EMPOWER, under the leadership of Texas Family Initiative LLC and in partnership with various local providers, has expanded its role in the child welfare sector by taking on foster care case management, kinship, and reunification services in the Metroplex East region. This move comes after entering Stage II of the Community-Based Care (CBC) contract with the State of Texas, beginning March 1, 2024. This initiative covers a nine-county area in North Texas, aiming to improve the well-being, safety, and permanency of children and their families within these communities.

The CBC model is noteworthy for its use of local nonprofits to manage out-of-home placements and case management services, prioritizing keeping children close to their home environments. EMPOWER's work has led to all children referred by the state being placed in licensed placements since September 1, 2023, marking a significant improvement in the region's foster care system. This effort aligns with the goal of nearly 2,000 foster children currently in the Metroplex East region needing supportive and safe homes. The initiative is part of a larger push to educate and involve the community in foster care, underlining the critical need for more foster homes.

“Our team is committed to the safety and well-being of children and families in Metroplex East and we are dedicated to providing them with the best care available,” says Dr. Linda Garcia, Senior Vice President of EMPOWER. “We will also continue to educate our local communities on the crucial role foster parents play to fill the significant need for more foster homes.”

Wednesday's Child
 

WFAA and EMPOWER partner to spotlight children in hopes that one day a child's wish of a "forever family" will come true.

EMPOWER in the News

EMPOWER takes over the Texas foster care system. What does this mean?

On March 1st, EMPOWER officially launched Stage II and inaugurated our Dallas office, welcoming all our new staff with open doors. Throughout the preceding months, our team has worked tirelessly daily to ensure the success of Stage II's launch. The launch was a great success thanks to their dedication and hard work leading to March 1st.

Our leadership team went above and beyond to ensure that everything was in place for their teams to hit the ground running! Additionally, our IT department played a pivotal role in the success of the Stage II launch. They made onboarding our new staff a breeze! We express our heartfelt gratitude to all our staff members for their indispensable roles in this achievement!

Brittney Pearson

VP, Permanency Services

"Brittney has demonstrated exceptional qualities that makes her a star team player. She is reliable and dependable. Brittney has been proactive in her current role and has been a big piece to the puzzle while prepping for the transition. Brittney stands out!”

Suzanne Arnold

VP, Permanency 

"We are thrilled to welcome Susanne to the EMPOWER family," said Dr. Linda Garcia, Senior VP of EMPOWER "Her deep understanding of child welfare issues and her strong connections within the community will be invaluable assets as we work towards our shared goal of empowering and supporting those in need.".