Transcript Provider Safety Forum - Texas Department of Family and Protective

Provider Safety Forum
_________________________
Judge John J. Specia,
DFPS Commissioner
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Keeping Children Safe
• Recent incidents in foster homes have
increased awareness of the importance of
safety.
• Need to assess ability to provide care and safe
environments to abused and neglected children.
• Goal: To utilize these forums for sharing ideas
and ways to enhance safety for children in our
care.
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Child Fatalities in Foster Care
FY 2012
FY 2013
Total
RTB
Total
RTB
Suicide
2
0
2
2
Drowning
1
1
2
2
Sleep Related
0
0
2
1
(1 pending)
Physical Abuse
1
1
1
1
Restraint
0
0
1
0 (Ruled Out)
Medical/SUIDs
14
0
20
1
Neglectful
Supervision
0
0
1
1
Total
18
2
29
8
(1 pending)
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DFPS Child Safety Plan
• CPS Master Conservatorship Investigators
• FBSS Policy Enhancements
• Investigate and Assist Illegal Child Care
• Prevention and Early Intervention Plan
• Provider Safety Forums
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How do we enhance safety?
1.
What can providers and DFPS do to better
ensure child safety within the residential
foster care system?
a. In your experience, what are the best practices for
home screenings and monitoring that enhances safety
in residential foster care settings beyond current
minimum standards?
b. What improvements could be made with technical
assistance that can enhance safety in the residential
foster care system?
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How do we enhance safety?
2.
Should there be additional risk assessment
measures involving background checks,
including criminal or central registry?
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How do we enhance safety?
3.
Children with Primary Medical Needs
(PMN) are some of the most vulnerable
children in foster care due to their medical
needs. What measures should be in place,
beyond or instead of current measures, to
ensure safety of children with PMN?
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How do we enhance safety?
4.
When there is a serious incident in a foster
home/placement and abuse or neglect
cannot immediately be ruled out, how
should the provider respond? How should
DFPS respond?
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How do we enhance safety?
5.
What can providers and DFPS do to
improve and/or increase communications
with foster parents?
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How do we enhance safety?
6.
What type of aggregated data or outcome
measures would be helpful for providers to
receive from DFPS to help improve quality
and safety?
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Thank you!
Thank you for your collaboration with the
Department of Family and Protective
Services in our mission to keep children
protected and connected.
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Contact information
Judge John J. Specia
[email protected]
(512) 438-4119
* Contact *
The Office of Consumer Affairs by:
Phone 1-800-720-7777
Or email [email protected]
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