Blogs by Deborah K. Frontiera
Fighting CPS
7/21/2013 3:02:23 PM
The purpose of this blog is to provide updates on some of the cases I reported in my book (Fighting CPS: Guilty Until Proven Innocent of Child Protective Services Charges ISBN 9-780-9800061-6-2) that had not been resolved when the book went to press, and to report other cases where CPS is not working up to par. I’d also like to hear about cases in which Child Protective Services did the right thing so those cases can serve as examples of what should be done. Occasionally, I will report helpful tips and web sites with advice on fighting CPS. To comment on this blog, or to tell your story, email Deborah Frontiera at frontiera.fightingcps.deborah.gmail.com
The next post will be on Aug. 12, 2013.
A Bit More on the 2013 Texas Legislature Session: A report from Eileen Garcia’s Texas Protects site reads in part:
We entered this session with great hope and made great strides. Last session, we saw our state budget gutted. While we achieved strong statutory changes that improved the lives of Texas families in 2011, the erosion of our safety nets and public services at a time when families were struggling through the recession made for a bleak landscape for our state’s children.
This session was different. Our returning legislators had heard the voices of their community, and they came back to Austin knowing there would be consequences if things were not put right. Similarly, the enormous class of new legislators came into office aware that the economy was doing well—and knowing communities expected to see that prosperity at home.
We made substantial progress in early education; child protection; juvenile justice; infant, maternal and children’s health; and children’s mental well-being. We saw substantial restoration of the funding that was cut in 2011—the funding that undergirds our public systems and stands as critical investment in the well-being and successful future of our state. That said, our
Legislature did fall short in making our state whole, instead opting to take the improved economic outlook as an opportunity for tax giveaways to big businesses before helping families.
Worth noting too, despite strong legislative champions, efforts to review tax breaks for efficacy in serving the needs of our state were not successful. Texans Care took a stand in hearing after hearing—sometimes as the lone advocate voice in a hearing room full of business interests—calling for transparency and public investment in Texas families, and opposing limitations on the revenue measures our legislators have to meet state needs. But still there were significant funding victories in areas like maternal health, early childhood intervention, and mental health.
Of course, one of the largest, most cross-cutting missed opportunities of the session was the failure of our Legislature to authorize an expansion of Medicaid that would have given 1.5 million Texans, many of them children and their parents, health care coverage next year. This would have resulted in more resources and jobs for communities and a health coverage option for hardworking Texans who, otherwise, have no options. The most viable legislative proposal was killed by a powerful few who prevented the bill from being brought up on the House floor for consideration, rather than through a majority defeat. We were able to provide substantial visibility for the real people behind the political debate. The issue was substantially elevated as a mainstream issue. Through the Texas Well and Healthy campaign in which we are a leading partner we were able to mobilize thousands of Texans in support of the expansion, converting many legislators to a position of support.
We also helped develop and shepherd a multitude of statutory changes that will help our state better serve families. From a slew of positive children’s mental health proposals to decreased school ticketing to a leap in furthering quality within childcare environments, laws were passed, as we worked diligently, made allies, spoke to the media, and made things happen. We brought former foster youth to speak from their own experiences and were able to make significant improvements in the foster care system and in supports available to youth as they age out of the system without having the invaluable benefits of a permanent family. In terms of children's nutrition and fitness, we were able to share with a collaboration of partners the major victory of successful passage of a bill providing free breakfast to all children within poorer schools, a measure shown to increase likelihood that hungry children can start their day with a healthy meal. We worked with business owners, families, fellow advocates, researchers, state agency staff, service providers, and county officials to make a difference in the lives of millions of children. And, with your support, we made huge improvements.
Read on, and you will see the power of policy—how dedicated efforts, year-round and culminating in a 140-day sprint every two years, shapes our state. We have the power to make our state a better place, and we have the power to let our state continue to fall behind. This session we closed significant gaps, but the potential and wealth of our state remain far greater.
The work continues. We will diligently monitor implementation of proposals and seek to address what was left undone. The close of the 83rd regular session stands as both an end and a beginning, and we ask that you join us in building a better future for our state and safeguarding our Texas children.
Eileen Garcia
To read the full report, or view videos go to: http://txchildren.org/legislativerecaps
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