Checking In: Violations in Texas Foster Care
Below I have compiled a sample of real violations within the foster care system in Texas. These facilities are in major metropolitan areas (ie Dallas/Ft.Worth, Austin, San Antonio areas) and they are listed here exactly as they are reported here by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
While we talk about foster care abuse that goes on, there is a little bit of a difference between saying the words “child abuse” and actually seeing a description of what real adults are doing (or not doing) to these children…. in the name of ‘protection’… and using tax payers money to-boot.
I plan on doing lists like these every once in a while… keep us checking in on Texas Foster Care facilities… checkin’ in on the children.
Standard Number 749.1521(4)
Standard Description: Medication Storage-Store medication covered by Section II of the Texas Controlled Substances Act under double lock in a separate container
Technical Assistance Given: Yes
Narrative
Several medications covered by Section II of the Texas Controlled Substances Act were found in a locked box in an unlocked cabinet. The cabinet was in the foster mother’s office, which was also unlocked. These medications, therefore, were not kept under double lock at the time of inspection.
Standard Number: 749.2471(9)(D)
Standard Description:Verification Certificate specifies the ages and gender(s) of children for which the home is verified
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative The verification certificate at the home did not match the characteristics of the children placed. The certificate indicated the home was verified for children ages 10 to 17 even though a 7-year-old child was placed in the home.
Standard Number: 16102
Standard Description: Children must not be Abused or Neglected
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative A young foster child was sexually assaulted by an older child in the home. The older child was arrested for sexual assault.
Standard Number: AF22101
Standard Description: Children must not be Abused or Neglected
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative The evidence gathered supports that the foster mother abused the foster child by striking the child on the head and possibly causing a bruise.
Standard Number: AF23102b
Standard Description: Discipline – Not be Physically
Emotionally Damaging to Child
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative
The evidence gathered supports that the foster parent struck the foster child on the head as an inappropriate form of discipline.
Standard Number: AF23102a
Standard Description: Discipline – Consistent with
Agency Policies
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative
The evidence gathered supports that the foster mother used a restraint that is inconsistent with the PMB restraint system used by the CPA.
Standard Number: 749.1957(1)
Standard Description: Other Prohibited Discipline – Any harsh, cruel, unusual, unnecessary, demeaning, or humiliating discipline or punishment
Technical Assistance Given: Yes
Narrative
Two children reported foster mother threw a gas cap at one of them when the child rummaged through her purse.
Standard Number: 749.2593(a)(4)
Standard Description: Supervision-The caregiver is responsible for being able to intervene when necessary to ensure each child’s safety
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative There was an addendum to the safety plan that included the foster child not have access to pens and pencils. The addendum was discussed with the foster mother on 4/4/08 and then sent to her on 4/10/08; the foster mother signed and dated it. The safety plan states that the foster parent will ensure that the foster child does not have access to any sharp objects, including pencils and pens. The foster mother was aware that the foster child had a bag full of ballpoint pens and (unsharpened) pencils just prior to the child using a pen to hurt another child in the home. The foster mother stated she was not concerned about the foster child having the pens and pencils as he needs them for school. The foster mother did not take the necessary steps to ensure each child’s safety in the home.
Standard Number 749.1521(4)
Standard Description: Medication Storage-Store medication covered by Section II of the Texas Controlled Substances Act under double lock in a separate container
Technical Assistance Given: Yes
Narrative
Several medications covered by Section II of the Texas Controlled Substances Act were found in a locked box in an unlocked cabinet. The cabinet was in the foster mother’s office, which was also unlocked. These medications, therefore, were not kept under double lock at the time of inspection.
Standard Number: 749.2471(9)(D)
Standard Description: Verification Certificate specifies the ages and gender(s) of children for which the home is verified
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative The verification certificate at the home did not match the characteristics of the children placed. The certificate indicated the home was verified for children ages 10 to 17 even though a 7-year-old child was placed in the home.
Standard Number: 16102 Standard Description: Children must not be Abused or Neglected
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative A young foster child was sexually assaulted by an older child in the home. The older child was arrested for sexual assault.
Standard Number: AF22101
Standard Description: Children must not be Abused or Neglected
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative The evidence gathered supports that the foster mother abused the foster child by striking the child on the head and possibly causing a bruise.
Standard Number: AF23102b
Standard Description: Discipline – Not be Physically
Emotionally Damaging to Child
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative
The evidence gathered supports that the foster parent struck the foster child on the head as an inappropriate form of discipline.
