Texas Care Investigation Printed in Britain

[Guest guest]

Found this all the way in merry old England The Texas Comptroller was very

concerned about the amount

of psychotropic (mind altering) drugs given to children in the Texas foster care

system amongst other things.

It appears that the state gives more money to foster parents that have children

with disabilities, which on the surface

makes sense. But then you add in Psychiatric Disorders and how easy it is to

slap a label on a child to get more

money and look out!!! The report is bone chilling, one child on four SSRI's at

once while also on four other psychiatric

drugs is one example. It's a disgrace and with no oversight to this system it's

the fox guarding the hen house.

If this is happening here in Texas I shudder to think of whats going on in other

states in the US. It looks like any child

that gets in foster care has a good chance of getting the daylights drugged out

of them.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3951306,00.html

Texas Official Urges Fixing System

Wednesday April 7, 2004 7:01 PM

By KELLEY SHANNON

Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The state's foster care system needs a massive overhaul,

particularly the special camps where a small number of children are housed, the

state comptroller's office said.

Announcing the results of a seven month investigation, Comptroller Carole Keeton

Strayhorn on Tuesday showed large color photographs taken at group foster care

facilities, including a sewage-spewing outdoor toilet and a secret attic

``seclusion'' room where children could be locked inside.

``I challenge any defender of the current status quo to put their child or their

grandchild in some of the situations, some of the places that I've seen, for one

day, much less for a lifetime,'' she said.

The investigation by Strayhorn's office followed reports from news organizations

and other complaints that children have died, run away and suffered sexual,

physical and emotional abuse after being placed in the state's custody.

Much of Strayhorn's criticism was directed at ``therapeutic camps,'' which offer

an experience in outdoor living deemed helpful to some troubled children, and

residential treatment centers, where foster children live as a group instead of

with families.

About 20 percent of foster children live in such group facilities, the vast

majority of them in the residential centers. In all, there are 16,000 children

in foster care at any time in Texas.

The report does not name homes where problems were discovered, but shows photos

of homes with squalid toilets and other problems.

At one therapeutic camp, Strayhorn said, children used makeshift outhouses and

slept outdoors in sleeping bags, sometimes for years. ``That's not care. That's

cruelty,'' Strayhorn said.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, which oversees foster

care, responded by saying it has begun making changes.

``Obviously there are situations in the foster care system that we would like to

improve, and we have taken steps to make improvements in the areas addressed by

the comptroller's report,'' said spokesman Geoffrey Wool.

The report makes 87 recommendations, including saving and redirecting $193.9

million so that state enforcement staff can be beefed up.

``This is a huge step,'' said Jerry Boswell, president of the advocacy group

Citizens Commission on Human Rights. ``Finally someone is actually recognizing

what's going on in these facilities.''

First elected comptroller in 1998, Strayhorn says it's her duty to monitor the

way Texas spends its money.

Some critics have questioned her use of audit powers, and last year the

Legislature removed her authority over performance reviews of school districts

and recommendations for state government spending.

Strayhorn, a Republican, hasn't ruled out running for a higher elected position

in 2006 - for governor against incumbent Republican Gov. Rick .

^---

On the Net:

Comptroller's Office: http://www.window.state.tx.us/

Department of Family and Protective Services: http://www.tdprs.state.tx.us/

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss

[Guest guest]

Found this all the way in merry old England The Texas Comptroller was very

concerned about the amount

of psychotropic (mind altering) drugs given to children in the Texas foster care

system amongst other things.

It appears that the state gives more money to foster parents that have children

with disabilities, which on the surface

makes sense. But then you add in Psychiatric Disorders and how easy it is to

slap a label on a child to get more

money and look out!!! The report is bone chilling, one child on four SSRI's at

once while also on four other psychiatric

drugs is one example. It's a disgrace and with no oversight to this system it's

the fox guarding the hen house.

If this is happening here in Texas I shudder to think of whats going on in other

states in the US. It looks like any child

that gets in foster care has a good chance of getting the daylights drugged out

of them.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3951306,00.html

Texas Official Urges Fixing System

Wednesday April 7, 2004 7:01 PM

By KELLEY SHANNON

Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The state's foster care system needs a massive overhaul,

particularly the special camps where a small number of children are housed, the

state comptroller's office said.

