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Family and protective services
January 23, 2009
CPS: removals of children are down
The number of Texas children removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect has declined following a series of reforms to Child Protective Services, the agency said today.
In the 2008 budget year, CPS removed 14,295 children, which is down from 15,920 in 2007 and 17,536 in 2006. That’s a decrease of 18.5 percent.
“Generally, children do better if they can remain safely with their families,” CPS spokesman Darrell Azar said. “Foster care is really intended as a last resort.”
Lawmakers passed CPS reforms in 2005 and 2007. As part of that, the state invested in programs that help keep families together, including one that provides cash assistance to certain low-income families.
“More often than not, neglect is at the heart of the problem,” rather than abuse, Azar said. “Some families are so impoverished, they can’t meet basic needs. The whole theory behind this is working with the family … to help them find the supports they need.”
State officials say the decline in removals is partly due to the reforms and partly to a 5th Circuit Court decision that clarifies that in most cases, CPS must get a judge’s permission before — not after — removing children.
Other changes include an increase of children being placed with relatives, a practice CPS officials say is a “safe alternative to foster care.” Between 2005 and 2008, the number of children placed with relatives increased 32 percent, officials said.
Caseloads have also dropped for CPS investigative caseworkers, officials said.
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November 12, 2008
Warren Jeffs, three others, indicted in West Texas case
A grand jury in Schleicher County today issued felony indictments against four people associated with the Yearning For Zion ranch in West Texas, including sect leader Warren Jeffs, according to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.
With this latest action, a dozen people associated with the ranch owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have been indicted in what is still an ongoing investigation led by the Texas Rangers.
Jeffs was indicted on first-degree felony charges of aggravated sexual assault, Abbott said. That is in addition to Jeffs’ July indictment on charges of sexually assaulting a child, the attorney general said.
Abbott didn’t name the other three defendants. One was indicted on charges of conducting an unlawful marriage ceremony involving a minor. Another was indicted on three counts of bigamy. The final defendant was indicted on three charges of bigamy and one charge of tampering with physical evidence, Abbott said.
The charges “reflect a cooperative effort” between the Attorney General’s Office, Texas Rangers, Texas Department of Public Safety, 51st Judicial District Attorney Steve Lupton and United States District Attorney Richard Roper, Abbott said in a statement.
“For months, dedicated men and women from our Cyber Crimes, Fugitive and Special Investigations Units have literally been living in San Angelo, commuting home to their families on weekends,” Abbott’s statement said.
Texas officials in April removed more than 400 children from the ranch after they said an investigation determined that young girls were being forced into marriages with older men. State officials returned the children after a Texas Supreme Court ruling said that the state failed to show that more than a few were at risk.
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June 11, 2007
Mack Brown to speak out against domestic violence
Longhorns football coach Mack Brown will join the Texas Council on Family Violence and Attorney General Greg Abbott tomorrow in announcing an effort to encourage fathers to take a stand against domestic violence, according to the council. The Father’s Day initiative will also be touted in Harlingen by Bob Hoffman, coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, an NBA Development League team, the council said.
Read more about the campaign on the council’s Web site.
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