Standard Number: AF23102a
Standard Description: Discipline – Consistent with Agency Policies
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative
The evidence gathered supports that the foster mother used a restraint that is inconsistent with the PMB restraint system used by the CPA.
Standard Number: 749.1957(1)
Standard Description: Other Prohibited Discipline – Any harsh, cruel, unusual, unnecessary, demeaning, or humiliating discipline or punishment
Technical Assistance Given: Yes
Narrative
Two children reported foster mother threw a gas cap at one of them when the child rummaged through her purse.
Standard Number: 749.2593(a)(4)
Standard Description: Supervision-The caregiver is responsible for being able to intervene when necessary to ensure each child’s safety
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative There was an addendum to the safety plan that included the foster child not have access to pens and pencils. The addendum was discussed with the foster mother on 4/4/08 and then sent to her on 4/10/08; the foster mother signed and dated it. The safety plan states that the foster parent will ensure that the foster child does not have access to any sharp objects, including pencils and pens. The foster mother was aware that the foster child had a bag full of ballpoint pens and (unsharpened) pencils just prior to the child using a pen to hurt another child in the home. The foster mother stated she was not concerned about the foster child having the pens and pencils as he needs them for school. The foster mother did not take the necessary steps to ensure each child’s safety in the home.
Standard Number: 749.2593(a)(5)
Standard Description: Supervision-The caregiver is responsible for not performing tasks that clearly impede the caregiver’s ability to supervise
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative Caregiver failed to supervise a child while they were playing with another child in a separate room. The service plan requires the child to have line of sight supervision while playing with other children.
Standard Number: 749.3041(4)
Standard Description: Physical Environment-foster home must
ensure that flammable or poisonous substances are stored out of the
reach of children
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative
A box of matches was found in the hallway of the home by one of the children residing in the home. This child held on to the matches and did not alert the foster parents that the matches had been found. This box of matches was hidden back in the foster parents’ bedroom. Additionally the foster child in respite care over the Thanksgiving holiday was able to access another box of matches that she found in the dresser drawer of the room she was sleeping in. This child started a fire in the wastebasket of the bedroom with there matches. This box of matches was retrieved from the medicine cabinet in the bathroom.
Standard Number: 749.503(a)(9)A(ii)
Standard Description:
Serious Incident-Report to Licensing no later than 24 hours after determining a child 13 years old or older is missing
Narrative
The operation waited more than 24 hours before reporting to licensing that a 17 year old had run away from his foster home.
Standard Number: 749.2593(a)(3)
Standard Description:
Supervision-The caregiver is responsible for ensuring each child’s safety and well being, including auditory and/or visual awareness of the child
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative
Foster mother, Cozette, stated she had talked with her case manager about using a baby monitoring for one of the children in her care due to his seizure disorder. At the inspection of the foster home one of the receivers for the baby monitor was unplugged and under a kitchen cabinet. Cozette stated she had not used the baby monitor on the night that the child had a seizure.
Standard Number 749.1521(4)
Standard Description: Medication Storage-Store medication covered by Section II of the Texas Controlled Substances Act under double lock in a separate container
Technical Assistance Given: Yes
Narrative
Several medications covered by Section II of the Texas Controlled Substances Act were found in a locked box in an unlocked cabinet. The cabinet was in the foster mother’s office, which was also unlocked. These medications, therefore, were not kept under double lock at the time of inspection.
Standard Number: 749.2471(9)(D)
Standard Description:
Verification Certificate specifies the ages and gender(s) of children for which the home is verified
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative The verification certificate at the home did not match the characteristics of the children placed. The certificate indicated the home was verified for children ages 10 to 17 even though a 7-year-old child was placed in the home.
Standard Number: 16102
Standard Description: Children must not be Abused or Neglected
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative A young foster child was sexually assaulted by an older child in the home. The older child was arrested for sexual assault.
Standard Number: AF22101
Standard Description: Children must not be Abused or Neglected
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative The evidence gathered supports that the foster mother abused the foster child by striking the child on the head and possibly causing a bruise.
Standard Number: AF23102b
Standard Description: Discipline – Not be Physically or Emotionally Damaging to Child
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative
The evidence gathered supports that the foster parent struck the foster child on the head as an inappropriate form of discipline.
Standard Number: AF23102a
Standard Description: Discipline -Consistent with Agency Policies
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative
The evidence gathered supports that the foster mother used a restraint that is inconsistent with the PMB restraint system used by the CPA.
