SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Some mental health workers are criticizing
Child Protective Services, saying the state's decision to seek
custody of children removed from a polygamist sect's West Texas
ranch was unnecessary and traumatizing.

The San Antonio Express-News reports today that written reports
made by workers with Hill Country Community Mental Health-Mental
Retardation Center said that the CPS investigation of suspected
child abuse and its decision to seek state custody of all 464
children punished mothers who appeared to be good parents of
healthy, emotionally normal kids.

A board member provided the newspaper copies of nine reports by
MHMR employees.

The reports reveal varying degrees of anger toward the state's
child welfare agency for removing the children from their
community, separating them from their mothers or for the way CPS
workers conducted themselves at the shelter.

In order to respond to the allegations, CPS spokesman Patrick
Crimmins asked for a list of written questions and replied with a
two-sentence e-mail Thursday, quote: "We have received no
complaints from Hill Country MHMR. However, we will be looking into
what are obviously very serious allegations, and sharing these
allegations with other agencies as appropriate."

He said Friday that the agency had no further response.