Page 27

CPS
Child Protective Services Overview

Total Average Filled Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Staff*

Caseworkers: FTE's
Investigation
2,133.6
Family-Based Safety Services
871.5
Conservatorship
1,837.9
FAD
192.5
Kinship
196.9
Other Workers
128.1
Supervisors
835.3
Program Directors/Administrators
154.0
Admin/Clerical
790.9
Case Aides
574.4
Other Staff
981.3
CPS Program Support
515.0
Total CPS Staff
9,211.4

Worker Demographics

Turnover Rate  
25.7%
Agency Tenure Less than 1 Year
21.8%
  1-3 Years
37.2%
  Greater than 3 Years
41.0%
Entry Salary*  
$32,976
Average Age  
36.4
Race/Ethnicity  Anglo
37.6%
  African-American
32.9%
  Hispanic
28.1%
  Other
1.4%

Supervisor Demographics

Turnover Rate  
9.5%
Tenure as Supervisor Less than 1 Year
15.9%
  1-3 Years
28.5%
  Greater than 3 Years
55.6%
Entry Salary*  
$42,244
Average Age  
41.6
Race/Ethnicity  Anglo
46.6%
  Hispanic
26.6%
  African-American
25.2%
  Other
1.5%

CPS Expenditures*

CPS Staff
$550,144,621
TWC Purchased Day Care Services
$49,390,967
Purchased Client Services
$72,158,900
Foster Care Payments
$402,938,794
Adoption Subsidy Payments
$240,370,491
Relative Caregiver Payments
$11,849,600
Total CPS Expenditures
$1,326,853,373

*Source: DFPS Office of Finance and FY 2016 Operating Budget (plus benefit replacement pay).

NOTE: Investigators receive a $5,000 stipend after 6 months from start date.

Description of the Report Investigation Process

Step 1: Report Assigned for Investigation or Alternative Response
Step 2: Risk Assessment
  • No Risk: Case Closed
  • Risk Indicated: Continue to Next Step
Step 3: Child Safe at Home?
  • Yes: Family Provided Services/Referrals
  • No: Continue to Next Step
Step 4: Seek Safe Emergency Placement
  • Relative Available: Child Placed with Relative
  • Relative Not Available: Continue to Next Step
Step 5: DFPS Petitions Court for Custody of Child
  • Denied: Family Provided Services/Referrals
  • Granted: Continue to Next Step
Step 6: Child Placed in Substitute Care (Out of home care)
  • Services Provided to Family
Step 7: Court Approves Permanency for Child
  • Court Approved: Permanent Custody to DFPS
  • Court Denied: Continue to Next Step
Step 8: Child Reunified with Parents, Permanent Custody to Relative, or Adoption

Note: The process is for reference only and does not necessarily
represent the flow of a case.

Statistics FY 2015

  • Texas State Child Population 7,311,923
  • Children, Alleged Victims 290,471
  • Children in Confirmed Investigations 108,167
  • Children Removed 17,151

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Page 28-29

Child Protective Services Vision, Mission, and Values

CPS Vision: “Children First: Protected and Connected”

Mission

The Mission of Child Protective Services is to protect children and to act in the children’s best interest. To seek active involvement of the children’s parents and other family members to solve problems that lead to abuse and neglect.

The Values are:

  • Respect for culture
  • Inclusiveness of families, youth and community
  • Integrity in decision making
  • Compassion for all
  • Commitment to reducing disproportionality

Most Common...

  • Person reporting abuse/neglect for completed investigations
    • School (20%)
  • Allegation confirmed
    • Neglectful Supervision (69%)
  • Confirmed perpetrator of abuse/neglect
    • Relationship: Parent (79%)
    • Gender: Female (56%)
    • Age: Age 26-35 (42%)
  • Characteristic of confirmed victim
    • Age: Age 1 to 3 (22%)
    • Gender: Female (51%)

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Legal Responsibility for Child Protective Services

Statutory References

  • Social Security Act
  • Texas Family Code
  • Human Resources Code
  • Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
  • Indian Child Welfare Act
  • Adam Walsh Act

Major Provisions

  • Definitions of abuse and neglect of children
  • Mandatory reporting of suspected abuse or neglect of children
  • Prepare and disseminate statistics by county relating to CPS in an annual report made available to the legislature and general public
  • Responsibility for receiving reports of suspected abuse or neglect of children
  • Responsibility for thorough investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect allegedly committed by a person responsible for a child's care, custody or welfare
  • Responsibility to assign priorities and prescribe investigative procedures for investigations based on the severity and immediacy of the alleged harm to the child
  • Take action to protect abused and neglected children from further harm
  • Establish review teams to evaluate department casework and decision-making related to investigations of child abuse or neglect
  • Employ Child Safety Specialists to conduct staff reviews and evaluations of cases determined to involve high risk, monitor cases with multiple referrals, and approve decisions and assessments related to investigations that involve a high risk to the health or safety of a child
  • Work with children and their families, providing services to prevent further abuse, help alleviate the effects of the abuse suffered, prevent removal of the child from the home, and provide reunification services when appropriate for the return of the child to the home
  • When necessary, secure appropriate court orders and take possession of a child if there is an immediate danger to the physical health or safety of the child or the child has been a victim of neglect or sexual abuse and that continuation in the home would be contrary to the child's welfare
  • Make reasonable efforts to secure the return of the child
  • Develop a service plan in conference with the child's parents to determine return of the child to the child's parents, termination of parental rights and placement of the child for adoption, or because of the child's special  needs or exceptional circumstances continue the child's care out of the child's home
  • Provide substitute care for children until the problems have been sufficiently resolved
  • Provide permanent placement for children who cannot safely return to their home
  • Establish a database of all verified foster homes willing to accept foster care placement of a child in care
  • Recruit potential adoptive parents for children whose parents have had their parental rights terminated
  • Requirements for frequency and location of contact with children in substitute care
  • Requirements for conducting criminal background and central registry checks of foster and adoptive parents

The federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, requires DFPS to:

  • Provide written notification to maternal and paternal grandparents and other adult relatives regarding a child's removal and placement in state custody and support options
  • Ensure youth aging out of state care have a Transition Plan developed within 90 days of turning 18 or the date leaving CPS extended foster care
  • Seek to have education stability for children in DFPS custody
  • Have a health oversight and coordination plan
  • Keep siblings in custody placed together.  If this is not possible, the state must provide for frequent visitation or other ongoing interaction between the siblings, unless the state shows frequent visits or other interaction would be contrary to the safety or well-being of any of the siblings
  • Make eligibility changes for the Title IV-E adoption assistance program to promote adoption of children with special needs
  • Provide information about Adoption Tax Credits during training for adoptive parents

The federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act allows and the Texas Legislature supported:

  • Establishing a relative guardianship subsidy program.  For Texas, this is a subsidy program called the Permanency Care Assistance program for relatives taking permanent managing conservatorship of a child.  This program is intended to provide an additional option for children and youth who might otherwise remain in kinship foster care.  It is not intended to be a long term foster care program.
  • Allowing youth aging out of care to stay in extended foster care for a variety of reasons until they turn 21.
  • Extending adoption assistance benefits and Permanency Care Assistance benefits until the youth turns 21 if the adoption assistance agreement or Permanency Care Assistance agreement was signed after the youth turns 16.
  • Authorizing federally recognized tribes to apply for IV-E funding directly.

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Page 30-32

Concepts Guiding Risk Determination

Child Vulnerability

  • Child fragility
  • Child behavior

Home Environment

  • Stressors
  • Dangerous exposure
  • Social climate
  • Social violence

Caregiver Capability

  • Knowledge
  • Skills
  • Capacity

Quality of Care

  • Quality of connection
  • Emotional care
  • Physical care

Response to CPS

  • Attitude
  • Deception

Maltreatment Pattern

  • Chronicity
  • Current severity
  • Trends

Protective Capacities

  • Protective capacities

Federal Outcomes Used to Assess Child Welfare Services

Safety Outcomes

  • Safety Outcome 1: Children are, first and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect.
  • Safety Outcome 2: Children are safely maintained in their homes whenever possible and

Permanency Outcomes

  • Permanency Outcome 1: Children have permanency and stability in their living situations.
  • Permanency Outcome 2: The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children.

Well-Being Outcomes

  • Well-Being Outcome 1: Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children’s needs.
  • Well-Being Outcome 2: Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs.
  • Well-Being Outcome 3: Children receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental health needs.

NOTES ABOUT CPS DATA

Caseloads

Average daily caseloads are calculated using the methodology set forth by the Legislative Budget Board (LBB).  For each type of caseworker, (Investigation, Family-Based Safety Services, Substitute Care, Foster/Adoptive Home Development and Kinship), the LBB methodology counts the number of open stages.   Caseworkers may have more than one type of stage on their workload.

Intake and Investigation

  • An intake or investigation represents a report of abuse or neglect and can involve multiple children. 
  • The data on completed investigations does not include investigative stages that were administratively closed or merged into another investigation.
  • All completed investigations have a case disposition and a risk finding.
  • A case disposition reflects the finding on the allegations of abuse or neglect and can include any of the following:
    • Confirmed Investigations
      • Reason to believe – Based on preponderance of evidence, staff concluded that abuse or neglect occurred.
    • Unconfirmed Investigations
      • Ruled out - Staff determined, based on available information, it is reasonable to conclude that abuse or neglect has not occurred.
      • Unable to complete – Before staff could reach a conclusion, the persons involved in the report moved, could not be located or refused to cooperate.
      • Unable to determine – Staff concluded that none of the other dispositions were appropriate.
  • A risk finding reflects whether there is a reasonable likelihood of abuse or neglect in the immediate or foreseeable future.  Only those investigations that are identified as risk indicated are eligible to be opened for family preservation or conservatorship services.

