PERSON NOMINATED AND THEY COMPLETE WHATEVER PROCESSES THEY HAVE FOR THEM, THEY'LL THEN COMMUNICATE THAT THERE'S AN EMAIL THAT'LL BE SENT AND THERE'S ALSO A PDF WITH THE SIGNATURE OF THE NEW COMMISSIONER.
UM, AND THEN I SHARE THAT WITH YOU AS I NORMALLY DO.
SO AS YOU WERE SAYING, COMMISSIONER BIRDWELL, WE'RE NOT SURE WHEN ANY OF THE NEWER FOLK WILL BE, UM, NOMINATED, BUT EVERY BOARD POSITION OR COMMISSION POSITION IS A TWO YEAR TERM.
AND SO DEPENDING ON WHEN YOU HAD, UH, BEEN NOMINATED TWO YEARS FROM THAT OR IN THIS CASE WITH REGARDS TO THE FISCAL YEAR, BUT EITHER WAY THERE WILL BE COMMUNICATION TWO YOURSELVES, UH, WITH REGARDS TO YOUR TERM EXPIRING AND OR BEING RENEWED OR ANYTHING ELSE OF THAT SORT FROM THE BOARD AND COMMISSION, UH, OFFICE AS A WHOLE.
ANYBODY ELSE? ANYONE ONLINE WITH ANY QUESTIONS? WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR US.
IT IS, UH, MY, MY, MY HONOR TO SERVE YOU, SO THANK YOU.
THE LAST, UH, OLD UH, ORDER OF OUR BUSINESS, UH, THE OLD BUSINESS IS THE BUSINESS CARD.
I HAVE THEM ON THE DESK AND, UH, RIGHT AFTER WE ADJOURNED, WE WILL HAND THEM OUT TO YOU.
I WAS GONNA SAY TAKE SOME CHARLES.
I, I THINK THAT'S HOW SHE WAS TRYING TO FIX IT.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THE LINE? OKAY.
IS THAT'S THE ONLY ANNOUNCEMENT OTHER THAN GRANDCHILDREN
[00:50:01]
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? MY GRAND MY GRAND BABY.WE HAVE A, I GUESS IT'S, UH, 1251.
WE'VE COMPLETED OUR AGENDA AND UH, WE'LL CALL IN A DAY.