HOW YOU CAN HELP
children designated as CWOP. On Jan. 10, the panel reported its ndings, which said the number of children designated as CWOP began at 165 in January 2021, peaking to 416 in July, a 152% increase. Since then, it has declined slightly but remains sizable, according to the report. The document, which described Texas’ foster care system as “woefully inadequate,” recommends increasing mental health resources; improving guidelines and infrastructure; and eliminating barriers to services as ways to improve Texas’ current state of care. These recommendations will impact DFPS and partner agencies like Arrow. “[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 [children designated as CWOP] but all children in foster care. They’re not by their own fault—they’re there because something happened to them to put them in that position.” Danica Lloyd contributed to this report.
designated as CWOP] crisis on the court’s heightened monitoring orders,” Masters said. “While themonitors have noted DFPS’ ‘collaborative’ e orts of listening to concerns of its stakehold- ers, it is an undisputed fact that DFPS cannot do this alone.” She said caseworker turnover result- ing from overworked employees has contributed to the growing number of children designated as CWOP. Between February and July, the DFPS hired 319 caseworkers, but 309 caseworkers left their roles during that time. Exit sur- veys in 2021 said 86% cited work-re- lated stress as a cause for ending their employment, up from 40% in 2020. In Fort Bend County, the number of children receiving DFPS services decreased by 92 from 2019 to 2020. Data for 2021 is not yet available. Me ord attributed the 2020 drop to decreased contact between children and mandated reporters. “Initially, reports of child abuse went down because children weren’t going to school,” she said. “Teachers, our largest reporters, weren’t seeing them in person.... but when things started to open up, the numbers went up.” In October, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott approved the creation of an expert panel to analyze the rising number of
Ruthanne Me ord, CEO at Child Advocates of Fort Bend, said the best way people can support the foster system is to open their home to a child in need. Di erent agencies have varying processes, but most have similar requirements, which are as follows: The rst step to becoming a foster or adoptive parent is to attend an information meeting. Because the Department of Family and Protective Services is not hosting meetings in Region 6, they must nd a meeting through a partner agency, such as Arrow Child & Family Ministries. ATTEND AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING Prospective foster and adoptive parents must provide a child with a safe, nurturing and stable environment; meet background check requirements; and be nancially stable. Sometimes, this step requires an in-home visit. MEET NEEDED REQUIREMENTS Prospective parents must complete a 35-hour, competency-based, training program. Training will help prospective foster and adoptive parents help parent children who have been abused and neglected and the child welfare system. COMPLETE PRESERVICE TRAINING The nal step for most agencies is a home study. More in-depth than the initial home visit, this study will go over prospective parents’ personal history, family interests, and lifestyle and childcare experience. It aims to identify which children would best t in a home and a parent’s ability to meet a child’s needs, as well as ensuring a home meets federal standards. PARTICIPATE IN A HOME STUDY
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
SOURCES: CHILD ADVOCATES OF FORT BEND COUNTY, A WORLD FOR CHILDREN COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
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