Key points and summary

                A Review of Management Controls at the
        Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
 
                           Report # 95-003
 
The Department of Protective and Regulatory Services was created by
House Bill 7, 72nd Legislature, from three programs which were part
of the Department of Human Services -- Adult Protective Services,
Child Protective Services, and Child Care Licensing. The new
agency, in existence since September 1, 1992, has an estimated
fiscal year 1994 budget of $452 million and over 6,300 full time
equivalent employees.
 
Child Protective Services, the Department's largest program,
protects children from abuse and neglect. The program's estimated
fiscal year 1994 budget is $402 million, with over 4,900 full-time
equivalent employees.
 
Although the Department has been in existence for almost two years,
it is still developing agency-wide management systems. Defined
processes for strategic planning, environmental scanning,
policy-making, and performance monitoring would help the Department
achieve its goals and objectives.
 
Department oversight functions such as the Board of Directors, the
Ombudsman Office, and internal audit have not met their potential
in guiding and evaluating Department operations.  Child Protective
Services lacks a defined contract administration process to manage
over $190 million allocated for foster care and purchased services.
As a result, the program cannot provide assurances that state and
federal funds are being spent as the Legislature and Federal
Government intended.
 
Unclear policies and a local of monitoring result in inconsistent
treatment of children in foster care.

Key management process contribute to Child Protective Services
caseworkers heavy caseloads which can lead to increased job stress,
burnout, and high turnover. The vacancies created by caseworker
turnover have resulted in increased workload for the remaining
caseworkers, less experienced caseworkers assuming increased
responsibilities, and higher costs to train new caseworkers.

For a copy of the entire report, contact:

OFFICE OF STATE AUDITOR
TWO COMMODORE PLAZA
206 EAST NINTH STREET, SUITE 1900
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701
PHONE: 512-479-4700
FAX: 512-479-4884
E-MAIL: [email protected]