Children in DFPS Custody, Substitute Care and Foster Care

  • DFPS custody includes all children under the age of 18 over whom DFPS has legal custody, regardless of their placement.   This includes children living with relatives, in foster care or on a trial home visit with their parents. 
  • Substitute care includes all children who are living in a DFPS out of home placement.  It does not include children in DFPS custody who are living with their parents on a trial home visit.  But unless specifically noted, it does include youth over 18 who are in extended foster care but are not in DFPS custody (because they are legal adults). 
  • Foster care is a subset of substitute care and includes all children living in a verified foster care placement.  It includes children living with relatives who are verified foster parents but does not include children living with relative caregivers who have not been verified as foster parents.
  • Paid foster care is a subset of foster care and includes all children living in a verified foster care placement where the state is making foster care payments.

Race and Ethnicity

As recommended by the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to ensure consistency across all HHSC agencies, in 2012 DFPS adopted the HHSC methodology on how to categorize race and ethnicity.  As a result, data broken down by race and ethnicity in 2012 and after is not directly comparable to race and ethnicity data in 2011 and before.

Page References for Data Related to Child Protective Services

Prevention and Early Intervention:

State and Region:  247-251, 111, 115, 117, 121
County:  247-250

Staff and Caseloads:

State and Region:  27, 30, 35-36

Cross Subject Summaries:

State and Region:  42, 56-57
County: 156-161, 187-189

Child Abuse and Neglect Reports and Investigations:

State and Region:  37-41
County: 144-149, 150-155, 162-167, 168-173

Child Abuse and Neglect Victims and Perpetrators:

State and Region:  42-45, 46
County: 162-167, 168-173, 174-179

Child Fatalities:

State and Region:   70-71
County: 180

Family-Based Safety Services:

State and Region:  45
County: 181-186, 187-189

Family Group Decision Making Services

Notes on data: 68
State and Region: 69-70

Removals

State and region: 47
County: 190-195, 196-201

Children and Youth in DFPS Custody, Substitute Care or Foster Care

Number of Children and Youth:

State and Region: 49, 51, 52, 53
County: 190-194

Legal Status of Children in DFPS Legal Custody:

State: 52
County: 220-226

Living Arrangements for Children and Youth in Substitute and Foster Care:

State and Region: 49, 53-54, 58-59
County: 190-195

Characteristics of Children and Youth in Foster Care

State and Region: 50, 58-59, 60
County: 196-207

Goals and Exits for Children and Youth

State and Region: 55, 61-62
County:  208-213, 214-219

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Page 33

Texas Child Population Ages Birth through 17 Years
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Child Population
Ages Birth - 17 Years
1 Lubbock
233,103
2 Abilene
131,651
3 Arlington
1,984,298
4 Tyler
278,160
5 Beaumont
189,027
6 Houston
1,804,107
7 Austin
831,086
8 San Antonio
739,175
9 Midland
159,694
10 El Paso
254,926
11 Edinburg
706,696
Statewide
7,311,923

Population Data Source:  Population Estimates and Projections Program, Texas State Data Center, Office of the State Demographer and the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio.
Current Population Estimates and Projections Data as of December 2015.

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Page 34

Child Protective Services Completed Investigations
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Completed Investigations
1 Lubbock
 6,737
2 Abilene
 5,704
3 Arlington
 43,834
4 Tyler
 9,199
5 Beaumont
 6,490
6 Houston
 34,678
7 Austin
 22,526
8 San Antonio
 19,973
9 Midland
 4,906
10 El Paso
 4,904
11 Edinburg
 17,876
Unknown
 41
Statewide
 176,868

Note: 41 investigations did not have a Texas county designated.

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CPS Average Daily Caseload by Caseworker Type Fiscal Year 2014

Region Investigation Family-based Safety Services Substitute Care Services Foster/Adoptive Home Development Kinship
1 Lubbock
19.9
14.5
32.2
19.4
30.1
2 Abilene
17.6
19.3
30.1
21.7
31.6
3 Arlington
18.3
15.3
32.3
16.8
34.7
4 Tyler
16.8
16.6
28.3
22.6
28.7
5 Beaumont
17.9
11.8
27.5
25.8
40.1
6 Houston
21.0
17.3
26.7
16.4
34.9
7 Austin
24.0
14.7
34.2
20.2
35.6
8 San Antonio
19.2
16.8
33.3
23.9
24.2
9 Midland
19.9
15.0
37.4
18.6
59.7
10 El Paso
17.5
17.8
31.3
23.6
32.1
11 Edinburg
18.9
12.9
32.6
13.1
19.8
Statewide
19.5
15.6
31.1
19.5
32.1

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Page 36

CPS Average Daily Caseload by Caseworker Type Fiscal Year 2015

Stage of Service
by Region		 Investigation Family-based Safety Services Substitute Care Services Foster/Adoptive Home Development Kinship
1 Lubbock
16.4
13.2
27.2
16.4
24.0
2 Abilene
16.6
18.3
30.8
10.2
25.5
3 Arlington
17.5
15.9
29.6
16.3
36.0
4 Tyler
17.0
15.0
32.4
21.2
31.5
5 Beaumont
14.4
12.6
26.8
20.6
40.3
6 Houston
18.1
18.4
24.9
13.0
30.4
7 Austin
16.6
16.6
31.1
19.1
38.3
8 San Antonio
16.5
12.7
26.8
21.9
25.4
9 Midland
14.5
13.2
34.1
9.1
48.4
10 El Paso
11.9
12.5
20.1
16.9
25.2
11 Edinburg
14.3
13.8
30.0
12.1
25.5
Statewide
16.5
15.1
28.3
17.2
31.4

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Page 37

CPS Initial Intakes Promoted to Investigation and Alternative Response*
Fiscal Year 2015

  Count Percentage
Initial Intakes
274,448
100.0%
Screened out by CPS as PN
46,336
16.9%
Opened as Alternative Response (P2)
4,047
1.5%
Opened as Investigation (P1/P2)
224,065
81.6%
P1
56,019
20.4%
P2
168,046
61.2%

*See CPS Definitions for a description of Alternative Response.

Risk Assessment Finding of Completed Child Abuse/Neglect Investigations
Fiscal Year 2015

Disposition of Investigation Confirmed Unconfirmed State Total
Total
40,318
135,743
176,061
No Significant Risk Identified
121
10,326
10,447
No Significant Risk Identified (Percent)
0.1%
5.9%
5.9%
Risk Controlled
18,019
88,890
106,909
Risk Controlled (Percent)
10.2%
50.5%
60.7%
Risk Indicated
21,969
6,860
28,829
Risk Indicated (Percent)
12.5%
3.9%
16.4%
Risk Not Applicable Blank/ Invalid
209
29,667
29,876
Risk Not Applicable Blank/Invalid (Percent)
0.1%
16.9%
17.0%

NOTE: In FY 2015, CPS adopted the Structured Decision Making Risk Assessment tool to help staff make better decisions and focus resources on cases that need them the most.  Before adopting the tool statewide, CPS tested the tool by having staff complete a paper version and storing it in the external case file.  In FY 15, there were 807 completed investigations (188 confirmed and 619 unconfirmed) with an SDM risk assessment done by paper.  The results of those risk assessments are not included in the Risk Assessment Finding data above.

Completed Investigations Where Family Violence* Was Indicated in the Risk Assessment by Fiscal Year

  2012 2013 2014 2015
Complete Investigations
166,211
160,240
168,164
176,868
Family Violence Indicated
53,705
55,754
57,624
57,767
Family Violence Not Indicated
112,505
104,486
110,540
119,101

* Family violence risk is determined by a positive response to one of two questions on the risk assessment: (1) Has any person in the home ever been a victim of family violence, and (2) Has any person in the home ever been a perpetrator of family violence

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Page 38

Case Action for Risk Indicated Completed Investigations
Fiscal Year 2015

Case Action for Risk Indicated Completed Investigations Count %
Opened for Services
27,261
94.6%
Not Open for Services
1,568
5.4%
Total
28,829
100%

Note: Only investigations with a risk finding of "Risk Indicated" can be opened for further services. Opened for services is defined as services provided after the investigation was completed. Reasons for an investigation to be risk indicated but not opened for ongoing services include the family was unwilling to participate in family preservation services and formal legal intervention was not an option, or the family moved and, despite CPS' best efforts, CPS could not locate them to provide services.

Source of Report for Completed Child Abuse/Neglect Investigations by Fiscal Year

Validated APS Victims FY2013 Number FY2013 Percent FY2014 Number FY2014 Percent FY2015 Number FY2015 Percent
 
School
33,146
17.5%
37,440
18.6%
41,452
19.5%
 
Medical Personnel
33,464
17.6%
35,111
17.5%
37,887
17.8%
 
Law Enforcement
30,853
16.3%
32,070
16.0%
34,906
16.4%
 
Relative
21,408
11.3%
22,525
11.2%
22,840
10.7%
 
Parent
15,329
8.1%
16,211
8.1%
16,580
7.8%
 
Other
13,482
7.1%
14,273
7.1%
14,811
7.0%
 
Friend-Neighbor
11,601
6.1%
11,264
5.6%
10,901
5.1%
 
Anonymous
10,214
5.4%
10,876
5.4%
10,657
5.0%
 
Community Agency
6,237
3.3%
6,551
3.2%
7,096
3.3%
 
DFPS Staff
5,688
3.0%
5,583
2.8%
5,839
2.7%
 
Legal/Court
2,323
1.2%
2,739
1.3%
3,031
1.4%
 
Day Care Provider
1,769
0.9%
1,772
0.9%
1,710
0.8%
 
State Agency
809
0.4%
998
0.5%
1,116
0.5%
 
Parent's Paramour
902
0.5%
968
0.5%
999
0.5%
 
Provider
771
0.4%
750
0.4%
797
0.4%
 
Victim
507
0.3%
532
0.3%
614
0.3%
 
Unrelated Home Member
434
0.2%
463
0.2%
516
0.2%
 
Religious Entity
390
0.2%
348
0.2%
411
0.2%
 
24 Hour Care Provider
277
0.1%
280
0.1%
303
0.1%
 
Institutional Personnel
121
0.1%
141
0.1%
171
0.1%
 
Financial Institution
13
0.0%
12
0.0%
16
0.0%
 
Blank/Unknown
10
0.0%
14
0.0%
14
0.0%
State Total 
189,748
100%
200,921
100%
212,667
100%

Note: A report of abuse/neglect may come from multiple sources.

