Foster Care
Currently there are approximately 36,000 children in the care of Child Protective Services in the State of Texas. CPS is the government agency which investigates allegations of abuse, neglect and abandonment children, and if necessary, removes children from their homes. These children are placed in temporary care in emergency shelters, group homes, foster homes, and kinship placements. Children may be in care for as little as a week before returning to their parents, or as long as several years. The length of stay varies greatly and is dependent on a multitude of factors.
Upon removal, a temporary caseworker is assigned to a child or group of siblings. CPS begins making calls to licensed foster homes, and private Child Placing Agencies (who, in turn, begin to call their foster homes) to find a foster home for the children. In an effort to place children quickly, sibling groups may be separated, and
children may be placed in a foster home several hours from their home. A court hearing is generally held quickly thereafter to create a service plan for the children. This plan may address such details as reunification with parents, placement of siblings in a common foster homes, etc.
