Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) have announced the removal of 195 administrative rules, which represents a reduction of 75% in regulatory requirements for kinship foster families. The change is intended to make it easier for relatives to become foster parents while maintaining protections for children.
“Serving as a foster parent is an invaluable way to provide a loving home for a child,” said Governor Abbott. “When we eliminate burdensome and unnecessary rules and regulations so children can stay with their families through kinship foster care, we put those children on the best path forward. Texas will continue to prioritize children in need by removing bureaucratic red tape to keep them with their families.”
First Lady Cecilia Abbott added, “When we work together to put children first, we see amazing things happen. By eliminating the hardships on Texas families who wish to foster a child, we can see families across the state stay together and provide care for their own. I thank all Texans and state agencies for working together to remove burdens and ensure every child in Texas has the opportunity to grow and flourish.”
HHS Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young stated, “By removing unnecessary barriers, we’re helping Texans open their homes to relatives in need. These changes will give more children in foster care the opportunity to grow up in a familiar, loving environment.”
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Commissioner Audrey O’Neill noted, “Kinship families allow children in foster care to live with caring adults they know and trust. They enable a child to maintain their sense of identity and foster positive self-esteem while remaining connected to their families and communities.”
Kinship foster care places children with relatives or close family friends when parents cannot provide care, supporting family bonds and reducing trauma. The changes follow Senate Bill 593 from the 88th Texas Legislature, which directed HHSC and DFPS to review and streamline regulations for kinship foster homes.
A stakeholder group including agencies, providers, parents, and advocates contributed to reviewing existing rules. As a result of this process, only 55 essential requirements remain for kinship foster homes.
Key regulatory updates include focusing housing inspections on health and environmental safety standards; removing some training requirements; and requiring less documentation for over-the-counter medications.
The Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office will continue collaborating with HHSC, DFPS, and other agencies to further reduce regulatory burdens.
HHSC continues its role licensing child-placing agencies that verify kinship homes meet standards. The agency also conducts background checks on individuals within these homes, monitors compliance annually through random inspections, and ensures overall safety.
More information about child care regulation is available on the HHS website. Details about kinship care can be found on the DFPS website. Residents may call 2-1-1 for program information.
