Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Texas' child welfare agency cut ties with the nonprofit Monday, according to an internal email obtained by KERA News. EMPOWER was already under state oversight following the deaths of two children in the provider's care and the hospitalization of another within the past two years.

The parents of Mila Jackson alleged the department put them on an abuse and neglect registry after their daughter Mila’s removal without a clear way to appeal and get their names cleared of any wrongdoing. DFPS says the process is working as it should.

The high court ruled Friday a lawsuit by families with transgender kids challenging the state's authority to investigate them is moot as the kids are no longer minors and the Department of Family and Protective Services has closed most of its investigations of the plaintiffs.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has asked a Dallas County court to appoint a third party to take over foster care services in nine North Texas counties.

Several major health agencies in Texas are under review by the state's sunset commission — including the Department of State Health Services and Health and Human Services Commission. Advocates said this cycle could have a significant impact on services and access moving forward.

Justices say a court may terminate a Houston-area father's parental rights because his "extensive" criminal history and time in prison has endangered his son's life, even if it didn't directly harm the boy.

Mila Jackson, now 2 years old, was returned to her family after the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services used erroneous legal documents to put her in state custody. But the ACLU of Texas says the DFPS administrative procedure has left the family with an administrative guilty verdict.

Despite rising deaths, Texas limited safety services and enshrined laws that made it harder to remove a child.

Texas keeps public in the dark on its agencies actions or inactions in child abuse and neglect deaths

A federal appeals court is being asked to reconsider its decision to remove U.S. District Judge Janis Jack from a lawsuit over Texas' struggling foster care system.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling late Friday says U.S. District Judge Janis Jack's contempt ruling and $100,000 per day fine violates the constitutional limits of the power of the court over individual states. The appeals court also said Jack had disrespected the state and its attorneys and created an appearance of being unfair to the state.

'[They] have to believe other folks are caring for him,' one official said in instructing a staff member to put a different name down on paperwork, details court record.