Working with Partners
CPS works with many partners to protect children from abuse and neglect and provide services to children and their families. Some of those partners include foster parents, child placing agencies, CASA volunteers, child welfare boards, law enforcement agencies, child advocacy centers, other health and human service agencies, and various providers and community partners.
Foster Parents and Other Providers
Foster parents, private child-placing agencies, residential treatment centers, and other providers work with CPS to care for and support children. While, DFPS verified 1,896 foster homes directly, it contracted with 436 foster care providers for many thousands of additional foster homes. DFPS spent $ 402,938,794 on foster care in FY 2015.
DFPS also supports foster and adoptive parents by providing funds to the Texas Council on Adoptable Children and the Texas Foster Family Association. DFPS also provides funds to local foster parent associations to help them educate, train, and retain foster and adoptive parents.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
CASA volunteers are court-appointed advocates for children in CPS cases. They are independent voices for children and an important part of the legal process that helps ensure children's best interest are served.