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Regional Services |
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Regional Services |
Program Summary
The Regional Services Division is charged with the responsibility of providing technical assistance and direct services to RGCOG member governments and their constituents. The services are provided to member governments and constituents both through contractual arrangements and through direct management of programs.
Regional Criminal Justice Planning:
The Regional Services Division coordinates programs and provides staff support to the Criminal Justice Division, Office of the Governor to develop an annual plan and strategy to provide state financial support to local law enforcement and criminal justice organizations to address both juvenile and adult offender programs.
The Division operates regional programs for juvenile delinquency, training for law enforcement personnel, and others. Staffs the Criminal Justice Planning groups with prioritize programs in the area under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Safe and Drug Free Schools, Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, Title V Delinquency Prevention, Local Law Enforcement Block Grants, Juvenile Justice Alternative Incentive Block Grants and; Juvenile Justice Alternatives from the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division which total more than $ 1.5 million per year.
Through funding from the Office of Rural Community Affairs, the Regional Services Division provides community and economic development assistance to units of general local governments in the non-entitlement areas. The Regional Services Division also provides technical support to the Regional Review Committee and the Texas Community Development Program (TCDP) staff.
RGCOG's Regional Services Division operates as the West Texas Economic Development District for the region (a designation by the Economic Development Administration). As part of the cooperative agreement with the EDA, RGCOG develops and maintains the region's Economic Development Plan, identifies regional community economic development goals and strategies, and assist communities and organizations to develop applications for funding to the Economic Development Administration.
The Division operates a regional 9-1-1 network that provides emergency communications equipment and services to residents of Hudspeth, Culberson, Brewster, Presidio, and Jeff Davis Counties. This year, two major milestones were reached:
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Presidio County Public Safety Answering Point received new computer hardware and software this spring , all counties in the region were provided with state-of-the-art 9-1-1 service; |
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The consolidation of the Jeff Davis PSAP with the Presidio County PSAP resulted in the first consolidated answering and dispatch operation in Texas involving two counties; |
The addressing project neared completion. All counties received the first shipments of signs and hardware. More will be purchased in the next fiscal year. The mapping project using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) continued to make progress in identifying and locating roads and residences in the region. Training was provided to dispatchers and call-takers in the region on emergency communications procedures and TDD/TDY calls.
Regional Planning and Oversight:
The Division operated the local component of the Texas Review and Comment System (TRACS). Under both state and federal regulation, most requests for financial assistance by local governments and non-governmental organizations are reviewed at the staff, committee, and Board level to evaluate the benefit, impact or potentially the duplication of services proposed by applicants. This year, more than 140 formal reviews were conducted, requesting over $125 million from state and federal sources. Monitoring visits were made to regional vendors and program operators to assure compliance with regulatory and programmatic aspects of state and federal grants. Training was provided to numerous governmental and agency personnel on Texas grant requirements and new federal regulations.
Emergency Management: Far West Texas Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan
After September 11, 2001, America witnessed a spring of unselfishness and heroism. People across the country asked, "What can I do?" and "How can I help?" Citizen Corps was created to help all Americans answer these questions through public education and outreach, training, and volunteer service. With the added support of citizen volunteers, highly skilled emergency service providers have more time to ensure that our communities remain safe and adequately prepared to respond to natural and manmade disasters. Citizen Corps is coordinated nationally by the Department of Homeland Security.
Citizen Corps Councils help drive local citizen participation by coordinating Citizen Corps programs, developing community action plans, assessing possible threats and identifying local resources.