State foster care system becoming community based: More foster homes needed in Uvalde County

   Nicole Cody spoke on behalf of the St. Jude Ranch for Children  (SJRC-Texas ) about the new Community-Based Care approach adopted by the Texas State Legislature.  According to Cole, Texas legislators have changed the previous statewide approach to foster care to the community based care model. Under the new system children in the state foster care system would be kept within local regions of Texas as designated by the Texas Department of Families and Protective Services.  Funding for the new system changed from 100% state funding to 60% state funding / 40% through fundraising. 

  Cole stated under the new system, foster care would rely more on the community with children in foster care being placed closer to home.  “There are 3 foster homes in Uvalde County.” Cole said. 

   We need more foster homes in our area.” She said. 

   Cole explained that “The Long” located in Val Verde Texas was awarded a contract through the State Legislature and SJRC-Texas will switch from being a state based form to community-based.

  Cole went on to say she was asking the County for a place where safe visits for children could take place. 

  According to the SJRC-Texas website it states: ” SJRC Texas, formerly known as St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, cares for children and families who have been affected by trauma, abuse and neglect, and have been removed from their homes by the Department of Family and Protective Services. We are their safe haven and offer help and hope to begin the journey of healing. Our Mission is to offer healing and hope to children and families affected by abuse, abandonment or neglect. Our Vision is that abused and neglected children will be empowered to grow up to be happy, productive and caring adults.”

                                                                             Department of Families and Protective Services website provides the following overview of Community-Based Care:

  “Community-Based Care (CBC) is a new way to provide services than traditional foster care because it gives local communities the flexibility to draw on local strengths and resources and find innovative ways to meet the unique and individual needs of children and their families. CBC includes many of the services that Child Protective Services (CPS) normally provides. This includes foster care, case management, kinship, and reunification services.

A single contractor in each designated geographic area creates a network of services, foster homes, and other living arrangements and, when ready, provides case management for each child as well. CPS works with each contractor (Single Source Continuum Contractor or SSCC) to carefully manage the transition from traditional foster care to community care so that children are not affected negatively:”