Updated: Tuesday, 24 Nov 2009, 9:37 PM CST
Published : Tuesday, 24 Nov 2009, 9:37 PM CST

RANDY WALLACE
Investigative Reporter

Every day case workers with Children's Protective Services visit homes to decide what's best for area children living in dangerous and deplorable conditions.

"We try to protect these children as best we can but we don't always get to em in time," said a current C.P.S. case worker who we'll call Sara.

Since "Sara" could be fired for talking with FOX 26 Investigates, we are not identifying her by name, face or even the sound of her voice. Sara is considered a tenured case worker since she's been at the job for three years.

"That's the equivalent of 10 years somewhere else you're that tenured, that's what you're considered very tenured," Sara said. "I think it's ridiculous. I think the turnover speaks volumes to how it's managed and the management I don't see how they sleep at night to be honest."

The CPS worker said having 15 open cases at one time is more than enough to keep a case worker busy.

"There needs to be a cap on the number of cases for each worker," Sara said.

But the CPS case worker showed us documentation for region 6, which includes the greater Houston area. It shows that 28 case workers were juggling at least 30 open cases at a time, 6 case workers had at least 40 open cases.

"But I've seen case loads of 60, 50, 40 even 110, 120 at one time that are open CPS cases," Sara said.

The most troubling thing about all the open cases?

According to CPS's own figures, nearly half of all Texas children killed by abuse belonged to families previously investigated by Texas Child Protective Services, and that tragic statistic has shown no improvement in the last 5 years.

Sara blames some of that on not only huge case loads but pressure from supervisors to close cases within 30 to 60 days.

When we asked Sara if she ever felt pressured to close a case she replied, "Everyday all day everyday."

A spokesperson for CPS told FOX 26 Investigates workers can have what appear to be open cases on paper when in reality some of those cases might need no additional work, just a supervisors signature.

As for supervisors pressuring workers to close cases, the spokesperson said case workers are required to close cases within 60 days.

Sara said she feels pressure to close cases even if it means taking short cuts.

"They don't care how you get it done, but the cases are expected to be closed,"Sara said.

And that leads some to wonder just how many children end up dead after CPS closes the case.

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/investigates/091124-cps-
worker-blows-whistle

Emphasis added by H4K Editor