Texas Children Being Housed At CPS Offices: CPS Neglect?

Texas Children Being Housed At CPS Offices

http://cbs11tv.com/topstories/local_...129185655.html

Mary Stewart
Reporting

(CBS 11 News) TARRANT COUNTY CBS 11 News has uncovered a crisis in the
State of Texas. An investigation revealed that some children in the
Child Protective Services system don't have anyone to take care of them.

Most North Texas business offices have desks, chairs, computers, and
phones. Now some CPS business offices also have baby carriers, playpens
and beds, in them. The children are being housed at the offices because
there aren't enough foster homes.

CPS offices in South Fort Worth have been used to house children around
the clock. Often those staying at the offices are young teenagers with
mental or emotional problems.

Across the state, beginning in March, caseworkers also started putting
children in hotels.

CBS 11 News gathered these statistics �

As of May 1st


* 94 children are waiting for foster care
* 92 children are being housed in CPS offices
* 2 children are being housed in hotels


"We have to make sure they have adequate sleeping arrangements, that
they have somewhere where they can bathe, and that they have food," says
Marissa Gonzales, CPS spokesperson. "So if we can provide that for them,
either at an office or at a hotel, we'll do that. It's just a matter of
deciding which environment is going to be the best for them."

Most CPS offices already have high turnover rates -- about 28% -- and
the current situation can't make the job easier for them or their families.

As it stands, two CPS employees must volunteer to watch each child at
night and on the weekends. In the last 10 days, everyone in the South
Fort Worth CPS office, including the department spokesperson, is
expected to volunteer for the rotating schedule.

CPS worker Susan Thorton had to recruit department volunteers to care
for seven special needs children in Tarrant County. "That's why the need
for volunteers, because our caseworkers were just tired," says Thorton.
"The same people were staying in the offices with the children overnight."

The seven children were moved to shelters or foster homes last
Wednesday, but the ongoing problem remains and officials say there's no
immediate solution.






CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NATIONAL
SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WIRETAPPING PROGRAM....

CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.

every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...

www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf

Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS

*Perpetrators of Maltreatment*

Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5

BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...