Texas Opts for “Master” CPS Investigators with its $1Million in Funds

They don’t actually have these  first 15 “master” investigators  (who may make as low as $31,000 a year) hired yet. The focus of their job will be to close out  a large backlog of child abuse investigations. Why aren’t POLICE (otherwise known as people trained to investigate crimes) doing this instead of CPS employees? The article talks about locating witnesses and the actual children.

““We hope to have the first ones on the job by mid-February,” said Patrick  Crimmins, CPS spokesman in Austin.

The state hopes to have a total of 32 master investigators by 2015.

“In these new positions, these very experienced investigators will have  minimal supervision and will travel probably three out of four weeks in a month.  They will not be based in a region, but will by the nature of the position go  wherever they are needed,” Crimmins said.

Last year, CPS was grappling with rising child abuse investigation caseloads,  driven in large part by “delinquent” cases older than 60 days. Child abuse  complaints were stalled for so long that, in at least two cases documented by  Hearst newspapers, children died.

So far this year, Harris County continues to have the largest number of older  child abuse cases. On average, nearly 40 percent of a CPS worker’s caseload in  Harris County are child abuse cases that are at least 60 days old.

By comparison, Bexar County has an average about half of that: 22  percent.

“Bexar has done a good job in holding the number,” said Mary  Walker, spokeswoman for Texas  CPS in San Antonio.

While Bexar County is more current on cases, other numbers are troublesome.  In the 2011 fiscal year, 20 children died from maltreatment, a record in Bexar  County, while the number of confirmed cases of abuse and neglect — 5,915 — was  the highest in the state. Last fiscal year, Bexar County again had the most  confirmed cases of abuse and neglect — 6,205 — and 19 children died.

Child abuse complaints can remain open for a variety of reasons. Incomplete  information about the family and where the child is living could make locating  them or other witnesses difficult. Uncooperative parents or a family who has  moved also can keep a case open.

The idea for the master investigator team arose last year.

“Last year was a rough year from the standpoint of backlogs, or delinquent  investigations,” Crimmins explained. Chief among those in need was Travis  County, which at the time had the worst investigation backlog in the state.  However, as CPS shifted workers to help out Travis, Midland and other areas,  caseloads in Harris County continued to rise.

By designating a separate team of master investigators, CPS officials hope to  avoid the problems of last year.”

Child protective agency hiring new ‘master investigators’

[My SanAntonio.com 1/28/13 by Terri Langford]

REFORM Puzzle Piece