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After a tumultuous three years on the Department of Family and Protective Services, Commissioner Jaime Masters is out of a job.
Gov. Greg Abbott introduced Monday that Stephanie Muth, a marketing consultant and a former Medicaid director on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, will take excessive publish within the new 12 months.
Masters was appointed by Abbott in December 2019, taking the helm within the midst of an ongoing federal lawsuit towards the state for the failures of its foster care system. Under her management, the division has come beneath fireplace for a number of high-profile points.
The variety of youngsters with out placement, known as “CWOP,” jumped from practically 50 in August 2020 to about 400 in August 2021, with these youngsters averaging 18 nights and not using a everlasting residence, the Houston Chronicle reported. The company was additionally the topic of an investigation over allegations that an worker at a residential remedy heart for kids who had been trafficking victims had solicited and bought nude pictures of those children who lived there.
DFPS has additionally obtained widespread destructive consideration because of Abbott’s directive to research households of transgender youngsters for potential baby abuse. The investigations have been subject of lawsuits which are nonetheless underway. These latest scandals have led to a wave of thousands of DFPS employees leaving the company previously 12 months.
In June, Abbott tapped a well known former DFPS commissioner, Anne Heiligenstein, to function the manager deputy commissioner for the division — whereas on “loan” from Casey Family Programs, a nationwide baby welfare nonprofit, the place she remains to be employed — till June 2023.
But final month, it was introduced that Heiligenstein was out, together with Julie Frank, who served as Masters’ chief of employees. As a part of Abbott’s after-hours announcement about Muth’s appointment, he introduced that Heiligenstein will probably be returning in a senior adviser position.
Muth has spent 15 years at HHSC in varied roles, culminating in two and a half years because the state’s Medicaid director. Since then, she’s been a full-time marketing consultant and a senior fellow on the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. She’s additionally obtained cash from shoppers for lobbying work.
Before Muth takes the helm in January, Kez Wold, DFPS affiliate commissioner for Adult Protective Services, will function the interim commissioner.
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