Child Abuse/Neglect Allegation Dispositions

The categories used to record the findings of initial assessment/investigation of child abuse neglect are defined as:

Confirmed Investigations
  • Reason to believe – Based on preponderance of evidence, staff concluded that abuse or neglect occurred.
Unconfirmed Investigations
  • Ruled out - Staff determined, based upon on available information, that it is reasonable to conclude that abuse or neglect has not occurred.
  • Unable to complete – Before staff could reach a conclusion, the persons involved in the report moved, could not be located or refused to cooperate.
  • Unable to determine – Staff concluded that none of the other dispositions were appropriate.

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Page 39

Number of Child Abuse/Neglect Completed Investigations
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Total Completed Investigations Confirmed Investigations % Confirmed Investigations Total Unconfirmed Investigations % Unconfirmed Investigations Ruled Out Investigations (Unconfirmed) Unable To Determine Investigations (Unconfirmed) Unable To Complete Investigations (Unconfirmed)
1 Lubbock
6,741
1,743
25.9%
4,998
74.1%
4,381
484
133
2 Abilene
5,704
1,650
28.9%
4,054
71.1%
3,536
477
41
3 Arlington
43,848
11,428
26.1%
32,420
73.9%
25,495
6,032
893
4 Tyler
9,200
2,426
26.4%
6,774
73.6%
5,735
874
165
5 Beaumont
6,490
1,493
23.0%
4,997
77.0%
4,315
610
72
6 Houston
34,691
6,090
17.6%
28,601
82.4%
23,497
3,858
1,246
7 Austin
22,531
5,114
22.7%
17,417
77.3%
16,082
1,133
202
8 San Antonio
19,976
4,435
22.2%
15,541
77.8%
14,296
1,053
192
9 Midland
4,906
1,114
22.7%
3,792
77.3%
3,371
315
106
10 El Paso
4,904
1,205
24.6%
3,699
75.4%
3,273
376
50
11 Edinburg
17,877
3,808
21.3%
14,069
78.7%
12,335
1,484
250
Statewide
176,868
40,506
22.9%
136,362
77.1%
116,316
16,696
3,350

Case Action for Families in Completed Investigations
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Totals Not Opened To Services Family Preservation Family Substitute Care*
1 Lubbock
6,741
5,631
758
352
2 Abilene
5,704
4,576
818
310
3 Arlington
43,848
37,409
4,360
2,079
4 Tyler
9,200
7,833
688
679
5 Beaumont
6,490
5,807
349
334
6 Houston
34,691
29,793
3,735
1,163
7 Austin
22,531
19,574
1,675
1,282
8 San Antonio
19,976
16,683
2,294
999
9 Midland
4,906
4,165
518
223
10 El Paso
4,904
4,112
691
101
11 Edinburg
17,877
13,881
3,433
563
Statewide
176,868
149,464
19,319
8,085

*Investigations that resulted in at least one child (not necessarily all children in the home) being removed. Does not equal number of children removed.

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Page 40

Children in Cases Opened for Services as a Result of a Completed Investigation
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Totals Family Preservation Percent Family Preservation Family Substitute Care* Percent Family Substitute Care*
1 Lubbock
2,989
2,079
69.6%
910
30.4%
2 Abilene
2,924
2,145
73.4%
779
26.6%
3 Arlington
16,976
11,563
68.1%
5,413
31.9%
4 Tyler
3,449
1,751
50.8%
1,698
49.2%
5 Beaumont
1,687
871
51.6%
816
48.4%
6 Houston
13,902
10,745
77.3%
3,157
22.7%
7 Austin
7,896
4,497
57.0%
3,399
43.0%
8 San Antonio
9,405
6,502
69.1%
2,903
30.9%
9 Midland
1,882
1,363
72.4%
519
27.6%
10 El Paso
2,077
1,820
87.6%
257
12.4%
11 Edinburg
12,141
10,491
86.4%
1,650
13.6%
Statewide
75,328
53,827
71.5%
21,501
28.5%

*Includes all children in the case regardless of victimization. Does not equal the number of children removed.

Child Abuse/Neglect per 1,000 Children in Texas Population by Region
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Confirmed Rate Alleged Rate
1 Lubbock
13.5
50.3
2 Abilene
21.0
72.5
3 Arlington
9.4
35.9
4 Tyler
14.7
54.7
5 Beaumont
12.5
56.3
6 Houston
5.3
30.4
7 Austin
9.8
43.6
8 San Antonio
10.1
45.7
9 Midland
11.2
50.5
10 El Paso
8.0
31.2
11 Edinburg
9.5
44.0
Statewide
9.1
39.7

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Page 41

Confirmed Allegations of Child Abuse/Neglect by Type of Abuse
Fiscal Year 2015

Table Includes Abuse/Neglect Types:
Total Confirmed Allegations of Child Abuse/Neglect, Percent of Child Abuse/Neglect, Unduplicated Confirmed Victims*, Neglectful Supervision, Physical Abuse, and Sexual Abuse

Region Total Confirmed Allegations of
Child Abuse/
Neglect		 Percent
of Child
Abuse/
Neglect		 *Unduplicated
Confirmed
Victims		 Neglectful
Supervision		 Physical
Abuse		 Sexual
Abuse
1 Lubbock
3,745
4.9%
3,149
2,476
575
299
2 Abilene
3,241
4.3%
2,763
2,225
460
215
3 Arlington
21,096
27.7%
18,571
14,592
3,126
1,561
4 Tyler
4,826
6.3%
4,078
3,353
718
239
5 Beaumont
2,723
3.6%
2,367
1,846
420
183
6 Houston
10,978
14.4%
9,629
7,176
1,722
889
7 Austin
8,909
11.7%
8,127
6,619
1,048
626
8 San Antonio
8,285
10.9%
7,498
5,770
1,170
657
9 Midland
2,098
2.8%
1,789
1,342
321
168
10 El Paso
2,319
3.0%
2,038
1,592
342
156
11 Edinburg
7,799
10.3%
6,697
5,167
1,005
728
Unknown
16
0.0%
15
15
0
0
Statewide
76,035
100.0%
66,721
52,173
10,907
5,721

Table Includes Abuse/Neglect Types:
Physical Neglect, Medical Neglect, Refusal to Accept Parental Responsibility, Emotional Abuse, Abandonment, Sex Trafficking, and Human Trafficking.

Region Physical
Neglect		 Medical
Neglect		 Refusal to
Accept
Parental
Responsibility		 Emotional
Abuse		 Abandonment Sex Trafficking Human Trafficking
1 Lubbock
295
56
19
20
4
1
0
2 Abilene
240
49
17
29
6
0
0
3 Arlington
1,166
358
167
78
46
2
0
4 Tyler
353
90
42
24
7
0
0
5 Beaumont
180
52
17
13
12
0
0
6 Houston
732
258
114
53
33
1
0
7 Austin
373
137
55
39
12
0
0
8 San Antonio
443
154
50
23
17
1
0
9 Midland
177
50
8
29
3
0
0
10 El Paso
121
66
22
16
4
0
0
11 Edinburg
501
256
57
70
14
0
1
Unknown
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Statewide
4,582
1,526
568
394
158
5
1

* Victims have been unduplicated by investigation stage.

CPS Alternative Response* Stages
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Completed Alternative Response Stages Closed Without Services Closed to Family-Based Safety Services Closed to Abuse/Neglect Investigation Abuse/Neglect Investigation Closed with No Action* Abuse/Neglect Investigation Closed to Sub Care* Abuse/Neglect Investigation Closed to FBSS*
1 Lubbock
608
545
10
53
23
6
2
3 Arlington
2,144
1,999
11
134
55
21
10
4 Tyler
1
1
0
0
2
0
0
9 Midland
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1
0
0
11 Edinburg
236
185
8
43
17
0
4
Statewide
2,989
2,730
29
230
98
27
16

*See CPS Definitions, page 260, for explanation of Alternative Response (AR).

NOTE: Although Alternative Response has only formally rolled out in Regions 1, 3 and 11, there were a few AR stages from those regions that were transferred to and completed in Regions 4 and 9.

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Page 42

Selected CPS Statistics by Race/Ethnicity Compared to Texas Child Population
Fiscal Year 2015

Texas CPS Statistics All Children Hispanic Anglo African American Other Asian Native American
Child Population
7,311,923
3,648,331
2,333,857
830,214
201,394
276,413
21,714
Race/Ethnicity Percentages
49.9%
31.9%
11.4%
2.8%
3.8%
0.3%
CPS Confirmed Victims
66,721
29,236
21,546
11,726
3,732
402
79
Race/Ethnicity Percentages
43.8%
32.3%
17.6%
5.6%
0.6%
0.1%
Removals*
17,151
6,915
5,706
3,368
1,087
62
13
Race/Ethnicity Percentages
40.3%
33.3%
19.6%
6.3%
0.4%
0.1%
Children Opened for Service**
75,328
37,257
20,372
13,133
4,235
242
89
Race/Ethnicity Percentages
49.5%
27.0%
17.4%
5.6%
0.3%
0.1%
Children Awaiting Adoption
6,888
3,018
2,020
1,429
399
17
5
Race/Ethnicity Percentages
43.8%
29.3%
20.7%
5.8%
0.2%
0.1%
Median Time Waiting for Adoption 
9.8
9.6
8.9
12.3
8.7
13.0
8.4

* Includes removals from all stages of service

** Includes all children in the case regardless of victimization

Note: "Other" includes anyone not categorized as Hispanic, Anglo, African-American, Asian or Native American.

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Page 43

Confirmed Victims of Child Abuse/Neglect
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Confirmed Victims of Child Abuse/Neglect
1 Lubbock
 3,149
2 Abilene
 2,763
3 Arlington
 18,571
4 Tyler
 4,078
5 Beaumont
 2,367
6 Houston
 9,629
7 Austin
 8,127
8 San Antonio
 7,498
9 Midland
 1,789
10 El Paso
 2,038
11 Edinburg
 6,697
Unknown
 15
Statewide
 66,721

Note: 15 Confirmed victims did not have a Texas county designated.

