CPS workers share info with Rotarians
Cameron Garza, a supervisor for the Palo Pinto County office of Child Protection Services, along with supervisor in training Angel Newman, presented Mineral Wells Rotarians with information about the local office and how CPS works to protect neglected and abused children.
Rotary Club of Mineral Wells met Wednesday at noon for its weekly luncheon at Holiday Hills Country Club.
Garza said there are currently 172 Palo Pinto County children in CPS custody, with 23 awaiting adoption. She said CPS received 343 case reports in fiscal 2016, and after investigation took some level of action in 137 of those cases. She said many of those cases involve drug use in the home, especially methamphetamine. "That's a real problem here in Palo Pinto County," she said.
She said CPS ultimately wants to keep children with their parents, or at least one parent, if it is determined that is safe and appropriate for the child, or children. In cases where that is not possible, children are placed in temporary care, typically a foster home.
Garza noted that, thanks to the organization Our Community Our Kids, the number of foster homes in the county has gone from three to 22, and growing. She said CPS wants to try and keep children placed in temporary homes remain in the county, and hopes that more families will sign up to provide in-home foster care.
She said the state is working to increase the number of CPS caseworkers and services to respond to the growing number of cases statewide. She said caseworker turnover is a problem in some areas, but she said that has not been a problem locally.
Garza also noted the many resources, services and programs available locally to help parents and children including CASA-Hope For Children, Children's Alliance Center of Palo Pinto County, Rainbow Room, Addiction Recovery Ministries and Mineral Wells Center of Life. She said Palo Pinto County has more resources than even Parker County.
Many of those resource organizations are represented through membership in Rotary Club of Mineral Wells, including Connie Ball of the Child Welfare Board/Rainbow Room, Barb Tucker of CASA-Hope For Children, and Linda Porter-Bradford of the Children's Alliance Center.
Harris Brooks noted a charitable effort for Palo Pinto General Hospital employees that allows them to donate, directly or through payroll deductions, into a fund to provide gifts and goods for agencies involved with children. Recently, the hospital provided coats for CPS children, and children comfort bags and monetary gift cards for the CAC.
Pictured, from left, are this week's program chair John Kuhn, Garza and Newman, and club President Jimmy Walker.