Federal Judge Removed from Texas Foster Care Lawsuit
U.S. District Judge Janis Jack, the state’s de facto foster care czar, has been overseeing the case since 2011.
Texas Laws to Limit Number of Kids in Foster Care
Legislators also passed bills that will provide foster kids with backpacks and those aging out of the system with help setting up bank accounts.
Community-Based Care Expansion Announced
Community Based Care includes many of the services that Child Protective Services normally provides including foster care, case management, kinship, and reunification services.
New Family and Child Welfare Commissioner Foreshadows Change
Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Stephanie Muth told lawmakers Friday the agency will require a different set of skills from its employees as it changes how foster children’s cases are managed.
Texas Failed to Comply with Court-Ordered Fixes
The judge in the 11-year federal lawsuit against Texas said the state has not properly punished or shut down unsafe childcare placement facilities or curbed the rate of children who are sexually victimized while in the state’s care.
Bastrop Shelter Ordered to Close After Staff Members Accused of Trafficking Girls
The Bastrop-based shelter has not addressed the other eight staff members also accused of causing harm to the girls.
Foster Girls Abused at Bastrop State Shelter
The children were sexually abused and neglected while at The Refuge, a facility located in Bastrop contracted by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, according to a report from a current employee.
Deplorable Conditions for Texas Foster Kids Sent out of State
As Texas’ long-running struggle to find enough placements for foster care children persists, more than 100 kids were sent out of state last year.
Texas Foster Care Crisis Worsens
Increased oversight and lack of funding mean hundreds of children spend their nights in hotels and churches and on office floors.
Texas Continues Placing Foster Children in Harm’s Way, Court Monitors Find
At a hearing this week, court monitors found some progress in reforming the foster care system — but also noted several concerns.
Brush Country CASA
Brush Country CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) talks about the need for volunteers to assist with children in the foster care system.