State regulators on Friday revealed an enforcement action against the Chief Executive Officer of Lubbock-based Children’s Hope Residential Services. A letter dated February 3 was addressed to James Aldrich.
The letter to Aldrich said in part, “… The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is, effective immediately, requiring that Children’s Hope Residential Services, Inc. (Contractor) take the specific contract corrective action of removing employee James Aldrich from the provision of any and all services related to all three Residential Treatment Centers (RTC) under the DFPS Contract.”
A few days earlier, DFPS removed children from the Children’s Hope locations in both Lubbock and Levelland. A third location still housed children but was under the direct control of DFPS employees.
The letter to Aldrich also said, “Mr. Aldrich cannot have direct contact with DFPS Clients referred under the above referenced contract, nor execute any duties, actions, oversight, or decisions.”
“Children’s Hope has decided to focus more on foster care and foster family recruitment,” Aldrich said on Monday. “We’ve decided to close our residential campuses.”
On Tuesday, Aldrich changed his story and said, “We had some folks visit us from the departments say that there were concerns with the physical plant of the West facility [in Levelland].”
Also on Tuesday, he said, “We didn’t see what their concerns were [in Lubbock]… I think Lubbock was a great facility.”
DFPS cited “concerns for the safety and well-being of children” but so far has not provided other details.
Under the DFPS order, Aldrich cannot so much as prepare taxes or do accounting for Children’s Hope. DFPS cited its rights under a contract with Children’s Hope more than it cited state law.