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Page 44

Profile of Confirmed Child Abuse/Neglect Victims*
Fiscal Year 2015

Age: Under 1

Gender Total Hispanic Anglo African American Other Asian Native American
Female
5,317
1,984
1,731
1,180
397
20
5
Male
5,713
2,141
1,862
1,254
431
21
4
Unknown
39
10
11
10
8
0
0
Total
11,069
4,135
3,604
2,444
836
41
9

Age: 1-3 Years

Gender Total Hispanic Anglo African American Other Asian Native American
Female
7,249
3,078
2,342
1,296
493
33
7
Male
7,634
3,284
2,452
1,388
447
53
10
Unknown
58
19
7
21
10
1
0
Total
14,941
6,381
4,801
2,705
950
87
17

Age: 4-6 Years

Gender Total Hispanic Anglo African American Other Asian Native American
Female
6,559
2,993
2,068
1,059
391
42
6
Male
6,939
3,095
2,170
1,233
385
46
10
Unknown
25
11
6
7
1
0
0
Total
13,523
6,099
4,244
2,299
777
88
16

Age: 7-9 Years

Gender Total Anglo African American Hispanic Native American Asian Other
Female
5,273
2,451
1,731
806
238
36
11
Male
5,162
2,310
1,661
890
261
30
10
Unknown
23
5
8
8
2
0
0
Total
10,458
4,766
3,400
1,704
501
66
21

Age: 10-12 Years

Gender Total Hispanic Anglo African American Other Asian Native American
Female
4,256
2,084
1,329
638
169
30
6
Male
3,475
1,560
1,179
557
157
20
2
Unknown
12
4
4
2
2
0
0
Total
7,743
3,648
2,512
1,197
328
50
8

Age: 13-17 Years

Gender Total Hispanic Anglo African American Other Asian Native American
Female
5,623
2,759
1,799
799
211
52
3
Male
3,337
1,437
1,182
571
124
18
5
Unknown
3
1
0
2
0
0
0
Total
8,963
4,197
2,981
1,372
335
70
8

Age Unknown

Gender Total Hispanic Anglo African American Other Asian Native American
Female
12
5
2
3
2
0
0
Male
9
5
2
2
0
0
0
Unknown
3
0
0
0
3
0
0
Total
24
10
4
5
5
0
0

Total Victims

Gender
Total
Hispanic
Anglo
African American
Other
Asian
Native American
Female
34,289
15,354
11,002
5,781
1,901
213
38
Male
32,269
13,832
10,508
5,895
1,805
188
41
Unknown
163
50
36
50
26
1
0
Grand Total
66,721
29,236
21,546
11,726
3,732
402
79

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Page 45

Alleged and Confirmed Victims of Child Abuse/Neglect
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Alleged Victims Unconfirmed Victims Confirmed Victims Percent Confirmed
1 Lubbock
11,736
8,587
3,149
26.8%
2 Abilene
9,553
6,790
2,763
28.9%
3 Arlington
71,296
52,725
18,571
26.0%
4 Tyler
15,216
11,138
4,078
26.8%
5 Beaumont
10,650
8,283
2,367
22.2%
6 Houston
54,818
45,189
9,629
17.6%
7 Austin
36,227
28,100
8,127
22.4%
8 San Antonio
33,782
26,284
7,498
22.2%
9 Midland
8,060
6,271
1,789
22.2%
10 El Paso
7,941
5,903
2,038
25.7%
11 Edinburg
31,130
24,433
6,697
21.5%
Out of State
62
47
15
24.2%
Statewide
290,471
223,750
66,721
23.0%

Families and Children Receiving Family Preservation Services
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Families Children Children Removed From Home Percent of Children Removed
1 Lubbock
1,433
3,850
252
6.5%
2 Abilene
1,288
3,406
184
5.4%
3 Arlington
6,624
17,822
524
2.9%
4 Tyler
1,197
3,177
316
9.9%
5 Beaumont
537
1,403
108
7.7%
6 Houston
6,067
17,884
690
3.9%
7 Austin
2,317
6,171
461
7.5%
8 San Antonio
3,742
11,090
957
8.6%
9 Midland
801
2,154
168
7.8%
10 El Paso
1,114
2,973
110
3.7%
11 Edinburg
4,928
15,280
636
4.2%
Out of State
3
5
0
0.0%
Statewide
30,051
85,215
4,406
5.2%

NOTE: Family Preservation Services is under the umbrella of Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS).

Family Preservation Services are services provided to the child and the family where the caregiver retains legal custody.

*Children removed from home during Family Preservation. Does not equal total children removed during fiscal year.

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Page 46

Characteristics Of Perpetrators In Confirmed Child Abuse/Neglect Investigations
Fiscal Year 2015

Perpetrator Characteristic: Age

Age Age Totals Percent of Total Female Totals Percent of Total Male Totals Percent of Total Unknown Totals Percent of Total
Under 18
2,001
3.7%
582
1.1%
1,411
2.6%
8
0.0%
18-25
14,819
27.5%
9,537
17.7%
5,260
9.8%
22
0.0%
26-35
22,747
42.2%
13,311
24.7%
9,401
17.4%
35
0.1%
36-45
9,580
17.8%
4,672
8.7%
4,898
9.1%
10
0.0%
Over 45
4,750
8.8%
1,944
3.6%
2,798
5.2%
8
0.0%
Unknown
33
0.1%
2
0.0%
18
0.0%
13
0.0%

Perpetrator Characteristic: Marital Status

Marital Status Marital Status Totals Percent of Total Female Totals Percent of Total Male Totals Percent of Total Unknown Totals Percent of Total
Single
17,395
32.3%
11,145
20.7%
6,232
11.6%
18
0.0%
Married
13,916
25.8%
6,721
12.5%
7,186
13.3%
9
0.0%
Unknown
14,004
26.0%
7,603
14.1%
6,339
11.8%
62
0.1%
Divorced
3,186
5.9%
1,935
3.6%
1,250
2.3%
1
0.0%
Separated
2,896
5.4%
1,742
3.2%
1,153
2.1%
1
0.0%
Widowed
355
0.7%
248
0.5%
106
0.2%
1
0.0%
Under 18
2,178
4.0%
654
1.2%
1,520
2.8%
4
0.0%

Perpetrator Characteristic: Race/Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Race/Ethnicity Totals Percent of Total Female Totals Percent of Total Male Totals Percent of Total Unknown Totals Percent of Total
Anglo
21,403
39.7%
12,836
23.8%
8,553
15.9%
14
0.0%
Hispanic
20,319
37.7%
10,612
19.7%
9,685
18.0%
22
0.0%
African American
9,800
18.2%
5,565
10.3%
4,219
7.8%
16
0.0%
Other
1,902
3.5%
767
1.4%
1,091
2.0%
44
0.1%
Asian
390
0.7%
196
0.4%
194
0.4%
0
0.0%
Native American
116
0.2%
72
0.1%
44
0.1%
0
0.0%

Perpetrator Characteristic: Relation to Oldest Victim

Relation to Oldest Victim Relationship Totals Percent of Total Female Totals Percent of Total Male Totals Percent of Total Unknown Totals Percent of Total
Parent
42,419
78.7%
26,929
49.9%
15,461
28.7%
29
0.1%
Parent's Paramour
3,998
7.4%
385
0.7%
3,603
6.7%
10
0.0%
Sibling/Other Relative
2,156
4.0%
333
0.6%
1,815
3.4%
8
0.0%
Grandparent
2,118
3.9%
1,343
2.5%
773
1.4%
2
0.0%
Other
1,680
3.1%
527
1.0%
1,108
2.1%
45
0.1%
Aunt/Uncle
1,559
2.9%
531
1.0%
1,026
1.9%
2
0.0%

Total Perpetrators

  Race/Ethnicity Totals Percent of Total Female Totals Percent of Total Male Totals Percent of Total Unknown Totals Percent of Total
Total Perpetrators
53,930
100%
30,048
55.7%
23,786
44.1%
96
0.2%

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Page 47

Children Removed from Home
by Fiscal Year

Children Removed 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
As a result of an A/N Investigation
12,148
12,538
12,629
13,175
12,886
From an Open Service Stage*
4,960
4,434
4,393
4,203
4,265
Total Removed
17,108
16,972
17,022
17,378
17,151

*Removals from open service stages includes Family Preservation, Family Substitute Care and Family Reunification.

Note: The data presented in this chart have been modified to more accurately report where a removal occurred and therefore may not match prior Data Books.

Children Entering Substitute Care per 1,000 Children in Texas Population by Region
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Incidence
1 Lubbock
3.4
2 Abilene
4.7
3 Arlington
2.0
4 Tyler
5.3
5 Beaumont
3.6
6 Houston
1.4
7 Austin
3.2
8 San Antonio
3.2
9 Midland
3.0
10 El Paso
0.8
11 Edinburg
2.1
Statewide
2.3

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Page 48

Children in Substitute Care by Placement Type on August 31
by Fiscal Year

  2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Total Children in Sub Care
28,463
27,919
27,924
28,523
27,895
Total Foster Care
17,183
16,697
16,676
16,961
16,378
Child Placing Agency Foster Homes
11,797
11,552
11,782
11,882
11,367
Residential Treatment Centers
1,509
1,527
1,508
1,635
1,673
DFPS Foster Homes
2,147
1,839
1,640
1,582
1,460
Basic Child Care
782
765
786
755
729
Emergency Shelters
553
620
567
640
609
Other Types of Foster Care*
395
394
393
467
540
Total Non-Foster Care
11,280
11,222
11,248
11,562
11,517
Kinship Care
9,858
9,982
10,059
10,415
10,355
Other Substitute Care**
554
484
467
465
513
CPA Adoptive Homes
472
433
497
485
481
DFPS Adoptive Homes
396
323
225
197
168

* Includes camps, hospitals, juvenile detention, ICF-IID, HCS homes, & state schools.

** Includes independent living programs, court ordered placements, and unauthorized absences.

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Page 49

Where are Children in DFPS Care?

