In 2022, there were 5,600 youth aged 14-17 in foster care in Texas, facing difficult questions about their transition to adulthood. Of those youth, 1,087 aged out of care with no network available, leaving them vulnerable to homelessness, trafficking, and poor life prospects. Feedback from CASA programs indicate that while they desire to engage family for these children and youth, … Read More
In 2022, there were 5,600 youth aged 14-17 in foster care in Texas, facing difficult questions about their transition to adulthood. Of those youth, 1,087 aged out of care with no network available, leaving them vulnerable to homelessness, trafficking, and poor life prospects. Feedback from CASA programs indicate that while they desire to engage family for these children and youth, there are many barriers that may prevent the actual Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE) work from occurring. Those barriers include, but are not limited to, the difficulty of finding family members who are willing to engage with CASA or the child’s caseworker, challenges in knowing how to work with youth who have experienced severe trauma, and general challenges because the system is difficult to navigate. The challenges are further compounded when youth are in unlicensed placements.
This portal site will re-introduce the resources Texas CASA already has, to help support local CASA programs to focus on a trauma-informed, effective way to build connections for youth in PMC. While this site is broken into resources and tasks by age groups, the information can be used at any time and for any older youth in foster care, particularly those in PMC.
Explore Portal
Aging Out of Foster Care Resource in English and Spanish
The Texas Foster Youth Justice Project has created a resource for youth aging out of foster care informing youth about their rights to benefits both in the transitory period and after aging out of foster care. The resource is available in both English and Spanish below. Aging Out of Foster Care Benefits-English Aging Out of Foster Care Benefits- Spanish
Understanding the Roles in a CPS Case
Texas CASA partnered with the Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission to develop five handouts and accompanying videos, which help explain the role of each of the professionals in a Child Protective Services (CPS) case to individuals, such as parents, children and youth and kinship caregivers who are involved with the Department of Family and Protective Services in some way. … Read More
CFE Tracking in Optima
Using Optima, programs can now track CFE related activities following the 4 C’s: Collaborate, Cultivate, Convene and Connect. Understanding the Full Case Approach to CFE and How to Track in Optima View Now CFE Funding CFE Funding Overview Document View Now CFE Funding PowerPoint View Now *Update: please note the updated amount available for CFE funding in FY25 is $612,500, … Read More
ODM Lightning Setup Instructions
Salesforce is transitioning to Salesforce Lightning, a newly designed platform. CASA staff logging on to the ODM will need to follow the instructions in the ODM Lightning Setup document to transition to the new platform. Questions can be directed to Database Administrator Suzanne Alston at SAlston@texascasa.org. view now