ByLaws

Article I-Name

The name shall be Kids Living Well, formerly the Child and Youth Mental Health Planning Partnership.

Article II-Core Values

The values of Kids Living Well include:

System of Care: A System of Care involves a service delivery system that has flexible funding and access to services in response to the level of intensity of a child’s needs. A System of Care encompasses the following values:
Strength-based, child-centered, family-focused, and family driven;
Parents are full partners in decision-making;
Community-based; and
Culturally competent and responsible.

Commitment and investment in strong prevention efforts: The community values and funds services that focus on mental health prevention for children and youth.

Every child deserves to succeed: Early identification and intervention to address the emotional and behavioral needs of children should be promoted by the system of care in order to enhance the likelihood of positive outcomes.

Equity and access: All children should have equal access to mental health and social services.

Schools take a leadership role in ensuring the safety and well being of all students: Schools have the values, systems, and positive and strength-based practices with leadership in place to support and promote the safety and well being of all children.

Culturally competent services and service delivery approaches: Services and service delivery approaches are flexible and responsive to the individualized needs and resources of each family and accounts for all forms of diversity.

Strengths-based services, resources and service delivery approaches: All children and families have positive qualities and strengths. All systems, services and service delivery approaches are integrated and designed to address needs and strengthen assets for children, families, schools, and communities.

Child centered and family focused: The system of care should be child centered and family focused with the voice and choice of families, while ensuring the best interests and safety of all children in determining the type and mix of services provided.

Integrated service access and information sharing: All systems and service delivery approaches are designed and integrated to focus on meeting the needs and strengthening the assets for children, families, and schools.

Evidence–based practices and continuous quality improvement: Children, families, schools, providers, and other stakeholders are actively involved in the system’s development to Include: promotion of evidence-based practices, including effective prevention efforts (e.g., primary, secondary, tertiary) oversight, evaluation and continuous improvement.

Acceptance and community awareness: The system of care should identify and take action to minimize the impact of stigma and discrimination in mental health planning, service delivery, and evaluation to increase knowledge and acceptance of those with mental health needs.

Article III-Vision

The vision of Kids Living Well is:

All children and youth will reach their highest potential in school, home, and community life.

Article IV-Mission

The mission of Kids Living Well is:

Kids Living Well will promote the mental health of Travis County children and youth.

Article V-Roles and Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of Kids Living Well are:

• To Serve as the Lead Planning Body for Children’s Mental Health for the Community of Travis County;
• To Promote, Implement and Maintain the Travis County Children’s Mental Health Plan
• To Educate and Advocate;
• To Review and Disseminate Data and Information;
• To Identify Community Resources and Needs; and
• To Facilitate Collaborations and Partnerships.

Article VI-Membership and Organization

Section 1. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall be comprised of:
1. Co-Chairs,
2. Immediate Past Co-Chair
3. Co-Chairs of Ad Hoc committee(s)
4. Co-Chairs of the Children’s Mental Health Plan Subcomittee
5. Up to three at large members nominated by the membership.

The Executive Committee shall represent diverse stakeholders and providers as identified in Article VI, including at least one family representative. The Executive Committee shall provide leadership and direction to Kids Living Well. Leadership of member organizations may be asked to attend Executive Committee meetings on an as needed basis.

The Executive Committee shall be responsible for ensuring a diverse membership. Membership shall be recruited from a broad array of providers and stakeholders to include but not limited to: education, behavioral health, juvenile justice, law enforcement, child-serving agencies, funders, government, faith community, family members, youth, civic and community leaders.

Section 2. Co-Chairs

The Executive Committee shall nominate (2) persons to serve as Co-Chairs of Kids Living Well. The membership shall elect the nominated Co-Chairs at a regular membership meeting by a majority vote of the members present. The Co-Chairs shall serve staggered (2) year terms, with one term expiring in an odd year and the other term expiring in an even year.

Section 3. Membership

Member recruitment shall be on going and members may join at any time during the year.

Members shall:
• Complete and submit a membership form annually;
• Actively participate in activities, meetings, and Ad Hoc Committees;
• Designate alternate staff to fulfill voting privileges; actively participate in activities, meetings, and ad hoc committees; and
• Contribute resources to Kids Living Well (e.g., expertise, meeting space, supplies, in-kind donations, etc.).

Section 4. Ad Hoc Committees

The Executive Committee shall establish ad hoc committees as needed. The Executive Committee shall appoint a Chair for Ad Hoc Committees. Committee Chairs must be members of Kids Living Well. Any member may be appointed to serve on an Ad Hoc Committee. In addition, non-members may be appointed to Ad Hoc Committees at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

Section 5. Meetings

Meetings of Kids Living Well are open to the public. Kids Living Well is not a governmental agency but serves as a community-based advisory committee, and is therefore not subject to the Texas Open Meetings Act. The Executive Committee schedules meetings and may call special meetings as needed. The membership shall be given a 3-day notice of any special meetings, if possible.

A meeting calendar shall be developed and distributed to the membership annually. The Executive Committee may call special meetings as needed. The membership shall be given a 3-day notice of any special meetings, if possible.

Section 6. Voting

At any meeting, each organizational member shall have one vote. In the event the organizational member is absent the designated alternate may fulfill the voting privileges of the organizational member. Each family representative shall have one vote. Agreement is determined by 51% of members present at the meeting.

Section 7. Staff Support

The Executive Committee shall be responsible for securing and maintaining staff support.

Article VII-Children's Mental Health Plan

Kids Living Well shall oversee the Travis County Children’s Mental Health Plan and hold regular meetings throughout the year that focus on implementation and evaluation of the plan.

Stakeholders from across the community participated in a year-long planning process to develop the Travis County Plan for Children’s Mental Health. The Plan was first shared with community leaders in February 2015. This five-year plan to improve the wellness of children and youth in Travis County is overseen by Kids Living Well. The Plan outlines action steps in four key areas – wellness and prevention, effective intervention, coordinated crisis services, and system improvements – to build on the strengths of our current systems with the goal of promoting wellness and effectively treating mental disorders among children in Travis County.

Article VIII-Commitment to Core Values

Kids Living Well is committed to the core values outlined in Article II. These values shall be incorporated into the activities of Kids Living Well to include: meetings, leadership roles, member recruitment, communications, and deliverables.

Article IX-Bylaws

Section 1. Ratification

These bylaws shall be approved by majority vote of the members present.

Section 2. Review and Amendment

Bylaws shall be reviewed annually by the membership. The review shall take place in the 4th quarter of the calendar year.

The Executive Committee shall recommend Amendment(s) to the bylaws, to the membership. Bylaw amendments shall be discussed at regular membership meetings or special called meetings and be adopted by a majority vote of the members present.

*Bolded terms are defined in the glossary.

Article X-Glossary of Terms

Ad Hoc Committee - A committee formed for a specific purpose or task.

Designated Alternate - The person identified by the member organization to vote in the absence of the organizational member designee.

Executive Committee - The body designated to provide leadership and direction to Kids Living Well.

Family Representative - A person representing the interests of families and may include; parent, youth, sibling, family member or other person.

Membership - The person(s) who have completed a membership form on their own behalf, or on the behalf of an organization.

Organizational Member - The person designated by the member organization to vote for the organization.

Strategic Action Plan - The written plan of Kids Living Well, which describes the annual goals, objectives, and deliverables.

Children and Youth - 0-22 years of age.