Foster Care and Child Welfare Week In Review – July 24, 2023
Here are some news items from last week related to foster care, adoption, and child welfare that caught our eye:
An article by Public News Service takes a look at new laws in Texas designed to strengthen the rights of parents under investigation by Child Protective Services (CPS). CPS investigators will now be required to read parents under investigation their rights, similar to Miranda Rights that are read for criminal cases. Also, parents under investigation will be provided a written summary of the allegations of abuse or neglect by CPS. Finally, the Texas Abuse Hotline will no longer take anonymous reports of abuse or neglect.
The Texas Score Card reports findings that more than 210 minors self identified as having been sex slaves after they went missing from Texas Child Protective Services (CPS) Conservatorship. Texas Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS) reported that between 2019 and 2022 more than 6,000 children and youth went missing and when recovered 213 reported to have fallen victim of sex trafficking. Some experts suspect more could have been victimized while missing since sex trafficking victims rarely self-report. Critics point the finger at CPS as failing these children and youth.
The Midland Reporter-Telegram recently published an article highlighting the work of One Accord for Kids. The article briefly described the motivation of its personnel as Brandon and Matt bring lived history to their advocacy work. Further the article describes One Accords three areas of focus (Government Advocacy, Collective Impact, and Direct Service) and describes recent activity in each. The article highlights priority bills, describes the work done to help the local system with its providers, and the recent flurry of activity around Heart Gallery.
The July 20th Distractify article details Deric Cahill’s run in with Texas Child Protective Services due to a report from a medical provider. Unhappy with his visit to an urgent care clinic for his 1 year old son, he informed the doctor that he felt the visit was “transactional” and wrote a negative Google review of the clinic. Later that day a CPS Investigator visited his home to check on the child because of the report the doctor made to statewide intake. CPS had no reason to believe the child was in harm and was not removed from the parents’ home. Click the link above for a detailed article complete with the Mr. Cahill’s video commentary and investigation he posted on TikTok. View discretion is advised due to explicit language.
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