Excerpts from The Texas Tribune’s The Brief on Texas Politics and Policy
One-third of Texas foster care caseworkers left their jobs last year as the agency continued putting kids in hotels
Staff turnover within the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is at an all-time high, with nearly 1 in 3 employees having left the agency in fiscal year 2022.
Caseworkers, who are the backbone of the state’s foster care system, told the Tribune that conditions such as low staffing, low pay and burnout are just some of the reasons for the departures. Poor working conditions include overnight shifts caseworkers take on either in offices or hotels to monitor kids in the state’s care. These kids, referred to within DFPS as children without placement, are often older teens with complex trauma and behavioral needs.
In fiscal year 2022, 1,242 children in the state’s care spent at least one night in an unlicensed foster facility, like a hotel or office. On average those children spent 15 nights in such places, according to a report from court-appointed watchdogs. Some workers also cite placement facilities shutting down following increased scrutiny and allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation of children in their care.
“I’m not sure we can right this ship. We’ve lost so many tenured caseworkers,” said Lucy, a caseworker who asked that her last name not be used in fear of retaliation. “And these kids are wasting their life and time away … It’s having this trickle down effect of destruction.”
Overworked caseworkers are largely tasked with administering medications — which some say they have not received proper training to do— and maintain a line of sight for children without proper placement, including doing bed checks every 30 minutes when the children are sleeping. This is already on top of their regular caseloads.
Some of Lucy’s shifts go until midnight or even 4 a.m.
“I’m literally praying that the kiddo is asleep so there’s no issues,” Lucy said. “If you’re working before 8 a.m., you’re not going to be able to get a hold of anybody to help you.”
Following record staff turnover, the agency has had a higher share of workers with less than one year of experience. Nearly 30% of caseworkers have worked within the agency for less than a year.
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