January 14, 2008

Creating Foster Care Capacity for Abused and Neglected Children

This report was written by Tiffany Roper for the center for Public Policy Priorities. When the state takes an abused or neglected child from their parent, a court names the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) the legal custodian of the child -- essentially making the state the parent of the child. The state must then do for the child what any parent must -- provide food, clothing, and shelter. Since January 2007, however, the state has had to keep over 500 abused and neglected children for at least one night, some for more, in a state office or a hotel room. Every region in the state has had to use offices or hotels, though some more than others. This is only one manifestation of a growing problem -- the state does not have enough foster homes. This policy page examines this problem and makes recommendations for capacity building.