Posted on Tue, Jan. 29, 2008

By MARTHA DELLER
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

FORT WORTH -- Last April, 93 Texas children -- including 16 from Tarrant County -- each spent two or three nights in Child Protective Services offices or hotels because caseworkers couldn't find appropriate foster homes to take them.

That propelled child advocates to rethink initiatives intended to protect children from being abused or neglected.

A little more than three months after the latest initiative began, the 35-member Strategic Task Force authorized its study committee to move forward with recommendations unveiled Monday. "I'm very excited about the collaboration," said state District Judge Jean Boyd, chief judge over the juvenile courts. "CPS has been in crisis. Without the support of this collaboration, we wouldn't see as many successful results. I hope to see more [family] reunification."

Who helped develop the recommendations?

Representatives from 23 Tarrant County agencies including Child Protective Services, United Way of Tarrant County, Cook Children's Health Care System, Tarrant County Family and Juvenile courts, the Fort Worth school district, the University of Texas at Arlington, the Parenting Center, the Women's Center, Alliance for Children, Catholic Charities, Lena Pope Home and All Church Home for Children.

What are the recommendations?

One-stop neighborhood Family Support Centers to offer parenting classes, child development assessments, and services from private and public agencies;

Private-public collaborations to customize family service plans and quicker response to emergencies;

Finding ways to pool private and public funds to localize child protection efforts;

Strengthen relationships among CPS, the courts and the community to enhance child-parent visitations and improve academic outcomes for children in state custody.

Why does the task force believe these programs are needed?

To involve the community in protecting all children from child abuse and neglect -- not just CPS. "All of us are responsible if something happens to these kids, not just CPS," said Michael Steinert, the Fort Worth school district's director of family and community resources.

How will they be implemented?

The task force plans to contract with a part-time facilitator who will seek funding and coordinate the agencies. Agencies with common interests will be encouraged to begin partnering on projects as soon as possible. "Nobody has to wait to be appointed or assigned to a project. These are all priorities," said Pat Cheong, the United Way's assistant vice president of public policy.

Which recommendations are already under way?

Boyd has begun a Family Drug Court to help people suffering from substance abuse. That program could help reunite families, said Wayne Carson, All Church Home for Children's executive director who led the group that developed the recommendations.

How is the task force funded?

A $75,000 grant and about $32,000 from in-kind contributions paid for expenses of the nine-month planning process. About $22,000 remains from that grant, which task force members hope to augment with additional grants.

How long will it take to implement the recommendations?

The short-term projects are expected to be in place within 12 months.

MARTHA DELLER, 817-390-7857
mdeller@star-telegram.com

http://www.star-telegram.com/metro_news/story/438286.html

Emphasis added by H4K Editor