Opinion: Little has changed since Sarah Brasse's death. CPS workers continue to flee their jobs, and too many San Antonio kids remain at risk.
A children's toy car sits outside of an apartment complex near Churchill High School in San Antonio. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services reports more than 2,000 CPS workers have quit in 2022, citing concerns with high caseloads, pay and communication.
As a reporter, there are some stories that stick with you. Sarah’s story is like that for me. As I worked, I found myself repeatedly glancing at a happy photograph of Sarah taken before she got sick and died — a blond wisp of a girl with an impish smile. I found myself wishing I could travel back in time to 2009 so that I could intervene and get her the care she so desperately needed — something her parents and CPS decidedly didn’t do.
During that time, numerous calls came into the agency from people concerned that Sarah and her two brothers were being neglected. Urine-soaked clothes, insufficient food, a fetid home in chaos, a lack of parental follow-up on needed medical visits — the red flags were plentiful.Success! You're on the list.