Number of foster care placements declines, officials thank expanded support programs

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Officials with the state Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) say they are seeing a steady decline in the number of children and teens placed in the foster care system.

Their services even extend beyond the age of 18.

“The kids might be 18, and then the provider, the foster parent, the one who would say, ‘Okay, you’re 18 and you can leave,'” Paula Tucker said. “But we realized that wasn’t realistic for our children in care. They will need more support.”

The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 and the Supervised Independent Living Act breathed new life into the foster care system by providing support for adolescents into their young adult years.

Paula Tucker is the CEO of Boysville Children’s Home. She said health care providers are required by law to prepare teens with the services and life skills they will need to be on their own.

“Banking skills, how to take care of the house, like cleaning, doing laundry, financial matters,” she explained. “Bank accounts and all that kind of stuff is part of the law to make sure they get housing and counseling and education. All those things.”

Under these laws, assistance is available until the age of 21. But not all children who go through foster care want to stay involved in the system once they are old enough to leave.

Tucker finally said: It’s their choice.

Adding that they aren’t just “kicked out”, and that the system itself is better for it.

“The goal is to make sure that kids have what young adults…have what they need to be successful. It’s about making sure that they’re not just left on the streets to becoming homeless or becoming involved,” Tucker said.

According to DFPS, there has also been a notable decline in the number of children placed in the foster care system in San Antonio.

In 2023, 1,662 foster care placements were reported. This number is down about 300 from 2022 and almost 600 from 2021.

Tucker credits that translate into an increase in more familiar foster placements.

She said anyone interested in supporting children in foster care through Boysville or any other state organization can do so by calling that organization.

She adds that any help means a lot.