CPS history

The household survey was transferred to the Census Bureau in late 1942, and its name was changed to the Monthly Report on the Labor Force.

The name was changed once more, in 1948, to the present Current Population Survey in order to reflect the survey's expanding role as a source for data on a wide variety of demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the population.

In 1959, responsibility for analyzing and publishing the CPS labor force data was transferred to BLS; the Census Bureau continues to collect the data.

Combined with the available government support being haphazard at best (e.g., in the early 1960’s, California had no county system of child protective services), child protection provided by the government was mostly inaccessible.

California’s first law mandating physicals to report suspected child abuse was promulgated in 1963.

By 1967, all states legislated the need for medical professionals to report suspected child abuse cases.

Congress established the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) in 1974.

By 1976, all states had reporting laws requiring professionals to report sexual abuse.

In September 1993, the Texas Legislature made APS responsible for assuming guardianship of people with severe disabilities who aged out of CPS care.

TDMHMR and TDPRS agreed that TDPRS would start conducting these investigations by July 1995.

In 1999, the Legislature provided the first specific funding for guardianship of APS clients.

In 2003, the Legislature passed House Bill 2292, which reorganized and consolidated health and human services.

In 2005, the 79th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 6, which instructed DFPS to improve the services it provides to children, families, the elderly, and adults with disabilities.

By the end of fiscal year 2006, APS had implemented all of the 252 action items required under APS Reform and all of the mandates required in Senate Bill 6.

We're providing a historical view of child welfare services agencies, based on the information from an article called, "A Short History of Child Protection in America” (John E.B. Myers, Family Law Quarterly, Volume 42, Number 3, Fall 2008).

The Texas Legislature also transferred the responsibility for abuse, neglect, and exploitation (ANE) investigations in private intermediate care facilities for persons with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/ID) from DADS to DFPS, beginning June 1, 2010.

The 84th Texas Legislature, through Senate Bill 200, consolidated (5) Health and Human Services Agencies under the Health and Human Services Commission, including The Department of Family and Protective Services, effective September 1, 2015.

The 85th Legislature, through House Bill 5 – September 1, 2017, made The Department of Family and Protective Services a standalone agency apart from the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). As a result of HB5 the Commissioner of DFPS reports directly to the governor.