As state lawmakers meet this week to discuss funding for Foster Care Redesign efforts, early results demonstrate the new approach to foster care in Texas is producing enhanced quality of life and increased safety for children, according to an analysis of recent outcomes.
Our Community Our Kids, a newly formed division of ACH Child and Family Services, is responsible for the oversight and accountability of foster care for seven North Texas counties, including Palo Pinto. After six months, higher percentages of children experienced benefits in key accountability areas. The initiative placed more children in care close to home, kept greater numbers of siblings together and ensured the safety of all children in need of foster care.
“These results are extremely encouraging, particularly because problems have plagued the foster care system in Texas for decades,” said Dr. Wayne Carson, CEO of ACH Child and Family Services. “It is wonderful to see the lives of children change in tangible ways in such a short period of time.”
The analysis is based on outcomes for new children referred to the foster care system in the Our Community Our Kids region between Sept. 1, 2014, and Feb. 28, 2015. According to the state’s 180-day results, a greater percentage of children were placed within 50 miles of their home communities, more siblings were kept together and 100 percent of children were kept safe under the leadership of Our Community Our Kids.
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