Texas Senate Bill SB769

Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

Caption

Relating to the establishment of a pilot program to provide specialized training to foster parents of certain children.

Impact

The proposed pilot program will be implemented in counties with populations exceeding 1.5 million and located within 200 miles of an international border. This strategic focus aims to serve areas where there may be a greater concentration of at-risk children needing specialized care. Evaluating the pilot program is mandated to occur two years post-establishment, with findings and recommendations being reported to key state officials, including the governor and legislative leaders, ensuring accountability and assessment of the program’s effectiveness.

Summary

SB769 aims to establish a pilot program for providing specialized training to foster parents of children who have faced trauma or have significant mental health needs. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services will oversee this program, with the goal of enhancing the care provided by foster parents through targeted and effective training. The program is intended to be coordinated as part of community-based services reflective of the Wraparound individualized planning process, which is a framework for creating comprehensive and individualized care plans for children in foster care.

Contention

While the bill received broad support in legislative voting, potential points of contention may arise concerning funding and resource allocation. Critics might raise concerns about whether existing state resources are adequate to support the specialized training program or if additional funding will be required. Furthermore, debates could emerge regarding the long-term viability of the program following its initial pilot phase, including whether lessons learned from the evaluation will lead to sustained funding or expansion across the state.