How to Become a Foster Parent in Texas
June is National Reunification Month, a time when Texas foster families amplify their message that the state needs more foster families. The goal is to educate the public about fostering and raise awareness about the need for foster parents. They want to increase the number of foster homes in Texas and provide more support for thousands of foster families.
The United States urgently needs more foster and adoptive parents to provide home care for children. With so many children in foster care in Texas alone, the need for licensed foster homes is more significant than ever. When child protection services identifies an unsafe home environment, social workers try to move children to a family member's house temporarily. When this is not an option, foster families are the next best option to provide care for displaced children.
There are many ways adults can support Texas foster families. As a foster parent, you can change a child's life who needs a stable, loving home. Here is everything you need to know to help a foster child find a temporary or permanent home in Texas.
Quotes about foster care
How to Become a Foster Parent in Texas
Close to 400,000 children are in the U.S. foster care system, and the numbers are on the rise. Yet, the path to becoming a foster parent in Texas can often seem unclear. FosterUSKids.org helps you become a foster parent in Texas by providing information and connecting you with a local agency.
HOW TO FOSTER: A SIX-STEP GLANCE
There are six steps to complete before you can bring a child into your home as a licensed foster parent in Texas:
- Request Information About Fostering –
FosterUSKids puts the Texas foster care and adoption agencies at your fingertips.
- Attend an Orientation Meeting for Foster Parenting –
Learn more about the foster parent journey: how to become a foster parent, the characteristics of kids in foster care, and state foster care rules and regulations.
- Submit a Foster Parent Application –
Your agency’s social workers will help you with the required documentation, background checks, personal references, and state-specific criteria.
- Attend Pre-Service Training –
Around 30 hours of formal parent training cover essential topics from what to expect to trauma-informed foster care.
- Complete an Assessment and Home Study –
This vital process includes a home visit and interviews with social workers to ensure you are a good fit and ready to be matched with a foster child.
- Receive Your Foster License –The 3 to 6-month process results in getting your foster family license and then welcoming a foster child into your home!
Parenting is a rewarding journey marked by commitment and growth. The search for foster kids in Texas is not for a perfect parent. It is for someone they can count on to provide love, care, and a stable home. This foundation will make a life-altering difference.
We at FosterUSKids are grateful you are on the path to learning more. For detailed guidance through every step, contact a Texas child-placing agency now.
Requirements to Foster in Texas
Adults who are new to the fostering process sometimes feel overwhelmed and wonder if they will have support on their journey. Your child-placing agency is the first resource. Social services caseworkers provide aspiring foster parents with various types of support and connections. These include free educational training programs, helplines, and support groups.
It is important that foster parents build their individual support network, too. Connecting with other foster families with more experience is an excellent place to begin. Texas groups offer foster parent meetups; you can search online for the closest one.
The Texas Foster Family Association provides state training, a regional directory of support services, a summer training conference, and more. Membership benefits include getting access to foster care professionals and learning more about ways to become better caregivers. Children of TFFA members can also get assistance through the Scholarship Fund.
Austin Angels is another support organization that strives to assist foster parents and Texas foster children. They offer care packages and gifts for foster children and their caregivers, mentorship options, and education, among other resources. Foster children and teens can learn valuable skills that help prepare them for independent living, as well.
Foster FAQs for Texas
Fostering can feel like a lot to learn, especially if this is your first time looking into the opportunity. There are likely terms you're unfamiliar with, and the list of requirements may feel daunting.
Your foster care agency will walk you through the process and provide support resources as needed. These common Texas FAQs are a reference.
Do I Receive Financial Help When Fostering a Child?
Yes. Texas offers a reimbursement rate for foster parents to offset care expenses. This modest payment helps with costs related to care, such as clothing and transportation.
The payment for foster children varies depending on a child's age and needs. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) assigns each child a Level of Care, which affects the reimbursement amount.
DFPS allocates the payments to assist parents in caring for their children. However, they may not cover all childcare expenses. Foster families need to be financially secure before taking in a child and receiving the payment.
Are Foster Child Medical Costs Covered?
