A. What is Community-Based Foster Care?

In 2017, DFPS started implementing Community-Based Foster Care, also 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 it is implemented with measurable goals related to these decisions. CBC is designed to be implemented in stages. Stage I of CBC involves a single contractor handling the responsibility of finding safe, high-quality, nearby homes for children in the catchment area. Stage II is when the lead contractor assumes responsibility for the conservatorship responsibilities of the case as well, including decisions related to family reunification, permanency goals, and all legal responsibilities. At each stage of CBC, the readiness of the provider to successfully interact with all stakeholders and to serve the children and families in its catchment area is critical to the success of the roll out.