Head of beleaguered Texas child welfare department to leave June 30
Julie Chang @JulieChang1
After three years at the helm of the state's child welfare agency, Hank Whitman announced Tuesday he will retire June 30.
Whitman, a former Texas Ranger chief, was tapped in 2016 by Gov. Greg Abbott to lead the beleaguered Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, which at the time struggled with high caseworker turnover rates and child deaths in the foster care system.
"It has been a great honor to work with you. I've had a long career in public service before coming here, but I can honestly say protecting the unprotected with you has been the most satisfying time in my professional life," Whitman said in a video released to employees Tuesday.
Whitman's appointment was slated to end in September. He did not say what is prompting his earlier departure.
Abbott praised Whitman's service.
"Commissioner Whitman's long-standing commitment to putting the needs of children and families first helped create a safer future for Texas," Abbott said in a news release.
During Whitman's tenure, the number of Texas children who died as a result of abuse and neglect has remained high — in 2017, there were 172 deaths and in 2018, there were 211 deaths — and officials continued to temporarily place hundreds of children in state offices each year because of a shortage of foster homes.
Whitman also came under scrutiny for children in potentially abusive situations not being seen by investigators in a timely manner. In January 2017, investigators visited 74% of "Priority 1" children within 24 hours, as required; in October 2018, 90% of such children have been seen within 24 hours. Lawmakers wanted the agency to see 95% of "Priority 1" children in a timely manner.
The agency also awaits a ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit of Appeals on whether it must implement a slew of changes to the foster care system, including a caseworker caseload study and requiring caseworkers — and not pseudo workers called "I see you workers" — to conduct monthly in-person visits with foster children.
But, Whitman also oversaw the creation of a separate Department of Family and Protective Services agency (it was previously a part of the Health and Human Services Commission), and carried out major requests by the Legislature, including sweeping reforms passed in 2017.
Whitman wasn't shy in pleading for more money from lawmakers: "Beat on me. I don't care. I am telling you right now, we need the help, and it comes in a monetary way," he had said at a hearing in October 2016.
The Legislature last year gave the agency $292 million to continue a December 2016 plan to hire 828 more employees as well as to give $12,000 yearly raises for caseworkers. Lawmakers also gave the agency another $88 million to hire 597 caseworkers in the 2019 fiscal year that started Sept. 1.
Following the spending, the rate of caseworkers leaving the agency fell 5 to 7 percentage points during a two-year period. Their caseloads also dropped.
The agency also placed more children with foster parents who are family members.
Adoptions and reunification of children with birth parents also increased.
"And finally, we built a culture that recognizes and celebrates your outstanding work. I did not do all these things. We did them together," Whitman said in the video.
Sophie Phillips, head of advocacy group TexProtects, credited Whitman for the raises.
"There is possibly no job in the service of our state more challenging than the one he now leaves behind, and certainly, challenges still remain for DFPS. But Whitman kept an open door and open ear to advocates for children and welcomed our input," she said.