Texan Governor Greg Abbott is expanding the Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee with the appointment of three new members. According to a press release from the Governor's office, Felicia Penn and Lori Gabbert Chaney will both serve on the committee until February 1, 2027. The Governor extended Kathryn Shields' appointment until February 1, 2029. These appointees will have advisory roles, affecting the policies of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Division for Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Services.
The professional backgrounds of the appointed members are quite diverse. Serving as the Texas Title V director and director for the Maternal and Child Health Section, Lori Gabbert Chaney hails from Austin. Despite receiving higher education from The University of Texas at Austin, including a Bachelor of Arts in Government and a Master of Public Affairs, Chaney is a certified project management professional with credentials from the Project Management Institute. This skill set intends to benefit the committee's approach to program implementation and policy development.
Felicia Penn of San Antonio, by contrast, brings a depth of educational expertise to the Advisory Committee, operating as an education manager for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Penn's academic journey includes a Bachelor of Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University, a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Phoenix, and a Master of Social Work, also obtained from Texas State University. Her diverse educational background is expected to inform her contributions to the early childhood intervention strategies for the state.
Kathryn Shields, filling the longer-term position, is a dedicated volunteer coordinator from Arlington. Shields' experience with Hagar’s Heart demonstrates her commitment to community service. Apart from her volunteering and coordinating responsibilities, though Shield's education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas Tech University and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Concordia University, she is still actively involved with several organizations like the Fort Worth Alpha Delta Pi Alumnae Association and the Fielder Church.
The appointments reflect Governor Abbott’s intentions to bolster the committee’s capacity to guide the ECI system in Texas. Their diverse expertise is positioned to strengthen the state’s strategies to assist children with developmental challenges, ensuring comprehensive support from early stages of development. The announcement indicates a proactive move as Texas continues to serve the needs of its youngest residents facing unique obstacles in their critical formative years.
