Fostering Family

TO STRENGTHEN HOUSTON'S FOSTER FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH TRAINING AND COLLABORATION.

CORE INITIATIVES OF THE RIVERSIDE PROJECT INCLUDE:RESPONSE NETWORK: A PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS THE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE FAMILIES TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGH THE RIVERSIDE PROJECT WHO ARE WILLING TO SERVE. FOSTERING FAMILY UTILIZED THE CAREPORTAL PLATFORM FROM JUNE 2020 UNTIL MARCH 2021. BEGINNING IN APRIL 2021, FOSTERING FAMILY LAUNCHED THE RESPONSE NETWORK AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO USING THE CAREPORTAL PLATFORM TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. AS A RESULT, 1,148 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES IN FY23. SEE SCHEDULE O.TRUST-BASED RELATIONAL INTERVENTION (TBRI) TRAINING: AN INITIATIVE TO TRAIN PROFESSIONALS IN ATTACHMENT-BASED, TRAUMA-INFORMED INTERVENTION TO MEET THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF CHILDREN FROM HARD PLACES. 302 PROFESSIONALS WERE TRAINED IN THE TBRI FOR CAREGIVERS CURRICULUM DURING FY23. CHURCH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: WE EQUIP AND MOBILIZE CONGREGATIONS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO 1) IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THEIR CONGREGATIONS, 2) MOBILIZE THEIR COMMUNITIES TO SERVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND 3) WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO MAXIMIZE IMPACT. DURING FY23, 92 CHURCH LEADERS ATTENDED OUR CHURCH LEADER TRAINING.

THE BABYSITTING COLLABORATIVE IS A STREAM-LINED, MULTI-AGENCY CERTIFICATION COURSE FOR FOSTER CARE BABYSITTERS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES CARE AND SUPPORT TO CURRENT FOSTER AND KINSHIP FAMILIES. IT ALSO GROWS THE NETWORK OF PEOPLE RELATIONALLY CONNECTED TO FAMILIES CARING FOR CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO FACILITATE COLLABORATION BETWEEN CERTIFIED CHILD PLACING AGENCIES (CPAS).SINCE JULY 2020, THE BABYSITTER CERTIFICATION TRAINING PROGRAM HAS UTILIZED A PORTAL SYSTEM FOR DOCUMENTATION MANAGEMENT AND VIRTUAL TRAINING. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDE MONTHLY IN-PERSON CPR SKILLS CHECK-OFFS. IN FY23, 251 BABYSITTERS WERE CERTIFIED.

THE COALITION OF CHILD SERVING SECTORS (CCSS) IS A COMMUNITY-BASED READINESS INITIATIVE SPEARHEADED BY THE TEXAS ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES (TACFS) IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPELCHIN CHILDREN'S CENTER. OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHAIRED THE PROVIDER WORKGROUP OF THIS INITIATIVE AND HELPED TO DEVELOP TWO COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC AREAS OF CONCERN IN OUR LOCAL CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, INCLUDING 1) KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER: A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS BARRIERS THAT CAUSE KINSHIP FAMILIES TO DELAY, DECLINE OR DISCONTINUE THE FOSTER PARENT LICENSING PROCESS, AND 2) RTC/GRO LEARNING COMMUNITY: TRANSFORMING RESIDENTIAL INTERVENTIONS IN REGION 6.SEE SCHEDULE O.THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, WE WORKED WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE MONTHLY INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR KINSHIP FAMILIES, PROVIDED SUPPORT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF KINSHIP FAMILIES, AND HOSTED AN 8-WEEK BOOK STUDY, TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING, AND COLLABORATIVE CALLS FOR CONGREGATE CARE PROVIDERS.