FLUCTUATING RESOURCES Locally, the number of children receiving services through the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and the number of Child Protective Services employees helping them has fluctuated over the last decade. The following data is the most recent available.
Number of CPS staff members Children receiving services
Number of CPS staff members Children receiving services
GALVESTON COUNTY
BRAZORIA COUNTY
100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650
100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650
538
493
390
304
80
74
63
46
0 50
0 50
2012
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020
2012
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020
SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
contributed to the growing number of CWOP. Between February and July, the DFPS hired 319 caseworkers, but 309 caseworkers left their roles during that time. Exit surveys in 2021 said 86% cited work-related stress as a cause for ending their employment, up from 40% in 2020. In Brazoria County, the number of children receiving DFPS services increased from 440 to 493 from 2019
to 2020. The number of CPS workers stayed at, moving from 73 to 74. “With the growth in the county, they’re just not able to keep up with the need and the demand, unfortu- nately,” Hawkins said. In Galveston County, the number of children receiving services increased from 376 to 538 from 2019 to 2020, and the number of CPS workers moved from 67 to 80. Data for 2021 is
not yet available. On Jan. 10, a panel appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott described Texas’ foster care system as “woe- fully inadequate” and recommends increasing mental health resources, improving guidelines and infrastruc- ture, and eliminating barriers to services. “[The recommendations] will impact everything we do,” said Debi
Tengler, Arrow’s chief relations o - cer. “These kids are our future, and we would love for people to give us a call and consider not only helping [CWOP], but all children in foster care.” Laura Aebi and Danica Lloyd con- tributed to this report.
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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