Texas officials have announced changes to the foster care system that aim to make it easier for relatives to become foster parents. Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) have eliminated 195 administrative rules, representing a reduction of 75% of all requirements for kinship foster homes.
“Serving as a foster parent is an invaluable way to provide a loving home for a child,” said Governor Abbott. “When we eliminate burdensome and unnecessary rules and regulations so children can stay with their families through kinship foster care, we put those children on the best path forward. Texas will continue to prioritize children in need by removing bureaucratic red tape to keep them with their families.”
First Lady Cecilia Abbott also commented on the new policy direction: “When we work together to put children first, we see amazing things happen. By eliminating the hardships on Texas families who wish to foster a child, we can see families across the state stay together and provide care for their own. I thank all Texans and state agencies for working together to remove burdens and ensure every child in Texas has the opportunity to grow and flourish.”
HHS Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young stated, “By removing unnecessary barriers, we’re helping Texans open their homes to relatives in need. These changes will give more children in foster care the opportunity to grow up in a familiar, loving environment.”
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Commissioner Audrey O’Neill added, “Kinship families allow children in foster care to live with caring adults they know and trust. They enable a child to maintain their sense of identity and foster positive self-esteem while remaining connected to their families and communities.”
The reforms follow Senate Bill 593 from the 88th Texas Legislature, which directed HHSC and DFPS to audit existing regulations for kinship foster homes. The process included input from agencies, providers, current foster and kinship parents, as well as advocates.
Changes include streamlining housing inspections so they focus on health and environmental safety; reducing training requirements; requiring less documentation for over-the-counter medications; while keeping 55 essential rules meant to safeguard children.
The HHSC continues its oversight role by licensing child-placing agencies that verify standards are met by kinship foster homes. The agency conducts criminal background checks on individuals living in these homes, monitors compliance with safety standards, and inspects a random sample each year.
More information about child care regulation is available at the HHS website, while details about kinship care can be found at the DFPS website. Residents may also call 2-1-1 for further assistance regarding available programs.
