understanding our community
Region 3 Community Profile is a 29-page overview of our 19 county community. This downloadable document, presented by the North Texas Foster Care Consortium and The Center for Child and Family Studies, is a profile which provides an insight about the children and families coming into care. Using data provided by the Texas Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS), this profile serves as an informational resource to improve awareness and engagement to support children and families in our region.
North Texas Community-Based Care Environmental Assessment
DFPS REGIONS 3W (NON-CBC) AND 3E (MARCH 2021) This downloadable 290 page report from the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute details the facts and the data of children in care in our 19-county region. The report dives deeply into the facts and data of subsitute care in the areas of capacity, education, mental health, judiciary and more.
Our Community Our Kids (OCOK) – The Single-Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) for the following North Texas counties: Palo Pinto, Parker, Tarrant, Erath, Hood, Somervell and Johnson.
Empower – The Single-Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) for the following North Texas counties: Grayson, Fannin, Collin, Hunt, Dallas, Rockwall, Kaufman, Ellis, and Navarro.
Community-Based Care (CBC) Resources:
Community-Based Care (CBC) is a re-imagined approach to foster care that gives local communities the flexibility to draw on local strengths and resources and find innovative ways to meet the unique and individual needs of children and their families. CBC includes many of the services that Child Protective Services (CPS) normally provides, including foster care, case management, kinship, and reunification services. For more information, visit the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) CBC Website or visit the resources below to find out how CBC is changing foster care in North Texas.
NEW! Printable CBC Infographic for Healthcare Professionals – This new infographic explains Community Based Care as it intersects with healthcare.
NEW! Printable CBC Infographic for Educators – This new infographic was designed to assist eductors in understanding Community Based Care and its goals in education.
NEW! Printable CBC Infographic for Foster Parents and Kin Caregivers – This new infographic helps foster parents and kinship caregivers better understand what Community Based Care means for them.
DFPS video introduction to CBC This video is an overview of the history of Community Based Care in Texas, why CBC is necessary, how it is implemented across the state and the goals of the CBC.
Office of Community-Based Care Transitions – In 2021, the 87th Texas Legislature, as part of Senate Bill 1896, formally established the Office of Community-Based Care Transition (OCBCT). The Office is administratively attached to DFPS, and along with the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), will work together on the statewide implementation of CBC.
OCBCT Implementation Plan for the Texas Community-Based Care System This downloadable 60 page document, developed by the Office of Community-Based Care Transitions, outlines the plan for implementing CBC throughout the state.
Community Based Care Infographic This shareable infographic, created by the Texas Alliance of Children and Family Services is a quick and concise visual explanation of Community-Based Care. (updated June 2023)
Kinship Care Resources:
Kinship Legislation Webinar – March 9, 2023 – Here is a replay of the Foster Care Consortium Kinship Legislation Webinar if you were unable to attend or would like to review the webinar.
Kinship Care Infographic – This shareable infographic, created by the North Texas Foster Care Consortium, gives an overview of kinship care in Texas.
Kinship Care Manual – This manual, created by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is provided by Child Protective Services (CPS) to kinship families at the time of placement.
KInship Options Infographic – This infographic outlines the various options kinship caregivers have when caring for children.
resources from tExas department of family and protective services (DFPS)
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services – This is the website of the DFPS containing links to all of its services, information and news.
DFPS Education for Children Resource Guide This 16-page guide outlines the rules and guidelines for the education of children in substitute care in Texas.
CPS databook – This webpage contains a variety of data and reports, updated regularly, on children in care, family preservation, conservatorship, placements, adoption and more.
CPS Monthly Data Dashboard – This webpage contains monthly and year-end reports on key metrics such as reporting, investigations, intakes, placements and more.
Family Resources:
Become a Foster/Adoptive Parent (English version) – Provided by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Become a Foster/Adoptive Parent (Spanish Version) – Provided by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
How to Become a Foster Parent – Provided by TexProtects, Champions of Safe Children
City Square – For help finding housing, food, doctors, attorneys, health insurance and more
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Valuable resources and information for parents and caregivers on trauma and traumatic events.
Sesame Street in Communitities – Spotlight on Foster Care has information for adults involved in foster care (English Version)
Sesame Street in Communities – Spotlight on Foster Care has information for adults involved in foster care (Spanish Version)
Superior STAR Health – Information on the Medicaid health plan serving children and youth in foster care in all Texas counties.
STAR Health Provider Directory – Online help for finding providers within the Superior STAR Heath Network
Texas Parent to Parent (English Version) – Provides support, information and education for families of children with disabilities, chronic and mental health conditions and other healthcare needs.
Texas Parent to Parent (Spanish Version) – Provides support, information and education for families of children with disabilities, chronic and mental health conditions and other healthcare needs.
Aunt Bertha/ Find Help – Find help with financial resources, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost assistance
Affordable Connectivity Program – A new federal program is available to help low-income families obtain internet and computer services. Offering discounts up to $30 per month on internet services and up to $100 on the purchase of a computer, laptop or tablet, the program is accepting applications now.
Resources for Youth in care
Aging Out of Foster Care – What You Need to Know – This downloadable brochure from the Texas Foster Youth Justice Program outlines answers to common questions about aging out of care as well as some of the benefits available to children in care when they turn age 18. Also available in Spanish ( Superando la edad del hogar de cuidado temporal en Texas )
Items of interest from around the state
How Texas Bills Become Laws is a presentation created by TexProtects for the North Texas Foster Care Consortium. It gives a detailed understanding of the legislative process involved in getting a bill through the system to eventually becoming a law.
Foster Care Capacity Crisis – The Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services webpage highlights the issues of the capacity crisis as well as legislative actions seeking to address the problem.
TexProtects Annual State of the State Report – This report is published each year to provide an updated, in-depth analysis of the current state of the child protection system in Texas and how the state compares nationally. The report provides critical insights into the current state of the child protection system in Texas, including challenges faced by families and kinship support.
Meeting notes and presentations
Here you will find Power Point presentation slides and notes from our general membership meetings and other webinars of interest.
Presentation Replay from the August 17 Webinar on the 88th Legislative recap
This webinar focused on legislation and budget items from the 88th Texas Legislation session related to child maltreatment prevention reporting and investigations; kinship care; foster care rate modernization and capacity; community-based care; and innovation grants.
Presenters included Kerri Judice, Child Protection Policy Manager, Tex Protects; Justin Wood, VP of External Relations and General Counsel, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas; Marta Talbert, Director of Investigations and Alternative Response, DFPS; Rachel Nicholson, Director of Policy and External Relations, and Kristine Blackstone, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Texas Alliance for Child and Family Services.
Quarterly Meeting May 4, 2023 – Notes from the presentation by George Cannata and Afton Rutherford from the Office of Community Based Care Transition included an overview of the North Texas Counties Implementation Timelines.
Also presenting at the meeting was Courtney Leaverton from Our Community, Our Kids (OC-OK) with some important performance data slides you can access from the link above.
Linda Garcia from Empower shared a presentation on Empower’s background, mission and its projected implementation timeline for the rollout of Community Based Care in the the area referred to by DFPS as Region 3E.