Today I was able to attend a continuing education seminar done for CPS, but was also open to CASA advocates. I decided it would be good to know what the judge had to say to CPS about things concerning these cases so that I could work better with the caseworkers on my own cases. The courtroom was packed with probably 100-125 people, about 15 of which were CASA and the others CPS caseworkers. I did learn a few very valuable things, one of which I am hoping can help one of my kids get to go live with his grandparents in Maryland after the July 11 hearing. Here are a few of the astounding (to me) statistics we were given:
1. In the Bell County court through which CPS cases are heard, there were 365 NEW cases introduced in 206
2. There were a total of 687 children in CPS cases in 2016
3. The court had 3,377 cases on the docket in 2016--that's for one judge!
4. Over 90% of the parents qualify for court appointed attorneys (meaning they are indigent)
5. 50% of all cases have to do with substance abuse of some kind by the parents
6. Texas is the 47th in the country on spending for mental illness/drug problems for these parents
7. Texas is 43rd in the country in spending on CPS, child protection
8. Until a few years ago, Texas was #1 in the country for child deaths at the hands of family.
9. The turnover rate for caseworkers based on numbers in Austin was 46%.
10. If a child in the system is placed in a RTC (Resident Training Center which is for older children), it costs the state between $6K-7K a month per child for them to be there.
The system is broken, the family structure is of our culture is broken, the moral values of our culture are broken, and it looks there is no end to the escalation of children getting caught in this deplorable situation.
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