Item 2: DFPS Presentation — original pdf

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Rider 30 Report – Travis County Fiscal Year 2025 Stephanie Hennes Faith-Based and Community Engagement Specialist Rachel Duer Faith-Based and Community Engagement Director History of Work at DFPS • • In 2005, SB 6 passed by the 79th Texas Legislature mandated DFPS to review data to assess for disproportionality in the Texas child welfare system and, if found, develop a remediation plan This work has been done via multiple divisions and offices, most recently from 2022 – 2025 via the Office for Addressing Disproportionality and Disparities • As of 2026, the work is carried forward by the Workforce Development Division (Human Resources, Learning and Development) as well as program (CPI/CPS) and the Single Source Continuum Contractors (SSCCs) in community- based care regions Family Code, Chapter 264, Child Welfare Services • Sec. 264.2041. Cultural Awareness. The department shall: (1) develop and deliver cultural competency training to all service delivery staff; (2) increase targeted recruitment efforts for foster and adoptive families who can meet the needs of children and youth who are waiting for permanent homes; (3) target recruitment efforts to ensure diversity among department staff; and, (4) develop collaborative partnerships with community groups, agencies, faith-based organizations, and other community organizations to provide culturally competent services to children and families of every race and ethnicity. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 268 (S.B.6), Sec. 1.54, effective 9/1/2005 Rider 30 State of Texas – FY 2025 Rider 30 Travis County FY 2025 FY25 African American Children in Foster Care FY25 Category Children in Care Waiting for Foster or Adoptive Family Reunified with Birth Family Aged Out of Care # of Travis Co. Foster Children 111 13 29 7 FY25 % of Travis County Foster Children 26% 6% 12% Aged Out of Care Reunified with Birth Family Waiting for Foster or Adoptive Family Most children achieved either family reunification or continued care while working toward permanency. However, there is community need as 13 children were still waiting for a foster or adoptive family. Source: https://www.dfps.texas.gov/About_DFPS/Data_Book/Child_Protective_Servi ces/Family_Preservation/Children_in_Services_Aug31.asp Travis County Snapshot | August 25, 2026 139 African American children from Travis County were in foster care as of August 25, 2026. • 105 children (76%) were living in Region 7, which includes Travis County and surrounding Central Texas communities. The largest placement type was: • Unverified Kinship Homes: 52 • Basic Foster Homes: 24 • Specialized Foster Homes: 20 More than half of all children were living with relatives, family friends, or in foster families rather than congregate settings. Source: pp_26 dashboard Travis County Year-over-Year Comparison FY25 111 Children in Care Key Findings August 2026 139 Children in Care • 28 more children (+25% Increase) • Most children remain in Central Texas. • Kinship care continues to be the most common placement. • More foster and adoptive families are needed to keep children closer to home. Source: pp_26 dashboard; https://www.dfps.texas.gov/About_DFPS/Data_Book/ Child_Protective_Services/Family_Preservation/Childr en_in_Services_Aug31.asp A Home for Every Child • A federal initiative through the Administration for Children and Families that DFPS has joined • Replaces the existing Program Improvement Plan (PIP) for the Child and Family Service Review (CFSR) with simplified plans • Primary Goal – achieve and sustain a statewide foster-home-to-foster- child ratio of at least 1:1 by June 30, 2027 • DFPS is putting together a cross-divisional plan that focuses on: - Foster Home Recruitment - Foster Home Retention - Placement Capacity and Matching Objectives - Licensing Process Improvement - Provider Network Management and Contract Alignment acf.gov/a-home-for-every-child Source: pp_26 dashboard Ways to Help Children and Families Foster Angels www.fosterangelsctx.org/how-to-help www.partnershipsforchildren.org/get-involved