Interim Report to the 84th Legislature House Select Committee on Child Protection December 2014 HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON CHILD PROTECTION TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES INTERIM REPORT 2014 A REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 84TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE DAWNNA DUKES CHAIR COMMITTEE CLERK PAMELA MCPETERS TIANCA CROCKER POLICY ANALYST Select Committee On Child Protection December 19, 1, 2014 Dawnna Dukes P.O. Box 2910 Chairman Austin, Texas 78768-2910 The Honorable Joe Straus Speaker, Texas House of Representatives Members of the Texas House of Representatives Texas State Capitol, Rm. 2W.13 Austin, Texas 78701 Dear Mr. Speaker and Fellow Members: The Select Committee on Child Protection of the Eighty-third Legislature hereby submits its interim report including the findings and policy recommendations of the committee for consideration by the Eighty-fourth Legislature. The committee held four public hearings, logging in 30 hours, on the interim charges and gathered a broad requisite of knowledge from leading experts and advocates in policy areas outlined by the interim charges. We hope this report will be a valuable guide and point of reference for the policies developed and considered by the Eighty-fourth Legislature. Protecting children from abuse and neglect is one of the essential functions of government and the core mission of Child Protective Services. We thank you for providing this committee the opportunity to serve Texans by studying these important issues related to child protection. Respectfully submitted, _______________________ Dawnna Dukes _______________________ ______________________ Cindy Burkett Tony Dale _______________________ ______________________ Jessica Farrar James Frank _______________________ ______________________ John Frullo Bobby Guerra _______________________ ______________________ Toni Rose J.D. Sheffield Members: Cindy Burkett, Tony Dale, Jessica Farrar, James Frank, John Frullo, Bobby Guerra, Toni Rose J.D. Sheffield TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................ 7 SELECT COMMITTEE ON CHILD PROTECTION ................................................................... 8 INTERIM STUDY CHARGES ...................................................................................................... 9 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 11 BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................... 13 By the Numbers ........................................................................................................................ 13 Partners in Child Protection ...................................................................................................... 13 The Hard Facts on Child Fatalities ........................................................................................... 15 Trends in Child Protection ........................................................................................................ 15 RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................................................. 17 Prevention and Early Intervention ............................................................................................ 17 Investigation .............................................................................................................................. 17 Workforce ................................................................................................................................. 17 Information Sharing .................................................................................................................. 18 Assessment and Screening of Providers ................................................................................... 19 Normalcy and Child Rights ...................................................................................................... 19 DISCUSSION & FINDINGS ....................................................................................................... 21 Prevention and Early Intervention ............................................................................................ 21 Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 21 Findings................................................................................................................................. 21 Investigation .............................................................................................................................. 26 Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 26 Findings................................................................................................................................. 26 Workforce ..................................................................................................................................... 29 Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 29 Findings................................................................................................................................. 30 Information Sharing ...................................................................................................................... 33 Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 33 Findings................................................................................................................................. 33 Assessment and Screening of Providers ....................................................................................... 38 Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 38 Findings................................................................................................................................. 38 Normalcy & Child Rights ............................................................................................................. 43 Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 43 Findings................................................................................................................................. 43 APPENDIX A ............................................................................................................................... 49 APPENDIX B ............................................................................................................................... 50 ENDNOTES ................................................................................................................................. 51 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The House Select Committee on Child Protection would like to extend our gratitude to the members and staff who invested their time and energy into the development of this interim report. The committee also thanks the numerous expert witnesses, state agency representatives, stakeholder organizations and members of the public who provided vital testimony to the committee while working every day to promote the safety and well-being of Texas children. Your input was critical to the creation of this report. 7 SELECT COMMITTEE ON CHILD PROTECTION On May 15, 2014, House Speaker Joe Straus appointed nine members to the Select Committee on Child Protection, a legislative committee charged with studying the incidence of child abuse and neglect fatalities in the state. Leadership in the House of Representatives charged the Select Committee with conducting a broad review of practices and procedures that aim to protect the well-being of children under the purview of state agencies, from family-based preventative programs to out-of-home placements. The goal of the Select Committee was to identify statutory opportunities to improve outcomes for children in state care through streamlined practices, accountability, and strengthening a culture of community partnership to safeguard vulnerable children. The appointment of members to the Select Committee on Child Protection followed the creation of the Protect our Kids Commission during the 83rd session of the Texas Legislature that along with the Select Committee will seek ways to address the alarming number of Texas children who die from preventable causes each year. The fifteen-member appointed Commission is comprised of community members with substantial knowledge of child protection efforts in Texas. A report of the findings of the Commission is due to the Legislature by the end of 2015. The Select Committee held interim hearings on July 1st, July 24th, September 10th, and September 30th. Committee members heard testimony from numerous stakeholders representing governmental agencies, provider organizations, child advocacy organizations, former foster youth, and members of the public. Additionally, staff conducted informational site visits at locations such as Statewide Intake (SWI) and the Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) as well as the Center for Child Protection to strengthen the recommendations of the Select Committee with a better