Foster care child abuse case headed to grand jury
Graphic pictures show black and blue bruises that covered Justin Cook’s body.The 14-year-old teenager says he received those bruises at the hands of an 18-year-old who beat him, choked him and sexually assaulted him.
Audit: DFPS paid $450K for canceled child safety research tool | KXAN.com
AUSTIN (KXAN) – Weeks before a new internal audit of the state’s child protection agency is due to be complete, a report from Texas State Auditor’s Office into the 21CT scandal reveals the Department of Family Protective Services paid nearly $500,000 for a pilot project to develop an analytic tool to guide child safety decisions.
Agency works to fill need for foster families
BLOOMINGTON – The Carters have taken in 20 children within the past two years as a foster family.Outside their modest home is a 15-passenger van, which helps when the family goes on trips to amusement parks and family dinner outings.The couple has been married for 10 years and would foster more children if they had the space.
Sad stats: Child abuse and neglect
April is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month, and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services reports that Child Protective Services investigated more than 168,164 allegations of child abuse or neglect in Texas last year.
Abbott sets right tone on foster care – San Antonio Express-News
It’s early in his tenure, but Gov. Greg Abbott is setting the right tone with Child Protective Services. It’s one that balances accountability with a call for better investment in the agency.
Court drops CPS case against ETX father whose daughter died in hot car
TYLER, TEXAS (KETK) — A Child Protective Services case against an East Texas father whose daughter died after being locked in a hot car last summer has been dropped.According to Shari Pulliam, Public Information Officer for CPS, Russell Lindstrom will no longer have to submit to testing or evaluations by CPS because Lindstrom’s wife and younger daughter, Zoey, moved out of state.
Gov. Abbott demands reform after 3 die in foster care system
Get your act together. That’s the message from Gov. Greg Abbott to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. In a letter sent to the commissioner of the department, Judge John Specia, this week, Gov. Abbott scolded the agency for allowing three children to die within the first three months of 2015 alone.
Foster kids fight for extracurricular activities
AUSTIN, Texas – Foster parents pushing for the passage of Senate Bill 1407 testified alongside former foster kids Tuesday in a health and human services committee.
Abbott to Foster Care Agency: Get Your Act Together | The Texas Tribune
In the wake of three child deaths under the state’s ward so far this year, Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday told the Department of Family and Protective Services to straighten up and fly right.
Abbott orders CPS to improve caregiver screening after child deaths – Houston Chronicle
AUSTIN — Saying he was “deeply concerned” about recent deaths of children under state supervision, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday ordered Child Protective Services to improve the screening of caregivers who temporarily take in kids whose parents are being investigated for child abuse or neglect.