Jennifer Samp
CBS 7 News
jsamp@cbs7.com
February 14, 2011

Odessa, TX - The numbers are shocking.

Ector County and other counties in West Texas have more child removals per capita than counties in the Dallas and Houston area.

Ector County Attorney Cindy Weir-Nutter says even though the work load for CPS cases gets overwhelming, thank you cards from children all over the Permian Basin are proof the system works.

She reads, “When a family is torn apart due to violence, it beaks your heart, but I’m blessed every day and wake up with a smile knowing there are people like you going the extra mile.”

"It just brings it home."

Weir-Nutter says they're currently working 140 removal cases where children must be removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect.

Other counties average about 60.

"We need more people,” Weir-Nutter said, “its impossible with our case load here to take care of these kids and take care of these cases with one attorney and one staff person."

She met with attorneys from Lubbock and Midland last week.

Now, they will be stepping in to provide relief.

CASA of the Permian Basin is also overwhelmed.

They need volunteers to work with the children as they move though the court system

"The increase of cases means we are not gong to have a CASA member with each child going through the courts," CASA Executive Director Lyn White-Giesler said.

CPS documents state six children have died of abuse in Ector County as of 2010.

Weir-Nutter says they cannot pin point why the numbers are so high and it could be a range from drug abuse, economy, stress, or perhaps increased awareness where many west Texans are reporting child abuse.

http://www.cbs7kosa.com/news/details.asp?ID=23877

Emphasis added by H4K Editor