Best Resource for Foster-to-Adopt Families Navigating Texas CBC Regions

The best resource for a Texas family pursuing foster-to-adopt under the Community-Based Care model is one that maps which contractor operates in your specific region and explains what that means for your intake process — because in most of Texas, calling DFPS first is no longer the right move. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has transferred foster care case management to private Single Source Continuum Contractors (SSCCs) across much of the state. If you call DFPS to start a foster-to-adopt process in Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Abilene, East Texas, or the Panhandle, you will be redirected. Knowing where you actually belong before making that call saves weeks.

What the CBC Transition Means for Foster-to-Adopt Families

Texas began transitioning to Community-Based Care in 2019 and has progressively expanded the model region by region. Under this system, DFPS contracts with regional SSCCs to handle what DFPS used to manage centrally: foster care placements, case management, family matching, and in some regions, the path to adoptive placement.

The transition is not uniform. Some regions are in Stage III (full case management transferred to the SSCC). Others are in Stage I or II (placement handled by the SSCC, case management still partially with DFPS). The distinction matters for foster-to-adopt families because it determines who processes your home study, who manages matching, who you call when a placement is disrupted, and who coordinates the post-adoption transition.

Most publicly available resources — including the DFPS website — describe the overall CBC model accurately but do not explain the operational implications for a family deciding where to start their application.

The Regional Map: Who Operates Where

For families in Houston (Region 6), DFPS remains the primary case management contact — Texans Together handles placement coordination but DFPS maintains case management authority. For every other region listed above, the SSCC is now your primary contact for the foster-to-adopt process.

What "Primary Contact" Actually Means in Practice

When a region is in Stage III, the SSCC manages the entire foster-to-adopt process:

• Initial inquiry and orientation
• Dual verification (simultaneous foster parent and adoptive parent certification)
• Home study (adoption evaluation under TFC § 162.003)
• FACT fingerprint clearance coordination
• TARE matching and placement coordination
• Post-placement supervision (minimum 6 months before finalization under Texas law)
• Connection to the Texas Adoption Assistance Program for eligible children

The SSCC may contract with local sub-agencies for some of these components, but the SSCC is the entry point. Contacting DFPS directly in a Stage III region will result in a referral to the SSCC — often with a delay.

What the TARE Photolisting Does and Does Not Tell You

The Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE) is the state's public photolisting of children available for adoption. It is maintained by DFPS and remains the primary way families view waiting children — regardless of whether their region is under CBC management.

What TARE does not tell you:

• Which SSCC manages the case for a child you are interested in
• Whether the child's case is currently in the matching phase or a legal hold
• Why a child appears as "pending" (which can mean anything from a current foster placement with an adoption interest to an active appeal of parental rights termination)
• What the SSCC's intake requirements are for families who inquire through TARE

The TARE FAQ addresses some of these questions at a high level. It does not give families actionable next steps for their specific region.

Available Resources Compared

Who This Is For

• Families in any of the 8+ CBC-transitioned regions who want to know their correct first contact before making any calls
• Families who have visited the DFPS website and are confused about whether to call DFPS or a different entity
• Families interested in older children or sibling groups through TARE who want to understand the matching process before inquiring
• Foster families already licensed who want to understand how the CBC transition affects their path to adoption in their region
• Families who have heard the term "SSCC" but do not know which one serves their county

Who This Is NOT For

• Families pursuing private domestic infant adoption (the CBC model is irrelevant to private agency or independent adoption)
• Families in Houston (Region 6) where DFPS remains the primary case management authority — the DFPS process is more familiar here, though the guide covers the Houston pathway as well
• Families already working with a specific SSCC and mid-process. If you are already past orientation and in the home study phase with an SSCC, their caseworker is your best operational resource for your specific case.

The Adoption Assistance Program: What CBC Changes Here

One area where the CBC transition directly affects financial outcomes is the Adoption Assistance Program. Under DFPS, negotiation of monthly subsidy rates was handled by state caseworkers. Under SSCC management, the SSCC caseworker facilitates this negotiation — and the outcomes can vary.

Key financial supports available for children adopted through the Texas foster care system:

• Monthly subsidy payments: $400/month for Basic level of care, $545+/month for higher levels (Moderate, Specialized, Intense), negotiated based on the child's documented needs
• Non-recurring expense reimbursement: up to $1,200 per child for legal fees and court costs
• STAR Health Medicaid: continues through the child's 18th birthday after adoption
• State college tuition waiver: applies to children who were in DFPS conservatorship at time of adoption

These benefits are not automatic. They require a negotiated Adoption Assistance Agreement before finalization. Families who do not know to request this agreement — or who accept the initial offer without understanding that subsidy levels are negotiable — leave significant ongoing support on the table.

The Texas Adoption Process Guide and the CBC Map

The guide includes a dedicated CBC/SSCC regional directory with each active contractor, the counties it covers, its current transition stage, and intake contact information. It explains the dual verification process, the TARE matching procedure from the family's perspective, and the post-placement supervision requirements under Texas law.

For families who are just beginning the foster-to-adopt process in Texas, this is the chapter that prevents the most common first mistake: spending two weeks calling the wrong agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I apply to DFPS or to the SSCC if I want to foster-to-adopt in Texas?

It depends on your county. In regions where the CBC transition is complete (Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Abilene, East Texas, the Panhandle), you apply directly to the SSCC. In Houston (Region 6), you apply through DFPS or Texans Together for placement coordination. In counties not yet transitioned, DFPS is still the primary contact. The Texas Adoption Process Guide maps your first contact by region.

Can I apply to multiple SSCCs to improve my chances of matching?

No. Each SSCC serves a defined geographic region and does not share applicant pools with other SSCCs. Your application is tied to the SSCC that serves the region where you live. You can, however, indicate on TARE that you are open to children from outside your immediate county, which broadens the children whose caseworkers may contact your SSCC about your family.

What is the difference between a Stage I and Stage III CBC region for adoptive families?

In Stage III, the SSCC manages everything from initial inquiry through adoption finalization and post-adoption support. In Stage I, the SSCC handles placement coordination but DFPS retains case management. For adoptive families, the practical difference is that in Stage I regions you may be working with both the SSCC and a DFPS caseworker, while in Stage III you primarily work through the SSCC. Houston (Region 6) is currently in Stage I.

How long does the foster-to-adopt process take in Texas CBC regions?

The timeline varies significantly. After the dual verification process (home study + background clearances, typically 3 to 6 months), matching depends on the number of available children in your region and your family profile preferences. Some families wait months before a match; others receive a placement quickly. After placement, Texas law requires the child to reside with the adoptive family for a minimum of 6 months before finalization, with at least 5 post-placement supervisory visits conducted.

Does the CBC transition affect the Adoption Assistance Program benefits?

The underlying benefit structure is set by Texas DFPS regardless of which SSCC manages the case. However, the SSCC caseworker plays a significant role in the subsidy negotiation process. Families who understand the subsidy tiers and the negotiability of the Adoption Assistance Agreement before entering those conversations tend to achieve better outcomes. The guide includes the current subsidy tier structure and guidance on the negotiation process.

Is the TARE photolisting still useful now that the CBC has changed case management?

Yes. TARE remains the primary public photolisting for children in Texas foster care, regardless of which entity manages their case. It is the right place to view waiting children. What TARE does not tell you is what happens after you express interest — the next steps depend on which SSCC or DFPS region manages that child's case and what their intake process is for families seeking to be matched.

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