Strayhorn sued,
accused of misleading state agencies
8/29/2006
By: Veronica Castelo
Amy Watts worked as a
childcare worker at Woodside Trails Therapeutic Camp for troubled
teens for about three years. The wilderness camp is located between
Smithville and Bastrop.
"Staff turnover was
high and it was hard to get days off. Just like with any other
agency, there were things that could have been improved on," Watts
said.
While work was
difficult at times, Watts said the kids always came first.
Allegations of sexual abuse and neglect were not true, Watts said.
"I would have no reason
to believe there was any sexual abuse going on. Neglect? I guess it
depends on how you define it. Two counselors for 12 kids? I bet
there were children out there who didn't get the attention they
would have liked," Watts said.
However, in August 2004
the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services shut the camp
down. They did so after state Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn's
"Forgotten Children" report was released. The report targeted abuse
at foster care facilities and accused Woodside Trails of sexual
abuse and neglect.
Now, two years later,
former camp director Betty Lou Gaines filed a lawsuit against
Strayhorn and nine other state officials.
Gaines said the report
was misleading, inaccurate and resulted in the camps' closure. The
false facts could not be ignored, she said.
"I took this step with
great reluctance and lots of thought. I feel it's necessary for the
future of the children who are in the care of the state of Texas to
make sure this never happens again," Gaines said.
Gaines will be address
the public and answer questions about the lawsuit during a press
conference on Thursday at the Capitol.
Comptroller Strayhorn's
spokesperson Will Holford declined to comment and directed questions
to the Attorney General. Strayhorn's political spokesperson, Mark
Sanders, did not return phone calls.
The lawsuit states two
judges found the Department of Family and Protective services had no
evidence of sexual abuse and claims claims Strayhorn targeted the
camp and used her political power to pressure state agencies to act.
According to the
lawsuit, Strayhorn and other state officials "knowingly and
intentionally distorted the facts about Woodside Trails and
Plaintiff for Strayhorn's political advantage."
The lawsuit continues
to say "Strayhorn's campaign against Woodside Trails went far beyond
the normal agenda of a powerful, ambitious, and unscrupulous
politician seeking higher office."
Watts agrees the abrupt
and aggressive manner Strayhorn used on the camp convinced her the
children may not have been Strayhorn's priority.
"It didn't seem or have
a feel that this was being done to protect children. It kind of had
a feel that this was about power. I think that when you have an
agency that is needed but needs some support you don't shut the
facility down you learn to work with those people and make it the
facility that you want it to be," Watts said.
Gaines is asking for an
unspecified amount of money for damages.
Watts hopes the state
takes steps to replace the camp they closed so the children can get
the help they need.
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