The goal is to ensure that for every child that enters the foster care system, there is a licensed foster home or kinship placement available.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas is joining a national effort to strengthen the foster care system.
On Wednesday, the state announced Texas is joining the Trump administration’s “A Home for Every Child” initiative.
The goal is to ensure that for every child that enters the foster care system, there is a licensed foster home or kinship placement available. Nationwide, there is a shortage of licensed foster homes.
“Texas is honored to join the Trump administration in its mission to ensure every child in foster care has a real chance at a permanent, loving home,” said Gov. Greg Abbott. “By eliminating unnecessary rules and regulations, we will help more children find stability and hope. Together with our federal partners, we will deliver better outcomes for children in our foster care system.”
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) aims to make improvements by recruiting more foster families, reducing barriers for children to be placed with other family members and strengthening services to prevent children from entering the foster care system in the first place.
“The Trump administration is pleased to welcome the Lone Star State to ‘A Home for Every Child’ during National Foster Care Month,” said ACF Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams. “Gov. Abbott is putting the needs of Texas’ children and families first by supporting efforts to keep families together and remove unnecessary barriers that would discourage loving families from fostering. ACF looks forward to working with Texas to increase the state’s ratio of homes-to-kids so that every child can grow up in a safe, loving, and stable family.”
DFPS works with community partners, faith-based organizations, courts and local child welfare boards to help place children in foster care.
To learn more about becoming a foster parent in Texas, visit www.dfps.texas.gov.