How to Navigate the Texas CBC SSCC Transition as a New Foster Parent

If you have tried to start the Texas foster care licensing process and found yourself unsure whether to contact DFPS or a different office, you have run into one of the most confusing aspects of the current Texas system: the Community-Based Care (CBC) transition.

Here is the direct answer: in CBC catchment areas, a regional Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) coordinates foster-care services for new applicants, while private Child-Placing Agencies may handle the home-study and verification work. Which regional entry point covers your county — and exactly what that means for your application — is not explained clearly in any free public resource.

This page explains the CBC structure, what it means for new applicants in 2026, and how to find out who handles licensing in your specific region.

What Community-Based Care Is and Why It Exists

Texas Community-Based Care is a legislative initiative that shifts foster-care service coordination from DFPS — a state agency — to regional nonprofit contractors who manage placement and, in later stages, additional case and kinship services within a defined geographic area. Home verification may still be handled through a private Child-Placing Agency. The theory is that regional contractors, embedded in local communities, can build better family support networks and reduce the caseload strain on state workers.

In practice, this means the entity responsible for licensing you as a foster parent varies by county. In some Texas counties, it is still DFPS. In others, it is an SSCC. In CBC regions, if you contact DFPS first, you will often be told to contact the SSCC — after a delay that could have been avoided.

The Current CBC Map (2026)

Regions not yet converted to full CBC remain under direct DFPS licensing management, though CPAs in those regions still handle the day-to-day licensing work.

Why This Creates Problems for New Applicants

You might contact the wrong office first. Calling DFPS in a CBC region often results in a referral to the SSCC — sometimes immediately, sometimes after an extended wait while the DFPS worker figures out your region. Starting with the right office saves weeks.

The SSCC does not replace CPAs. Within CBC regions, the SSCC may oversee a network of Child-Placing Agencies. You may work with a CPA for your home study, training, and verification. The SSCC is the regional coordinator, not necessarily your day-to-day service provider. Understanding the DFPS/SSCC/CPA relationship is important for knowing who to call about what.

EMPOWER receivership created disruption. In March 2026, EMPOWER, the Region 3E SSCC serving Dallas, Collin, and Rockwall counties, entered state-appointed receivership after safety and operational concerns. New applicants in that region should confirm the current intake channel and their CPA's operational status before beginning an application.

Training requirements and provider networks vary by region. CBC regions sometimes have different approved training providers and may use different online platforms than DFPS-direct regions. The orientation you receive from an SSCC-managed CPA may differ from DFPS orientation materials in both content and format.

Who This Is For

• Prospective foster parents in Dallas, Collin, Rockwall, Bexar, Harris, or other CBC counties trying to figure out where to start
• Applicants who have already contacted DFPS and been redirected, and want to understand the structure before making their next call
• People moving to Texas who want to understand whether their new county is CBC-covered before initiating an application
• Anyone who has read that "DFPS licenses foster parents" and is confused about why the DFPS office in their area is not answering licensing questions

Who This Is NOT For

• Foster parents already matched with an SSCC and actively progressing through the licensing process (at that point, your assigned licensing worker is the right contact)
• Residents in non-CBC regions (most of rural Texas and smaller metro areas) where DFPS still manages licensing directly
• Families pursuing independent adoption rather than foster care licensing

Step-by-Step: How to Navigate the CBC System

Step 1: Determine whether your county is in a CBC region. Use your home address and county, not your workplace or nearest major city. The regions listed above cover the principal CBC areas. If your county is not listed, confirm its status with DFPS or a licensed CPA before applying.

Step 2: If you are in a CBC region, contact the regional SSCC or its intake partner. Contact the relevant SSCC or ask DFPS for the current intake channel, then ask to be connected with a licensed CPA operating in your area.

Step 3: Request a CPA list and compare options. SSCCs maintain a list of CPAs operating within their region. You have the right to choose your CPA. Compare based on training schedule flexibility, communication style, any religious affiliation, and experience with the type of placements you are considering.

Step 4: Once assigned to a CPA, confirm your licensing worker contact. If you are in Region 3E and are concerned about the EMPOWER receivership, ask directly which current contract your CPA operates under and confirm your assigned licensing worker is current staff.

Step 5: Proceed through standard licensing steps. Background checks, home study, pre-service training, and home inspection follow the same Chapter 749 standards regardless of whether you are in a CBC or non-CBC region.

Tradeoffs of the Current System

The CBC model, at full maturity, should provide better-coordinated regional services. In practice, 2026 is a transitional period. Some regions have mature SSCC operations with clear intake processes. Others are still establishing workflows, and applicants in those areas experience more variability in their experience.

The upside for new applicants is that SSCCs, when functioning well, provide more localized support and maintain closer relationships with CPAs than centralized DFPS operations did. The downside is that you cannot always predict which situation you will encounter until you make contact.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I live in a CBC county, does DFPS have any role in my licensing?

DFPS retains oversight and policy authority over all Texas foster care, including CBC regions. The day-to-day application work may run through an SSCC and an assigned CPA, while DFPS remains an official source for requirements, referrals, and regulatory issues.

What is an SSCC and how is it different from a CPA?

An SSCC (Single Source Continuum Contractor) is the regional nonprofit that holds the CBC contract with DFPS and manages an array of foster-care services in a defined geographic area. A CPA (Child-Placing Agency) is an agency that may recruit, train, and verify foster families within that structure. Your day-to-day contact is often the CPA, but the exact arrangement depends on the region.

What happened with EMPOWER and should I be worried?

EMPOWER is the Region 3E SSCC serving Dallas, Collin, and Rockwall counties. It entered state-appointed receivership in March 2026 after safety and operational concerns. New applicants in the affected region can still seek current intake information, but should confirm their CPA's current contract status.

Is there a public lookup tool to find my SSCC by zip code?

Not currently. DFPS does not maintain a publicly accessible zip-code-to-SSCC tool. This is one of the primary practical gaps in free Texas foster care resources. The Texas Foster Care Licensing Guide includes a region-by-region directory organized by county that covers this.

Can I apply to a CPA in a different region if I prefer their services?

Generally, your CPA must operate in the region where you live. SSCCs manage distinct geographic areas, and CPAs are contracted within specific regions. You choose among CPAs within your SSCC's network.

Is there a free starting resource?

Yes. The Texas Foster Care Quick-Start Checklist is available at no cost and includes a first-contact checklist that identifies whether you are in a CBC region and who to contact first.

Understanding whether your county falls under CBC — and which SSCC manages it — is the single most important first step for new applicants in Texas's largest counties. The Texas Foster Care Licensing Guide includes the full regional directory and covers what to expect from each SSCC's intake process.

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