Foster Care Reform

by Fatherofeight | More from this Blogger

02 Feb 2007 02:41 PM

The Texas legislature has apparently become very concerned with recent revelations in regard to huge deficiencies in the state's ability to oversee foster homes and child care facilities. Outside of Dallas, a six year old child was recently murdered by a very violent teenage member of her foster family. In this incident which was reported in a previous blog, the state's lax supervision practices were brought to light.

A top CPS official was called upon to testify before a legislative committee in a public hearing. The administrator came under intense questioning. He promised the legislators that his agency is working hard to make proposals to the lawmakers on ways that the problems could be solved.

The committee members specifically wanted to know why the victim and her siblings had been removed from the home by the agency, only to be returned there in less than a week by a state foster home contractor. He also wanted to know why two different state licensed contractors had supposedly approved this particular foster home and certified it, when local police records revealed that officers had been called to the home on numerous occasions because of serious problems.

In very intense questioning, a legislator pointed out that several of the police reports warned how dangerous the teenager was who allegedly killed the girl. He specifically noted that the young man's lack of mental stability was mentioned. The official was asked if he was aware of this. A point was hopefully made. The CPS person promised something would be done soon.

Related matters were then mentioned that have made the inspection problems worse. The legislature has recently passed laws that significantly increased the state's ability to investigate child abuse complaints. The new laws ignored the same problem in foster homes. The workers charged with investigating foster homes have recently had their workloads increased because many of their investigators switched to doing child abuse reports. The new legislation essentially gave them significant pay increases for switching.

I am glad that these matters have the attention of the legislature. However, some of my years of employment were spent as a lobbyist responsible for dealing with state legislators. Chances are that these lawmakers are more concerned with the public reaction to this situation than they are about the unfortunate children who have been put into foster care. There are over 20,000 children in the foster system in Texas. Those of us who do care need to do what we can to help them.

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Linda Hansen (1796) 02 Feb 2007 08:03 PM

Important info in our state, thanks for keeping it out there. Art

Fatherofeight (2475) 03 Feb 2007 12:20 AM

It is embarrassing for the state and horrifying for foster children, thanks, Art.

PATTI (580) 13 Feb 2007 12:21 PM

Dear Ed, Keep informing us of the pluses and minuses of the state. Open your ears and listen legislators. The children are suffering. PATTI

Fatherofeight (2475) 15 Feb 2007 08:12 PM

Thanks, Patti. I wonder sometimes if I should keep reporting these stories, but I want to raise the public's notice of this kind of thing. That is obviously why the hearing was held, in response to the outcry of the people.