… of the 27,895 children in DFPS substitute care on August 31, 2015:

16,378 children were in Foster Care.

11,517 children were in other types of Substitute Care

… of the 16,378 children who were in Foster Care

  • 11,367 children placed in Child Placing Agency (CPA) Foster Homes. Foster homes are families who accept foster children into their homes. These foster homes are recruited, trained, verified and managed by private CPAs. DFPS has contracts with over 100 CPAs. The majority of CPA foster homes are verified to provide therapeutic foster care services. 719 of these children were placed in Kinship Verified Foster Homes.
  • 1,460 children placed in DFPS Foster Homes. These are families who accept foster children into their homes and are recruited, trained, verified and managed by DFPS. The majority provide basic foster care services. 353 of these children were place in Kinship Verified Foster Homes.
  • 729 children were placed in Basic Child Care. These are typically cottage and campus type settings meeting basic child needs.
  • 1,673 children were placed in Residential Treatment Centers. An RTC is a very structured setting for children with serious emotional disturbance or mental health issues.
  • 609 children were placed in Emergency Shelters. These are intended for stays of less than 30 days.
  • 540 children were placed in Other types of foster care such as camps, maternity homes, hospitals, juvenile detention, ICFs-IID, HCS homes, state schools & hospitals.

... of the 11,517 children in other types of Substitute Care

  • 10,355 children were placed in Kinship Care. DFPS supports eligible relative caregivers by assisting with initial costs of accepting a child and through ongoing case management.
  • 481 children were in pending adoptions in CPA Adoptive Homes.
  • 168 children were in pending adoptions in DFPS Adoptive Homes.
  • 513 children were placed in Other Substitute Care which includes independent living programs, unauthorized absences and court ordered placements.

Notes

A. The 27,895 children includes 656 youth over the age of 18 in foster care, but who have "aged-out" of the legal conservatorship of DFPS.

B. There are a total of 29,705 children in DFPS legal responsibility. 2,466 are in legal conservatorship of DFPS but not in substitute care; the majority of these children are in a reunification stage and are living with their families of origin.

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Page 50

Demographics of Children in Foster Care On August 31 By Fiscal Year

Characteristic: Age

Age Aug 2012 Count Aug 2012 Percent Aug 2013 Count Aug 2013 Percent Aug 2014 Count Aug 2014 Percent Aug 2015 Count Aug 2015 Percent
Birth - 2
3,614
21.6%
3,634
21.8%
3,882
22.9%
3,850
23.5%
3-5
2,766
16.6%
2,837
17.0%
2,851
16.8%
2,584
15.8%
6-9
2,948
17.7%
3,050
18.3%
3,221
19.0%
3,060
18.7%
10-13
2,820
16.9%
2,774
16.6%
2,778
16.4%
2,674
16.3%
14-17
3,947
23.6%
3,747
22.5%
3,614
21.3%
3,554
21.7%
18-21
602
3.6%
634
3.8%
615
3.6%
656
4.0%

Characteristic: Gender

Gender Aug 2012 Count Aug 2012 Percent Aug 2013 Count Aug 2013 Percent Aug 2014 Count Aug 2014 Percent Aug 2015 Count Aug 2015 Percent
Male
9,030
54.1%
8,886
53.3%
9,033
53.3%
8,742
53.4%
Female
7,667
45.9%
7,790
46.7%
7,928
46.7%
7,635
46.6%
Unknown
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
1
0.0%

Characteristic: Race/Ethnicity*

Race/Ethnicity Aug 2012 Count Aug 2012 Percent Aug 2013 Count Aug 2013 Percent Aug 2014 Count Aug 2014 Percent Aug 2015 Count Aug 2015 Percent
Hispanic
6,813
40.8%
6,882
41.3%
6,952
41.0%
6,423
39.2%
Anglo
5,048
30.2%
4,970
29.8%
5,333
31.4%
5,242
32.0%
African American
3,825
22.9%
3,858
23.1%
3,670
21.6%
3,670
22.4%
Other
951
5.7%
902
5.4%
947
5.6%
972
5.9%
Asian
38
0.2%
47
0.3%
42
0.2%
57
0.3%
Native American
22
0.1%
17
0.1%
17
0.1%
14
0.1%

Totals

  Aug 2012 Count Aug 2013 Count Aug 2014 Count Aug 2015 Count
Children in Foster Care
16,697
16,676
16,961
16,378

* As recommended by the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to ensure consistency across all HHSC agencies, in 2012, the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) adopted the HHSC methodology on how to categorize race and ethnicity.   As a result, data broken down by race/ethnicity in 2012 and after is not directly comparable to race/ethnicity data in 2011 and before.   

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Page 51

Children in Foster Care by County
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Children in Foster Care
1 Lubbock
1,750
2 Abilene
1,068
3 Arlington
7,305
4 Tyler
2,026
5 Beaumont
1,185
6 Houston
5,362
7 Austin
3,568
8 San Antonio
4,658
9 Midland
989
10 El Paso
533
11 Edinburg
2,753
Total
31,197

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Page 52

Children in DFPS Legal Responsibility, in Substitute Care
or in Foster Care Placements on August 31, 2015

Region DFPS Legal Responsibility Substitute Care Foster Care*
1 Lubbock
1,690
1,613
1,019
2 Abilene
978
900
576
3 Arlington
6,298
5,945
3,780
4 Tyler
2,201
1,995
1,032
5 Beaumont
1,054
980
615
6 Houston
5,160
4,941
3,082
7 Austin
3,897
3,647
1,744
8 San Antonio
4,564
4,304
2,378
9 Midland
1,072
1,008
522
10 El Paso
386
379
257
11 Edinburg
2,405
2,182
1,372
Out of State
0
1
1
Statewide
29,705
27,895
16,378

Note: Includes youth who have aged out of DFPS legal responsibility but remain in substitute care.

* Foster Care is a subset of Substitute Care

Children in DFPS Legal Responsibility, in Substitute Care or Foster Care Placements
Fiscal Year 2015

Region DFPS Legal Responsibility Substitute Care Foster Care*
1 Lubbock
2,506
2,415
1,750
2 Abilene
1,457
1,391
1,068
3 Arlington
10,338
9,990
7,305
4 Tyler
3,293
3,217
2,026
5 Beaumont
1,666
1,608
1,185
6 Houston
8,038
7,943
5,362
7 Austin
6,324
6,176
3,568
8 San Antonio
7,400
7,235
4,658
9 Midland
1,647
1,580
989
10 El Paso
736
698
533
11 Edinburg
3,943
3,801
2,753
Statewide
47,348
46,054
31,197

Note: Includes youth who have aged out of DFPS legal responsibility but remain in substitute care.

* Foster Care is a subset of Substitute Care.

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Page 53

Children in Substitute Care per 1,000 Children in Texas Population by Region
on August 31, 2015

Region Incidence
1 Lubbock
6.8
2 Abilene
6.7
3 Arlington
2.9
4 Tyler
7.1
5 Beaumont
5.1
6 Houston
2.6
7 Austin
4.3
8 San Antonio
5.7
9 Midland
6.2
10 El Paso
1.4
11 Edinburg
3.0
Statewide
3.7

Note: Calculated as the number of children (ages 0-17) in substitute care per 1,000 children.

Legal Status of Children in DFPS Legal Responsibility on August 31, by Fiscal Year

Legal Status 2013 Count 2013 Percent 2014 Count 2014 Percent 2015 Count 2015 Percent
Care, Custody & Control*
65
0.2%
55
0.2%
72
0.2%
Temporary Managing Conservatorship**
17,572
59.5%
18,214
60.4%
17,840
60.1%
Permanent Managing Conservatorship*** Parental Rights Not Terminated
2,732
9.3%
2,829
9.4%
2,656
8.9%
Permanent Managing Conservatorship*** Parental Rights Terminated (All)
8,772
29.7%
8,695
28.8%
8,791
29.6%
Permanent Managing Conservatorship*** Parental Rights Terminated (One Parent)
366
1.2%
341
1.1%
344
1.2%
Possessory Conservatorship****
16
0.1%
19
0.1%
2
0.0%
Total
29,523
100%
30,153
100%
29,705
100%

* Care, Custody and Control - In some counties in Texas, this type of custody is given at an Ex Parte Hearing rather than appointing a temporary managing conservator. This provides legal authority for DFPS to ensure a child's safety and meet a child's basic needs for shelter, food, and education.

** Temporary Managing Conservatorship (TMC) - is a court-ordered legal relationship between a child and a parent or nonparent. If a judge appoints DFPS as temporary managing conservator, the court will order DFPS to exercise specific rights and duties, which include but are not limited to the right to have physical possession of the child, the duty of care, control, and protection of the child, the right to designate the primary residence of the child, and the right to make decisions concerning the child's health-care and education. Generally, TMC continues for up to 12 to 18 months at which time the judge issues a final order returning the child home, appointing an individual or DFPS as a Permanent Managing Conservator, and/or terminating parental rights thereby making the child eligible for adoption.

*** Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC) - is the status a court awards to DFPS in a final order. DFPS can be awarded PMC with or without termination of the rights of the child's parents. The rights and duties of a PMC are typically the same as those of the TMC; however, as the PMC, DFPS continues to exercise those rights until the child is adopted, until PMC is transferred to a suitable individual, or the child becomes a legal adult at age 18.

**** Possessory Conservatorship - Although uncommon, DFPS may be appointed Possessory Conservator (PC) in certain situations. As Possessory Conservator, DFPS has more limited rights and duties with respect to the child, as enumerated in the court's order naming DFPS as possessory conservator.

