I would like to say that I am surprised by these numbers but I am not. My only surprise is that it appears to be just as bad as it was back in 1996. 22 years ago, I worked for Texas department of protective services, where I investigated allegations of child abuse and neglect. I was considered a tenured worker with having worked for the agency for six years. But it was in 96 that I started seeing things differently. I started to notice the kids that "fell through the cracks." I seen the kids that were removed from homes only to be sexually abused in the foster home. I have personally had to place kids in foster homes in which I didn't feel comfortable in leaving them but did so because that is what I was told to do.

But the guilt got to me by 1996 and I felt I could no longer do the job. I went to our state capital and spoke before our legislatures in hopes that they would do something to change the laws to better serve our children. By the look of this chart, it appeared that I didn't accomplish anything accept for losing a good paying job. Yes, I was fired just a couple of months after speaking out about the agency.

Today, I am fighting other battles with Texas CPS and I am bound and determined to win this fight!