DFPS Awards Community Based Care Contract for Region 8b
DFPS is pleased to announce that it’s taken the next step toward expanding Community-Based Care by awarding a contract in Region 8b to BELONG, a division of St. Jude’s Ranch for Children - Texas Region, Inc (SJRC Texas).
Region 8b includes all counties in DFPS Region 8 except for Bexar County.
SJRC Texas has been operating as a key community provider in Region 8b for 37 years. With experience as a child placing agency and general residential operation, as well as with community-based prevention programs, SJRC Texas has insights into how to successfully expand service and program capacity. SJRC Texas also understands the importance of authentic collaboration and integration with DFPS, community partners, stakeholders, other Texas SSCC lead agencies, and most importantly with clients. All these parties are critical to creating a provider network in Region 8b and a seamless continuum of care for children and their families. SJRC Texas is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) and is known for quality services with a high standard for integrity, accountability, and innovation.
BELONG seeks to deliver a Community-Based Care model to abused and neglected children and youth in Region 8b by enacting systemic changes that improve safety, expedite permanency and focus on child and family well-being, normalcy, and stability, while simultaneously growing capacity for the Texas foster care system. BELONG will continue to leverage SJRC Texas' experiences and successes, including longstanding community relationships, operational expertise, and growth mindset.
Community-Based Care is a new way of providing foster care and case management services. It's a community-based approach to meeting the individual and unique needs of children, youth, and families. Within a geographic catchment area, a single contractor (single source continuum contractor or SSCC) is responsible for finding foster homes or other living arrangements for children in state care and providing them a full continuum of services.
In 2010, DFPS began expanding the community's role to meet the challenges of serving children in foster care under Foster Care Redesign. In 2017, the Texas Legislature directed DFPS to expand this model to include both foster care and relative or "kinship" placements and give the SSCC sole responsibility for case management – rather than sharing that responsibility with DFPS.
As Community-Based Care takes shape statewide, CPS's focus will shift to ensuring quality oversight of foster care and services for children and families. The SSCC will be responsible for case management and services that move children from foster care or kinship care into a permanent home.
You can learn more about Community-Based Care on the DFPS website. We encourage you to submit any questions about Community-Based Care to the Community-Based Care mailbox.
|
