Better Futures Project Overview The Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing (TXICFW) has partnered with the Washington State University on The Better Futures Project. The Better Futures Project is… Read more »
Better Futures
Foster Care
TXICFW believes that every child in the foster care system has a right to a safe, supportive and stable home. We also believe physical permanency and relational permanency or lifelong relationships with supportive adults are key to successfully creating the highest quality of life for foster youth. The needs of youth transitioning out of foster care are unique and can be numerous. TXICFW is dedicated to creating a system of support that mentors and advocates for the needs of transitioning foster youth. Learn more about our foster care projects:
Current Projects
Foster Care Rate Modernization
Project Overview TXICFW staff is consulting with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services as they restructure foster care rates to better meet the needs of providers. For more… Read more »
Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative
Project Overview The Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI) builds relationships across child welfare and adolescent health systems to promote optimal health for child welfare-involved youth. In partnership with the… Read more »
Texas Permanency Outcomes Project (TXPOP)
Project Overview The Texas Permanency Outcomes Project (TXPOP) develops sustainable best practices utilized by child welfare agencies across Texas to connect children to their birth families, regardless of their permanency… Read more »
Safe Babies Program Evaluation
Project Overview First3Years is contracting with the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing (TXICFW) to evaluate Safe Babies, a program designed to improve outcomes for infants and toddlers in… Read more »
Texas Youth Permanency Study
The Texas Youth Permanency Study (TYPS) examines the long-term outcomes and opportunities of youth in the Texas Foster Care System. Specifically, the study seeks to understand the quality of relationships… Read more »
Family Minds: An Attachment-based Mentalizing Psycho-Educational Intervention for Foster and Adoptive Parents
Introduction David Howe, a world-renowned researcher in attachment and foster children, has stated (2006) that the most effective and impactful way to help foster children is to “work with and… Read more »
Completed Projects
30 Months of TFYHI
The 30-month report on TFYHI progress features updates on our new partners and resources for youth and practitioners across the state. The Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI) builds relationships… Read more »
How We’re Working to End Teen Dating Violence
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, dedicated to providing resources and promoting respectful relationships for all young people. The Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI) works toward… Read more »
National Angels Outcome Evaluation Report
At its core, National Angels works toward supporting foster families by establish wellbeing and resilience for children and caregivers. The Love Box Program provides a sense of community and support… Read more »
Innovation in Sexuality and Relationship Education in Child Welfare
Youth in foster care need regular and candid conversations about sexuality and relationships, our Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative project team found in a new study. Our team conducted interviews, community… Read more »
Sample Policy on Sexual Health for Child Welfare Agencies
Our team developed a sample policy on sexual health for child welfare agencies. The Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI) works with child welfare professionals, foster caregivers, and youth in… Read more »
24 Months of TFYHI
The TFYHI 24-month progress report provides a behind-the-scenes look at our work to unite child welfare and adolescent health system partners to improve health outcomes for youth in foster care,… Read more »
“It’s Better It’s Late That They Change Instead of Never”: Reconnecting with Birth Families
Throughout our Texas Youth Permanency Study (TYPS), we’ve explored relationships that are important to young people living in foster care. Our research shows how relationships with birth families and relatives… Read more »
“Just Doing What Kids My Age Would Be Doing”: Youth Share Their Views on Normalcy in Child Welfare
Normalcy in child welfare means the ability for children and teens to live as normal of a life as possible while in foster care. Normalcy can be seen as access… Read more »
Building Connections with Child-Placing Agencies in Texas
Last fall, our team at the Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI) partnered with four child-placing agencies in Texas. Each agency works directly with youth in foster care in different… Read more »
TFYHI Healthcare Provider Survey Report – Spring 2022
In 2021, the Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI) team conducted a survey on healthcare providers working with youth in foster care. We surveyed and interviewed healthcare professionals across Texas… Read more »
Healthy Relationships for Youth in Care
This Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, we’re highlighting resources on creating healthy relationships for youth in care. Learn more with new resources from the Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative. Check… Read more »
Celebrating 12 Months of TFYHI
The TFYHI 12-month progress report highlights successes from the past year and provides a sneak peek at what’s on the horizon. Over the last 12 months, the Texas Foster Youth… Read more »
National Angels Program Evaluation
Project Overview National Angels has partnered with the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing (TXICFW) to explore the impact of its services for its Austin Angels chapter. After receiving… Read more »
TFYHI 6 Month Progress Report: July – December 2020
March 4th, 2021 We are excited to share the 6-month progress report for the Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI)! As the first statewide learning community of its kind in… Read more »
Learning About Healthy Relationships
About the study Foster youth tend to interact with many people, but they have few genuine connections. Older youth are most likely to experience placement instability that impacts their ability… Read more »
The Sue Fairbanks Psychoanalytic Academy
The Sue Fairbanks Psychoanalytic Academy cultivates its study at the intersection of psychoanalysis and social work. The Academy is located within the Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing at… Read more »
SHINE: positive Sexual Health for youth IN out-of-home Environments
