Texas officials have announced the removal of 195 administrative rules for kinship foster families, reducing regulatory requirements by 75%. The changes aim to make it easier for relatives to become foster parents while maintaining protections for children in care.
Governor Greg Abbott said, “Serving as a foster parent is an invaluable way to provide a loving home for a child. When we eliminate burdensome and unnecessary rules and regulations so children can stay with their families through kinship foster care, we put those children on the best path forward. Texas will continue to prioritize children in need by removing bureaucratic red tape to keep them with their families.”
First Lady Cecilia Abbott added, “When we work together to put children first, we see amazing things happen. By eliminating the hardships on Texas families who wish to foster a child, we can see families across the state stay together and provide care for their own. I thank all Texans and state agencies for working together to remove burdens and ensure every child in Texas has the opportunity to grow and flourish.”
HHS Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young commented, “By removing unnecessary barriers, we’re helping Texans open their homes to relatives in need. These changes will give more children in foster care the opportunity to grow up in a familiar, loving environment.”
Audrey O’Neill, Commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), stated, “Kinship families allow children in foster care to live with caring adults they know and trust. They enable a child to maintain their sense of identity and foster positive self-esteem while remaining connected to their families and communities.”
The revised regulations follow Senate Bill 593 passed by the 88th Texas Legislature, which directed state agencies to review and streamline rules affecting kinship foster homes. After consulting with stakeholders including agencies, providers, parents, and advocates, HHSC retained 55 essential rules while cutting others deemed unnecessary.
Key regulatory changes include focusing housing inspections on health and environmental safety standards; reducing training requirements for kinship foster parents; and simplifying documentation needed for over-the-counter medications.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission continues to license child-placing agencies that verify kinship foster homes meet required standards. HHSC also conducts background checks on household members, monitors safety compliance through random inspections each year, and provides information about programs via its website or by dialing 2-1-1.
More details about kinship care are available from the DFPS website.
