Pursuant to Texas CASA Champion Bill SB 1575, the Children’s Commission, in collaboration with DFPS, convened a workgroup to examine the oversight of and best practices related to Residential Treatment Center (RTC) placements, including placements in Qualified Residential Treatment Programs. The SB 1575 Workgroup was given the charge to consider topics and changes to current practices which the workgroup determined necessary to ensure the appropriate use of, and to improve the transition into and out of, residential treatment center placements, including:
- Statutorily required judicial review of residential treatment center placements;
- Methods for improving the state’s practices regarding the duration of residential treatment center placements, including best practices for transition planning and involving family and other relevant participants in preparing the child for a subsequent placement;
- Proposed statutory changes regarding appropriate judicial findings, evidence required to be submitted by the department, and recommendations for information to be gathered from the child’s attorney or guardian ad litem; and
- Other best practices for RTC placements.
Through a Legal Subgroup and RTC Best Practices Subgroup, recommendations were developed related to each of the topics above, including some recommended additional powers and duties for Guardians ad Litem. A final report including related recommendations was submitted to the Legislature on Sept. 30, 2022, and Texas CASA will be working with our partners next session to help ensure these recommendations are implemented.
READ THE REPORT
Check out this recent news coverage of the report! Texas should place more foster kids with families rather than in residential treatment, report finds