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State fights court-ordered penalties for inadequate abuse investigations, highlighting systemic issues and ongoing legal battles.

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U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack, pictured in 2008. Earlier this week, Jack fined Texas $100,000 a day for failing to implement orders she put in place to fix the state’s struggling foster care system
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On May 8, 2017, Grace Kelsoe, a case manager at Helping Hand Home for Children, visited the home of a foster care parent. Kelsoe, who had worked as a case manager for three years, said it's hard to find a more vulnerable population than kids in the foster care system. "It's kind of a basic human right to live with their parents, and they don't, and that's for a good reason, but we have to protect them," she said.

Overview

  • Texas has appealed a $100,000 daily fine imposed by a federal judge for failing to adequately investigate abuse in its foster care system.
  • The fines stem from a longstanding lawsuit, with recent rulings criticizing the state for systemic failures in protecting foster children.
  • U.S. District Judge Janis Jack, overseeing the case, has repeatedly found Texas in contempt for not complying with court orders.
  • The state's appeal has been referred to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, raising concerns due to potential conflicts of interest with the defense attorney's connections.
  • Advocates for foster children argue the state's actions show a disregard for the children's safety, urging more significant reforms.