houston texas Archives - The Riverside Project

When you step into the world of child welfare, it can feel like learning a new language. Whether you’re a new volunteer, a church partner, a foster parent, or simply someone who wants to understand more, the chances are you’ve come across a sea of letters like DFPS, CPS, PMC, or TBRI® and wondered… what do these even mean?

This guide is a collection of simple, meaningful ways to say, “You’re not alone. We see you. We’re in it with you.”

Whether you’re a neighbor, friend, church, or business, these ideas help create rhythms of care that don’t overwhelm or overstep—but gently remind families that healing happens AS ONE.

“This doesn’t look like what I thought it would.” I hear this statement all the time.

Foster parents, by Texas law, can only use babysitters who are specially trained and certified to care for children in foster care.

As a foster parent, you will have people who love you and people who get you. And sometimes, those who love you the most may get you the least.

It’s our responsibility as foster parents to protect our kids. To protect their bodies, yes. But also to protect their stories.

Kinship care occurs when extended relatives, such as grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, and even close friends (referred to as “fictive kin”) provide homes for children who have been separated from their birth parents.

It’s important to choose a foster care agency wisely as it is their responsibility to ensure that a certain placement is a good fit for the child and foster parents, to provide support during the duration of a placement, and to offer training to the foster parents.

As you consider the possibility of providing a loving home for children in need, there are many steps between learning about the need for foster families and becoming one yourself.

We’ve learned that it’s only when we all come together that we can begin to make a lasting difference around our city. These four stories are powerful illustrations of how collaboration leads to change!