[JUNE 2019] Throughout the 2019 Legislative Session, union members in DFPS were a continual presence in the capitol, speaking out about the dangers of privatization in our agency. This put us at odds with the message from DFPS leadership. Despite their best efforts to rapidly expand the privatization of CPS under the Community Based Care (CBC) model, the final version of the state’s budget passed by lawmakers does not fund expansion of CBC to any areas that are not already either under contract with a private agency or in the procurement process. However, funding for moving to Stage 2 of the contract, which involves private contractors taking on all case management responsibilities, was approved for Regions 3B, 2, and Bexar County. If private agencies roll out Stage 2, they will be receiving over $22.7 million in funding to lower caseloads for their staff to around 14-1, while the targeted caseload level for non-privatized areas is around 24-1. The $22.7 million is in addition to the “resource transfer” that private agencies would receive from the state employee positions eliminated in CPS.
The expansion of the Family Based Safety Services privatization pilot has also slowed down. The agency’s bid for contracts in Nueces County was canceled on May 1st. Unless another Request for Proposals is put forward, Region 10- El Paso would remain the only part of the state to be under this privatization pilot. Concerns about the ability of that contractor, Pathways operating as HomeSafe, to meet the needs of clients remain. TSEU is continuing to work with elected officials to end this unsuccessful pilot.