ICPC State Pages

Texas Foster Care

Rates (Foster Care)

Foster care rate paid at:

• Sending State’s rate

Texas foster care rates:

Requirements (Foster Care)

Foster Care Resource Requirements:

•  May be single or married and must:

  • be at least 21 years of age, financially stable, and responsible mature adults
  • complete an application (staff can assist you) 
  • provide relative and not relative references
  • share information regarding their background and lifestyle, 
  • show proof of marriage and/or divorce (if applicable), 
  • agree to a home study which includes visits with all household members, 
  • allow staff to complete a criminal history background check and an abuse/neglect check on all adults in the household, and
  • attend free training to learn about issues of abused and neglected children
  • have adequate sleeping space
  • allow no more than 6 children in the home including your own children or children for who you provide day care. 
  • agree to a nonphysical discipline policy
  • permit fire, health and safety inspections of the home, 
  • vaccinate all pets, 
  • obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid Certification
  • obtain TB testing as required by the local Health Department for household members
  • attend 10 hours or more of training each year

Training (Education and Training):

• The training provides an opportunity for the family and DFPS to assess whether foster care or adoption is best for the family.  The family may withdraw from the meetings at any time.  There is no charge for the meetings. Foster/adoptive parents generally train together. Texas DFPS can only license foster homes for a child who needs basic services. The sending state will need to have a child specific contract with a Texas private child placing agency if placing a child with needs of above basic services. Please see link of Texas foster/adoption child placing agencies: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/adoption_and_foster_care/adoption_partners/private.asp

Requirements (Licensing)

Licensing Requirements:

• Placement facilities, child-caring facilities and independent foster homes must be licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.  Human Resources Code, Chapter 42.  Agency foster homes maybe certified by a licensed child- placing agency.  DFPS regions are individual child placing agencies.

Foster Care Placements:

•  Licensure by DFPS or certification by child-placing agency.  Out-of-state homes must be licensed or re-certified in that state.

Texas requires the following types of placement resources to be licensed/approved/certified:

• Foster Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Adoption
• Foster/Adopt

Texas uses the following terms to authorize a resource family for foster care and (or) adoption after completion of education and training in state:

• Approve (Adoption)
• Verified (Foster Home)
• Certified

Texas resource training program is as follows:

• NTDC

Texas accepts the following training programs as comparable to its education and training program licensing:

• Other: Varies with each Region in Texas; and the Training must meet Texas curriculum.

Wait Time - (License/Certification/Approval - Education and Training)

Average Length of time it takes for a home to be licensed/approved/certified:

• 6-9 mos.

Length of time a license is valid before renewal required:

• 6 mos.Texas DFPS can only license foster homes for a child who needs basic services. The sending state will need to have a child specific contract with a Texas private child placing agency if placing a child with needs of above basic services. Please see link of Texas foster/adoption child placing agencies: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/adoption_and_foster_care/adoption_partners/private.asp

Texas offers classes (education and training) to become licensed/certified/approved:

• Other: if classes are offered at state or county discretion. - Varies among each Region in Texas (there are 11 Regions)

Wait Time for Criminal Records Results

Wait time for fingerprint results are:

Live Scan or other technology

• State: 8-14 days
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: 15-30 days
• Local/County: 15-30 days