Texas officials have announced a significant reduction in administrative requirements for kinship foster families. Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) stated that 195 rules, representing 75% of all administrative requirements, have been eliminated. The move aims to make it easier for relatives to become foster parents while maintaining protections for children.
“Serving as a foster parent is an invaluable way to provide a loving home for a child,” said Governor Abbott. “When we eliminate burdensome and unnecessary rules and regulations so children can stay with their families through kinship foster care, we put those children on the best path forward. Texas will continue to prioritize children in need by removing bureaucratic red tape to keep them with their families.”
First Lady Cecilia Abbott added, “When we work together to put children first, we see amazing things happen. By eliminating the hardships on Texas families who wish to foster a child, we can see families across the state stay together and provide care for their own. I thank all Texans and state agencies for working together to remove burdens and ensure every child in Texas has the opportunity to grow and flourish.”
“By removing unnecessary barriers, we’re helping Texans open their homes to relatives in need,” said HHS Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young. “These changes will give more children in foster care the opportunity to grow up in a familiar, loving environment.”
Audrey O’Neill, Commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), said, “Kinship families allow children in foster care to live with caring adults they know and trust. They enable a child to maintain their sense of identity and foster positive self-esteem while remaining connected to their families and communities.”
Kinship foster care places children with relatives or close family friends when parents are unable to provide care. This approach supports family bonds and helps reduce trauma experienced by children entering foster care.
The regulatory changes were prompted by Senate Bill 593 from the 88th Texas Legislature, which directed HHSC and DFPS to review and streamline state regulations for kinship foster homes. The process involved stakeholders such as agencies, providers, parents, and advocates.
As part of these changes:
– Housing inspections will now focus on health and environmental safety.
– Some training requirements for kinship foster parents have been removed.
– Documentation required for over-the-counter medications has been reduced.
The HHSC continues its role in licensing agencies that verify kinship foster homes meet standards. The agency also performs criminal background checks on individuals within these homes, monitors safety conditions, and conducts annual inspections on a random sample of homes.
More information about child care regulation is available on the HHS website. Details about kinship care can be found on the DFPS website or by dialing 2-1-1.
