Shortage of state foster homes forcing kids to sleep in offices

DALLAS — A shortage of foster homes in Texas means dozens of children have been sleeping in state offices, another disturbing trend for a state foster care system that one judge has condemned as “shameful” and another has called so broken it often leaves young people in long-term care worse than when they entered.

More than two dozen children statewide spent at least two nights sleeping in state offices in April, the most recent month for which data is available. The month before that, 42 slept in a child welfare office. The new figures on sheltering children in the offices were first reported by the Austin American-Statesman.

State officials say there are not enough foster parents to take in all the children in state custody who need a home.

They say compounding the problem is a rising number of children who have been removed from troubled homes.

Officials also point to restrictions that limit the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services from placing children with extended family members.

Children in recent years have died while in the custody of extended family, causing authorities to scramble again for a fix.

Kate Murphy, senior policy associate for child welfare with Texans Care for Children, a nonprofit children’s policy organization, said reducing caseloads would give caseworkers more time to find the best place for children as promptly as possible.

“Stability is key for these kids, and stability is something they are missing too often,” Murphy said. “Continued state investment in reducing caseloads will contribute to that stability. The state needs to provide the resources to make caseloads more manageable and support the people who are trying to help the children in our child protection system.”