A. What is Community-Based Foster Care?

In 2017, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 11, which amended the Family Code, Government Code, and Human Resources Code relating to the provisions of child protective services and other health and human services, including foster care, relative and kinship care, and adoption services. Effective September 1, 2017, DFPS started implementing Community-Based Foster Care, referred to as CBC, in certain geographic areas in the state, known as “catchment” areas. CBC is intended to delegate or outsource certain decisions about foster care delivery and case management, and that it be implemented with measurable goals related to these decisions. DFPS is currently executing an implementation plan to roll out CBC in phases throughout several catchment areas. Phase I involves a local, single contractor handling the responsibility of finding safe, high-quality, nearby homes for children in the catchment area. Phase II is where the lead contractor also assumes responsibility for the conservatorship responsibilities of the case as well, including decisions related to family reunification, permanency goals, and all legal responsibilities.