Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth, and Families

About Us

The Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission is a statewide, multi-disciplinary, collaborative body that includes high-level membership from the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of Texas government, along with child welfare stakeholders in the public and private sectors. The Supreme Court established the Children's Commission in 2007 with the overall goal of strengthening the child welfare system by increasing public awareness about the challenges facing children, youth, and families through encouraging judicial leadership, supporting best judicial and legal practices through training and education, and informing policy and practice affecting child welfare in Texas.

The Children's Commission is a leading collaborative partner in most every aspect of child welfare system improvement in Texas and is recognized nationally as a leader in establishing long-standing and meaningful relationships with child welfare stakeholders to create a child welfare system that better supports and serves children, youth, and families.

Structure

The Children's Commission is chaired by Supreme Court of Texas Justice Debra Lehrmann. Justice Rebeca Huddle serves as Deputy Chair. Commissioners include Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) executive leadership, non-profit foundation and state bar leaders, attorneys, legislators, judges, other elected officials, persons with lived experience, and child welfare stakeholders. 

The Children's Commission is supported by a 40-plus-member advisory Collaborative Council. Council members include many child welfare stakeholders such as DFPS staff; child placing agencies; service providers; parent and child advocates; experts in mental health, education, prevention, juvenile justice, substance abuse, and immigration; as well as child and family advocacy groups.

The Children’s Commission has an Executive Committee and four standing committees: Systems Improvement, Legal Practice and Process, Training, and Data. Each committee is chaired by a Commissioner and members are drawn from the Commission, Collaborative Council, and other stakeholders in the child welfare system. The Children’s Commission also hosts several ad hoc committees and workgroups that include individuals with expertise in the subject matter area.

 

For additional information about the Children's Commission, please link below to the following categories:

 

Data Committee

The Data Committee operationalizes data-driven decision-making through continuous quality improvement and an analysis of publicly available child welfare and court data to identify legal processes and practices that produce desired outcomes, as well as which practices need improvement.

Additional information about a specific Data Committee workgroup or project is available for the following:

  • Child Protection Case Management System (CPCMS) and IMPACT Workgroup
  • Child Protection Courts & Case Management System
  • Permanent Managing Conservatorship Court Workgroup

 

Legal Practice & Process

The Legal Practice & Process (LPP) Committee assists trial and appellate courts, judges, and legal advocates to ensure that children, youth, and families involved with child welfare experience a legal system in which they have access to justice and their rights are protected.

Additional information about a specific Legal Practice and Process Committee workgroup or project is available for the following:

  • Legal Representation Committee
  • DFPS Representation Subcommittee
  • Legislative Matters
  • Mediation
  • Notice & Engagement
  • Parent Resources Workgroup
  • Standards of Representation
  • Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Tribal/State Collaborative

 

Systems Improvement

The Systems Improvement (SI) Committee executes innovative projects aimed at encouraging fairness and justice for children, youth, and families; promoting judicial leadership in courts and communities; and expanding court and child welfare system capacity to support continuous, systemic improvement.

Additional information about a specific Systems Improvement Committee workgroup or project is available for the following:

  • Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
  • Dual Status Task Force
  • Foster Care & Education
  • Prevention
  • Statewide Collaborative on Trauma-Informed Care (SCTIC)
  • Tribal/State Collaborative
  • Youth Voice & Normalcy

 

Training Committee

The Training Committee oversees and develops judicial and legal training efforts at all levels of practice that identify and promote best practices to improve outcomes, and establish and maintain a well-informed judiciary and bar.

Additional information about a specific Training Committee workgroup or project is available for the following:

  • Texas Child Welfare Law Bench Book and Bench Cards
  • On-Demand MCLE
  • Scholarships
  • Additional Training Opportunities:
    • Judicial Conferences:
      • Annual Child Welfare Judges Conference (CWJC)
      • Child Protection Court Convening
      • Family Justice Conference
    • Trial Skills Training
    • Other Training Opportunities
      • State Bar of Texas Child Protection Law Section Annual CLE
      • Texas Department Protective Services Regional Attorney Annual Meeting

 

Jamie Bernstein, Executive Director

Jamie Bernstein joined the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families in May 2014 and became the Executive Director in June 2020. Ms. Bernstein began her legal career in New York where she represented children and youth in child welfare and delinquency proc ...

Milbrey Raney, Assistant Director

Milbrey E. Raney joined the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families as a Staff Attorney in April 2012, served as Training Director from 2018-2020, and currently serves as the Assistant Director. She is responsible for judicial training and education prim ...

Jessica Arguijo, Communications Manager

Jessica Arguijo joined the Children’s Commission in August 2013 and serves as the communications manager responsible for the execution and delivery of print and digital materials, website development, and social media management. She enjoys aiding the extensive work of the judiciary for the child we ...

Renée Castillo-De La Cruz, Staff Attorney

Renée Castillo-De La Cruz joined the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth, and Families in November 2019. She began her legal career in private practice, primarily focusing on the representation of children before the juvenile justice system and children and paren ...

Aimee Corbin, Staff Attorney

Aimee Corbin joined the Supreme Court of Texas for the Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families in September 2020. Her primary areas of focus are education for children and youth in the Texas foster care system, the identification and intervention of commercial sexual exploitat ...

Tiffany Edwards, Program Specialist

Tiffany Edwards has been employed with the State of Texas since May of 2008 and joined the Children’s Commission in May of 2018. Tiffany assists the Statewide Trauma Informed Care Collaborative and Legal Representation Committee and workgroups. She is excited to continue to learn and support efforts ...

Brenda Kinsler, Staff Attorney

Brenda L. Kinsler joined the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth, and Families in December 2024.  She formerly served as a Regional Managing Attorney for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). ...

Chelsea Martinez, Program Specialist

Chelsea Martinez joined the Children’s Commission in January 2020 after serving as an administrative assistant at the Texas Education Agency. Chelsea assists with the Foster Care and Education, legal representation, and the Dual Status Task Force. She is excited to continue to learn and support effo ...

Patrick Passmore, Finance Manager

Patrick Passmore spent three years with the Supreme Court of Texas Clerk’s Office as a Deputy Clerk before joining the Children’s Commission in October 2015. He joined the Army after high school and was part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kosovo. Patrick received his Bachelor of Business Administr ...

Willette Sedwick, Accountant

Willette Sedwick has 13 years with the State of Texas, 12 years in accounting. In November 2020, she joined the accounting team for the Children's Commission and the Judicial Commission for Mental Health. One of the goals Willette hopes to accomplish while working for the SCOT is to further her care ...