Yes. Foster youth receive healthcare coverage through Medicaid. The state covers medical and dental expenses, so parents don't need to worry about out-of-pocket costs.
All foster kids have experienced trauma. Some foster kids in Texas have been victims of child abuse and neglect, sexual abuse, poverty, or extreme loss. Among their healthcare needs may be counseling or support from licensed therapists.
Your agency will inform you in advance if your foster child has specialized medical needs. They will also ensure that you and your family are capable and willing to provide the necessary care.
What if I Want to Adopt a Child?
By definition, foster care is a temporary solution. Reunification with the child's family is usually in the child's best interest. Rejoining foster children with their biological families is the goal in most case plans.
However, there are some instances when a child cannot safely rejoin with their family. In these cases, foster children may become eligible for adoption. Let your foster child advocate know if you are interested in foster-to-adoption. They strive to provide care for foster kids and also help families meet their fostering goals.
Foster agencies in Texas
General Foster FAQs
General Statistics About Foster Care
28,042
Kids in Texas' foster care system
11,639
Texas foster kids awaiting adoption
12
Average number of months a Texas child will spend in foster care
7 Years
Median age of a child in Texas' foster care system
Raising awareness about the foster care situation in Texas is the first step to helping the children in care. To educate others, it helps to have the most complete information. The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) report in Texas gives information on children in foster care, including statistics and outcomes. The most up-to-date data and estimates for Texas are from 2021:
- 28,042 children are in Texas' foster care system
- 11,639 children are awaiting adoption
- 7,463 of the children awaiting adoption came from families with terminated parental rights
- 45% of kids are placed in foster homes with non-relative families
- 45% of foster child case plan goals include returning the child to their birth parents or primary caregiver
A child's median time in the Texas foster care system is just over a year, at 12.5 months. Kids of all ages and backgrounds find themselves in the Texas foster care system.
It takes only one adult to make a significant difference in a foster child's life. Foster kids are often going through one of the most confusing and difficult times of their lives. They need someone to provide a loving and stable environment where they feel seen and supported.
Foster parents can also teach these kids essential life skills. Many foster kids have grown up in homes that lack structure. They haven't always had exposure to skills they will need later in life.
Young kids have needs for their healthy development. For older teens, needed skills may include financial literacy or how to create a job resume.
Foster children and their parents are experiencing a life crisis. The positive impact of your care and support is beyond measure.
Support Services for Foster Parents in Texas
If you're interested in becoming a Texas foster family, you have first to meet basic requirements. Texas foster parents must:
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Maintain a stable income
- Prove good mental and physical health
- Pass a criminal background check
- Provide character references from relatives and non-relatives
- Complete the Home Study and house safety inspection
- Finish 50 hours of foster parent training
- Get CPR- and First-Aid-Certified
- Submit to a TB testing
- Offer ample space in the home for a foster child
Foster parent applicants can be single or married. Partners need a stable relationship before they can foster or adopt in Texas. Couples who are married must have had their second wedding anniversary before they can foster a child.
If you have pets, you need to provide proof of recent vaccinations. Foster child advocates ensure pets are child-friendly. They will evaluate pet characteristics before placing foster kids in homes with them.
Foster parents can either rent or own their homes. However, the home must have a bed for each foster child, along with space for their personal belongings.
If you meet all requirements and are ready to take the next step, contact a local foster care agency. After an initial application, you will meet with a foster advocate and receive an invitation to an informational meeting or orientation.
There, you will learn what to expect and how to become a licensed foster care provider in Texas.
NOW IS THE TIME TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT IN Texas
Every day in Texas, children from all age groups enter foster care, some with no belongings of their own, all without an adult they can depend on. Every Texas kid needs a soft place to land and a place to call home. Whether you can offer temporary care or become a forever family, your interest could mean a brighter, more secure future for a child in Texas.
Still undecided? A Texas child-placing agency is here to guide you, providing answers about stipends, coaching, therapy resources, and foster parent training.
Take the next step: Begin your parenting journey by fostering a Texas child today.
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