Foster Care in Dallas, Texas: Navigating Region 3E in 2026

Families trying to become foster parents in the Dallas-Collin-Rockwall area in 2026 are navigating the most complicated regional situation in the Texas foster care system right now. The Single Source Continuum Contractor for Region 3E — the organization that was supposed to be the region's CBC anchor — is under state receivership. Two infants died in placements connected to its network. The organization's leadership has been replaced by a state-appointed receiver.

This is not a reason to give up on fostering in Dallas. It is a reason to understand your options before you make your first call.

What Happened With EMPOWER

EMPOWER was awarded the SSCC contract for Region 3E (covering Dallas, Collin, and Rockwall counties) as part of the CBC rollout. In early 2026, two infants in foster care placements managed under EMPOWER's oversight died. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services placed EMPOWER under receivership in March 2026, with George Cannata appointed as the state receiver to stabilize operations.

The receivership means DFPS has stepped in to ensure the organization continues operating and that children in care are not displaced. It does not mean EMPOWER's license was revoked or that foster families currently verified through its network are in an undefined status. The receiver's mandate is continuity and safety improvement, not shutdown.

What it does mean for prospective applicants: the SSCC you'd be entering in Region 3E is currently operating under state oversight, with ongoing remediation of whatever processes failed. That's a legitimate consideration when choosing how to enter the system.

Your Practical Options in Dallas

Option 1: Apply Through a Private CPA

This is the most straightforward path for Dallas-area applicants right now. Private Child-Placing Agencies (CPAs) have always operated in the Dallas area, and they continue to operate in Region 3E regardless of the EMPOWER situation. CPAs license and support foster families, and their placements route through the SSCC (or directly through DFPS during the receivership period).

Established CPAs operating in or near Dallas include:

• Arrow Child and Family Ministries — operates across Texas with a significant DFW presence
• ACH Child and Family Services — Fort Worth-based but serves the Metroplex broadly
• Pathways Youth and Family Services — North Texas focus, includes training and placement support
• Upbring (Lutheran Social Services of the South) — statewide reach with Metroplex placements

These agencies have their own intake, training, and caseworker support structures. They interface with DFPS and the SSCC for placement matching, but your primary relationship is with the CPA, not with EMPOWER.

Faith-based organizations in Dallas are also significant: Watermark Community Church runs one of the largest foster care and adoption ministries in North Texas, partnered with specific CPAs. If you're connected to DFW faith communities, ask your church's ministry which CPA they work with.

Option 2: Contact EMPOWER Directly Under the Receiver

If you're committed to the SSCC path, you can contact Region 3E's operations through the receivership structure. The receiver has maintained operations, and families are being licensed and placed. The risk is that administrative processes may be slower or more variable while the organization is in remediation.

Contact DFPS's CBC communications for current Region 3E intake information rather than going to EMPOWER's pre-receivership website.

Applying Through a CPA: The Standard Process

Whether you choose Arrow, ACH, Pathways, or another Dallas-area CPA, the application process follows state standards under TAC Chapter 749:

Eligibility: Age 21+, self-sufficient income (independently of the foster care stipend), any marital status, renters or owners.

Background checks: FACT system — FBI fingerprint through IdentoGO, Texas criminal history, CANS, sex offender registry. Get the six-digit Service Code from your CPA before scheduling at IdentoGO. Using the wrong code routes your prints to the wrong DFPS division and costs $38.54 to repeat. Out-of-state checks apply if you've lived outside Texas in the past two to five years.

Training: CPAs in Dallas typically use PRIDE or proprietary curricula, requiring 30–50 hours of pre-service training across several weeks of evening or weekend sessions.

Home inspection: Physical safety check per TAC Chapter 749. Specific items that trip up Dallas-area applicants most often:

• Pool fencing: Four-sided, 48 inches minimum, self-closing/self-latching gates. The pool must be fenced away from the house, not using the house wall as one side of the enclosure.
• Firearms: Locked storage, ammunition stored separately in a second locked location.
• Medications: All prescriptions and OTC medications in a locked box or cabinet.

Timeline: Three to six months from initial inquiry to verification in normal conditions. Expect possible variation in Region 3E given the receivership situation.

Dallas's Faith and Community Foster Network

DFW has one of the strongest church-based foster care ecosystems in the state. Watermark Community Church's foster care ministry — connected to CPAs through its community programs — has placed hundreds of families into the licensing pipeline. Prestonwood Baptist Church runs similar initiatives. These networks provide peer support, emergency childcare, and practical community backing that makes the foster care experience more sustainable.

If you're affiliated with a church that has a foster care or adoption ministry, that community is one of your strongest assets. The church connection doesn't replace the CPA licensing process, but it provides the support infrastructure around it.

What Dallas-Area Children Need

The north Texas foster care population includes children of all ages, but the highest-need placements are consistently teenagers (13–17) and sibling groups. Dallas Independent School District and surrounding districts have experience with foster care students through their McKinney-Vento liaisons, and school continuity is a significant focus — state law prefers that children remain in their school of origin when possible, which means foster families who can provide transportation flexibility are more likely to receive referrals for older children.

Children with behavioral health needs — trauma-related behavioral challenges, ADHD, anxiety, depression — make up a significant portion of the Dallas caseload. Families willing to take children at the Mental & Behavioral Health service level under T3C receive higher pass-through reimbursements (approximately $59.57/day) to reflect the additional demands.

Connecting to Support in Region 3E

The Texas Foster Family Association maintains a regional resource directory specific to North Texas. The TFFA connects Resource Families with peer support, advocacy, and training resources independent of the SSCC structure — which is particularly valuable during a period of regional instability.

For a clear picture of which CPA is right for your household, what to ask at your first intake meeting, and how to prepare your home for the inspection checklist, the Texas Foster Care Licensing Guide includes the Region 3E situation in detail, alongside practical CPA evaluation criteria and the complete inspection standards under TAC Chapter 749.

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