About The Foster Crisis - South Texas Alliance

About The Crisis

We have more abused and neglected children than we have families willing to serve them.

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE IN CRISIS

Our Community

Region 8 of Texas includes:

Children are confirmed victims of abuse and neglect in our community each year

Total Number in Foster Care

Are in Kinship

Are in Emergency Shelters

Are in Residential Treatment

Are Waiting For Adoption

THE CRISIS

The Reality Is . . .

We have more abused and neglected children than we have individuals, churches, and businesses mobilized to serve them. The Alliance is working to solve this crisis by addressing the problem at its roots.

Not everyone will do the same thing, but everyone can do something.
Jennifer Smith, Executive Director

Through preventing family breakdown, protecting and providing for those impacted by the system, we can help break the foster care crisis cycle.

In Region 8 of Texas

6% of churches in our community have foster/adopt ministries
50% of foster families quit within the first year of fostering due to lack of support
39% of siblings end up separated, children are placed in facilities instead of families
47% of children who leave foster care, return within 5 years

Outcomes:

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

Together, We Can Make a Difference

There is a solution – the local church! The Alliance fills the gap between the under-accessed church community and overburdened foster care system by weaving together a network of local resources and experts to support children, families and the care community teams serving them. The Alliance will help our community care for our kids!

STABILIZE FAMILIES AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES

We can reduce the risk of abuse and neglect in families, and prevent children from entering the foster care system.

Many families and single parent homes are one traumatic event away from being swept into the foster system. Job loss, domestic violence, drug addiction, illness and unplanned pregnancy are all factors that often lead to families at risk of entering the foster system.

47% of Texans are victims of domestic violence

30-60% of child abuse victims subsequently abuse their children

50% higher rate of teen pregnancy

57,000 grandparents are raising grandkids in Region 8 (Bexar, Comal and surrounding counties).

KEEP KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY

Every year, hundreds of children and youth are moved out of our region and often separated from siblings due to lack of foster families.

We have more abused and neglected children in our community than we have safe and loving families who are trained, equipped and supported to serve them.

Though we have over 1,200 churches in our region, less than 6% have intentional efforts dedicated to this crisis. Children move an average of 2-6 times until permanency, and face greater trauma from losing healthy relationships with relatives, teachers and friends. This can make visits with family sporadic and challenging due to distance.

116 children per month in our region sleep in emergency shelters.

1,136 children in our region are legally free and waiting to be adopted. Meet some here.

5% children 9 years and older have less than 5% chance of being adopted

612 days in care before permanency.

EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING!

Healthy, supported foster, adoptive and kinship families are able to devote the time, energy and resources needed to help children heal.

We know from a robust body of research that a family environment improves healing, promotes normalcy in childhood and models healthy family life for children. Supporting those who serve abused and neglected children 24/7 is life-giving and critical to the child’s or youth’s healing process.

With the community’s support, this is also the most cost-effective solution. Without support, roughly 50% of foster families quit after their first year often leading to children moving homes on average 2-6 times before permanency and costing the state three times more to house children in facilities. Together with The Alliance, you and your church can help solve this problem.