Youth who have experienced adversity have higher rates of adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections compared to youth in general. Those in out-of-home care may miss sexual health education in… Read more »
Spark Program
The University of Texas Spark Program wants to empower former foster youth by providing necessary support systems to attend the university! Spark serves as a resource to help students build… Read more »
Foster Care Rate Modernization
Project Overview TXICFW staff is consulting with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services as they restructure foster care rates to better meet the needs of providers. For more… Read more »
Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative
Project Overview The Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI) builds relationships across child welfare and adolescent health systems to promote optimal health for child welfare-involved youth. In partnership with the… Read more »
Texas Permanency Outcomes Project (TXPOP)
Project Overview The Texas Permanency Outcomes Project (TXPOP) develops sustainable best practices utilized by child welfare agencies across Texas to connect children to their birth families, regardless of their permanency… Read more »
Safe Babies Program Evaluation
Project Overview First3Years is contracting with the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing (TXICFW) to evaluate Safe Babies, a program designed to improve outcomes for infants and toddlers in… Read more »
Texas Youth Permanency Study
The Texas Youth Permanency Study (TYPS) examines the long-term outcomes and opportunities of youth in the Texas Foster Care System. Specifically, the study seeks to understand the quality of relationships… Read more »
Family Minds: An Attachment-based Mentalizing Psycho-Educational Intervention for Foster and Adoptive Parents
Introduction David Howe, a world-renowned researcher in attachment and foster children, has stated (2006) that the most effective and impactful way to help foster children is to “work with and… Read more »
30 Months of TFYHI
The 30-month report on TFYHI progress features updates on our new partners and resources for youth and practitioners across the state. The Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI) builds relationships… Read more »
How We’re Working to End Teen Dating Violence
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, dedicated to providing resources and promoting respectful relationships for all young people. The Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI) works toward… Read more »
National Angels Outcome Evaluation Report
At its core, National Angels works toward supporting foster families by establish wellbeing and resilience for children and caregivers. The Love Box Program provides a sense of community and support… Read more »
Innovation in Sexuality and Relationship Education in Child Welfare
Youth in foster care need regular and candid conversations about sexuality and relationships, our Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative project team found in a new study. Our team conducted interviews, community… Read more »
Sample Policy on Sexual Health for Child Welfare Agencies
Our team developed a sample policy on sexual health for child welfare agencies. The Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI) works with child welfare professionals, foster caregivers, and youth in… Read more »
24 Months of TFYHI
The TFYHI 24-month progress report provides a behind-the-scenes look at our work to unite child welfare and adolescent health system partners to improve health outcomes for youth in foster care,… Read more »
“It’s Better It’s Late That They Change Instead of Never”: Reconnecting with Birth Families
Throughout our Texas Youth Permanency Study (TYPS), we’ve explored relationships that are important to young people living in foster care. Our research shows how relationships with birth families and relatives… Read more »
“Just Doing What Kids My Age Would Be Doing”: Youth Share Their Views on Normalcy in Child Welfare
Normalcy in child welfare means the ability for children and teens to live as normal of a life as possible while in foster care. Normalcy can be seen as access… Read more »
Building Connections with Child-Placing Agencies in Texas
Last fall, our team at the Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI) partnered with four child-placing agencies in Texas. Each agency works directly with youth in foster care in different… Read more »
TFYHI Healthcare Provider Survey Report – Spring 2022
In 2021, the Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI) team conducted a survey on healthcare providers working with youth in foster care. We surveyed and interviewed healthcare professionals across Texas… Read more »
Healthy Relationships for Youth in Care
This Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, we’re highlighting resources on creating healthy relationships for youth in care. Learn more with new resources from the Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative. Check… Read more »
Celebrating 12 Months of TFYHI
The TFYHI 12-month progress report highlights successes from the past year and provides a sneak peek at what’s on the horizon. Over the last 12 months, the Texas Foster Youth… Read more »
National Angels Program Evaluation
Project Overview National Angels has partnered with the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing (TXICFW) to explore the impact of its services for its Austin Angels chapter. After receiving… Read more »
TFYHI 6 Month Progress Report: July – December 2020
March 4th, 2021 We are excited to share the 6-month progress report for the Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI)! As the first statewide learning community of its kind in… Read more »
Learning About Healthy Relationships
About the study Foster youth tend to interact with many people, but they have few genuine connections. Older youth are most likely to experience placement instability that impacts their ability… Read more »
The Sue Fairbanks Psychoanalytic Academy
The Sue Fairbanks Psychoanalytic Academy cultivates its study at the intersection of psychoanalysis and social work. The Academy is located within the Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing at… Read more »
SHINE: positive Sexual Health for youth IN out-of-home Environments
Youth who have experienced adversity have higher rates of adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections compared to youth in general. Those in out-of-home care may miss sexual health education in… Read more »
Spark Program
The University of Texas Spark Program wants to empower former foster youth by providing necessary support systems to attend the university! Spark serves as a resource to help students build… Read more »