Standard Number: 749.1957(1)
Standard Description: Other Prohibited Discipline – Any harsh, cruel, unusual, unnecessary, demeaning, or humiliating discipline or punishment
Technical Assistance Given: Yes
Narrative
Two children reported foster mother threw a gas cap at one of them when the child rummaged through her purse.
Standard Number: 749.2593(a)(4)
Standard Description: Supervision-The caregiver is responsible for being able to intervene when necessary to
ensure each child’s safety
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative There was an addendum to the safety plan that included the foster child not have access to pens and pencils. The addendum was discussed with the foster mother on 4/4/08 and then sent to her on 4/10/08; the foster mother signed and dated it. The safety plan states that the foster parent will ensure that the foster child does not have access to any sharp objects, including pencils and pens. The foster mother was aware that the foster child had a bag full of ballpoint pens and (unsharpened) pencils just prior to the child using a pen to hurt another child in the home. The foster mother stated she was not concerned about the foster child having the pens and pencils as he needs them for school. The foster mother did not take the necessary steps to ensure each child’s safety in the home.
Standard Number: 749.2593(a)(5)
Standard Description:
Supervision-The caregiver is responsible for not performing tasks that clearly impede the caregiver’s ability to supervise
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative
Caregiver failed to supervise a child while they were playing with another child in a separate room. The service plan requires the child to have line of sight supervision while playing with other children.
Standard Number: 749.3041(4)
Standard Description:Physical Environment-foster home must ensure
that flammable or poisonous substances are stored out of the reach of
children
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative
A box of matches was found in the hallway of the home by one of the children residing in the home. This child held on to the matches and did not alert the foster parents that the matches had been found. This box of matches was hidden back in the foster parents’ bedroom. Additionally the foster child in respite care over the Thanksgiving holiday was able to access another box of matches that she found in the dresser drawer of the room she was sleeping in. This child started a fire in the wastebasket of the bedroom with there matches. This box of matches was retrieved from the medicine cabinet in the bathroom.
Standard Number: 749.503(a)(9)A(ii)
Standard Description:
Serious Incident-Report to Licensing no later than 24 hours after determining a child 13 years old or older is missing
Narrative
The operation waited more than 24 hours before reporting to licensing that a 17 year old had run away from his foster home.
Standard Number: 749.2593(a)(3)
Standard Description:
Supervision-The caregiver is responsible for ensuring each child’s safety and well being, including auditory and/or visual awareness of the child
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative
Foster mother, Cozette, stated she had talked with her case manager about using a baby monitoring for one of the children in her care due to his seizure disorder. At the inspection of the foster home one of the receivers for the baby monitor was unplugged and under a kitchen cabinet. Cozette stated she had not used the baby monitor on the night that the child had a seizure.
Standard Number: 749.2593(a)(5)
Standard Description:
Supervision-The caregiver is responsible for not performing tasks that clearly impede the caregiver’s ability to supervise
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative
Caregiver failed to supervise a child while they were playing with another child in a separate room. The service plan requires the child to have line of sight supervision while playing with other children.
Standard Number: 749.3041(4)
Standard Description:
Physical Environment-foster home must ensure that flammable
or poisonous substances are stored out of the reach of children
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative
A box of matches was found in the hallway of the home by one of the children residing in the home. This child held on to the matches and did not alert the foster parents that the matches had been found. This box of matches was hidden back in the foster parents’ bedroom. Additionally the foster child in respite care over the Thanksgiving holiday was able to access another box of matches that she found in the dresser drawer of the room she was sleeping in. This child started a fire in the wastebasket of the bedroom with there matches. This box of matches was retrieved from the medicine cabinet in the bathroom.
Standard Number: 749.503(a)(9)A(ii)
Standard Description:
Serious Incident-Report to Licensing no later than 24 hours after determining a child 13 years old or older is missing
Narrative
The operation waited more than 24 hours before reporting to licensing that a 17 year old had run away from his foster home.
Standard Number: 749.2593(a)(3)
Standard Description:
Supervision-The caregiver is responsible for ensuring each child’s safety and well being, including auditory and/or visual awareness of the child
Technical Assistance Given: No
Narrative
Foster mother, Cozette, stated she had talked with her case manager about using a baby monitoring for one of the children in her care due to his seizure disorder. At the inspection of the foster home one of the receivers for the baby monitor was unplugged and under a kitchen cabinet. Cozette stated she had not used the baby monitor on the night that the child had a seizure.
