Local Program Spotlight: Child Advocates of Fort Bend
Originally shared by Child Advocates of Fort Bend in their March 2026 Newsletter
Celebrating a Decade of Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE)
Fall 2025 marked a significant milestone in child welfare across Texas: ten years of Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE), a groundbreaking initiative that has empowered families, fostered meaningful connections, and reshaped how we support children and their networks within the child welfare system. Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB) is proud to have been one of the three original pilot programs to implement CFE in 2015.
Over the past decade, CAFB has worked diligently to integrate CFE into every case we handle, ensuring that children and families receive the support, stability, and healing that they deserve. “CFE has transformed the way we approach child advocacy,” said Ruthanne Mefford, CEO of Child Advocates of Fort Bend. “By emphasizing collaboration, accountability, and the power of relationships, we’ve seen firsthand how children thrive when surrounded by a lifetime network of support.” CFE is rooted in the belief that children heal through relationships – and that with persistence, a family can be found for every child. This model promotes safety, permanency, and healing by engaging families, professionals, and community partners in a shared mission to support children in a case.
Collaborative Family Engagement has helped countless families over the last decade to build lasting connections. Here are just a few examples of its success:
Reuniting Siblings Through Family Connections
In 2020, a CASA volunteer inherited a case involving seven siblings placed in five different non-relative foster homes. CFE tools and meetings brought together relatives, foster parents, CPS, CASA, and attorneys. The oldest four children, who did not want non-relative adoption, were placed with family members, honoring their voices and changing the course of their lives.
Building a Lifelong Support Network for a Medically Fragile Youth
“J”, a youth with a genetic disorder, spent over twelve years in foster care. As he neared adulthood, CASA used CFE to reconnect him with his biological mother and identify a permanent, loving home. Together, the caregivers and biological family built a lifelong support system for J.
Healing Through Family Reconnection
“T” and her siblings were adopted after experiencing severe trauma. When behavioral challenges strained the adoptive family, CASA facilitated multiple CFE meetings to rebuild trust and identify resources. These efforts led to “T’s” successful return home and a renewed family bond.
Looking ahead as we celebrate this decade of impact, Child Advocates of Fort Bend remains committed to the principles of Collaborative Family Engagement. We believe that every child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported, and that healing happens through connection. For more information about Collaborative Family Engagement or to learn how you can support Child Advocates of Fort Bend, please visit www.cafb.org.
