West Texas Together (WTT) is working to transform child welfare by harnessing the collective power of our communities. In 2024, our partnership drove substantial progress toward ensuring every child in West Texas has a loving, local home. Through focused workgroups and deepened regional collaboration, we’re seeking to build a more effective system that better serves our children and families. These accomplishments showcase how our shared vision is creating change across West Texas.
West Texas Together – Permian Basin
The hard work of the West Texas Together – Permian Basin partners yielded great success in 2024. In their work groups they capitalized on long standing collaborative relationships and trust to foster a shared vision and purpose to create a better future for children and families. These accomplishments reflect their strong commitment and intentional efforts
Workgroups and Accomplishments
Community-Based Care (CBC) – Develop a model of CBC that aligns with West Texas region values, supports provider strengths, and meets the needs of children and families impacted by child welfare and prevention services.
- Conducted statewide survey on CBC experiences to guide model development
- Supported development of legislation to enable piloting of a Region 9-specific CBC model aligned with local culture, families/youth, and community needs
- Increased visibility and advocacy for West Texas at the state level
- Supported development of WTT-Concho Valley expansion
Community Building – Support community responsibility for children and families through engagement, awareness, and education.
- Organized Foster/Adopt Q&A sessions for 2024 & 2025
- Increased awareness and engagement within the business community
- Promoted WTT Permian Basin work and accomplishments
- Led collaborative expansion efforts
- Created promotional and informational materials
Family Support – Increase formal and informal support for biological, foster, and adoptive families, including family preservation and community building.
- Created comprehensive support system for kinship families, including resource baskets
- Expanded CPR training availability for kinship parents
- Supported DFPS kinship support group
- Submitted recommendations for improving kinship provider verification standards
Service Array & Systems Development – Build out community service array and improve cross-system collaboration across juvenile justice, education, mental health, and medical services.
- Advanced service improvements through Star Health/Superior, including development of detailed report on behavioral health and medical service gaps for foster youth in Region 9
- Strengthened collaborative relationships with:
- Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs)
- Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center
- TTUHSC Foster Care Center of Excellence
- Local Juvenile Justice Departments
- Conducted research on service needs and rural best practices in child welfare
- Provided feedback for CANS 3.0 development
Skills Development – Enhance professional and family capabilities in supporting youth and children, including parenting skills, workforce development, and education.
- Conducted comprehensive survey of foster, adopt, and kin families to identify training needs and preferences
- Organized targeted forums for caregivers and professionals on identified topics
West Texas Together – Concho Valley
Established in the summer of 2024, West Texas Together – Concho Valley united with a commitment to develop locally-driven solutions. This collaborative leverages San Angelo’s unique strengths, including its vibrant educational partnership with Angelo State University, an engaged faith community, and a well-established culture of public-private collaboration.
Workgroups and Accomplishments
Systems and Community Collaboration – Focused on enhancing collaboration among local providers and community members
- Provided stakeholder feedback to DFPS regarding Community Based Care contracts for Permian Basin/Concho Valley (Region 9)
- Partnered with the Concho Valley Child Protection Court to train over 150 attendees in TCU’s Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)
- Expanded community resource meetings to allow for more community engagement in addition to Child Placing Agencies
- Organized focus groups to amplify youth voices and identify service access barriers
- Formed working group to develop regional legislative advocacy plan
Community Building – Dedicated to ensuring local decision-making autonomy and increasing community involvement
- Supported Fostering Concho Valley Kids Foster Care Fair
- Developed 2025 Foster Care Q&A Schedule
- Enhanced foster care awareness through KLST/KSAN Foster Care Fridays segments
Improved Services – Developing resources that meet the diverse needs of the region’s children and families
- Initiated discussions with River Crest Hospital regarding psychiatric care for foster children
- Engaged seven area churches to establish support groups for foster, biological, and kinship families
Prevention and Early Intervention – Implementing strategies to reduce the need for intensive services through early support.
- Created inventory of current prevention and intervention services
- Conducted key informant interviews with FBSS and Concho Valley Child Protection Court Judge Watkins to:
- Identify trends in foster care entry
- Determine services needing development or modification for prevention
Post-Adopt Services Ad Hoc Committees in Permian Basin and Concho Valley:
Established in both the Permian Basin and Concho Valley to assess needs for post-adopt families and fund solutions through a collaborative grant process. Each Ad Hoc Committee:
- Conducted comprehensive surveys and committee meetings to identify gaps in post-permanency/adoption services.
- Collaborated with each other to discover opportunities to bring about formal and informal support for post-adoption families. As a result, grant funding was awarded to two organizations in the Permian Basin and two organizations in the Concho Valley.