The Senate Committee on Child Protective Services (Special) interim report to the 88th Legislature covers recommendations following an investigation of Community-Based Care. For more information see the full report here.
Spotlight on Recommendations
- Focus the agency on mission critical functions. Ensure that nonessential services at the agency are reduced or eliminated to redirect the Department’s resources towards improving outcomes for children and families and its investigation processes and conservatorship services.
- Form a working group between the Department of Family and Protective Services, the Health and Human Services Commission, Department of Public Safety, Office of the Attorney General and local law enforcement to develop policies and recommendations for improving the processes for investigating allegations relating to criminal activities. The working group should also study ways to increase effective training and resources to improving the quality, accuracy and timeliness of all child abuse, neglect and exploitation investigations.
- Improve data sharing between Department systems and processes that record and track reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation by workers in child welfare with other state agencies that manage workforce in other social services systems. Require interagency cooperation through a formal system for sharing data related to investigations in a predictable and timely manner.
- Ensure providers of foster care and other child welfare services have adequate access to employee background checks and other tools to protect children from potential abuse, neglect and exploitation while in the care of the state.
- Develop mechanisms to ensure uniform application of standards for legal representation and judicial oversight in child welfare cases.
- Reorient Texas towards a data-driven model of in-home, family preservation services as an alternative to foster care when appropriate. Transition “Family-Based Safety Services” to this model and enable communities to provide these services in coordination with current foster care service programs.
- Ensure the delivery conservatorship and family preservation services from a local community level, whether through the Community-Based Care Model or by exploring other local or regional government models within Texas. Increase accountability mechanisms to ensure the Department implements a community-driven model in flexible manner to support its success.