Introduction
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) serves the state’s children, youth, families, and people who are elderly or have disabilities. The 2012 Annual Report and Data Book is an overview of the department’s programs, services, performance, and accomplishments, as well as a comprehensive statistical explanation of DFPS services. This report covers the period of September 1, 2011 through August 31, 2012. You can find this report and other information on the department’s website at www.dfps.texas.gov.
Mission
The mission of DFPS is to protect children and people who are elderly or who have disabilities from abuse, neglect, and exploitation by involving clients, families, and communities.
Vision
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services:
- Is recognized for innovative, effective services.
- Builds strong, effective partnerships with clients, communities, providers, and state leaders.
- Provides effective leadership that is accountable for its actions and communicates openly with clients and stakeholders.
- Supports staff members who are highly motivated, diverse, ethical, well-trained, and professional.
Values
- We protect the unprotected.
- We involve clients, families, and communities in decision making.
- We provide quality services.
- We are innovative and strive for excellence.
- We are ethical and accountable.
- We promote diversity.
- We value our staff.
DFPS Staffing and Structure
The DFPS Commissioner is appointed by the Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and directs 10,571 employees in 293 local offices located in 11 regions and a state headquarters in Austin. DFPS has four major programs: Child Protective Services (CPS), Adult Protective Services (APS), Child Care Licensing (CCL), and Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI), which is administered by CPS.
A nine-member council is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate. The council makes recommendations on the department’s rules and policies and provides a venue for public input.
Texas Abuse Hotline
State law requires anyone who believes a child is being abused or neglected, or an adult who is 65 years or older or who has a disability is being abused, neglected, or exploited, to report it.
DFPS’ Statewide Intake program takes reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation from across the state through its Texas Abuse Hotline (1-800-252-5400) and through a secure website (www.TxAbuseHotline. org). The Texas Abuse Hotline operates 24-hours a day, every day of the year.
Statewide Intake also accepts reports of abuse in facilities operated by the state or community providers that serve adults and children with mental illness or intellectual disabilities. These facilities and providers are managed by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Contact 1-800-647-7418 to report abuse, neglect or exploitation in these facilities and programs.
The Statewide Intake program, assigns a priority to all reports that meet the statutory definitions of abuse, neglect or exploitation that is based on the safety of the alleged victim. It then forwards these reports to the appropriate program staff to investigate and notifies law enforcement agencies in cases involving children.
Emergency Resource Rooms
In emergency resource rooms, caseworkers can get emergency supplies or special items like diapers, cleaning supplies, clothes, and small furniture to meet the needs of their clients. CPS resource rooms are called Rainbow Rooms and APS resource rooms are called Silver Star Rooms or Bridge Rooms. 213 emergency resource rooms served 66,584 DFPS clients in FY 2012.
Office of Consumer Affairs
The Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) handles complaints and legislative inquiries about DFPS programs. The purpose is to address the concerns of DFPS clients, their families, other stakeholders, and the public in a fair and unbiased manner. OCA also documents and shares the results of their reviews with DFPS state and regional administrators to help improve the quality of services. Individuals may contact the OCA by calling a toll number (1-800-720-7777), through the DFPS website, or by email.
OCA handled 4,734 complaints, 15,421 general inquiries, and 728 legislative inquiries in FY 2012. OCA validated 9.8 percent of complaints received.