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    Gov Abbott's Letter To DFPS

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    Bob Price
    Governor Abbott wrote to the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to express concern over the deaths of 12 children in state care over the previous year. He proposed increasing funding for at-risk children and families by $40 million to improve prevention, oversight, and family services. The Governor also called for comprehensive reforms to better ensure child safety, provide stability, and learn from past tragedies. He specifically requested additional safety measures and protocols in screening caregivers, case management, investigating child deaths, and educating foster children on reporting abuse.

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    Gov Abbott's Letter To DFPS

    Uploaded by

    Bob Price
    1K views2 pages
    Governor Abbott wrote to the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to express concern over the deaths of 12 children in state care over the previous year. He proposed increasing funding for at-risk children and families by $40 million to improve prevention, oversight, and family services. The Governor also called for comprehensive reforms to better ensure child safety, provide stability, and learn from past tragedies. He specifically requested additional safety measures and protocols in screening caregivers, case management, investigating child deaths, and educating foster children on reporting abuse.

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    Gov Abbott's Letter to DFPS

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    Gov Abbott's Letter to DFPS

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    Governor Abbott wrote to the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to express concern over the deaths of 12 children in state care over the previous year. He proposed increasing funding for at-risk children and families by $40 million to improve prevention, oversight, and family services. The Governor also called for comprehensive reforms to better ensure child safety, provide stability, and learn from past tragedies. He specifically requested additional safety measures and protocols in screening caregivers, case management, investigating child deaths, and educating foster children on reporting abuse.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    1K views2 pages

    Gov Abbott's Letter To DFPS

    Uploaded by

    Bob Price
    Governor Abbott wrote to the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to express concern over the deaths of 12 children in state care over the previous year. He proposed increasing funding for at-risk children and families by $40 million to improve prevention, oversight, and family services. The Governor also called for comprehensive reforms to better ensure child safety, provide stability, and learn from past tragedies. He specifically requested additional safety measures and protocols in screening caregivers, case management, investigating child deaths, and educating foster children on reporting abuse.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

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    GovpRNoR GREC ABBOTT


    March 25,2075

    The Honorable John J. Specia, Jr.


    Commissioner
    Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
    701 West 51st Street
    Austin, Texas 78751
    Dear Commissioner Specia:
    is intolerable, and it is
    our children
    Abuse or neglect of our most vulnerable Texans
    of the State of Texas.
    the
    care
    umbrella
    to
    a
    child
    under
    it
    happens
    when
    unacceptable
    especially
    I am deeply concerned to learn that three children under the care and supervision of the Texas
    Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) died in the first three months of 2015.
    This follows the tragic deaths of nine children in20l4. Such tragedies are solemn reminders of
    our enduring challenge to protect children from abuse and neglect.

    Children and families at risk of higher rates of abuse and neglect require gteater interventions
    and resources. Therefore, I have proposed an increase of $40 million in additional funding for
    children and families at risk and foster children by increasing access to outcome-based
    prevention, child safety placement oversight, and community-based family safety services.
    While additional funding can support measures to improve safety and prevent child fatalities, it
    must be accompanied by effective policy changes to have a lasting impact. Texas urgently needs
    comprehensive reforms to the state's struggling foster care and child protection systems to
    ensure we put children in safe environments, provide them with a sense of permanency, and
    learn from the tragedies of the past.

    With these very important goals in mind, it has come to my attention that safety screenings, the
    review of child fatalities, and the process for closing certain types of Child Protective Services
    (CPS) cases are three areas of weakness within our system. I strongly support the review and
    implementation of additional safety measures and placement protocols to address these
    shortcomings. Specifically,I would like to see the following measures incorporated into the
    standard of care for each child in the protective care or foster care environment:
    a

    Require CPS regional management to enforce policies regarding face-to-face visits with
    children and caregivers in both foster care and safety placements.

    posrOFFrcE Boxl24t2SAusrrN,TExAs 7871157246Y2000 (VoIcE) DLAI7-1-7 FoRRELAY SnvIcs

    The Honorable John J. Specia, Jr


    March 25,2015

    Page2

    a
    a

    Require CPS staff to provide families, caregivers, and stakeholders with information to
    support child safety in a variety of ways, including: firearm safety, safety around water,
    vehicle safety, and safe sleep practices.
    Develop and implement a Parent-Child Safety Placements (PCSP) caregiverlhome
    screening tool to thoroughly assess the appropriateness and ability of each potential PCSP
    caregiver.
    Develop and implement a policy to prohibit closing a PCSP investigation without lvraparound or follow-up services in place.
    Research and implement new policies as needed to address recidivism related to safety of
    children in PCSP placements.
    Establish a practice and protocol for conducting a thorough review of all child fatalities
    or critical injuries resulting in hospitalization; ensure that findings are used in a truly
    meaningful way to improve CPS policies and practices.
    Improve the performance evaluation and recertification process for foster care contractors
    to ensure the safety and well-being of foster children is in the hands of truly quality
    providers.
    Establish and implement caseworker protocols to educate foster children about how to
    anonymously report abuse and neglect.

    By April 15, please report to me an update on these actions, and others you may deem necessary
    to improve the care we are ensuring Texas children receive.

    I recognize that there are many demands at DFPS, and that you may not always have the
    resources to meet those demands. In prioritizing the challenges that must be addressed, I submit
    that preventing child deaths should be at the very top. As Texans, it is all of our responsibility to
    protect children from abuse and neglect, but DFPS has a truly special mission to go a step firrther
    to support, protect, and strengthen children and their families. I thank you for your dedication
    -to this mission and look forward to working with you and your staff and stakeholders to make
    Texas as safe as possible for all children.
    Sincerely,

    Greg Abbott
    Governor

    GA:kgc

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