AGE EFFECTS ON PLACEMENT
1-7 nights in CWOP
8-14 nights in CWOP
15-21 nights in CWOP
22-28 nights in CWOP
29-35 nights in CWOP
36+ nights in CWOP
In 2021, children in Texas ages 13-17 generally remained without placement longer than their younger counterparts as they need more specialized levels of care, according to DFPS.
0-2: 22 3-5: 42 6-12: 252 13-17: 1,103
0-2: 1 3-5: 4 6-12: 77 13-17: 379
0-2: 1 3-5: 1 6-12: 28 13-17: 193
0-2: 0 3-5: 1 6-12: 23 13-17: 126
0-2: 0 3-5: 2
0-2: 0 3-5: 1 6-12: 12 13-17: 139
Age range in years
6-12: 16 13-17: 72
SOURCE: DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
The Hays County Child Protec- tive Board provides financial assis- tance to children in foster care. The board meets once a month to review requests from CPS to help children who were removed from their home with little to no personal belongings, much like Welch’s placement. Board Chair Lee Ikels said Hays County provides money to children for clothes, medical needs, extracur- ricular activities and more. While the board helps supplement the needs of foster families, Ikels said, there is still a gap between removing a child and finding them a foster home as DFPS has reported a rise in the num- ber of children without placement. Finding a place to stay From September 2019 to August 2021, the number of children with- out placement, or CWOP, rose from 53 to 395 with a peak of 416 in July, according to DFPS reports. CWOP are children for whom CPS cannot find a suitable or safe placement and are placed in other temporary emer- gency care such as a shelter. Data from DFPS reflects that age correlates with the length of time a child remains without placement: the older they are, the longer they are without. Children up to age 5 rarely stay without placement longer than a week or two. By the time children reach 13 years old, however, the data indicates that they remain without
foster home for children in need. The Welches obtained their license through Caring Hearts for Children, a nonprofit agency licensed and funded through DFPS to provide placement and transitional living to children. The day the Welches received their license, they provided respite care to a set of twins. “Anyone can be a respite for a fos- ter family. Respite is like a short-term break for foster parents,” Welch said. “We come in and keep [children] for up to two weeks.” Respite care services are child care services provided for a short period of time, from 24 hours up to 60 days, according to DFPS. Over the years, the Welches cared for around 15 children placed with them from 6 months old to a year and a half, and they have provided respite care to almost 10 different families. They said they usually have two children placed with them at a time, and that comes with its own set of challenges. Welch said that she has learned to be more flexible as their time being foster parents requires case workers visiting the house, meeting the child’s biological parents and even being notified in the middle of the night of a new placement. The Welches said they once got a call at 4 a.m. for a child they fostered for a year who arrived at their house with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.
GET INVOLVED
Foster There are various ways to help children in need throughout Hays County through donations and volunteer opportunities.
Donations
Support shelters and organizations by donating items such as:
Partner with a local foster agency. Attend an informational meeting through the DFPS or an area agency. Pass a background check, be financially stable and have a safe home. Complete a training program to learn how to care for children in the foster care system. Participate in a home study to identify which children would best fit in the home, to determine the parent’s ability to meet a child’s needs and to ensure the home meets standards.
• new bed sheets • new towels • new clothing
• toys and games • books • toiletry items
Donate locally through the Hays County Child Protective Board, www.hccpbtx.org.
Volunteer
Become certified to babysit foster children through the DFPS or another organization. Make a meal or assist a family with household chores. Help out in community outreach events and fundraisers.
Adopt
When a person’s parental rights are terminated by the state, children may be adopted by a family member, guardian or other trusted adult in their life.
Advocate
Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate at www.casacentex.org.
SOURCES: COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES OF CENTRAL TEXAS, DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, SOUTH TEXAS ALLIANCE FOR ORPHANS/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
placement longer due to their higher levels of need. “Unfortunately, right now, it’s tak- ing a lot longer than what we feel is appropriate [to find placement] for the children,” Hudson said. “There just are not enough appropriate placements. It is [CPS’] responsibility as the state’s arm to take care of those children. We’re trying to help locate the best
placement; we can be an aid to CPS ... it would ultimately be up to the state of Texas to make sure that the child’s needs are met [while in] CPS care.” Lauren Canterberry contributed to this report.
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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