AUSTIN, Texas — Texas foster care providers are sending more children outside their home regions despite a 2017 shift to privatized, community-based care, according to a new analysis of state data, as officials and advocates cite limited local resources and increasingly complex cases as key factors.
Data reviewed by the Texas Tribune shows that about one in three children in foster care — or 34% — were placed خارج their home region in 2025, up from 22% in 2016, the year before the state expanded its privatized model. The system, overseen by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, was designed to keep children closer to their communities.
Advocates said the trend undermines that goal. Vikki Spriggs, chief executive of the Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates, said contracts require children to be placed within 50 miles of home, but local programs report that this standard is often not met.
State officials and private contractors said they move children when necessary due to a lack of specialized placements and foster homes in certain regions. They said children entering care today often have more severe medical and psychological needs, requiring treatment that is concentrated in areas with more resources, including the Houston region.
The agency said the Houston area has a higher concentration of behavioral health providers and workforce capacity, making it better equipped to serve high-needs children. As of December, nearly half of the children placed outside their home regions were sent there.
Private contractors managing regional foster care systems said they are working to build local capacity but face challenges, especially in rural areas. Some cited shortages of foster homes and specialized facilities, as well as zoning and community resistance to new treatment centers.
Advocates and labor representatives said the system’s reliance on distant placements disrupts children’s stability and complicates oversight. Myko Gedutis of the Texas State Employees Union said caseworkers in receiving regions must monitor both local and out-of-region children, which can limit regular visits.
Lawmakers in 2021 raised the threshold for removing children from their homes, requiring proof of immediate danger. Officials and advocates said that change reduced the number of children entering foster care but increased the proportion with severe needs.
State data shows Texas has about 16,000 children in foster care, with more than half located in regions managed by private contractors. Since 2019, the state has lost hundreds of foster care providers, further limiting placement options.
Texas has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the system, including funding tied to a long-running federal lawsuit over foster care conditions. The state continues to expand its community-based care model, though it has not yet been fully implemented statewide.
Officials said efforts are ongoing to increase the number of foster homes and specialized services, while contractors emphasized that building capacity will take time due to workforce, infrastructure and regulatory challenges.