DePelchin Children’s Center, in its role as the lead agency for Region 6, will deliver Community Based Care through a new division, Texans Together. We strive toward servant leadership as we seek to unite the community behind a shared vision for Community Based Care. We hope to transform the “child welfare system” into a “model for family well-being” that will build prevention alongside intervention, hope and resilience alongside trauma awareness, and healthy families as the place where children thrive. Through our collaboration with community partners, we will build a diverse network of organizations that tailor their services to the specific needs of the families we serve.
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Community Based Care (CBC) is a landmark reform of foster care services in Texas. This model empowers local organizations to manage and direct services needed for each child in foster care, keeping children closer to the community they know and fostering local collaboration to serve children and youth.
Texans Together will act as the lead organization for Region 6 that builds the region’s network of foster care and service providers. Texans Together will also oversee case management services for all children and families who encounter foster care in our region. Texans Together, in collaboration with community partners, intends to build a network of organizations that honors the family in all interactions and recognizes the impact our decisions have on the families we serve.
Throughout our 130+ years of service, DePelchin has regularly evolved to meet the needs of children and families in and around Houston. Today, DePelchin provides services along the continuum of care as we seek to prevent child maltreatment and heal families when maltreatment occurs. Examples of our programs include: counseling for children and families, parental skill building, fatherhood programs, kinship navigation, Family Resource Centers, foster care and adoption, and residential programming. DePelchin has a strong operational infrastructure and experienced leadership within a positive organizational culture. As a respected member of the nonprofit community, we work diligently to build the partnerships needed to envision and implement high quality care and services throughout the region.
Austin
Brazoria
Chambers
Colorado
Fort Bend
Galveston
Harris
Liberty
Matagorda
Montgomery
Walker
Waller
Wharton
Want to learn more about Community Based Care in Region 6? We’ll be hosting town halls across the region to share information, answer questions, and connect with future partners. These events are a great opportunity to dive deeper into the CBC model and learn how Texans Together will operate.
Dates, times, and locations will be posted here, along with RSVP links for each event. We encourage you to RSVP in advance so we can plan for space, materials, and refreshments—we’d love to see you there!
Want the latest updates on Community Based Care in Region 6? Sign up to stay connected with Texans Together. We’ll share news, upcoming town halls, procurement opportunities, and important milestones as we move forward.
Community Based Care is a change in the way foster care is delivered in Texas that gives local organizations more responsibility for coordinating services and supports for children and families. The goal is to create a more flexible, responsive system that is deeply rooted in the communities it serves.
In Stage I, a single contractor—known as the Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC)—develops a network and begins providing foster care placement services. Texans Together will serve as the SSCC for Region 6.
The focus of Stage I is on improving safety and well-being for children in paid foster care, helping them stay closer to home and connected to their communities and families. Texans Together will be responsible for placement services for children already in paid foster care, as well as those entering it.
Stage II builds on all the work of Stage I and adds even more services to support children and families. In this stage, Texans Together will begin providing case management, kinship services, and family reunification support—serving all children in DFPS conservatorship, not just those in paid foster care.
The goal of Stage II is to expand the full continuum of care, increase stability, and help more children and youth find permanent, loving homes. The transition from Stage I to Stage II depends on readiness and approval from both DFPS and Texans Together.
We’re excited to work with mission-driven organizations that want to be part of this transformative effort! While we’re not entering into contracts just yet, there will be a formal procurement process as we build a diverse network of providers across Region 6. If you’re interested in partnering with Texans Together, stay tuned for updates on opportunities to engage and participate in the process.
We are currently in the early readiness phase. Formal readiness, which includes procurement and subcontracting, is expected to being in Fall 2025. During that time, we’ll release more detailed information about the contracting process, timelines, and how to get involved.
This will include foster care and residential placements as core components of the service network. Additionally, we’ll be looking to partner with organizations that provide services supporting broader family well-being – such as behavioral health, family preservation, kinship care, and others that strengthen families and promote long-term stability.
DePelchin is a nonprofit organization with more than 130 years of experience serving children and families in the Greater Houston area. From foster care and adoption to mental health counseling and parenting support, DePelchin has long been a trusted partner in child welfare.
No—DePelchin will continue offering its existing programs and services. Texans Together is a new division created to lead Community Based Care in Region 6. While the work is connected, Texans Together will operate separately and focus solely on delivering the CBC model.
