The Texas foster care system is showing signs of improvement, but it still struggles with cases of improper supervision, injuries, and even death, according to recent court filings. Under a court order stemming from a 15-year-old lawsuit, court-appointed monitors have been producing comprehensive reports on the state’s progress in implementing ordered improvements.
Progress and Challenges
The latest reports, covering the period from 2023 to 2024, highlight both progress and ongoing challenges. While wait times for callers to the abuse hotline have decreased, and more than 82% of caseloads involving children in permanent foster care are within a manageable threshold, the system still faces issues with troubled foster homes and inadequate supervision.
Monitors have expressed concerns about foster children being placed in homes with histories of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. In one instance, a foster father pointed a gun at children to discipline them, and in another, a child died from a fentanyl overdose due to neglect. The monitors also noted that some foster homes reopened under new child-placing agencies after being previously recommended for closure.
Attorney Paul Yetter, representing Texas foster care children, stated that the court monitor reports show the system is in transition, with progress in some areas but real issues in others. He emphasized that the improvements must be lasting to ensure the safety of children in the system.
Investigations and Caseloads
The monitors reported that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has made significant progress in investigating foster care providers, but problems with completing investigations into serious abuse allegations persist. In one case, a 17-year-old girl who had been sexually trafficked was able to walk away from her foster care placement due to improper supervision.
The monitors also noted that private contractors overseeing foster care children in three regions – the Panhandle, East Texas, and Dallas – had caseloads exceeding the recommended 14-to-17 children per worker ratio. DFPS and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
