CAPTA Citizen Review Team

Reports

• 2010 annual report
• 2009 annual report
• 2008 annual report
• 2007 annual report
• 2006 annual report
• 2005 annual report
• 2004 Issues and Recommendations

What are Citizen Review Teams?

Citizen review teams are volunteer citizen-based panels established by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to evaluate department casework and decision-making related to services to children and families who experience child abuse/neglect. Membership includes community representatives and private citizens residing in the area for which the team is established. Each member must also be a parent. Teams meet regularly to review investigations and ongoing intervention conducted by CPS caseworkers. The reports that the teams compile are used by DFPS to improve services and casework practice, and to provide accountability for federal funding.

The purpose of each review is to:

• evaluate the adequacy of the investigation/intervention;
• help identify barriers to the protection of children;
• assess compliance with program policy;
• identify staff needs in the areas of training, supervision, and program management; and
• provide opportunities for citizens to play an integral role in ensuring that CPS in Texas is meeting its goals of protecting children from abuse and neglect.

What Is Being Done Now?

The reports issued by the Citizen Review teams do not contain case-specific information. But they do provide DFPS with recommended actions designed to improve how the agency serves children and families. In an effort to expand citizen input regarding DFPS services and to comply with new federal regulations regarding public input, the Citizen Review Team recommendations that have statewide impact are being placed here on the DFPS website. In addition, the public is encouraged to comment on these recommendations and to send your advice and comments to DFPS via the e-mailbox located below.

Along with the recommendations submitted by the local Citizen Review Teams and the actions that DFPS takes as a result of those observations and commentaries, DFPS will submit in its annual report to the federal Administration of Children and Families a compilation of responses received through this e-mailbox, and the actions taken as a result of those additional recommendations.

If you have a case-specific issue, please direct those inquiries to your local CPS worker or supervisor. The manager of this mailbox is not assigned to specific cases and thus has no knowledge of any particular situation. If you have case-specific questions but do not know which office to call, you may be able to find the local office that has the case assignment by looking on our website at: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Contact_Us/map.asp or by calling Statewide Intake at 1-800-252-5400.