The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has temporarily expelled Children's Hope Residential Services CEO James Aldrich from all campuses, offices and duties related to the Child Placement Agency corporate office in Lubbock and all three residential treatment centers under DFPS contract, according to a letter issued by certified mail addressed to Aldrich.
As of Feb. 3, Aldrich is prohibited from having direct contact with DFPS clients and executing "duties, actions, oversight, or decisions related to the provision of services provided" by both the Child Placement Agency and all three residential treatment centers in Lubbock and Levelland, according to the letter.
The department reports the decision to "implement this contract remedy" was made after monitoring visits by Child Protective Services, Residential Child Care Licensing, and Residential Childcare Contracting.
The monitored visits, according to the letter, revealed several "serious contract violations," resulting in ongoing investigations of the facilities.
The issues "directly impact the safety and well-being of children and youth housed at these facilities," according to DFPS.
DFPS has also issued placement suspensions for all three RTC facilities and removed children from the West and Lubbock campuses for "safety reasons."
"Given the level of direct involvement, management, and oversight that Mr. Aldrich exerted over the RTC Facilities where DFPS had to move children, the Department has determined that Mr. Aldrich's involvement at the Washington Campus RTC would be detrimental to both the services provided under the DFPS Contract as well as the safety and well-being of the clients housed there."
DFPS reports it will evaluate the progress of corrective actions taken at Children's Hope to determine if the "abeyance of staff" will continue.
Aldrich is required to "maintain and preserve" all records, including, but not limited to, treatment records, medical records, psychological records, and financial records.
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