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Page 54

Children* in Substitute Care Placements by Living Arrangement Categories
on August 31, 2015

Region Total CPA Foster -  Group Homes  &  Independent Homes Kinship Residential Treatment DFPS Foster & Foster Group Homes
1 Lubbock
1,577
519
519
117
178
2 Abilene
886
426
301
68
14
3 Arlington
5,821
2,849
1,981
340
238
4 Tyler
1,971
583
845
105
169
5 Beaumont
961
319
332
47
180
6 Houston
4,781
2,172
1,535
329
205
7 Austin
3,563
1,139
1,797
205
187
8 San Antonio
4,185
1,441
1,755
241
142
9 Midland
991
373
445
60
14
10 El Paso
367
164
102
35
36
11 Edinburg
2,136
1,067
743
88
87
Statewide
27,239
11,052
10,355
1,635
1,450
Region Other** General Residential Operation Emergency Shelters Private
Adoptive
Homes		 DFPS
Adoptive
Homes
1 Lubbock
44
121
31
39
9
2 Abilene
24
13
32
8
0
3 Arlington
162
99
75
61
16
4 Tyler
80
62
58
52
17
5 Beaumont
23
24
16
10
10
6 Houston
157
64
82
201
36
7 Austin
87
32
58
28
30
8 San Antonio
172
188
188
37
21
9 Midland
29
20
27
14
9
10 El Paso
13
3
2
7
5
11 Edinburg
48
37
27
24
15
Statewide
839
663
596
481
168

* Excludes 656 young adults over 18 who have aged out of DFPS conservatorship but remain in DFPS care.

** Other living arrangement types include: Camps, maternity homes, hospitals, juvenile detention, ICF-IID, HSC homes, state schools, hospitals, independent living programs, unauthorized absences, and court ordered placements.

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Page 55

Permanency Goal of Children in Substitute Care for Whom DFPS had Legal Responsibility on August 31, 2015

Goal Count Percent
 
Adoption
10,905
49.2%
 
Reunification
8,136
36.7%
 
Permanent Placement with Relatives and Other Caregivers
2,277
10.3%
 
Adult Living
506
2.3%
 
Alternative Long-Term Living Arrangement
319
1.4%
Total Children
22,143
100.0%

DFPS Foster, Foster/Adoptive and Adoptive Homes
on August 31, 2015

Region Foster/Adoptive Homes* Adoptive Homes** Foster Homes***
1 Lubbock
104
18
3
2 Abilene
5
4
0
3 Arlington
140
44
24
4 Tyler
96
31
5
5 Beaumont
104
13
10
6 Houston
131
84
13
7 Austin
136
100
11
8 San Antonio
100
187
6
9 Midland
0
9
0
10 El Paso
29
11
1
11 Edinburg
56
23
2
Out of State
73
10
56
Totals
974
534
131

*Includes 3 legal risk homes and 337 verified kinship homes.

**This number does not include homes open only for receipt of adoption subsidy.

***Includes 76 verified kinship homes.

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Page 56

CPS Outcomes Based on Data from Fiscal Year 2015

Child Safety

  • Percent of children who remained safe in substitute care (children in care during FY14 who did not experience a confirmed incident of maltreatment) 99.9%
  • Absence of Repeat Maltreatment (child victims without a subsequent confirmed allegation within 6 months of the prior confirmed allegation) 97.4%

Initial Placement Stability

Percentage of children in substitute care 12 months or less with 2 or fewer placements 83.5%

Family Preservation

(measured from start of services to end of services)
Average length of Service 7.3 months

Family Reunification

  • (measured from removal to adoption consummation)
  • Percent of children returned to own home 30.4%
  • Average number of placements per child 1.9 placements
  • Average length of service 13.3 months
  • Median length of service 12.2 months
  • Percentage of children reunified with family, with DFPS conservatorship terminated, within 12 months of removal 65.2%

Adoption Services

  • (measured from removal to adoption consummation)
  • Percent of children who left DFPS legal responsibility with an adoption consummation 30.7%
  • Average number of placements per child 2.5 placements
  • Average length of service 27.0 months
  • From removal to final order 13.7 months
  • From final order to adoptive placement 12.2 months
  • From placement to adoption consummated 1.1 months
  • Median length of service 23.0 months
  • Percentage of children adopted within 24 months of removal 54.1%

Relative as Permanent Managing Conservator

  • (measured from removal to date Relative takes legal custody as Permanent Managing Conservator)
  • Percent of children who left DFPS legal responsibility to a relative placement 31.2%
  • Average number of placements 2.0 placements
  • Average length of service 15.0 months
  • Median length of service 11.9 months

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Page 57

CPS Outcomes Based on Data from Fiscal Year 2015

Long-term Substitute Care Outcomes

Emancipation (includes children who left DFPS legal responsibility by emancipation or turning 18)

(measured from removal to date DFPS legal responsibility ended or date child turns 18 years of age)
Percent of children who left DFPS legal responsibility 6.6%
Average number of placements 6.5 placements
Average length of service 54.3 months
Median length of service 39.2. months

Other Long-term Substitute Care

(measured from removal to date DFPS legal responsibility ended. Included children/youth who left DFPS legal responsibility due to one of the following reasons: runaway, death, an individual taking legal custody that is not included in one of the other exit categories, and transfer to another state agency.)
Percent of children who left DFPS legal responsibility 1.1%
Average number of placements 1.7 placements
Average length of service 16.6 months
Median length of service 10.4 months

Fiscal Year 2015 Recidivism Outcomes

Percentage of children re-entering foster care within 12 months of discharge from a previous episode of foster care. 6.3%

For All Stages:

(measured as a new confirmed reason to believe allegation within 12 months of the end of services or a return to
substitute care or new Family Preservation services provided) 7.7%

For Family Preservation:

(measured as a new confirmed reason to believe allegation within 12 months of the end of Family Preservation
services or new Family Preservation services provided) 7.0%

For Family Reunification:

(measured as a new confirmed reason to believe allegation or a return to substitute care within 12 months of the
end of Family Reunification) 16.8%

Length of Time in Substitute Care for children in DFPS Custody on August 31, 2015

  • Average length of service for children in temporary managing conservatorship: 6.9 months
  • Median length of service for children in temporary managing conservatorship: 5.6 months
  • Average length of service for children in permanent managing conservatorship: 36.0 months
  • Median length of service for children in permanent managing conservatorship: 25.3 months

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Page 58

Children Placed in Adoptive Homes by Region
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Placements
1 Lubbock
308
2 Abilene
111
3 Arlington
1,049
4 Tyler
297
5 Beaumont
175
6 Houston
1,079
7 Austin
743
8 San Antonio
1,300
9 Midland
232
10 El Paso
116
11 Edinburg
160
Total Adoptive Placements
5,570
Total Unique Children
5,552

Demographics of 5,552 Children Placed in Adoptive Homes
Fiscal Year 2015

Age

Age Count Percent
Under 1 year
94
1.7%
1 - 5 years
3,070
55.3%
6 - 12 years
1,864
33.6%
13 years and over
524
9.4%
Total
5,552
100.0%

Race/Ethnicity*

Race/Ethnicity Count Percent
Hispanic
2,452
44.2%
Anglo
1,681
30.3%
African American
1,068
19.2%
Other
342
6.2%
Native American
5
0.1%
Asian
4
0.1%
Total
5,552
99.9%

Child Characteristics

Child Characteristics Count Percent
No Special Characteristics
3,846
69.3%
Disabling Condition
1,706
30.7%
Total
5,552
100.0%

Gender

Gender Count Percent
Male
2,813
50.7%
Female
2,739
49.3%
Total
5,552
100.0%

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Page 59

Children with Disabling Conditions Placed in Adoptive Homes
Fiscal Year 2015

Children placed in adoptive homes 5,552
Unique children with disabling conditions placed in adoptive homes 1,706
Percent of children with disabling conditions placed in adoptive homes 31%

Disabling Condition Children with Disabling condition Percentage of all Children Placed in Adoptive Homes
Learning Disabilities
757
14%
Drug/Alcohol*
729
13%
Emotionally Disturbed
419
8%
Medically Involved
269
5%
Physical
42
1%
Other**
7
0%

Note: Children may be duplicated across categories because some may have more than one disabling condition.

* Drug/Alcohol disabling condition can either be due to self abuse or exposure to an individual with the condition.

** Other includes teen parent or pregnant.

Children in Consummated Adoptions by Type of Agency by Fiscal Year

Legal Status 2012 Count 2012 Percent 2013 Count 2013 Percent 2014 Count 2014 Percent 2015 Count 2015 Percent
DFPS
2,823
56.0%
2,770
51.6%
2,337
45.2%
2,138
38.9%
Non DFPS*
2,217
44.0%
2,594
48.4%
2,838
54.8%
3,357
61.1%
Total Consummations
5,040
100%
5,364
100%
5,175
100%
5,495
100%

* Non DFPS includes private agency adoptions, relative adoptions and out of state adoptions.

Children in Consummated Adoption by Region
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Adoptions
Consummated
1 Lubbock
288
2 Abilene
112
3 Arlington
1,074
4 Tyler
252
5 Beaumont
169
6 Houston
1,109
7 Austin
744
8 San Antonio
1,296
9 Midland
203
10 El Paso
112
11 Edinburg
136
Total Unique Children
5,495

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Page 60

Demographics of 5,495 Children With A Consummated Adoption
Fiscal Year 2015

Age

Age Count Percent
Under 1 year
83
1.5%
1 - 5 years
3,101
56.4%
6 - 12 years
1,811
33.0%
13 years and over
500
9.1%
Total
5,495
100%

Gender

Gender Count Percent
Male
2,780
50.6%
Female
2,715
49.4%
Total
5,495
100%

Race/Ethnicity*

Race/Ethnicity Count Percent
Hispanic
2,410
43.9%
Anglo
1,674
30.5%
African American
1,071
19.5%
Other
331
6.0%
Asian
5
0.1%
Native American
4
0.1%
Total
5,495
100.0%

   

Race/Ethnicity* of Children and Adoptive Parents for Adoptions Consummated by Fiscal Year

Legal Status 2012 Count 2012 Percent 2013 Count 2013 Percent 2014 Count 2014 Percent 2015 Count 2015 Percent
Race/Ethnicity of parent(s) is same as child
3,071
60.9%
3,295
61.4%
3,141
60.7%
3,377
61.5%
Race/Ethnicity of one or
1,969
39.1%
2,069
38.6%
2,034
39.3%
2,118
38.5%
both parents differs from child's (Multiracial)**
Total Adoptions
5,040
100%
5,364
100%
5,175
100%
5,495
100%

* Includes when Race/Ethnicity was not determined.

