What is Foster Care, and How Does it Work?
A common question we receive here at Hope Cottage is “how do children enter foster care?” Many foster care cases begin when a concerned community member calls the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Abuse and Neglect Hotline (1-800-252-5400). The case workers who answer the phone are trained to collect as much information as possible. If the information meets the definitions of abuse or neglect according to the Texas Family Code or the Texas Human Resource Code then the worker will send the report to a local DFPS office for further investigation. The outcome of the investigation may be removal of the child from their home of origin, Family-Based Safety Services where the child will be left in the home while the family receives services, or the investigation may be “ruled out.” When an investigation is “ruled out” it means that there was not sufficient evidence to warrant further involvement by DFPS.
In recent years DFPS has moved toward a policy of “family preservation.” When possible, children remain in their homes while their parents complete Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS). These services may include a variety of programs designed to improve their parenting situation, such as;
Daycare assistance
Nutrition and health information
Referrals for education, counseling, and alcohol or substance abuse treatment
Help to deal with domestic violence
Anger management training
Referrals for public assistance
If a child is removed from the custody of their caregivers of origin, DFPS will seek a Kinship placement before they consider possible foster placement with a non-relative caregiver. Kinship care means that children are temporarily placed with a relative or close family friend while their birth parents work to improve their home situation. Kinship care helps a child feel a sense of stability while maintaining a connection to their family and cultural traditions.
If a kinship placement cannot be found, the court can give temporary legal custody to CPS. Then CPS places the child into foster care. Foster parents agree to become temporary guardians for children until the permanency goal, as determined by the courts, can be reached. Foster parents must complete a rigorous application, several personal interviews, a home inspection, and specialized training courses before becoming licensed.
Most successful foster families have a support system of friends, family, and professionals who will encourage and support them throughout their foster journey. The state of Texas reimburses foster parents for expenses related to caring for foster children while they have a foster child in their home.
While children are in care, birth parents receive assistance to help improve their parenting situation. Biological parents are typically given 12-18 months to work services for reunification. During this time, a judge reviews the case quarterly to monitor progress, ensure children receive services to address their trauma history and medical needs and discuss weekly visitations for children with biological families.
For most cases, the initial permanency plan is reunification, but only 39.4% of foster children reunified in 2019. Guardianship or Permanent Managing Conservatorship is another common permanency goal. A judge can grant PMC to DFPS, non-parental family members, fictive kin, or foster parents. The newly appointed guardian becomes legally responsible for the child without legal adoption. In addition, a judge can grant rights and responsibilities to a conservator based on the child's needs. In 2019, 23.1% of children exited the foster care system into guardianship.
Media organizations often highlight foster children waiting for adoption when discussing the child welfare system. Of course, these stories need to be shared, but an overemphasis on adoption stories can lead people to believe that the goal of foster care is adoption. Adoption from foster care is possible, but only 31% of foster children exited the system into an adoptive placement in 2019.
There is an ongoing need for loving, safe foster families in the state of Texas. We at the Hope Cottage Foster Care Services Program would love to answer any questions you have about the fostering and adoption process. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Antoinette Johnson at ajohnson@hopecottage.org or 214-770-8215.