orgotten hldren —

Foreword

hey ar everybodys chldren, and nobodys chldren. hey are the orgotten chldren n the exas oster care system. Some of them

 

 nd homes wth carng

 

oster parents, or n treatment centers wth experenced and carng provders.  nd some do not. ome oster chldren have been moved among , or even  more all-too-temporary “homes.” Some have been sexually, physically and emotonally abused whle n the system; some have run away and oned the  ranks o the mssng. ew have even ded at the hands o those entrusted wth ther care. This report gives these children something they need—a voice.” 

 —aroe eeton trayorn Texas Comptroller eow exans:ie many oter exans, ave een isture y numerous puise accounts aeging waste, rau an ausive conitions in our states oster care system. s omptroer, ave a specia bligation to consider such allegations, since it is my statutory duty to monitor the economy an te expenitures o tis great state. ate ast year, aunce an investigation in te ope o  protecting tese most vunerae o our ciren. ter many unannounce visits to oster care facilities and talking to children in the state’s care, I realized that the scope of the problem goes ar eyon wat a anticipate.n exas, we prie ourseves on taing care o our own. oay, we are aiing at tis tas. ome Texas foster children receive the compassion and care they deserve, but many others do not. e eartreaing trut is tat some o tese ciren are no etter o in te care o te state tan tey were in te ans o ausive an negigent parents.ac an every ci in exas eserves to e protecte against vioence an ause. ut too o-ten, we are not meeting tis minimum stanar. espite te untiring eorts o many we-mean-ing and caring individuals, a lack of effective oversight has allowed many Texas foster children to anguis in care; to e sutte among ozens o temporary resiences; an even to suer te same ins o mistreatment tey receive in teir own omes.ur ciren are our most precious resource. e waste tis resource wen we o not nurture tem an ep tem grow into strong an prouctive auts. any o our oster ciren are pysi-ally and psychologically damaged. We must defend them against further injury.t as een sai tat any society can e juge y ow it treats its weaest memers. y inves-tigation sows tat exas can an must e juge arsy.e are not oing a tat is necessary to protect our ciren. exas is great, ut we can o etter.Sincerely,aroe eeton trayornexas omptroer 

 

 — orgotten hldren