From the cover
Local nonprofits step in to aid foster youth
A closer look
In a nutshell
2024—a 55% drop. A big challenge for the child welfare system is a shortage of foster care parents who are trained to help children experiencing trauma, said Brandon Anderchuk, executive director of Hope’s Path. The nonprofit helps young men who have aged out of the foster care system. “This lack of trained caregivers contributes to instability in the children’s lives, as they often encounter multiple placements throughout their time in foster care,” Anderchuk said.
Texas Education Agency data shows that the number of students in foster care and attending a public school district in Region 4—which covers a majority of the Greater Houston area— dropped by about 11% from 2017-25. Data from the Family Freedom Project, a Texas-based nonprofit focused on defending parental rights and protecting families from government overreach, shows a shift in recent years, with Texas removing over 20,000 chil- dren from their homes in 2018 and just 9,220 in
The Texas Legislature has approved several reforms in the state’s child welfare system over the past decade to address high caseload numbers and turnover rates among case workers, Community Impact previously reported. The DFPS reports a 38% decline in Texas foster care children since 2015 while Harris County’s foster care population has dropped 49%. “Over the last several sessions, this committee has taken a leading role in the historic transformation of the Texas child welfare system, and because of your work, Texas is now an example for the rest of the nation,” Andrew Brown, vice president of policy for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, said at a May 7 Texas Senate committee hearing. Statewide, daily caseloads for case workers have gone from an average of 21.1 in 2015 to 11.8 in 2024, the DFPS reports. In Harris County, case worker turnover rates have remained around 25%, while Child Protective Services employee salaries are up 38%.
Children in substitute care
Foster care students
Harris County
Spring ISD
Texas
Klein ISD
60,000
500
48,889
50,000
400
338
40,000
27,405
300
30,000
186
200
20,000
246
Foster care reform efforts
5,640
2,389
80
100
10,000
December 2015: A federal judge declares the Texas foster care system is inadequate. May 2017: Senate Bill 11 creates the Child Protective Services Legislative Oversight Committee; House Bill 871 makes it easier for state agencies to work with faith-based organizations. January 2020-December 2021: Statewide, 21 facilities housing 13 or more children are shut down or have their licenses revoked. September 2021: The Texas Legislature funds $83.1 million in SB 1 to hire 312 caseworkers; HB 5 allots an additional $90 million to the DFPS. October 2021: Gov. Greg Abbott approves a new panel to analyze the rising number of foster care children without a placement. Jan. 29: Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston files House Bill 2216. June 2: 89th Texas Legislature ends.
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*WHEN A CHILD IS REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME, SUBSTITUTE CARE CAN INCLUDE FOSTER CARE, GROUP HOMES OR PLACEMENTS WITH RELATIVES. SOURCES: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Who it affects
Brittany Valdez—a 22-year-old nursing student at Lone Star College-University Park who entered foster care around age 15—said she wishes biological parents could get more sup- port before their children are removed. Valdez said her mother struggled financially for years before her parental rights were terminated, but Valdez always had food and a place to sleep. “She just needed help. ... Because she had a tough childhood as well, so she only followed what she learned from as a child,” Valdez said. Local nonprofits help bridge the gaps for individuals in the foster care system and those who have aged out. In addition to foster care and adoption facilitation, many organizations offer mentorship, education and career guid- ance, and transitional living opportunities. Operation Achieve Independence has helped
Statewide, in 2025: 41.8% of DFPS-involved children are in kinship settings 90.5% of emergency reports get a face-to-face response within 24 hours
31.3% is the turnover rate for Child Protective Investigations employees 91.8% of nonemergency reports get a face-to- face response within 72 hours
Brittany Valdez (left) is one of the many individuals Tina James has supported.
EMILY LINCKE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Valdez and many other students prepare for college, founder and President Tina James said. “The problem with the resources out there is sometimes there’s so much red tape that the young adults just freeze up,” James said.
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