AUSTIN – While sitting in his first legislative hearing Tuesday, Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Henry "Hank" Whitman was asked about his thoughts on how Child Protect Services cases where handled when a child had died.
"I can't fault them if they don't have the investigative background I do," Whitman said. "I read these reports and I think, 'Oh God, how did that get missed?'"
The former Texas Ranger said getting CPS special investigators forensic training will be important. It's one item in his 10-point plan to improve the department's Child Protective Services division.
Whitman outlined the points in a letter to the governor. The points include implementing a “new culture of accountability,” making CPS regional directors reapply for their jobs and increasing efforts to get help from the religious community.
Whitman’s plans have at least one fan, State Senator Carlos Uresti, (D) District 19.
"I agree with almost everything in the letter," Uresti said.
Uresti is a member of the Senator Health & Human Services Committee and the San Antonio Blue Ribbon Task Force against Child Abuse & Neglect.
Uresti particularly favors items like taking special care of high-needs kids, focusing on human trafficking, expanding prevention and early intervention programs.
"It's not just new tires and new spark plugs. It's time for a new vehicle. And I think that's what this letter tries to do," Uresti said.
But new cars and overhauled divisions don't come cheap. Uresti thinks these change will have their cost. However, he doesn't know how much it will be.
"It's long overdue," he said. “And if we truly want to help these kids, which I think we do, I think all of us want to, we've got to be willing to dig deep into our pockets and pay for the programs that are effective, that are efficient and that work."