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Page 61

Average Length of Time in Months for Children Leaving DFPS Responsibility by Type of Exit, Race/Ethnicity
Fiscal Year 2015

Race/Ethnicity Family Reunification Relative Care With PCA Relative Care Without PCA Adoption by Relative Adoption by Non-Relative Long Term Care-Emancipation Long Term Care-Other
Hispanic
14.0
25.7
13.5
23.8
30.1
54.1
17.3
Anglo
12.6
23.6
12.1
24.0
26.4
48.7
19.0
African American
12.9
27.5
15.6
28.7
31.3
62.5
12.7
Other
12.8
22.9
12.0
25.2
28.1
43.3
15.2
Asian
9.0
16.4
16.2
0.0
44.8
65.9
0.0
Native American
11.4
0.0
14.6
27.7
46.2
63.9
13.6
Statewide
13.3
25.3
13.4
24.9
29.0
54.3
16.6

Average Length of Time in Months for Children Who Exited DFPS Custody by Type of Exit and Region
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Family Reunification Relative Care With PCA Relative Care Without PCA Adoption by Relative Adoption by Non-Relative Long Term Care-Emancipation Long Term Care-Other
1 Lubbock
14.6
22.4
14.9
28.0
33.1
63.3
7.9
2 Abilene
12.9
24.5
14.1
29.4
25.4
59.8
66.6
3 Arlington
12.4
28.5
13.0
24.0
26.1
50.8
8.3
4 Tyler
13.0
25.5
10.0
23.8
28.7
42.1
27.0
5 Beaumont
12.4
20.5
14.4
22.8
26.7
57.3
21.5
6 Houston
14.3
23.2
17.0
29.4
32.4
64.3
22.0
7 Austin
12.3
21.3
10.9
24.3
26.6
46.2
12.5
8 San Antonio
13.8
27.8
13.7
21.3
28.1
54.2
17.6
9 Midland
16.5
23.1
17.5
27.1
30.2
55.4
40.0
10 El Paso
16.4
26.7
13.8
24.6
39.0
69.6
5.1
11 Edinburg
13.2
24.0
12.4
31.2
37.1
45.7
19.8
Statewide
13.3
25.3
13.4
24.9
29.0
54.3
16.6

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Page 62

Status of Children Who Exited DFPS Legal Custody
Fiscal Year 2015

Outcome Count Percent
Family Reunification
5,449
30.4%
Custody to Relatives without PCA
4,827
27.0%
Non-Relative Adoption Consummated
2,800
15.6%
Relative Adoption Consummated
2,695
15.1%
Youth Emancipated*
1,180
6.6%
Custody to Relatives with PCA
753
4.2%
Other**
192
1.1%
State
17,896
100.0%

*Of the 1,180 youth emancipated in FY15, 864 were emancipated from paid foster care.

** Other includes children absent without permission, children in court ordered or independent living placements, children for whom conservatorship was never obtained, and children with a missing discharge reason.

Average Number of Out-of-Home Placements for Children Who Exited DFPS Legal Custody*

Fiscal Year 2015

Region Family Reunification Relative Care With PCA Relative Care Without PCA Adoption by Relative Adoption by Non-Relative Long Term Care-Emancipation Long Term Care-Other
1 Lubbock
1.7
3.0
2.0
2.5
3.1
7.1
1.2
2 Abilene
2.0
2.0
1.9
2.5
2.5
7.1
3.5
3 Arlington
1.7
2.0
1.9
2.2
2.4
6.1
1.5
4 Tyler
1.9
1.9
1.8
2.3
2.6
5.1
1.6
5 Beaumont
2.0
1.9
2.3
2.2
2.7
5.1
2.4
6 Houston
2.0
1.9
2.1
2.2
2.7
7.5
1.9
7 Austin
1.7
1.6
1.7
2.0
2.9
6.1
2.0
8 San Antonio
1.9
2.0
1.9
2.0
3.1
6.6
1.3
9 Midland
2.1
1.4
2.5
2.3
2.7
6.3
1.0
10 El Paso
2.4
3.9
2.6
2.0
4.4
6.3
2.0
11 Edinburg
2.1
1.6
2.2
2.4
2.9
5.9
1.9
Statewide
1.9
1.9
2.0
2.1
2.8
6.5
1.7

Note: The average number of placements per child in substitute care for all children who attained permanency is 2.4 placements.

*Children who left substitute care via own home, permanent relative placement or adoption consummation and DFPS legal responsibility was ended.

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Page 63

Average Monthly Children and Young Adults, FTEs* in Paid Foster Care
Fiscal Year 2015

State Payment Rate Children & Young Adults FTEs
Basic
10,388
9,178
Moderate
2,856
2,580
Specialized
2,377
2,134
Blended Rate (Single Source Continuum Contract - SSCC)
1,151
1,007
Emergency Shelter
951
616
Intense
401
349
Supported Independent Living (SSCC and Legacy)
79
69
Psychiatric Transition
60
42
Child Specific
46
39
Exceptional Rate (SSCC)
2
1
Total Average Monthly Counts**
18,311
16,015

Unduplicated Count: 17,789

Note: Calculations exclude children where cost of care was not covered by Title IV-E or state paid foster care.

*Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) are calculated by dividing the number of paid foster care days in the month.

** Child Specific, Emergency Shelters, SIL and Blended Rate contracts do not have an actual level of care.

*** Duplicated count due to changes in service levels during the month.

Note: 24-Hour Residential Child Care Facilities Rates

Average Monthly Children and Young Adults in Paid Foster Care by Payment Source and Fiscal Year

Payment Source 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
State Paid* - Children
4,815
4,896
5,607
6,678
7,069
State Paid* - Young Adults**
568
479
453
439
433
Subtotal - State Paid*
5,383
5,375
6,060
7,117
7,502
Title IV-E Paid - Children
12,872
12,565
11,453
10,695
10,077
Title IV-E Paid - Young Adults**
207
243
264
242
220
Subtotal - Title IV-E Paid
13,079
12,808
11,717
10,937
10,297
Total Monthly Average***
18,461
18,183
17,776
18,054
17,799

*State Paid Foster Care may be funded with Federal Block Grant (TANF).

**A young adult is any person in foster care who was 18 to 21 years of age at anytime during the fiscal year.

*** Some children are served in more than one region and/or eligibility type in a month.

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Page 64

Average Monthly Children and Young Adults* in Paid Foster Care by Payment Source and Region
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Total Children & Young Adults in Foster Care* Title IV-E Children in Foster Care Title IV-E Young Adults** Foster Care State Paid Children in Foster Care*** State Paid Young Adults** in Foster Care***
1 Lubbock
1,103
647
14
419
23
2 Abilene
604
410
8
179
7
3 Arlington
3,989
2,279
44
1,580
86
4 Tyler
1,136
495
10
609
22
5 Beaumont
636
315
5
306
10
6 Houston
3,252
2,108
65
985
94
7 Austin
1,853
689
14
1,078
72
8 San Antonio
2,732
1,581
39
1,044
68
9 Midland
612
380
3
215
14
10 El Paso
303
226
5
67
5
11 Edinburg
1,587
951
14
590
32
Total
17,807
10,081
221
7,072
433

Unduplicated Monthly Average: 17,789

* Some children are served in more than one region and/or eligibility type in a month.

** A young adult is any person in foster care who was 18 to 21 years of age at anytime during the fiscal year.

*** State Paid Foster Care may be funded with Federal Block Grant (TANF).

Families and Children Receiving Kinship Caregiver Monetary Assistance
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Family Served Children Served
1 Lubbock
280
515
2 Abilene
182
291
3 Arlington
1,923
3,278
4 Tyler
454
804
5 Beaumont
276
437
6 Houston
1,265
2,107
7 Austin
1,065
1,828
8 San Antonio
1,117
1,973
9 Midland
197
373
10 El Paso
95
173
11 Edinburg
625
1,219
Unknown*
113
193
Statewide
7,592
13,191

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Page 65

Children Provided Adoption Subsidy* by Payment Source and Fiscal Year

Payment Source 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Total Children
36,290
39,056
42,079
45,021
47,673
State Paid Adoption Subsidies
7,296
7,550
7,795
7,987
7,923
Title IV-E Adoption Subsidies
28,994
31,506
34,284
37,034
39,750
% Change from
Previous Fiscal Year
7.7%
7.6%
7.7%
7.0%
5.9%

*Subsidy includes financial payments only, not medical and non-recurring subsidies.

Children Provided Adoption Subsidy* by Region
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Clients
1 Lubbock
2,594
2 Abilene
1,040
3 Arlington
8,779
4 Tyler
2,127
5 Beaumont
1,295
6 Houston
10,345
7 Austin
6,303
8 San Antonio
11,312
9 Midland
1,243
10 El Paso
983
11 Edinburg
1,602
Unknown
44
Statewide
47,667

*Subsidy includes financial payments only, not medical and non-recurring subsidies.

Note: There were 44 children provided adoption subsidy for which no region was recorded.

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Page 66

Children Provided Permanency Care Assistance*
by Fiscal Year

Payment Source 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Total Children
144
689
1,268
1,875
2,569
State Paid PCA
23
133
257
457
744
Title IV-E PCA
121
556
1,011
1,418
1,825
% Change from previous year
N/A
378.5%
84.0%
47.9%
37.0%

*Does not include non-recurring payments.

Note: The Permanency Care Assistance program began in Fiscal Year 2011.

Children Provided Permanency Care Assistance*
By Region, Fiscal Year 2015

Region Clients
1 Lubbock
51
2 Abilene
189
3 Arlington
736
4 Tyler
146
5 Beaumont
90
6 Houston
457
7 Austin
348
8 San Antonio
249
9 Midland
97
10 El Paso
23
11 Edinburg
183
Statewide
2,569

*Does not include non-recurring payments.

