Help Texas Families Stay Together
The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) recently delivered its budget request (known as a Legislative Appropriations Request or LAR) to the Texas Legislature.
In the DFPS budget request, the Family First program is the:
✓ LAST item listed under potential 3% cuts that agencies are required to outline
✓ FIRST “Exceptional Item Request” for additional funding ($32.5 million)
The program keeps children safely with their families and out of foster care.
✓ When children are at risk of entering foster care, the program offers parents substance use treatment, mental health services, or in-home parenting support.
✓ We interviewed families in the program. All reported very positive experiences.
Chairman James Frank created the Texas Family First pilot.
✓ It implements the federal Family First Act, passed by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and signed by President Trump.