Announcing the results of a seven month investigation, Comptroller Carole Keeton

Strayhorn on Tuesday showed large color photographs taken at group foster care

facilities, including a sewage-spewing outdoor toilet and a secret attic

``seclusion'' room where children could be locked inside.

``I challenge any defender of the current status quo to put their child or their

grandchild in some of the situations, some of the places that I've seen, for one

day, much less for a lifetime,'' she said.

The investigation by Strayhorn's office followed reports from news organizations

and other complaints that children have died, run away and suffered sexual,

physical and emotional abuse after being placed in the state's custody.

Much of Strayhorn's criticism was directed at ``therapeutic camps,'' which offer

an experience in outdoor living deemed helpful to some troubled children, and

residential treatment centers, where foster children live as a group instead of

with families.

About 20 percent of foster children live in such group facilities, the vast

majority of them in the residential centers. In all, there are 16,000 children

in foster care at any time in Texas.

The report does not name homes where problems were discovered, but shows photos

of homes with squalid toilets and other problems.

At one therapeutic camp, Strayhorn said, children used makeshift outhouses and

slept outdoors in sleeping bags, sometimes for years. ``That's not care. That's

cruelty,'' Strayhorn said.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, which oversees foster

care, responded by saying it has begun making changes.

``Obviously there are situations in the foster care system that we would like to

improve, and we have taken steps to make improvements in the areas addressed by

the comptroller's report,'' said spokesman Geoffrey Wool.

The report makes 87 recommendations, including saving and redirecting $193.9

million so that state enforcement staff can be beefed up.

``This is a huge step,'' said Jerry Boswell, president of the advocacy group

Citizens Commission on Human Rights. ``Finally someone is actually recognizing

what's going on in these facilities.''

First elected comptroller in 1998, Strayhorn says it's her duty to monitor the

way Texas spends its money.

Some critics have questioned her use of audit powers, and last year the

Legislature removed her authority over performance reviews of school districts

and recommendations for state government spending.

Strayhorn, a Republican, hasn't ruled out running for a higher elected position

in 2006 - for governor against incumbent Republican Gov. Rick .

^---

On the Net:

Comptroller's Office: http://www.window.state.tx.us/

Department of Family and Protective Services: http://www.tdprs.state.tx.us/

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss

[Guest guest]

Found this all the way in merry old England The Texas Comptroller was very

concerned about the amount

of psychotropic (mind altering) drugs given to children in the Texas foster care

system amongst other things.

It appears that the state gives more money to foster parents that have children

with disabilities, which on the surface

makes sense. But then you add in Psychiatric Disorders and how easy it is to

slap a label on a child to get more

money and look out!!! The report is bone chilling, one child on four SSRI's at

once while also on four other psychiatric

drugs is one example. It's a disgrace and with no oversight to this system it's

the fox guarding the hen house.

If this is happening here in Texas I shudder to think of whats going on in other

states in the US. It looks like any child

that gets in foster care has a good chance of getting the daylights drugged out

of them.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3951306,00.html

Texas Official Urges Fixing System

Wednesday April 7, 2004 7:01 PM

By KELLEY SHANNON

Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The state's foster care system needs a massive overhaul,

particularly the special camps where a small number of children are housed, the

state comptroller's office said.

Announcing the results of a seven month investigation, Comptroller Carole Keeton

Strayhorn on Tuesday showed large color photographs taken at group foster care

facilities, including a sewage-spewing outdoor toilet and a secret attic

``seclusion'' room where children could be locked inside.

``I challenge any defender of the current status quo to put their child or their

grandchild in some of the situations, some of the places that I've seen, for one

day, much less for a lifetime,'' she said.

The investigation by Strayhorn's office followed reports from news organizations

and other complaints that children have died, run away and suffered sexual,

physical and emotional abuse after being placed in the state's custody.

Much of Strayhorn's criticism was directed at ``therapeutic camps,'' which offer

an experience in outdoor living deemed helpful to some troubled children, and

residential treatment centers, where foster children live as a group instead of

with families.

About 20 percent of foster children live in such group facilities, the vast

majority of them in the residential centers. In all, there are 16,000 children

in foster care at any time in Texas.

The report does not name homes where problems were discovered, but shows photos

of homes with squalid toilets and other problems.

At one therapeutic camp, Strayhorn said, children used makeshift outhouses and

slept outdoors in sleeping bags, sometimes for years. ``That's not care. That's

cruelty,'' Strayhorn said.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, which oversees foster

care, responded by saying it has begun making changes.

