Oversight fine costs Texas $4M
April 13, 2008
The Administration for Children and Families, a unit of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, found during a 2006 review that state "conservatorship caseworkers" didn't visit foster children and their birth parents frequently enough.
Written by Robert T. Garrett, The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN – Texas has paid a $4 million federal fine for not seeing its foster children often enough, state officials confirmed Saturday.
The Administration for Children and Families, a unit of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, found during a 2006 review that state "conservatorship caseworkers" didn't visit foster children and their birth parents frequently enough.
The workers seek to reunify families, if possible. They also make sure the children are well cared for in foster homes or group residential settings. The federal government pays most of the state foster system's costs and periodically reviews performance.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has contested the fine. But the department paid the money on time last month so interest charges wouldn't accrue, spokesman Darrell Azar said.
"The penalty is unwarranted and counterproductive in light of the significant improvement Texas has made in child outcomes since 2002," he said.
Mr. Azar said the state met or exceeded 13 of 14 federal child welfare performance standards in the 2006 review. Mr. Azar said that since then Texas has made progress – though he didn't provide specific numbers – toward the federal government's goal that by 2011, 90 percent of foster children will be seen monthly by their state caseworker.
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