Effective Sept. 1, 2017, the Department of Family and Protective Services enhanced its Relative and Other Designated Caregiver Program (RODC), which previously provided eligible kinship caregivers with a small amount of funds to help care for children placed in their care by DFPS. House Bill 4, passed by the 85th Texas Legislature, replaced the integration and annual reimbursement payments with a program that offers kinship families a monthly stipend, similar to foster care payments. The program also allows for a three-year Post-Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC) Annual Reimbursement for kinship caregivers who obtain permanent custody of a child.
Read this Children’s Commission Resource Letter for important information about this program, including a detailed explanation of the new Kinship Reimbursement Payment, general information on kinship care and other related resources.