TCFR PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEDNESDAY IN AUSTIN

Prior to Rep. Hupp's Select Interim Committee Hearing on Child Welfare and Foster Care this Wednesday, TCFR will be holding a joint press conference with other organizations to call for investigation into the close ties of the judiciary to CPS. The press release that has been sent to select media is included in this e-mail as a Word attachment.

        Please feel free to forward to any media you feel appropriate. It is not necessary to worry about duplication.

        Our press conference begins at 9:15AM and should end in time for media and participants to get to Rep. Hupp's committee hearing beginning at 10:00AM. Her committee will be hearing invited and public testimony on the first half of charge #3:

        Review the licensure requirements for and the performance of all types of foster care
        facilities, including residential treatment facilities, wilderness camps and emergency
        treatment centers. Assess the adequacy of communication and interaction between
        licensing agency and other state agencies that place children within the foster care
        and Child Protective Care system.

        The following day, Thursday, August 5th, beginning also at 10:00AM her committee will be hearing invited and public testimony on the second half of charge #3:
        Explore other states' efforts that will promote "best practices" and identify program
        efficiencies within the Texas child welfare system.
 

        Our meeting on Wednesday is in the Speaker's Conference Room on the 2nd floor just outside the House meeting room. Both of Rep. Hupp's committee meetings will be in the Capitol Extension, E1.010.

        Among other recommendations we will be encouraging House Speaker Craddick to expand the charges of Rep. Hupp's committee to include an investigation into the judiciary in CPS cases.


Respectfully,
Peter Johnston
President