Austin (WBAP/KLIF News) – Governor Greg Abbott says he has ordered the head of the Department of Family and Protective Services to take immediate action to improve the way the agency operates.
The length of time kids have spent in psychiatric facilities has increased over the past seven years. The Department of Family and Protective Services says foster kids who need psychiatric care spent a total of ten extra days in psychiatric facilities in June of 2009. In August of 2015, that number had increased to 768.
Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus signed a letter to DFPS director Hank Whitman saying too many kids in foster care are not seen by agents within a timeframe set by the state.
“It is critical that the Department of Family and Protective Services eliminate the backlog of children no seen within the statutory guidelines,” the letter reads. “Action plans must be demanded from DFPS regional management in order to address the current situation and proactively prevent additional lapses in the required face-to-face visitations and interventions.”
The letter demands changes before the next legislative session starts in January.
Abbott, Patrick and Straus say DFPS should hire more special investigators and develop a “strategic hiring and training schedule.” The letter also says Family and Planning Services should require greater accountability at all levels and build more partnerships with faith-based communities.
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