NOTE: For children who cannot reunify and for whom adoption has been ruled out, the Permanency Care Assistance (PCA) Program provides a monthly subsidy to relatives and fictive kin that take legal custody as a permanent managing conservator and have been a verified foster care provider for the child for at least 6 months. The PCA subsidy is similar to an adoption subsidy.

Page 67

Average Monthly Children and Families Receiving Purchased Services
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Total Clients Total Adults Total Children Children Living at Home Children Living Out of Home Children Post Adoption
1 Lubbock
1,809
913
896
533
367
3
2 Abilene
1,031
587
444
232
214
1
3 Arlington
5,503
2,704
2,799
1,184
1,573
54
4 Tyler
2,176
1,285
891
541
356
3
5 Beaumont
963
546
417
162
222
36
6 Houston
5,163
2,981
2,182
997
1,105
98
7 Austin
4,255
2,453
1,802
981
836
8
8 San Antonio
3,816
1,954
1,862
955
918
4
9 Midland
872
514
358
173
184
5
10 El Paso
478
181
297
183
112
2
11 Edinburg
3,383
2,279
1,104
724
385
1
Unknown
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total
29,449
16,397
13,052
6,665
6,272
215

Note: Averages are rounded to the nearest whole number.

Average Monthly Children Receiving CPS Purchased Services by Region
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Total Number of In-Home Children Number of
In-Home Children
Receiving Purchased Services		 % of In-Home Children Receiving Purchased Services Total Number of Children in Substitute Care Number of Children In Substitute Care Receiving Purchased Services % of Children in Substitute Care Receiving Purchased Services
1 Lubbock
2,157
533
24.7%
1,674
367
21.9%
2 Abilene
1,874
232
12.4%
863
214
24.8%
3 Arlington
8,518
1,184
13.9%
6,320
1,573
24.9%
4 Tyler
1,708
541
31.7%
2,010
356
17.7%
5 Beaumont
746
162
21.7%
979
222
22.7%
6 Houston
8,919
997
11.2%
5,372
1,105
20.6%
7 Austin
3,274
981
30.0%
3,721
836
22.5%
8 San Antonio
5,518
955
17.3%
4,883
918
18.8%
9 Midland
1,000
173
17.3%
1,119
184
16.4%
10 El Paso
1,328
183
13.8%
444
112
25.2%
11 Edinburg
7,087
724
10.2%
2,437
385
15.8%
Unknown
3
0
0.0%
0
0
0.0%
Statewide
42,132
6,665
15.8%
29,821
6,272
21.0%

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Page 68

Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) is a part of the CPS process to be family-centered. The goal is to enhance safety, permanency, and well-being for children by providing direct services and support services to their caregivers, whether biological or through affinity. FGDM describes a variety of practices to work with and engage families in problem solving, including Family Team Meetings (FTM), Family Group Conferences (FGC), and Circles of Support (COS):

  • Family Team Meeting (FTM) is designed as a rapid response to child safety and placement concerns, and is used to achieve positive outcomes for children in the earliest stages of interaction between CPS and families.
  • Family Group Conference (FGC) is a process where families join with relatives, friends, and others in the community to develop a plan to ensure children are cared for and protected from future harm. This broader constellation of "family" convenes with information providers/community supports and CPS caseworkers in a unique partnership that empowers the "family group" with a high degree of decision-making authority and responsibility.
  • Circles of Support (COS) is a youth-focused, youth-driven meeting with the primary purpose of developing a plan for older youth to transition from foster care to adulthood. It may be used for other purposes as well. It includes broader participation of the youth's support network.

Family Team Meetings Conducted by Race/Ethnicity of Primary Caregiver
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Total Hispanic Anglo African American Other Asian Native American
1 Lubbock
562
265
208
47
40
0
2
2 Abilene
465
123
279
28
34
1
0
3 Arlington
1,841
447
830
421
133
6
4
4 Tyler
913
84
606
121
102
0
0
5 Beaumont
458
42
282
102
32
0
0
6 Houston
1,188
389
374
356
61
7
1
7 Austin
1,496
587
532
252
118
6
1
8 San Antonio
1,551
1,070
325
90
58
7
1
9 Midland
288
145
108
18
16
0
1
10 El Paso
157
134
15
2
6
0
0
11 Edinburg
1,172
1,062
82
8
18
0
2
Unknown
3
0
1
1
1
0
0
Total
 10,094 4,348 3,642 1,446 619 27 12

Family Group Conferences Conducted by Race/Ethnicity of Child in DFPS Custody
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Total Hispanic Anglo African American Other Asian Native American
1 Lubbock
376
158
163
22
31
2
0
2 Abilene
590
162
330
41
56
0
1
3 Arlington
1,100
273
514
222
81
8
2
4 Tyler
766
68
494
115
88
0
1
5 Beaumont
387
31
246
63
47
0
0
6 Houston
1,019
286
306
345
78
4
0
7 Austin
837
289
326
136
82
3
1
8 San Antonio
1,363
927
287
75
72
2
0
9 Midland
433
202
184
22
25
0
0
10 El Paso
177
146
11
5
14
0
1
11 Edinburg
1,642
1,430
147
14
51
0
0
Unknown
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
Statewide
8,691
3,972
3,008
1,061
625
19
6

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Page 69

Circles of Support Conducted by Race/Ethnicity*
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Total  Hispanic Anglo African American Other Asian Native American
1 Lubbock
106
31
45
12
18
0
0
2 Abilene
65
9
35
6
15
0
0
3 Arlington
654
126
227
234
62
5
0
4 Tyler
233
42
129
40
20
0
2
5 Beaumont
87
14
45
22
6
0
0
6 Houston
681
160
166
284
68
3
0
7 Austin
347
90
125
83
49
0
0
8 San Antonio
346
186
77
48
35
0
0
9 Midland
82
32
38
3
9
0
0
10 El Paso
60
45
2
4
9
0
0
11 Edinburg
248
195
29
1
22
1
0
Unknown
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
Total
2911
930
918
737
315
9
2

*Race/Ethnicity of the foster child transitioning to adulthood.

Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) Services Youth Ages 16 through 20

The Transitional Services Program includes Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) program services to help youth aging out of foster care prepare for adult life, and assist with the initial transition to adult living. PAL services ensure that DFPS foster youth and those aging out of care receive the tools, resources, supports, and personal and community connections they need to become self-sufficient adults. Supportive services and benefits are provided to eligible youth ages 16 to 21, and in some cases up to age 23 for certain educational/vocational needs, to assist when they leave foster care.

  2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Eligible and Served
8,139
7,458
7,265
7,376
6,698
Eligible and Not Served
789
1,274
1,354
1,307
1,552
State Total
8,928
8,732
8,619
8,683
8,250

Note: 1,160 youth who were not served in FY 2015 received services prior to FY 2015.

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Page 70

Confirmed Victims in Completed CPS Investigations and Child Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities
Fiscal Year 2015

Statewide 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Texas Child Population
6,663,942
7,054,634
7,159,172
7,266,760
7,311,923
DFPS Child Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities*
231
212
156
151
171
Confirmed Child Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities per 100,000 Texas children
3.5
3.0
2.2
2.1
2.3

Population Data Source:  Population Estimates and Projections Program, Texas State Data Center, Office of the State Demographer and the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio. Current Population Estimates and Projections Data as of December 2015.

*Includes child fatalities investigated and confirmed by Child Protective Services (158), Adult Protective Services (0), Child Day Care Licensing (13) and Residential Child Care Licensing (0). Fatality information does not include corrections or updates, if any, that may subsequently be made to DFPS data after fiscal year end.

Confirmed Victims in Completed CPS Investigations and Child Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities by Region
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Texas Child Population (ages 0-17) Confirmed Child Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities Confirmed Child Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities per 100,000 Texas children
1 Lubbock
233,103
7
3.0
2 Abilene
131,651
6
4.6
3 Arlington
1,984,298
57
2.9
4 Tyler
278,160
8
2.9
5 Beaumont
189,027
7
3.7
6 Houston
1,804,107
34
1.9
7 Austin
831,086
16
1.9
8 San Antonio
739,175
10
1.4
9 Midland
159,694
5
3.1
10 El Paso
254,926
4
1.6
11 Edinburg
706,696
17
2.4
Totals
7,311,923
171
2.3

Population Data Source:  Population Estimates and Projections Program, Texas State Data Center, Office of the State Demographer and the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio. Current Population Estimates and Projections Data as of December 2015.

* Includes child fatalities investigated and confirmed by Child Protective Services (158), Adult Protective Services (0), Child Day Care Licensing (13) and Residential Child Care Licensing (0). Fatality information does not include corrections or updates, if any, that may subsequently be made to DFPS data after fiscal year end.

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Page 71

DFPS Child Abuse/Neglect Confirmed Investigations with a Non-Fatal Finding* by Region
Fiscal Year 2015

Region Total Completed Child Fatality Investigations Child Fatality Not Related to Abuse or Neglect - Total Percent of Total Confirmed* Ruled Out Unable to Determine Administrative Closure** Unable to Complete***
1 Lubbock
19
12
63%
1
7
2
2
0
2 Abilene
26
20
77%
4
5
5
5
1
3 Arlington
200
143
72%
27
64
32
19
1
4 Tyler
48
40
83%
14
19
3
4
0
5 Beaumont
30
23
77%
5
11
4
3
0
6 Houston
206
172
83%
37
91
27
16
1
7 Austin
74
58
78%
8
40
5
5
0
8 San Antonio
59
49
83%
7
24
8
8
2
9 Midland
13
8
62%
2
5
0
1
0
10 El Paso
13
9
69%
1
8
0
0
0
11 Edinburg
65
48
74%
7
23
8
10
0
Statewide
753
582
77%
113
297
94
73
5

*Fatality investigations in which at least one allegation was confirmed, but where the child's death was determined to be caused by a factor other than abuse/neglect.

**CPS only ***Includes Unable to Complete (4) and Other (1)

NOTE: Includes child fatalities investigated with a non-fatal finding by Child Protective Services (706), Adult Protective Services (1), Child Day Care Licensing (29) and Residential Child Care Licensing (17). Fatality information does not nclude corrections or updates, if any, that may subsequently be made to DFPS data after fiscal year end.

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