Rural Community-Based Care Pilot Program

About the Community-Based Care Rural Pilot

Texas Family Code (TFC) Section 264.181 (SB 513 from the 89th Regular Legislative Session) requires the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to implement a Rural Community-Based Care(CBC) Pilot Program which is aimed at improving child welfare services in certain rural areas. This pilot focuses on rural areas in which:

at least two-thirds of the counties comprising the area have a population of 50,000 or less, and
where the existing Community-Based Care model has been offered but not successfully established.

The Rural CBC Pilot program will be developed and implemented by DFPS in partnership with a Lead Entity, which may be a nonprofit or local government entity selected through a competitive procurement process.

The Rural CBC Pilot Program seeks to design, implement, and evaluate a Community-Based child welfare system in rural regions of Texas, with an emphasis on:

Co-design with DFPS and local Community Alliances,
Improved permanency and well-being outcomes for children and families,
Regional flexibility to address diverse community needs, and
Shared accountability across state, local, and provider partners.

There is no immediate impact to staff in this region. This is the planning phase for the development of a pilot of how Community-Based Care could work in a rural area and will be presented during the 90th Legislative Session.

This page will be updated as the pilot is developed.