Bill Text: TX HB118 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 2nd Special Session | Introduced

Texas House Bill 118 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to foster parent recruitment.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-08-09 - Filed [HB118 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB118-Introduced.html

	87S20188 MCK-D

	By: Jetton	H.B. No. 118



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to foster parent recruitment.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 264.113, Family Code, is amended to read
	as follows:
	Sec. 264.113. FOSTER PARENT RECRUITMENT. (a) In this
	section, "faith-based organization" means a religious or
	denominational institution or organization, including an
	organization operated for religious, educational, or charitable
	purposes and operated, supervised, or controlled, in whole or in
	part, by or in connection with a religious organization.
	(b) The department shall develop a foster parent
	recruitment program to educate residents of this state about the
	foster care system and the need for foster parents.
	(b-1) As part of the foster parent recruitment program, the
	department shall recruit and retain foster parents from faith-based
	organizations. The [~~As part of the program, the~~] department shall:
	(1) collaborate with faith-based organizations to
	inform prospective foster parents about the department's need for
	foster parents, the requirements for becoming a foster parent, and
	any other aspect of the foster care program that is necessary to
	recruit foster parents;
	(2) provide training for prospective foster parents
	recruited under this section; and
	(3) identify and recommend ways in which faith-based
	organizations may support persons as they are recruited, are
	trained, and serve as foster parents.
	(c) The department shall work with OneStar Foundation to
	expand the foster parent recruitment program [~~described by~~
	~~Subsection (b)~~] to increase the number of foster families available
	for the department and its private providers. In cooperation with
	the department, OneStar Foundation may provide training and
	technical assistance to establish networks and services in
	faith-based organizations based on best practices for supporting
	prospective and current foster families.
	(d) The department shall work with the Health and Human
	Services Commission [~~Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative~~
	~~Services~~] to recruit foster parents and adoptive parents who have
	skills, training, or experience suitable to care for children with
	hearing impairments.
	(e) The department shall collaborate with foster and
	adoptive parents to develop and implement a foster parent
	recruitment plan. The plan must:
	(1) identify geographic areas in this state in need of
	foster parents using risk stratification modeling or risk
	assessments of geographic areas with higher occurrences of child
	abuse and neglect or child fatalities;
	(2) use data analysis, social media, partnerships with
	faith-based and volunteer organizations, and other recruitment
	strategies, including targeted and child-focused recruitment;
	(3) identify the number of available foster parents
	for children with increased needs for therapy or treatment in order
	to expand the use of therapeutic or treatment foster care for
	children in those placements;
	(4) require the provision of:
	(A) quality customer service to prospective
	foster and adoptive parents and to foster and adoptive parents; and
	(B) assistance to prospective foster parents
	with the certification and placement process;
	(5) include strategies for increasing the number of
	kinship providers;
	(6) include strategies to ensure that children in
	foster care are not required to transfer schools after entering
	foster care, unless transferring is in the child's best interest;
	and
	(7) include programs to support foster and adoptive
	families, including programs that provide training, respite care,
	and peer assistance.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
	last day of the legislative session.