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Healthcare Benefits
Texas provides healthcare to children in foster care and youth who reach adulthood in foster care up to the month of their 26th birthday. These youth get healthcare through STAR Health, a form of Medicaid that is overseen by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and administered by Superior HealthPlan. STAR Health includes a medical home for each child, service coordination and management, 24-hour nursing and behavioral health helplines, and psychotropic medication monitoring.
When a youth aging out of DFPS care needs long-term care or support due to a health or mental condition, DFPS refers them to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (HHSC). If a court makes HHSC the guardian, that agency takes responsibility for the youth. However, DFPS may continue to provide foster care for young adults even if they receive guardianship services.