CPS FINDING MORE BEDS FOR CHILDREN

  

Officials with the state’s Child Protective Services say they are finding more emergency beds for foster children, who had previously been forced to sleep in CPS offices.

Associate State Protective Services Commissioner Kristene Blackstone tells The Dallas Morning News that CPS housed just one foster child at a CPS office during one recent weekend.

That's after having been known to sleep a dozen foster children or more nightly in state buildings and hotels until new foster homes could be found for them.

Blackstone credits increased reimbursements for foster-bed providers, pay raises for caseworkers and the hiring of more caseworkers to find and place foster children for the decrease.

She says that has helped lift much of the load from overburdened caseworkers.

In December, nearly 150 investigators carried caseloads of more than 35 families. Blackstone says seven have caseloads that big now.