Foster Care

Texas was found in contempt Monday by U.S. District Judge Janis Jack for violating two of the court's orders in its long-running foster litigation.

A hearing in December showed allegations of abuse and neglect of youth went unaddressed at facilities for people with intellectual disabilities, and investigations were poorly run.

Texas has removed foster youth from at least one facility managed by companies being investigated by U.S. senators. 48 youth remain at 11 facilities, according to a federal judge.

State records show Iesha Greene was fired in 2020 from a state juvenile facility for having inappropriate relationships with children. The Refuge said it was aware of her previous work there, but it never requested her publicly available personnel records.

Was there or wasn’t there sex trafficking at The Refuge, the Bastrop-based residential treatment center?

Last month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the state’s child welfare agency to investigate family and medical providers who help young transgender youth receive gender-affirming care. The move immediately attracted a legal challenge and condemnation across the country from LGBTQ+ advocates. They say the state policy is part of a years-long campaign against trans youth in Texas — and it’s inspired one young Texan to speak out.

Court documents and an emergency federal hearing shed light on an investigation into a Bastrop-based residential treatment program and allegations from at least eight girls of sex trafficking.

At least 23 children have died in foster care since 2019; many are also sleeping in state offices rather than in foster homes.

From Texas Standard:Federal Judge Janis Graham Jack of Corpus Christi said in a hearing Thursday that the state has let for-profit providers endanger the…

From Texas Standard:While some families in quarantine are spending more time together than ever before, those in the Child Protective Services, or CPS…