Help our kids!

State agency doesn't have enough workers to protect abused kids

There is a severe backlog of Child Protective Services cases, according to this article, and the reason for such a backlog is that there are too few caseworkers. The author calls for extreme measures to be taken in order to remedy the situation.

The author hopes that this article will effect state leaders (among them Dr.Kyle Janek, Texas Health and Human Services commissioner), either directly or via concerned citizen readers who respond by making their voice heard on the issue.

It makes sense that this is an issue that the left-leaning Austin American Statesman Editorial Board brings to its readers. It highlights very clearly a severe lack of funding in social services at the state level. And it pricks the heart of any citizen who cares for children (which tends to be most mentally and emotionally healthy readers). It is interesting that the other news source cited for supporting facts is the Houston Chronicle, which is also known as a liberal newspaper.

In addition to the Chronicle, the author cites CPS officials as sources for information.  A respected newspaper and a primary source build the trustworthiness and credibility of the article. 

The argument is well reasoned.  There are too many backlogged CPS cases.  This is unacceptable because it means that there are children who are not receiving the care and protection that they need.  It appears that the backlog is due to too few workers.  There are too few workers due to high employee turnover.  Low wages and heavy caseloads cause employees to leave for better jobs.  Therefore, Texas should hire more CPS caseworkers and pay them better.

The author proposes this solution by citing a similar tactic utilized by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission in relieving backlog in food stamp processing.  The disconnect however, is that fixing the food stamp backlog provided the state with millions of dollars in federal funding.  Fixing the CPS case backlog will provide the state with a few hundred more kids in Child Protective Services.  As much as readers may love kids and care about their protection, money motivates state leaders more than pretty much anything.  Especially in Texas.

I absolutely agree with the need to relieve backlogged CPS cases.  However, I don’t see Texas making the necessary steps to solve the problem the way this author suggests.