Texas Child Agency Workers Visit Hundreds Of At-Risk Youths

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AUSTIN (AP) — Texas Department of Public Safety special agents have helped Child Protective Services workers check on hundreds of at-risk youths in a review demanded by legislators.

CPS officials on Tuesday reported initial visits were completed with more than 400 children who as of Oct. 17 were deemed high risk for harm.

Concerns were raised last week by members of a Texas Senate committee who ordered immediate in-person visits with children not yet seen by CPS investigators, amid a backlog. Staffers are required to see children between 24 and 72 hours after an abuse report.

DPS officials say most visits happened in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Lubbock and El Paso.

Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Hank Whitman seeks funding to add more than 800 staffers.

Texas lawmakers convene in January.

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