Blogs by Deborah K. Frontiera
Fighting CPS
8/22/2016 10:12:53 AM
Aug. 22, 2016
The purpose of this blog has been 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
TexProtects and I want you, my blog readers, to be aware of a couple of important developments in the efforts to improve the staff turnover crisis at Child Protective Services and to transform our failing foster care system.
Reducing Standards for Child Protective Services Caseworkers
CPS officials announced that the agency is lowering its education requirements for those applying to become caseworkers. Previously, a bachelor's degree - of any sort - was required. Now, CPS will accept those with a two-year associate's degree plus two years of "work experience in related fields." This means that Texas is now the only state that does not require a bachelor's degree to become a CPS caseworker.
This is the wrong direction to go. Tex Protects presented testimony to the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) arguing in favor of targeted, market-driven pay that would attract a competent, prepared and stable workforce. Here is the statement:
The CPS caseworker turnover crisis and resultant vacancies are perpetuated by a complex interconnected web of factors, including unmanageable caseloads, increased workload per case, inexperienced supervisors and mentors, the sheer difficulty and often hazardous nature of the work, the often punitive, unrewarding work environment, untreated Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder in our front line workers and lacking mental health support, poor education preparation and training and yes, poor pay.
We know from labor economics research that there are two major ways of increasing the pool of applicants for hire: One is to increase the job’s attractiveness, usually by pay. Another is to lower job standards.
I believe the department is making a grave mistake in opting for the latter. We know that the current workforce often lacks the requirements for the caseworker position, such as critical thinking skills, the ability to accurately assess complex family systems, skills to write concisely and descriptively, or how to efficiently juggle priorities.
TexProtects and the Child Protection Roundtable members recommend the former tool of increasing CPS caseworkers, supervisors and PDs compensation. This salary “correction” will not only increase the recruitment of more applicants, but secondly, attract more qualified, prepared applicants as well as serve as a retention tool to compensate workers for this demanding position.
To be effective, the salary correction – aka “Locality Pay” – should reflect the large cost-of-living differences across Texas and be more market-driven. The formula we are recommending to the department starts with the Labor of Bureau Statistics Cost of Living Index Score for Texas, then adjusts each Texas county plus or minus that score, then multiply that factor to the current caseworker average salary by stage of services.
We then looked at comparable positions and chose teachers: We used average teacher pay by county and added that differential to the cost of living adjusted figure. Finally, we averaged CPS’s 5-year turnover rates per stage of services per county and created a premium multiplier for any average turnover rate over 20% (so that a 5-year 30% average turnover rate for an INV would result in an additional 10 basis point increase for that position.)
There is a reason that 49 other states require a minimum bachelor’s degree education. For a position that places such a burden of life-and-death decisions on the worker, lowering education standards will prove to be a major error in the long run.
Let’s utilize a fact-driven, market-driven sensible compensation strategy to attract and keep the right workers to best protect Texas children.
The preceding reflected testimony by TexProtects CEO Madeline McClure to the Department of Family and Protective Services at their appropriations request hearing May 26, 2016.
Madeline McClure
Thank you, Madeline, for your work to try to make things better. I wish I could be sure that the legislature and people at CPS will listen, because they have not in the past--DF
Post a Comment
More Blogs by Deborah K. Frontiera
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Saturday, September 5, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, August 4, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 6, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, June 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, May 5, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, April 6, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, February 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, January 5, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 8, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, October 6, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, September 8, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 4, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 4, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 7, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, June 2, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, May 6, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, April 1, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, February 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, January 6, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 2, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 4, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Saturday, October 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, September 2, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 1, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Friday, June 7, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, May 7, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, April 2, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 4, 2024
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Monday, February 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, January 4, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 4, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, October 5, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, September 4, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 7, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, July 11, 2023
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Tuesday, June 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, May 8, 2023
• One Writer's Random thoughts - Tuesday, April 11, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, February 7, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Friday, January 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 5, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Saturday, November 12, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, October 6, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, September 6, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, August 4, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, July 7, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, June 6, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, May 5, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, April 4, 2022
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Monday, March 7, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, February 8, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Wednesday, January 5, 2022
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Monday, December 6, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, November 2, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, October 18, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, October 5, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, September 21, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, September 7, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 16, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 2, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 12, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, June 28, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, June 15, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, May 10, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, April 19, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, April 6, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Sunday, March 21, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Friday, March 5, 2021
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 7, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Friday, November 6, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, September 8, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 10, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, July 7, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, June 10, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, May 9, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, April 18, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, March 10, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 5, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, January 8, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Friday, December 6, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, November 5, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, October 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, August 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, July 9, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Monday, June 10, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, May 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, April 16, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, March 6, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, February 7, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, January 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 10, 2018
• Foghting CPS - Monday, November 12, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, October 10, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 13, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, June 26, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, May 8, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, April 5, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 5, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 29, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, December 6, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, October 4, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, August 10, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, July 15, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, May 10, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 10, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, March 8, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 8, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, January 11, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, December 6, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, November 9, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, October 12, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 19, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 5, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 22, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, August 10, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, July 13, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, June 21, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, June 4, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, May 10, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Friday, April 29, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, April 5, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Friday, March 11, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 24, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, February 4, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 24, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, January 6, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 6, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 9, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, October 13, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, September 12, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, August 14, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, July 17, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, June 24, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, June 3, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, May 20, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, May 8, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 20, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, April 7, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 9, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, February 16, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, February 10, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, January 13, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, January 2, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, December 19, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 8, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 17, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, October 30, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 21, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 7, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 24, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 10, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Monday, July 28, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, July 13, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 22, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, June 7, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 25, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, May 10, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 27, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 13, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 23, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 9, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 23, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 9, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 26, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 12, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 29, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 15, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 24, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 10, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, October 27, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, October 13, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 22, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 8, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 26, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 11, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, July 21, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Monday, July 8, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 23, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 9, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 26, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 12, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 21, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 7, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 24, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 10, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 24, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 10, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 27, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 14, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 25, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 11, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, October 28, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 17, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 26, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 12, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 12, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, July 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, July 8, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 24, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, June 11, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, May 21, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 6, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 26, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 12, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, February 27, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, February 13, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 1, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 16, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 19, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 12, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 5, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 28, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 21, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 14, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 7, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 31, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 24, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 17, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 10, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 3, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 26, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 19, 2011
|
