Lindsey Van Buskirk was appointed Associate Commissioner for Child Protective Investigations (CPI) in June of 2026. In this role, she provides executive leadership for the agency's investigative function, overseeing the staff who serve as DFPS's first responders and are responsible for making some of the most consequential child safety decisions in the state.

Van Buskirk began her career with DFPS in 2002 as a social work intern and has dedicated more than two decades to the agency. Approximately 15 years of her career were spent in investigative work, including service as a frontline caseworker, Investigation Supervisor, and Program Director for Investigations. That sustained experience in investigative practice gives her a direct and personal understanding of the complexity, urgency, and human stakes that define the work of CPI staff every day.

Building on that foundation, Van Buskirk advanced into increasingly senior leadership roles, serving as Program Administrator, Deputy Regional Director, and Regional Director for CPS in a 30-county Central Texas region. As Regional Director, she oversaw more than 840 staff across the full CPS continuum — including Investigations, Family-Based Safety Services, Conservatorship, Foster Home Development, and Adoptions — and was accountable for regional safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes. She represented the agency before courts, elected officials, and community partners on complex operational and policy matters, and managed high-profile cases under legal, media, and public scrutiny.

Most recently, Van Buskirk served as Director of Field Operations for CPS, providing executive leadership for statewide operations and directly supervising nine Regional Directors and four State Office Directors across a workforce of more than 4,000 employees. She led the agency's multi-year transformation from government-delivered services to Community-Based Care, standardized executive-level case review and escalation protocols, and oversaw litigation-responsive operations under judicial oversight. She also served as Interim Associate Commissioner for CPS, further demonstrating her capacity for enterprise-level leadership.

Van Buskirk holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Texas A&M University–Commerce and is a Licensed Child-Placing Agency Administrator. Her reflects a commitment to child safety, workforce development, and the mission of DFPS.