Texas CASA Recommendations for DFPS Sunset Review
In September 2025, the Sunset Advisory Commission began the two-year Sunset review process for 16 state agencies, including two critical to children and families: the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Sunset review is an opportunity for the Sunset Advisory Commission and the Texas Legislature to evaluate a state agency’s programs, rules, operations and success in fulfilling its mission, as well as address any identified issues. As part of this process, each state agency under review submits a self-evaluation identifying major challenges, which help shape the Legislature’s review. You can read HHSC’s full self-evaluation report aquí and DFPS’s full self-evaluation report aquí.
HHSC has identified ongoing customer service and systems issues that delay families’ access to health coverage, while DFPS has flagged challenges with access to children’s mental and behavioral health services, delays and quality concerns in CPS investigations and records access, and continued issues with Community-Based Care. Over the next two years, the Sunset Commission will review these agencies and develop recommendations ahead of the 90th Legislative Session in 2027.
Based on local CASA program feedback, Texas CASA’s Public Policy team developed the following recommendations focused on DFPS. The feedback gathered from local CASA programs largely aligns with DFPS’s own self-identified challenges. These recommendations support better use of existing authority and resources to improve accountability, coordination and outcomes for children and families in DFPS and Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) conservatorship.
Texas CASA’s recommendations are to:
- Clarify and strengthen understanding of CASA’s legal role in cases
- Strengthen the consistency and enforcement of DFPS oversight of SSCCs
- Increase transparency and quality in CPS investigations and records access
- Address workforce turnover through training, culture and support
- Expand and stabilize placement capacity statewide
Texas CASA’s Public Policy team will continue engaging with the Sunset Commission’s DFPS team to advocate for CASA’s priorities throughout the process. If you have any additional feedback or ideas that you would like to be shared with the Sunset Commission about DFPS or HHSC, please feel free to email the Public Policy team at publicpolicy@texascasa.org.
