Texas – Governor Greg Abbott, along with Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Commissioner Audrey O’Neill and Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams, announced that Texas will join the Trump Administration’s “A Home for Every Child” initiative.
The announcement comes during National Foster Care Month and is aimed at expanding access to safe and stable placements for children in the foster care system across Texas.
Governor Abbott said the initiative aligns with the state’s ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for children in foster care by increasing the availability of permanent and loving homes.
“Texas is honored to join the Trump Administration in its mission to ensure every child in foster care has a real chance at a permanent, loving home,” Abbott said. “By eliminating unnecessary rules and regulations, we will help more children find stability and hope. Together with our federal partners, we will deliver better outcomes for children in our foster care system.”
The “A Home for Every Child” initiative, launched through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families, supports federal efforts tied to an executive order focused on improving outcomes for children in foster care. The program aims to ensure that every child entering foster care has access to a licensed foster home or kinship placement, targeting a home-to-child ratio greater than 1:1 in participating states.
Officials noted that a nationwide shortage of licensed foster homes continues to create challenges for children in need of stable placements. Texas officials said the state intends to address this issue through recruitment efforts, expanded kinship care, and reduced administrative barriers for prospective foster families.
ACF Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams said the initiative is designed to strengthen partnerships between federal and state agencies while improving access to stable homes for children.
“Governor Abbott is putting the needs of Texas’ children and families first by supporting efforts to keep families together and remove unnecessary barriers that would discourage loving families from fostering,” Adams said.
DFPS Commissioner Audrey O’Neill emphasized the role of foster families in supporting children through the child welfare system and said the initiative will help strengthen those efforts.
“Joining ‘A Home for Every Child’ gives us a sharper focus and stronger federal partnership,” O’Neill said. “We will use data, reduce barriers, and invest in the families who make that possible.”
As part of the initiative, DFPS said it will focus on expanding recruitment of foster families, increasing kinship placements, strengthening family preservation services, streamlining the licensing process, and using data to improve placement matching for children.
State officials said Texas will continue working with community organizations, courts, and child welfare partners to improve foster care outcomes and reduce delays in placement.
National Foster Care Month is observed each May to raise awareness about children in foster care and the families and professionals who support them across the country.