``Obviously there are situations in the foster care system that we would like to

improve, and we have taken steps to make improvements in the areas addressed by

the comptroller's report,'' said spokesman Geoffrey Wool.

The report makes 87 recommendations, including saving and redirecting $193.9

million so that state enforcement staff can be beefed up.

``This is a huge step,'' said Jerry Boswell, president of the advocacy group

Citizens Commission on Human Rights. ``Finally someone is actually recognizing

what's going on in these facilities.''

First elected comptroller in 1998, Strayhorn says it's her duty to monitor the

way Texas spends its money.

Some critics have questioned her use of audit powers, and last year the

Legislature removed her authority over performance reviews of school districts

and recommendations for state government spending.

Strayhorn, a Republican, hasn't ruled out running for a higher elected position

in 2006 - for governor against incumbent Republican Gov. Rick .

^---

On the Net:

Comptroller's Office: http://www.window.state.tx.us/

Department of Family and Protective Services: http://www.tdprs.state.tx.us/

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss

[Guest guest]

Found this all the way in merry old England The Texas Comptroller was very

concerned about the amount

of psychotropic (mind altering) drugs given to children in the Texas foster care

system amongst other things.

It appears that the state gives more money to foster parents that have children

with disabilities, which on the surface

makes sense. But then you add in Psychiatric Disorders and how easy it is to

slap a label on a child to get more

money and look out!!! The report is bone chilling, one child on four SSRI's at

once while also on four other psychiatric

drugs is one example. It's a disgrace and with no oversight to this system it's

the fox guarding the hen house.

If this is happening here in Texas I shudder to think of whats going on in other

states in the US. It looks like any child

that gets in foster care has a good chance of getting the daylights drugged out

of them.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3951306,00.html

Texas Official Urges Fixing System

Wednesday April 7, 2004 7:01 PM

By KELLEY SHANNON

Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The state's foster care system needs a massive overhaul,

particularly the special camps where a small number of children are housed, the

state comptroller's office said.

Announcing the results of a seven month investigation, Comptroller Carole Keeton

Strayhorn on Tuesday showed large color photographs taken at group foster care

facilities, including a sewage-spewing outdoor toilet and a secret attic

``seclusion'' room where children could be locked inside.

``I challenge any defender of the current status quo to put their child or their

grandchild in some of the situations, some of the places that I've seen, for one

day, much less for a lifetime,'' she said.

The investigation by Strayhorn's office followed reports from news organizations

and other complaints that children have died, run away and suffered sexual,

physical and emotional abuse after being placed in the state's custody.

Much of Strayhorn's criticism was directed at ``therapeutic camps,'' which offer

an experience in outdoor living deemed helpful to some troubled children, and

residential treatment centers, where foster children live as a group instead of

with families.

About 20 percent of foster children live in such group facilities, the vast

majority of them in the residential centers. In all, there are 16,000 children

in foster care at any time in Texas.

The report does not name homes where problems were discovered, but shows photos

of homes with squalid toilets and other problems.

At one therapeutic camp, Strayhorn said, children used makeshift outhouses and

slept outdoors in sleeping bags, sometimes for years. ``That's not care. That's

cruelty,'' Strayhorn said.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, which oversees foster

care, responded by saying it has begun making changes.

``Obviously there are situations in the foster care system that we would like to

improve, and we have taken steps to make improvements in the areas addressed by

the comptroller's report,'' said spokesman Geoffrey Wool.

The report makes 87 recommendations, including saving and redirecting $193.9

million so that state enforcement staff can be beefed up.

``This is a huge step,'' said Jerry Boswell, president of the advocacy group

Citizens Commission on Human Rights. ``Finally someone is actually recognizing

what's going on in these facilities.''

First elected comptroller in 1998, Strayhorn says it's her duty to monitor the

way Texas spends its money.

Some critics have questioned her use of audit powers, and last year the

Legislature removed her authority over performance reviews of school districts

and recommendations for state government spending.

Strayhorn, a Republican, hasn't ruled out running for a higher elected position

in 2006 - for governor against incumbent Republican Gov. Rick .

^---

On the Net:

Comptroller's Office: http://www.window.state.tx.us/

Department of Family and Protective Services: http://www.tdprs.state.tx.us/

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss