Austin – Foster Care Reform efforts continue in Texas, as the Texas legislature is currently considering Senate Bill 11, a legislative package outlining substantial changes to the way the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) cares for the state’s foster children. In keeping with their mission to protect children, the Bair Foundation is advocating for its passage. Bair Foundation representatives attended the February 1 advocacy day organized by the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services and a hearing held by the Health and Human Services Committee on February 2. They personally met with legislators in Austin to make their voice heard. Dr. Susan Miklos, Executive Director, and Glenna Bilberry, State Director, emphasized that this bill addresses a variety of critical concerns in the current foster care system, provides increased continuity of care for children and families, and will create a triage assessmentsystem to get appropriate services to high needs children more quickly.
The Bair Foundation has been a voice for child protection and advocacy since its founding in 1967. With six offices in Texas, Bair provides quality care to the most vulnerable of Texas citizens. For more information about The Bair Foundation or how to become a foster parent, see the website http://www.bair.org.
PHOTO CAPTION: Glenna Bilberry, State Director; Destiny Olson, Austin Recruiter; Kevin and Jenny Langford, foster parents; Dr. Susan Miklos, Executive Director; and Miranda Bryant, Austin Director of Social Services