THE TRUTH ABOUT: Department of family and protective services - The Untold Story

Texas foster care agency chief to step down this summer

Two years after Stephanie Muth became Department of Family and Protective Services commissioner, staff turnover is down and the number of children without a placement has dropped.

The Texas Tribune · Jun 10, 2025

Appeals court blocks $100,000 daily fine for Texas’ troubled foster care program

Jack’s order to fine Texas Health and Human Services on Monday was the third time the state has been found in contempt over foster care conditions since 2011.

The Texas Tribune · Apr 15, 2024

Caseworkers hampered by ’90s-era foster care software that the state hasn’t replaced

Caseworkers and foster care providers often get incomplete and inaccurate information about foster kids in their care because of the state child welfare agency’s archaic technology system.

The Texas Tribune · Mar 22, 2023

Transgender student, 13, interrogated in school by Texas agency over ‘child abuse’ order

The state’s Department of Family and Protective Services is still investigating families over the governor’s directive despite court orders to shut them down, filings reveal

The Independent UK · Sep 9, 2022

Investigating parents of transgender youth has agency on ‘brink of collapse,’ staff warns

AUSTIN, Texas — Continuing to investigate the parents of transgender youth could put Texas’ child protection agency over the brink of collapse, a group of its staffers said in a new court filing.

Tribune News Service · Aug 31, 2022

Texas’ child welfare agency told staffers to keep quiet about gender-affirming care investigations, documents show

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services leaders instructed employees to avoid written communications about the cases and barred low-level employees from handling the investigations, according to internal agency communications.

The Texas Tribune · Aug 30, 2022

Texas has a law that allows parents to give up newborns at fire stations or hospitals. Hardly anyone uses it.

The Supreme Court cited safe haven laws as an abortion alternative when it overturned Roe v. Wade. But Texas’ policy lacks funding and just 172 infants have been relinquished since 2009.

The Texas Tribune · Jun 26, 2022

Texas Supreme Court says governor cannot order trans child abuse investigations

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Supreme Court on Friday struck down a statewide injunction halting child abuse investigations into the parents of transgender youth, while keeping in place a block on the case of one family who sued the state.

Tribune News Service · May 13, 2022

Texas appeals court again halts child abuse investigations into parents of transgender youth

AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas appeals court has again temporarily blocked the state from investigating parents solely for providing gender affirming care to their transgender children.

Tribune News Service · Mar 22, 2022