HIS FUTURE.SHANNON: THEY ARE
THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR
ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN.
JUST HOURS AGO -- 14 NEW
CASEWORKERS IN CENTRAL TEXAS..
GRADUATED. KXAN'S PHIL PRAZAN
SHOWS US HOW RECENT REFORMS TO
CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES WILL
IMPACT THEIR NEW CAREERS --
AND THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF
CHILDREN LOOKING FOR NEW
HOMES. AFTER 10 YEARS IN THE
MILITARY OPERATING PATRIOT
MISSILES, CHRISTOPHER MONTIETH
STILL WANTED TO SERVE.AFTER 8
WEEKS TRAINING IN THE FIELD, 4
WEEKS IN THE CLASSROOM, AND 4
TAGGING ALONG WITH A MENTOR...
THIS CEREMONY MAKES HIM AN
INVESTIGATOR FOR THE STATE'S
CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
CHRISTOPHER MONTIETH, CPS
INVESTIGATOR - 12:43:25 -
THERE ARE A LOT OF KIDS OUT
THERE WHO DON'T HAVE A VOICE
THAT CAN'T SPEAK UP FOR
THEMSELVES. FOR US WE NEED TO
BE THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE SAFE." 12:43:34AFTER A
CALL COMES IN ABOUT CHILD
ABUSE, INVESTIGATORS ARE THE
PEOPLE ON THE GROUND TO FIND
THE CHILD, MAKE SURE THEY'RE
OK, OR GET THEM TO AN
IMMEDIATE SAFE PLACE. BUT THE
DEPARTMENT HIT A CRISIS LAST
DECEMBER.FOUR PEOPLE QUIT THE
DEPARTMENT EVERY DAY.THOSE
THAT REMAINED COULDN'T RESPOND
IN TIME TO HUNDREDS OF REPORTS
OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT.IN A FEW
TRAGIC CASES, CHILDREN DIED.
AFTER YEARS OF NEGLECT,
LAWMAKERS PUMPED HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO PAY
RAISES AND MORE HIRES.A YEAR
LATER, IT'S WORKING.THE
REGIONAL OFFICES HERE IN
TRAVIS COUNTY HAVE SEEN
IMPROVEMENT. LAST YEAR THE
COUNTY HAD 129 CASEWORKERS
WITH 25 CASES EACH.NOW, THEY
HAVE 188 CASEWORKERS WITH 10
CASES EACH.CHRISTOPHER
MONTIETH, CPS INVESTIGATOR -
12:46:10 - YEAH THE PAY IS
NICE BUT A LOT OF US THAT ARE
HERE WANT TO BE HERE TO HELP
THE KIDS AND BECAUSE WE AREN'T
HAVING TO RUSH THROUGH AN
INVESTIGATION, WE CAN ACTUALLY
DO THAT JOB THAT WE'RE MEANT
TO DO." 12:46:21NOW, 14 WILL
JOIN THE HUNDREDS OF NEW
WORKERS ON THE JOB.PHIL PRAZAN.
KXAN NEWS. SHANNON:MANY EYES
ARE WATCHING THE DEPARTMENT.
CHILD ADVOCATES HAVE SUED THE
STATE OF TEXAS.. ALLEGING THE
DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND
PROTECTIVE SERVICES IS SO
UNDERFUNDED AND MISMANAGED..
IT'S VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF
THE CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.
THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT.. IS STILL
NOT RESOLVED. SHANNON: AS
PRIVATE COMPANIES BEGIN TAKING
A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN CHILD
PROTECTIVES SERVICES.. WE'RE
GETTING A BETTER IDEA OF SOME
OF THE SERVICES THEY'LL OFFER.
ONE OF THEM -- WILL HELP CPS
