Foster Kids Face Special Challenges In Harvey’s Wake

Caseworkers, some of whom lost their own homes, are working to contact and assist foster kids in southeast Texas.

By Jill AmentSeptember 11, 2017 11:05 am,

More than 600,000 Houston-area students are returning to school Monday. But some at-risk kids, especially those in the state’s troubled child welfare system, were particularly hard-hit by Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath.

The Texas Tribune’s Marissa Evans says the Department of Family and Protective Services, which manages the child welfare system, checked on foster children before and during the storm, trying to determine whether they had shelter, and other necessities. After the storm, caseworkers who were able to reach foster kids delivered supplies and provided information about how to contact FEMA and other recovery agencies.

Because some areas are still under water, caseworkers have had difficulty reaching some kids, even after the storm. Evans says that like their charges, some caseworkers lost their homes during Harvey.

 

Written by Shelly Brisbin.