A Letter from Leadership

June was Reunification Month, and we proudly honored our mission by celebrating the many ways we work to strengthen families, not just in June, but throughout the year.

Several of our staff members participated in the annual Reunification Meeting with other Single Source Continuum Contractors (SSCCs) across Texas, held in Conroe. Together, we shared successful reunification strategies and collaborated on solutions to overcome common barriers.

We’re excited to share that our Quarter 3 outcomes showed significant improvements across several key performance areas. Clear signs that we’re moving in the right direction.

Among our recent initiatives:

Sibling Bond Campaign: Focused on reunifying siblings separated in care.
Home County Reunification Efforts: Helping youth placed over 50 miles from their home county return to familiar communities.
Solution-Based Casework: We launched the first phase of this model, which emphasizes early engagement and family-centered planning.

Whether reunifying youth with their parents, siblings or extended family, every step we take strengthens the family unit. We remain committed to our mission and deeply appreciate your continued support of our efforts.

Brittney Pearson

Vice President of Permanency, EMPOWER

At EMPOWER, we’re proud to highlight organizations that go above and beyond to support children and families in foster care. This month, we’re shining a light on Embrace Texas, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that every child has a loving, stable home.

For nearly two decades, Embrace Texas has provided life-changing programs to vulnerable children and their caregivers. Through the generosity of volunteers, partner churches and community supporters, Embrace offers services at no cost, helping foster and adoptive families thrive.

Their work includes:

Respite care and support groups for foster parents
Training and mentorship for caregivers
Support for teens aging out of foster care
Foster supply closets with essentials like beds, clothing and toys

Embrace is also known for stepping in during critical moments—like helping youth in detention find permanent, loving families. Their commitment to walking alongside children and caregivers is a powerful example of compassion in action.

We’re grateful for the impact Embrace Texas continues to make in our community.

To learn more, visit embracetexas.org.

Texas Child-Centered Care (T3C) Updates

The Texas Child-Centered Care (T3C) initiative continues to make strong progress in transforming the foster care system to better meet the individual needs of children.

As of this month, over 15% of the state’s foster care population is now in T3C placements, according to DFPS. This milestone surpasses the benchmark set by DFPS and reflects the initiative’s momentum—ahead of schedule.

DFPS is actively receiving and processing new credentialing applications daily and the full application is now available on the T3C website for providers interested in participating.

These developments mark a significant step forward in the journey toward full implementation by September 2027. We’ll continue to share updates as more providers join the effort and as services expand to better support children and families across Texas.

To learn more about T3C, visit DFPS - How does T3C Work?.

Keaira Jones

Permanency Support Worker

“Keaira consistently goes above and beyond to support her colleagues and the children we serve. Whether it’s stepping in to assist with transportation across programs or volunteering for extra supervision shifts, she’s always the first to raise her hand. Her reliability and willingness to help make her an invaluable part of our team. What truly sets Keaira apart is her unwavering positivity and the way she treats every child in our care with love, respect and compassion. She approaches her work with the mindset that every child deserves to feel seen, supported and safe, and she never hesitates to go the extra mile to make that happen. Keaira, your commitment to this mission and your joyful spirit inspires us all. Thank you for everything you do!,” - Ariel D. Jones, EMPOWER Director of Permanency Services.

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Placement Stability Team🙏

We’re thrilled to spotlight our incredible Placement Stability Team—a true example of excellence, collaboration and heart.

Since its launch, this team has embodied our mission with unwavering dedication. Remarkably, the team has experienced zero turnover (aside from a well-earned promotion!), a testament to the strong foundation and shared commitment they’ve built together.

Their work is not only consistent and impactful—it’s deeply personal. Each member brings years of experience, insight and a collaborative spirit that drives real, lasting change for children and families.

May 2025 Performance Snapshot:

🗓️ 84 Meetings Held
📋 34 Active Discharge Notices Monitored
🚨 3 Emergency Meetings Facilitated
🏡 53 Placements Stabilized 🎉
🌱 3 Thrive Referrals Submitted
👨‍👩‍👧 8 Sibling Group Referrals – 5 Successfully Stabilized

These numbers speak volumes. The Placement Stability Team is not only managing a high volume of work—they’re doing it with excellence, ensuring children remain safely placed and supported through every transition.

Child Abuse Prevention Month💙

Throughout April, EMPOWER staff proudly participated in Child Abuse Prevention Month events across Texas—standing united in our mission to protect and uplift every child.

From Wear Blue Day to county-wide proclamations in Dallas, Hunt, Kaufman, Ellis and Plano, our team showed up in full force to raise awareness, advocate for change and honor the resilience of children and families.

Dressed in blue, we joined community leaders, government officials and partner agencies to amplify one powerful message: every child deserves to feel safe, supported and loved.

These events were more than symbolic, they were a call to action. With every proclamation read and every voice raised, we moved closer to a future where children can thrive without fear.

Though April has ended, our commitment to prevention and protection continues every day.

Swing Into Action Golf Tournament ⛳

In May, we had an incredible day on the green at the Swing Into Action Golf Tournament, where our amazing sponsors, supporters and staff came together to raise $13,000 for the children we serve!

From friendly competition to heartfelt conversations, the event was filled with energy, generosity and a shared commitment to making a difference. Every swing, every sponsor and every contribution brought us closer to a brighter future for kids in care.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated, donated and helped make this event such a success. Together, we’re swinging into action for a stronger, more supportive future for children and families.

Child to Family Connection Night💜

In June, the EMPOWER Adoptions Team, in partnership with our friends at Embrace Texas, hosted a truly heartwarming Child to Family Connection event and the impact is still resonating.

The evening celebrated 32 incredible children currently waiting to be adopted, each honored in a deeply personal way. Thanks to Embrace’s generous table sponsors, every child had a table filled with their favorite things, from superheroes to sparkles, creating a space that felt joyful, thoughtful and full of love.

Our dedicated Permanency and CASA staff shared each child’s story with prospective adoptive families, creating meaningful connections and planting seeds of hope. The result? 78% of the children featured received at least one inquiry from a potential adoptive family, bringing 25 children one step closer to finding their forever home.

A heartfelt thank you to our EMPOWER Adoptions Team, the Embrace team and all the staff who poured their hearts into making this event unforgettable. Your commitment to connection and permanency is what makes this work so powerful.

Wednesday's Child

"He just needs to be loved": 9-year-old Zachary seeks loving parents and a forever home.

EMPOWER in the News

Katy Trail Weekly:

Road Becomes Easier For Foster Parenting