DFPS Releases the Texas Child-Centered Care (T3C) System Blueprint

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) recently released the Texas Child-Centered Care (T3C) System Blueprint. The T3C Blueprint is a guide to help Texas foster care stakeholders understand the framework and parameters for T3C’s service packages and add-on services. DFPS recently hosted a series of webinars that will give a brief overview of the T3C System Blueprint. You can see the previously recorded webinars on the DFPS Texas Child-Centered Care webpage.

Community-Based Care Updates

DFPS and the Office of Community-Based Care Transition (OCBCT) recently released Requests for Applications (RFA) for the next four community areas for Community-Based Care expansion. These RFAs will be for Region 6A (Harris County), Region 6B (Bay Area/Montgomery), Region 8A (Bexar County) and Region 10 (El Paso). DFPS hopes to award contracts for these areas by the fall of 2024. If you have any questions reach out to publicpolicy@texascasa.org

Two STAR Zooms in April and One In-Person Training May 16-17

The STAR team has been busy preparing some fantastic training for advocate supervisors this spring! There will be two Zoom trainings in April: Understanding the DFPS Daycare Program on April 15 and Local Program Panel: The Supervisors' Role in Volunteer Retention on April 29. Registration closes on April 12 for the in-person STAR Strengths-Based Supervision training in San Antonio. The event will be held May 16-17. 

Recruitment Bounty: Tip of the Month

When you travel throughout Texas, there is no shortage of historical movie theaters that have been around since the early 1900s. Movie-going is one of America’s favorite pastimes! We encourage you to jump on the movie train and partner with your local theater to run a CASA public service announcement before each movie. You can also host a movie night at the theater as a thank you to your volunteers. Child Advocates San Antonio has built a strong partnership with their local theater company, Santikos. Check out this video they made that plays before each movie starts.

Helpful Resources to Advocate for Children 0-5 

Last year nearly half of the children served by CASA programs in Texas were between the ages of zero to five. A total of 9,815 children in this age group were assigned a CASA volunteer to advocate for their best interest. This vulnerable population has unique needs regarding their development, the importance of attachment and trauma and the important role that their parent must play. Follow the link below for Texas CASA's many resources available to help support the advocacy of these young children. 

State Employee Recruitment Flier

Did you know state employees get paid time off each month to volunteer for CASA? According to Texas Gov't Code Section 661.921 “A state employee may be granted leave not to exceed five hours each month to participate in mandatory training or perform volunteer services for Court Appointed Special Advocates without a deduction in salary or loss of vacation time, sick leave, earned overtime credit, or state compensatory time.” We encourage you to download the handout below to share with the state agencies in your area. 

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