RACK
CLUCKLY.
THE OFFICER HAD MINOR INJURIES.
>>> THE AGENCY THAT'S SUPPOSED
TO PROTECT OUR STATE'S MOST
VULNERABLE CHILDREN IS FACING A
CRISIS, ONE THAT MEDES IMMEDIATE
ACTION.
CPS RECEIVED NEARLY 275,000
CALLS FOR HELP LAST YEAR.
THE NUMBER OF CHILD ABUSE AND
NEGLECT INVESTIGATIONS IS ALSO
UP BY 10%.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE AGENCY IS
LOSING STAFF AT AN ALARMING
RATE.
CHANNEL 2 INVESTIGATES
DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN
A WEEK ACROSS TEXAS ARE NOT
GETTING THE URGENTS HELP THEY
NEED.
ROBERT ARNOLD REVEALS THE DEPTHS
OF THIS PROBLEM AND WHAT THE
LEGISLATURE IS PROPOSING TO
CHANGE IT.
>> Reporter: HER NAME WAS
LAILIANA, SHE WAS FOUR YEARS OLD
AND NEEDED HELP.
HER GRANDMOTHER SUSPECTED SHE
WAS BEING ABUSED.
>> I CALLED CPS.
I CALLED THE GOVERNOR.
I CALLED WHOEVER I COULD.
>> Reporter: BUT SHE SAYS CPS'S
RESPONSE WAS TOO SLOW IN
REACTING TO THE DANGER HER
GRANDDAUGHTER FACED.
SHE WAS FOUND BEATEN TO DEATH IN
MARCH.
>> I HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A CRIME
OF EVIL IN MY CAREER.
>> Reporter: HER MOTHER AND HER
BOYFRIEND ARE CHARGED WITH
FELONIES, INJURY TO A CHILD, TWO
CPS WORKERS INVOLVED IN THE CASE
WERE FIRED.
A THIRD RESIGNED.
>> THIS WAS A TRAGEDY THAT
SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.
>> Reporter: HER DEATH EARLIER
THIS YEAR HIGHLIGHTS DEEP
PROBLEMS WITHIN CHILD PROTECTIVE
SERVICES.
>> I CAN TELL THAT YOU CHILDREN
ARE NOT BEING SAVED.
>> Reporter: THIS WOMAN SHOULD
KNOW.
SHE WAS WITH CPS TORE 30 YEARS
BEFORE RETIRING IN AUGUST.
>> THEREFORE, WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM.
>> Reporter: CHILDREN IN THE
FIRST DANGER ARE CONSIDERED
PRIORITY ONE.
THE STATE REQUIRES CPS WORKERS
TO HAVE A FACE-TO-FACE VISIT
WITH THESE CHILDRE WITHIN 24
HOURS OF GETTING A CASE.
CHANNEL 2 INVESTIGATES FOUND
BETWEEN MARCH AND NOVEMBER OF
THIS YEAR ACTION STATEWIDE AN
AVERAG OF 844 PRIORITY ONE
CHILDREN WERE NOT SEEN EACH WEEK
IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THAT NUMBER IS 254.
DO YOU THINK CPS HAS THE PROPER
NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO HANDLE THE
NUMBER OF ABUSED CHILDREN AND
NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN THIS
STATE?
>> NOT AT THIS TIME, NO.
>> Reporter: PART OF THE
PROBLEM, EVERY YEAR 25% OF CPS'S
FRONT LINE STAFF QUIT, LEAVING
THE AGENCY CONSTANTLY SCRAMBLING
TO FILL VACANCIES.
AT THE STATE CAPITOL TURNOVER
RATES.
>> TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE
DISCONNECT IS.
>> Reporter: ARE A LARGE PART OF
TESTY HEARINGS.
>> SIR, I'VE BEEN LOOKING OUT
FOR THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN FOR A
VERY LONG TIME.
>> Reporter: RETIRED AND CURRENT
CPS WORKERS ATTENDED THESE
HEARINGS, TOO.
THEY SAY LOW PAY AND CRUSHING
CASE LOADS CREATE PERPETUALLY
LOW MORALE, LEADING TO HIGH
TURNOVER.
>> KIND OF POOPOOED IT ASIDE
YEAR AFTER YEAR.
HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL.
>> THIS IS A PLAGUED AGENCY.
>> Reporter: THIS IS THE CHAIR
OF THE COUNTY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
WHICH HELD HEARINGS ON THIS.
>> THE CASE LOAD ARE NOT
MANAGEABLE BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT
ENOUGH WORKERS.
>> Reporter: CHILD WELFARE
EXPERTS RECOMMEND INVESTIGATORS
HANDLE NO MORE THAN 12 CASES AT
A TIME.
AT CPS, THE AVERAGE CASE LOAD IS
16.
>> THEY OUGHT TO DO A THOROUGH
INVESTIGATION.
>> HANK WHITMAN HEADS THE
DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND
PROTECTIVE SERVICE.
>> WE'RE LOSING FOUR EMPLOYEES A
DAY.
SO DO THE MATH.
>> Reporter: THAT CPS'S PARENT
AGENCY.
HE'S HAD THE JOB SINCE APRIL AND
WAS BLUNT WITH LAWMAKERS.
>> WHEN CASE WORKERS ARE
OVERWORKED, MISTAKES HAPPEN.
IT BECOMES A NUMBERS GAME.
AND THE SENSITIVITY ISSUE GOES
OUT THE DOOR.
>> Reporter: HIS PROPOSAL?
A $12,000 RAISE FOR EMPLOYEES
AND HIRING 550 ADDITIONAL
INVESTIGATESSORS.
>> I BELIEVE ANYTHING LESS THAN
THAT, WE'LL HAVE PROBLEMS.
THEN I DON'T WANT TO COME BACK
IN TWO CAREERS AND HAVING TO ASK
ME WHY ISN'T IT FIXED?
>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR,
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND SPEAKER
ALL AGREE CPS NEEDS HIGHER
SALARIES AND MORE PEOPLE.
HOWEVER, OUR SOURCES IN AUSTIN
TELL US THE STICKING POINTS ARE
EXACTLY HOW MUCH AND HOW MANY OF
BOTH.
UNTIL LAWMAKERS RESOLVE THOSE
ISSUES, STATE TROOPERS HAVE BEEN
HELPING CPS TRACK DOWN AT-RISK
CHILDREN WHO HAVEN'T BEEN SEEN.