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Copyright 2003 The Austin American
Statesman
Austin American-Statesman (Texas)
November 6, 2003, Thursday
Lawmakers to examine wilderness programs
By Mike Ward
A legislative committee will examine whether wilderness camps for
troubled youths, such as the Hill Country camp [A Brown Schools
facitlity with a terrible track record] where a Dallas-area teenager
died a year ago, are properly regulated by the state, officials said
Wednesday.
The use of physical restraints and their role in the deaths of 44
youths and adults in residential care settings since 1988 will be
one focus of the Select Interim Committee on Child Welfare and
Foster Care, according to state Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, chosen
Tuesday by House Speaker Tom Craddick to head the committee. The
committee's charge overall is to study how well the Texas child
welfare system is working.
"If you're hurting kids, we're going to be after you," said Hupp,
R-Lampasas. "There have been a number of revelations in the media,
not only cases in Texas but cases in the country, and that and
complaints we've gotten, will be a part" of the committee's study.
In a series published this year, the Austin American-Statesman
detailed how the use of improper physical restraints at centers for
troubled teenagers had continued despite the deaths and how
regulatory agencies in Texas and other states had done little to
halt their use.
In citing the On Track program for multiple violations after the
Oct. 14, 2002, death of Chase Moody of Richardson, Texas regulators
alleged that an improper restraint was used, although a grand jury
later concluded that no
criminal charges were warranted.
An example of the restraint occurs when a youth is held facedown on
the ground, with pressure applied to the back.
The camp has since been closed.
According to Craddick's directive, the 11-member panel will examine
Texas' child welfare and foster care system, with a focus on
reviewing the licensure requirements and performance of "all types
of foster care facilities, including
residential treatment facilities, wilderness camps and emergency
treatment centers."
Part of that study will include how well state agencies communicate
in overseeing foster care and other child protection issues.
Craddick specifically asked the committee to "explore other states'
efforts that will promote 'best practices' and help identify program
efficiencies with (the) Texas child welfare system." [Let's hope
they don't use Utah!]
Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin, a committee member, said the study
of restraints is important "so we can consider the application and
administration of proper standards in this state." A bill to make
the use of certain restraints a crime failed to pass in May.
Howard Falkenberg, Austin-based spokesman for the Brown Schools,
owner of the On Track program, said the firm "supports the
consideration of good licensing rules and strong standards that will
improve our industry," even though it no longer operates residential
treatment centers or the wilderness camp. [No longer operates RTCs?
What do they consider their classification?]
He noted that the firm has supported tougher licensing standards in
other states where it still operates programs.
Critics of physical restraints and lax regulations hailed the new
inquiry.
"This investigation could lead to much better care and protection of
the over 15,000 kids who are in the care of the state," said Jerry
Boswell, president of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights of
Texas, an advocacy group that has
campaigned to outlaw the use of the type of physical restraints
involved in the deaths.
"We applaud the speaker's decision to address these very important
issues."
In addition to licensing and regulation issues, Craddick asked the
committee to study how to remove barriers to placing minority
children in foster care and how to encourage more minority adults to
become foster parents, among other
improvements in foster care.
Gratia Hupp said she hopes the committee will begin its work in the
coming weeks.
mward@statesman.com;
445-1712
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