2INgage Celebrates Community-Based Care Successes
Wichita Falls, TX – The safety and well-being of Texas children is of the utmost importance. 2INgage, the Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works diligently each day to strengthen children and families and meet the needs of foster children in Region 2, a 30-county area including Abilene to Wichita Falls.
As a community-based, community-focused organization, 2INgage utilizes local trauma-informed support systems to help families and help children reach permanency as quickly as possible. As soon as it is safe for a child to return home or be adopted, 2Ingage ensures timely permanency. 2Ingage currently has an average case length of 632 days for paid foster care, compared to the statewide average of 752 days.
One recent example illustrates this perfectly. A family with four children became involved with Child Protective Services (CPS) and the children were placed in foster care. Immediately, the parents began participating in services. They went above and beyond to ensure they took all the necessary steps to get their children back. With the help of their 2INgage Case Manager, they established action plans to help address and avoid future problems should they arise, and they learned about the importance of having a support system. In less than a year, the children were able to return home to their parents.
This story is one example of how 2INgage works diligently to best serve Texas children and families. Community-Based Care has made a significant difference for our community’s children and families. Below are a few additional key successes from this past year:
Keeping Kids in Texas
2INgage believes kids from Texas should stay in Texas. As such, we have one of the lowest numbers of children placed in congregate care in other states. Additionally, 2INgage has not had a child without placement (CWOP) in over two years. Kids are in their home state, in safe placements, where they need to be. (April 2021 – April 2023)
Placing Children with Relatives
2INgage is a leader when it comes to providing safe kinship placements. Over the past two fiscal years, 2INgage has seen an increase in the number of children being placed with a relative or kin, from 47% to 57%, in the first 60 days in care. Kinship placements are vitally important because kinship placements have been proven to help improve the overall well-being of children and helps them reach permanency faster. (FY 21 to FY 23 year-to-date)
Additional Successes
- 2INgage is committed to ensuring youth who are able to reach permanency with a family are prepared to live independently. 2INgage currently leads the state in Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) with a 95% completion rate, compared to the statewide average of 90%. (DFPS FY 2023 year-to-date)
- 2INgage has not had a child without placement in over two years. This means kids are in safe placements, where they need to be (April 2021 to FY 24 year-to-date).
- While many regions in Texas are seeing a decrease in the number of siblings being placed together, 2INgage has seen an overall increase in the number of siblings being placed together, from 63% to 65% (DFPS FY19 to DFPS FY22 AVERAGES).
To learn more about 2INgage or about how you can make a difference in the life of a child by becoming a foster parent, please visit www.weneedmorefosterparents.com.
*Identifying information changed to protect the anonymity of the children.
2INgage is a unique partnership between Texas Family Initiative LLC and New Horizons Inc. that works together to serve some of our most vulnerable children and families. This partnership has combined child welfare experience of more than 95 years and will further our community’s pursuit of caring for our children and families with integrity and success. To learn more, please visit www.2ingage.org.
