Home
Advocates for children say state must prepare
for increase in abuse, neglect cases
 |
More children will be subject to abuse and neglect as the recession deepens and puts more pressure on San Antonio families already struggling to make ends meet. But advocates for children, including Sen. Carlos Uresti, fear that the Department of Family and Protective Services won't have the resources it needs to handle an increase in abuse cases.
"Caseloads are down, but I think it's the calm before the storm," Uresti said at a Capitol news conference earlier this month. "We must have the funding. We have to be prepared."
With less than two months left in the legislative session, those on the front lines of fighting child abuse and neglect are feeling a sense of urgency about pending legislation designed to keep kids safe. Dr. Roberto San Martin, president of the Bexar County Medical Society, sees the need for prevention and early intervention programs almost every day. It is not uncommon, he said, for four abused children to be in intensive care in a single week.
"I see kids with skull fractures. I see kids with broken bones. I see kids with cigarette burns," said San Martin. "I look forward to the day I can come to the office and not see any more hurt kids."
Uresti, San Martin and other child advocates and physicians recently filled a small hearing room near the Senate floor to mark Child Abuse Awareness Month and launch the Blue Ribbon Task Force Advocacy Day - an effort to take the case for child protection directly to legislators.
"We don't have high-paid lobbyists for children," Uresti told the group. "These people are the lobbyists for children."
Uresti said the numbers tell a tragic story. CPS posted 21,500 intakes alleging abuse or neglect in Bexar County last year, and almost 18,000 were assigned for investigation. Investigators confirmed 6,600 victims, and 947 children were removed from their homes. Statewide, there were 240,000 reports of child abuse and neglect in 2007, most involving infants and pre-school children, and 223 children died that year. The cost of child abuse to the judicial system, law enforcement and health system was almost $900 million.
After the news conference, group members fanned out to legislators' offices to generate support for a number of child protection bills. Among them is Senate Bill 1050, sponsored by Uresti, which would reform the data collection process at CPS and require it to release more information on child fatalities caused by abuse. He is also sponsoring Senate Bill 1052, creating a Bill of Rights for children in foster care.
On April 1, the Senate adopted a $182 billion budget that Uresti said did not fully address all the needs of Child Protective Services and DFPS. But at the urging of Uresti and others, the Senate came back the next day and added $12 million for an important prevention program.
The funding will pay for more face-to-face caseworker visits, allowing the state to meet a federal standard that it has failed in the past. With current staff and resources, DFPS can visit only 75% of the children in its system, while federal standards require 95%. In 2002, Texas was fined $4 million for failing to meet the requirement. While the fine was dismissed on a technicality, the possibility of more fines exists if the standard isn't met.
"This money that will allow caseworkers to visit many more children who are in danger of being mistreated," Uresti said.
Child advocates say the budget bill falls short in other areas, including money for the Nursing-Family Partnership program. If NFP only gets the $8.1 million budgeted, the Children's Shelter in San Antonio and University Health Systems may not be able to participate fully in the program. Article XI of the budget contains a list of items that won't be funded unless additional revenues can be identified, including $30.5 million for caseworker recruitment and retention; $6.2 million for increased prevention services; $3.3 million to expand services to youth transitioning from foster care; $7 million to increase client services and add program support staff; and $2.8 million to strengthen services to families.
"These items are critical to CPS's mission," Uresti said. "They should be on the list of priorities."
While the Legislature debates these issues, members of Uresti's Blue Ribbon Task Force are taking the fight against child abuse directly to the people. On Saturday, April 4, more than 50 volunteers gathered at the CentroMed Health and Wellness Center on Commercial Avenue to participate in the Blue Walk for S.A. kids. Uresti and others went door-to-door in the South San Antonio neighborhood, answering question and handing out information about the community resources available to young families and those struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table.
George "Ice Man" Gervin is also getting involved in the effort. He is appearing in a billboard campaign that urges families in need to call 2-1-1 to find out about programs and resources that can help.
Gervin's message—Don't lose your cool with kids.
 |
Note from Carlos
January 22, 2009
Last week was the first of the 81st Legislative Session in Austin. This marks my sixth legislative session as a public servant, and my second as the State Senator for District 19. As my colleagues and I embark on a new journey on behalf of the people of Texas, I hope that we succeed in creating legislation that allows our fellow Texans to thrive even under these tough economic conditions.
Sadly, many of our Republican colleagues chose to change the Senate rules to ensure a partisan bill had a greater chance of passing the Texas Senate. I took the opportunity to encourage the Senate to allow for bills supporting veterans benefits to be a higher priority than the partisan bill before us. I will continue to fight for solutions that help our Texas families.
As the session progresses, I hope we can put partisanship behind us and improve the lives of Texans in a real, meaningful way. This session I hope we can find ways to strengthen our economy and create good paying jobs throughout our state. I also hope to fight to ensure our veterans are given the support they have earned. Lastly, I will continue to fight to protect two of our most vulnerable populations—children and the elderly.
I plan to join many of my fellow Senators to make sure that the elementary, middle, and high school students of today are not strapped with inflated college tuition bills in the future. In increasingly tough economic times, it is important for America to stay competitive by strengthening and educating our workforce. Providing access to quality, affordable educational opportunities at Texas' public universities and colleges has always been one of my biggest commitments.
I'd like to extend an open invitation to you to contact my office with any suggestions, ideas, or opinions for both current and prospective legislation. Please take the opportunity to call or send me an email because it gives me a better idea of what priorities my constituents and their families want our state to address.
Though the holiday season is over, I encourage everyone to make a small resolution to carry the Christmas spirit of kindness and generosity well into the New Year. May God bless us all as we face the challenges ahead and move forward into a brighter, more prosperous future.
Semper Fi!
|
|
The above image is a part of the new BlueRibbonTaskForce.com billboard campaign. Clear Channel Communications has generously donated advertising space to let people know about the services 2-1-1 provides. |
Senator Uresti recently lent his words to a new Child Help public service announcement for FOX 29 KABB TV. Take a minute to view the other version, as well as the Spanish translations on Senator Uresti's YouTube channel.
 |
| Senator Uresti welcomed his first grandson, Benjamin Michael Uresti, on July 22, 2008. |