Tag Archives: foster care

Ken Paxton’s hatred of LGBTQ+ people continues unabated

Posted on December 15, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Item #1: Texas attorney general’s office sought state data on transgender Texans. Employees at the Texas Department of Public Safety in June received a sweeping request from Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office: to compile a list of individuals who … Continue reading →

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Ken Paxton repays the Briggle family for their hospitality

Posted on March 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

What a scumbag he is. When the case worker asked to inspect the house, Amber and Adam Briggle first led her to the kitchen. They opened the cabinets to show they were full of food. They moved on to the … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bill to allow discrimination in adoptions and foster care passes the House

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Shameful. Under House Bill 3859, which advanced on a 94-51 vote, providers would be protected from legal retaliation if they assert their “sincerely held religious beliefs” while caring for abused and neglected children. The measure would allow them to place … Continue reading →

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A happy ending

Posted on April 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This was a long time coming. When I first reported on this family a year ago, the boys – who had behavioral issues and delays likely stemming from abuse, neglect and being shuttled through foster placements – had just been … Continue reading →

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This is not how you put the interests of the child first

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the opposite of that, honestly. Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, vice chairman of the House Human Services Committee, has authored House Bill 3859, which would protect faith-based providers from retaliation if they assert their “sincerely held religious beliefs” while … Continue reading →

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The Sugarek/Jeffery family is back together

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Wonderful news. Seven weeks after Child Protective Services caseworkers removed the boys following their foster mothers’ repeated complaints about suspected abuse by an older sibling living elsewhere in foster care, a CPS supervisor brought them back. The move followed a … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sugarek/Jeffery foster family update

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From Lisa Falkenberg: The drab little courtroom off the square in Wharton, with its blond wood, stoic flags and idle metal detector at the door, seemed like an alternative universe. Two Houston foster mothers who entered Thursday with anticipation and … Continue reading →

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A personal story of CPS’ failure to protect children

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I can’t begin to tell you how angry this makes me. The new foster parents opened the door last September to a child they can only describe as feral. At 3, he was obese, his brown saucer eyes shell-shocked, his … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

From the files of privatization failures

Posted on August 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

A story from last week. State officials have decided to slow the rollout of a controversial overhaul of the foster-care system after the private contractor running a pilot program abruptly pulled out Friday. Judge John Specia, commissioner of the state … Continue reading →

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