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Waller County child-welfare board, CASA say fewer cases but more complex work after 2021 law changes
Summary
Board leaders and a CASA representative told the commissioners that Waller County currently has nine active CASA cases (14 children), and they attribute the lower case count to 2021 legislative changes that limit CPS removals to situations of 'immediate danger.' The board described ongoing resource and volunteer needs.
Sherry Whiteley, president of the Waller County Child Welfare Board, introduced board officers and turned the court’s attention to a CASA for Kids representative who outlined why the county’s foster-care caseload has fallen.
"Waller County, we are only working 9 cases in Waller County, including 14 children," the CASA representative said, adding that the cases the program now sees are often "a lot harder" because 2021 legislative changes require CPS to show children are in "immediate danger" before removing them from homes. The speaker said that legislative changes have reduced removals based on risk, not necessarily the underlying need for community vigilance and reporting.
The board described its role filling immediate needs for children and families, from graduation items and summer-camp fees to cribs and bunk beds that can help place a child with relatives. "They're always just a phone call or an email away," said Sherry Whiteley of the Child Welfare Board, thanking volunteers and juror donations for keeping services available.
Commissioners and board members also discussed coordination with CPS caseworkers and CASA volunteers; board members asked for more community outreach and calls to the hotline. The court heard that, while the official caseload is lower than in 2019 (when 63 children received services), the remaining cases require more intensive support.
The court did not take formal action on policy changes during the session; presenters offered to share more details about the 2021 law changes with commissioners later. The next procedural step for the board is continued outreach to recruit volunteers and to present any policy requests to the commissioners at a future meeting.
