“I’m on a quest to find the formula for success for children and youth in foster care, and I know that TXICFW will make enormous contributions in improving the foster care experience.”
Tymothy Belseth is the Spark Coordinator with the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing. Tymothy is passionate about foster care and the challenges older youth face transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. He was previously an internal advocate with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and worked to elevate youth voice. He also facilitated youth leadership councils and empowered youth to advocate for change at the legislative level.
Tymothy also performs consultative services for states and child welfare organizations. In this work, he helps organizations understand the importance of youth voice and how to implement it to improve the foster care experience. He graduated summa cum laude from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 2012. He earned a master’s degree in political science from Texas State University in 2016.
tymothy.belseth@austin.utexas.edu
Current Projects
Publications
- Ball, B., Sevillano, L., Faulkner, M. & Belseth, T. (2021). Agency, genuine support, and emotional connection: Experiences that promote relational permanency in foster care. Children and Youth Services Review(121). DOI: 10.1080/15548732.2020.1850602.
- Mejia Lutz, E. (2016, November 13). Texas foster youth struggle to get college degrees. Texas Tribune.
Reports
- National Angels Outcome Evaluation Report
- A New Model for Promoting Wellbeing in Child Welfare: Prioritizing Relational Permanency, Normalcy, and Competency
- National Angels Process Evaluation Report
- Helping Youth in Care Feel Connected and Empowered
- TYPS Pilot Study Findings: March 2018
- The Texas Youth Permanency Study Pilot Study Report is now available!
Blogs
- New Network Will Connect Former Foster Youth With Workforce Resources (March 24, 2026)
- Congratulations to Graduating UT Spark Students! (May 7, 2025)
- “Real People With Real Stories”: An Interview on the Adoption Experience (June 11, 2024)
- New TXICFW study published on what makes youth in foster care feel supported and connected to the adults in their lives (January 14, 2021)
- Legal Permanency Is Not Always Permanent (November 6, 2017)
- Foster Youth Voices Matter: The Texas Youth Permanency Study (TYPS) (February 27, 2017)
- TXICFW welcomes new research coordinator, Tymothy Belseth (October 6, 2016)