Texas children facing abuse and neglect are going to be a major issue during the 85th Legislative Session as legislators grapple with less funding, a federal court case and troubling headlines about failings at the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Department of Family and Protective Services
Posted in
2016 Year in Review
Trump, women’s health, child welfare top Texas news in 2016
Here’s a look at the top health and human services storylines The Texas Tribune tracked this year.
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Health care
Mental health pilot program for Texas foster kids underway
A new pilot program led by Gov. Greg Abbott’s office aims to provide specialized care and services for 500 of the most emotionally traumatized foster children in Texas.
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Health care
Texas argues it can fix foster care without judge’s oversight
A new legal filing from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has put Texas leaders in a delicate position of conceding problems in foster care but arguing against a federal judge’s proposed reforms.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas foster youth struggle to get college degrees
Although Texas offers free tuition waivers and other benefits to ease foster youths’ transition to higher education, the number of students using the resources has declined.
Posted inState Government
Report says Child Protective Service workers are overloaded, urges overhaul
The long-awaited report comes almost a year after U.S. District Judge Janis Jack ruled that Texas’ long-term foster care system violated children’s civil rights.
Posted inState Government
Child Protective Services chief: We need 550 more caseworkers
“Texas children remain at risk,” Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Hank Whitman wrote. “This is unacceptable.”
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Politics
Dan Patrick offers faith-based plan to ease foster care crisis
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants faith-based communities to help find foster and adoptive homes for kids in need.
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Health care
State leaders order overhaul of Texas Child Protective Services
The governor’s office has put the Department of Family and Protective Services on notice to come up with a plan to help foster children find home placements faster and seek out those facing abuse.
Posted in
Health care
Appeals Court Tells Texas Foster Care Reforms Must Continue
Texas must continue drafting court-ordered plans to fix its broken foster care system, according to a new order from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
