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A high-ranking official on the crisis-plagued Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is abruptly leaving, six months after rejoining the agency and a number of months earlier than her contract was set to run out.
And Julie Frank, the chief of workers for the agency’s top chief, can also be not employed there, a DFPS spokesperson instructed The Texas Tribune on Friday afternoon.
Executive Deputy Commissioner Anne Heiligenstein will exit her position after Nov. 20.
Heiligenstein was the DFPS commissioner from 2008-11. She has been on “loan” to DFPS from Casey Family Programs, a nonprofit that works with state governments on child welfare techniques, to function the chief deputy commissioner till June 2023.
Heiligenstein was introduced again to DFPS earlier this 12 months amid considerations concerning the division’s management underneath Commissioner Jaime Masters. In March, the former child care investigations director at DFPS resigned after he mentioned top agency leaders inaccurately characterised who was in charge for the mishandling of abuse allegations at a state-contracted middle that cares for victims of intercourse trafficking.
Heiligenstein’s return to the agency was welcomed when it was announced earlier this year. Heiligenstein joined DFPS as an government in May, however she continues to be an worker of Casey.
“Our relationship with Casey continues to be strong, and they are a valued partner,” mentioned Patrick Crimmins, a DFPS spokesperson.
Crimmins declined to reply additional questions concerning the two departures.
The management shakeup comes as a staffing disaster continues to plague the division. Since the start of the 12 months, more than 2,300 employees have left the child welfare agency, the Houston Chronicle reported. Departed staff have described a belabored agency and poor administration methods that go away kids in danger.
DFPS can also be the topic of a yearslong federal lawsuit over Texas’ troubled foster care system, which U.S. District Judge Janis Jack discovered has violated foster kids’s civil rights.
Heiligenstein’s working relationship to Masters is unclear primarily based on a DFPS organizational chart. The two are linked with a dotted line, however Heiligenstein just isn’t listed as Masters’ direct report. The chart exhibits Heiligenstein’s areas of focus embody child protecting companies and child protecting investigations, however the affiliate commissioners of these departments report on to Masters.
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