Our Mission
Our mission is to support parents navigating the child welfare system by providing mentorship, guidance and connections to resources that help families heal and grow. Through living experience support and community partnership, we work to reunify children with their biological caretakers, shorten time in foster care and break cycles of system involvement for future generations.
Change
the
Numbers
30,000
Children consistently in TX foster care
We are lacking in support systems, education and resources for many parents whose children have been removed. Spreading awareness and advocating forthose who don't know how to advocate for themselves can greatly decrease this number.​​
​Reported as an average from TX DFPS for 2017-2021. https://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/cwodatasite/pdf/texas.html
70%
Children of color & Indigenous children in the state system
Systemic racism has left our country's marginalized communities at a higher risk of experiencing poverty2, food insecurity3 and unemployment4.
Black mothers are >2X more likely to die during childbirth than white mothers5.
We cannot expect our communities of color to overcome removal, achieve reunification and keep their families together when their fundamental needs are challenged on a daily basis.
1. Reported as an average from TX DFPS for 2017-2021. https://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/cwodatasite/pdf/texas.html
3. https://www.feedingamerica.org/research/map-the-meal-gap/overall-executive-summary
4. https://www.dallasfed.org/research/swe/2021/swe2101/swe2101e
5. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2021/maternal-mortality-rates-2021.pdf
78%
Children in foster care move homes 3+ times
Each removal that foster youth experience causes another layer of trauma. Removals can contribute to academic and developmental delays, mental health concerns and behavior changes.
Reported as an average from TX DFPS for 2017-2021. https://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/cwodatasite/pdf/texas.html
1-2 years
Almost half of foster youth spent over a year in foster care
Biological parents need mentors to walk them through services and hold them accountable in attending. These services are new to many parents and if we can be proactive in completing them, there's an opportunity to close cases faster.
Reported from TX DFPS for 2017-2021. https://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/cwodatasite/pdf/texas.html
49%
Young women in foster care will be pregnant by age 21
Removal, trauma and lack of support and resources all contribute to this number. We need more educated and child centered foster homes to be able to offset these numbers.
Combs KM, Begun S, Rinehart DJ, Taussig H. Pregnancy and Childbearing Among Young Adults Who Experienced Foster Care. 2018.
8.2%
Children re entered foster care after 1 year of reunification
Biological parents need support and resources past the six month return and monitor the state issues upon reunification. Many of these parents have completely changed their circumstances and are living a life very different from the time of removal. Parenting in this new season takes an immense amount of work over a long period of time and support is vital to sustainability.
Reported as an average from TX DFPS for 2017-2021. https://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/cwodatasite/pdf/texas.html