Hands of Healing

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.