Permanency for Children in Texas State Custody: The Big Picture Jane Burstain, Senior Policy Analyst [email protected]

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Texas Has a Fast Growing Child Population, Many of Whom Live in Poverty

Child Population up by 18%

6 663 942 5 650 627 Child Population Children in Poverty

Child Poverty up by 40%

1 751 000 1 254 000 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Source: DFPS databooks (child pop); KIDS Count (child poverty) 2

Children Coming into CPS in 2011

6.7 million children in Texas 1.8 million children in poverty 297,971 alleged victims of abuse and neglect investigated 50,597 (72%) Family Based Safety Services (no children removed) 70,196 children in cases opened for CPS services 19,599 (28%) Substitute Care (at least 1 child in family removed)

Source: DFPS 2011 Databook and Texas KIDS Count

CPS Reform

• Governor’s executive order in 2004 to start comprehensive reform of CPS • 79 th Legislature (2005) enacts SB 6 with focus on improving investigations • 80 th Legislature (2007) enacts SB 758 with focus on keeping children safe at home • 81 st (2009) and 82 permanency nd (2011) Legislature continue reforms with focus on improving

CPS Reform – Keeping Kids Safe at Home • Family Group Decision Making at all stages • More FBSS caseworkers and family support services • Enhanced Family Centered Safety Decision Making • Statutory and policy structure for parental child safety placements 5

Children Are More Likely to Receive Family Based Safety Services

Of Children on Cases Opened, Percentage Receiving Family Based Safety Services 72% 69%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Source: DFPS databooks and DFPS data 6

Family Based Safety Services Are Successful at Preventing a Removal Children in FBSS FBSS removals

87 537 60 540 3 805 4 313

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Source: DFPS data 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

US Texas

Texas Removal Rate Lower Than US Average Removals per 1,000 children in population

4,2 3,4 2,7 2,4

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Source: AFCARS

CPS Reform – Improving Permanency • Using relative caregivers • Financial support while child is in CPS custody • Permanency Care Assistance program for relatives who take PMC • Dedicated kinship caseworkers 9

CPS Reform – Improving Permanency • Increasing adoptions • Project PUSH and specialized adoption units to help expedite adoption process • Revamp of Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE) - works more like internet match sites • Prospective families create on-line profile and attach home study • Immediate notification to family if child they are interested in does not seem like a good match • Caseworkers can see what types of children families are interested in and send them suggestions • TARE recently awarded “Best in Texas Award” and “2012 Digital Government Achievement Award” 10

CPS Reform – Improving Permanency • Permanency for children in PMC without termination of parental rights • Review all permanency options at every placement review hearing (TFC §263.503) • Project PMC to Permanency – focus on permanency for children under 6 years old 11

Children Are More Likely to Exit to Permanency

Exits to Permanent Home (Reunify, Relative PMC or Adoption) 91% 85%

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: DFPS databooks and data warehouse report PP_20 – 2012 is data available as of September 7, 2012

43%

Older Youth Are More Likely to Exit to Permanency

Exits to Permanency for Youth 14 or Older at Time of Exit 50%

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: Data warehouse report PP_20 – 2012 is data available as of September 7, 2012

Permanency Fairly Consistent Around the State

Exits to Permanency in 2011 86% 88% 89% 89% 89% 90% 90% 90% 91% 91% 92% State Avg 90% 1 9 2 11 8 6 Region 7 10

Source: DFPS databook

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Increase in Permanency Driven Primarily by Relatives

43% 34% 33% 19% 33% Relative (PMC or Adopt) Reunification Non-Relative Adopt 15%

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: DFPS databooks and data warehouse report PP_20 – 2012 is data available as of September 7, 2012

Moving Children out of PMC

Children in PMC at End of Fiscal Year 51% 42% 40%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: DFPS data warehouse report PP_03 – 2012 is data available as of September 7, 2012

Children in PMC Varies by Region

Children in PMC at End of 2012 32% 33% 36% 38% 38% 39% 40% 41% 41% 42% 51% State Avg 40% 11 7 4 5 3 2 Region 8 10 1 9 6

Source: DFPS data warehouse report PP_03 – 2012 is data available as of September 7, 2012

Fewer Children in DFPS Custody Long Term

Children in DFPS Custody for 3 or More Years at End of Fiscal Year 6094 5329 4554

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: DFPS data warehouse report PP_01 – 2012 is data available as of September 7, 2012

1189

More than 1,300 Youth Aging Out Every Year

1529 1361

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: DFPS databooks and data warehouse report PP_20 – 2012 is data available as of September 7, 2012

Permanency: Moving Forward • Improving child’s well-being while in care • Improve educational stability and outcomes • Imbed Trauma Informed Care into practice so child’s needs are met • Foster care redesign to keep children closer to home and with their siblings • Continued focus on reducing psychotropic medication use

Permanency: Moving Forward • Finding a forever home for every child • Permanency Roundtables to support creative, child specific permanency options • Possible Title IV-E Waiver to support permanency • Foster care redesign to get children to safe and appropriate permanency faster • Diligent recruitment grant with CASA to recruit potential foster and adoptive families • Regions 3 (Dallas), 4 (Tyler) and 5 (Beaumont) • Advisory Committee on Promoting Adoption of Minority Children • Partnered with Texas Disproportionality Task Force, faith-based communities and Casey Family Programs to host community adoption forums

CPS Budget for 2014-15 • Base budget of $2.4 billion for 2014-15 – Overall increase of about 4% from 2012-13 • Estimated spending for 2012 and budget for 2013 – LBB instructions include caseload growth only for foster care, adoption subsidies and permanency care assistance – 2% drop in funding for direct delivery staff due to loss in federal Title IV-E funding • Projected increase in caseloads for investigations, family based safety services and conservatorship as compared to 2013 Source: DFPS Legislative Appropriations Request

$140 Million GR Requested for CPS Exceptional Items

Restore PEI, PAL and adoption services, $35 million Enhance CPS staff and services, $69 million Maintain CPS staff and services, $36 million

Source: DFPS Legislative Appropriations Request