CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to help ensure that every child in foster care is moved to a safe, stable, permanent home as quickly as possible. CASA volunteers research case records and interview each person involved in a child’s life, including family members, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and social workers. They monitor the progress of the child and family and advocate for the child’s current and future needs in court, in school, and in agency meetings. CASA’s independent evaluations allow the court to make better informed decisions.

The Requirements:

• Be 21 years of age or older.
• Provide 5 references with email addresses.
• Provide your driver’s license number for the mandatory background check.
• Complete the application here
• Complete initial 6-week training course

The Commitment:

• Be able to keep information confidential and work within established program guidelines.
• Be able to serve at least 12 months of your time (average 10-15 hours per month).
• Visit with the child on at least a monthly basis.
• Interview all parties associated with the case.
• Attend court hearings to testify as to the best interest of the child.

• 24-hour emergency shelter for all victims
• Residents can receive all services offered
• Residents work toward self-sufficiency away from violence or homelessness

Men and Women of all ages.

24/7 crisis line with trained advocates.

Advocates offer support, information, and referrals during crises.

Accompany clients to medical, legal, or criminal service providers.

The Central Texas Dispute Resolution Center is a 501(C) (3) non-profit organization providing mediation services and training. 

The Central Texas DRC mediates cases in a few primary areas:

• Community Disputes
• Civil Cases
• Family, Divorce, and Child Custody

The Central Texas DRC serves Hays, Comal, Guadalupe, and Caldwell Counties citizens.

Fees vary depending on the type of case. It is our goal and objective to serve the under-served and the unserved, where the parties are economically burdened. The Central Texas DRC uses a flat fee.

Click here for current mediation rates.

For a quicker response, requests for public information can be made using the online portal below.

Please remember that requests should contain as much detail as possible about the information you are requesting.

Please remember that requests should be for documents or other information that already exists. Government organizations (like NBPD) are not required to answer questions, perform legal research, or comply with continuing requests to supply information periodically since that information has not yet been prepared. We recommend that you keep a copy of your request and proof of receipt for your records.

Written requests can be sent in by U.S. Mail, submitted online, submitted in person at the New Braunfels Police Department Headquarters: 3030 West San Antonio St. New Braunfels TX, 78130, or by fax at 830-608-2188.

Legal Advocacy:

Services include assistance with applying for an Emergency or Permanent Protective Order; Crime Victims Compensation, which can help with crime-related costs such as relocation and housing, daycare, medical expenses, crime-related travel, and other expenses if eligible; assistance with divorce and child custody matters; accompaniment to court; and immigration issues – assistance with the process of obtaining legal status. Your batterer or law enforcement cannot have you deported under the protection of the Violence Against Women Act.

Victim Advocacy:

Advocates will listen to your unique needs and inform you of your options and available resources. With your permission, advocates will speak to others on your behalf, such as law enforcement, healthcare professionals, prosecutors, and housing.

Advocacy is available 24/7 through our Crisis Hotline and Accompaniment services. Advocacy is also available on a walk-in basis during regular business hours. Please call us for hours and location information.

FREE

Foster A Child In Texas

" You might be temporary in their lives. They might be temporary in yours. But there is nothing temporary about the love or the lesson."

-Tonia Christle

TruLight127 provides specialized training and guidance to help you provide a nurturing and stable home for children who have been abused or neglected. 

We are always in need of parents and families who can provide:

• Homes for sibling groups of two or more
• Homes for children of all racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds
• Homes for children with behavioral, emotional, or physical special needs
• Homes for teenagers

Why Choose TruLight127?

• A professional case management team to help you through the process and support for you throughout your time with TruLight127
• Experienced trainers who are knowledgeable in the child welfare system and the needs of the children served
• Access to the Shining Light Donation Center at the TruLight127 Office filled with clothing, hygiene products, school supplies, etc.
• Online support and training resources, including a website dedicated to the Foster Care and Adoption program, and monthly Foster/Adopt Parent Support Group meetings
• On-going annual in-house training
• Opportunities for cultural events such as Kid's Day Out programs, Fall Festival's, Christmas Events, Spring Flings, etc.
• 24/7 Parent Support for emergency situations
• Beautiful training and meeting facilities on the Jonathan's Place campus

TRAINING
Our training takes a comprehensive approach and requires families to complete a total of 40 hours of pre-service training and interactive training hours. Families complete annual training hours to continue their education.

SUPPORT
After a child is placed with a family, the goal is to provide unequaled support for the entire family. Our experienced and professional case managers are committed and provide in-home visits, identifying community resources, and act as the liaison between the family and the CPS caseworker. We also provide services such as Emergency Placement Kits and Project Foster Destiny as an ongoing support.

RECRUITMENT
We strive to find high-quality caregivers for the children we serve. The intended result of recruitment is to find a family who is motivated by love and committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and stable environment for a child. The knowledge and skills of the foster or adoptive parents are critical to the well-being of the children in their care.

How notice are you given to foster a child before the child arrives?

• Emergency Placements can come quickly. I often say that you are like an on-call physician. Once you are licensed you could start receiving calls the day. Planned placements take longer. In each case, your preferences make the determination on how fast children are placed in your home.

Can foster families adopt?

• Yes! Many families are interested in both fostering and adopting. They agree with the agency that the children’s needs come first. In most cases, this means helping prepare children for reunification with their birth family, mentoring the birth parents, or working toward a relative or kinship placement.
• When termination of parental rights is in the children’s best interest and adoption is their plan, then foster parents who have cared for the children will be given the opportunity to adopt. Dual certification of parents to both foster and adopt speeds up the placement process, reduces the number of moves a child makes, and allows relationships to evolve with the initial placement process. Nearly half the adoptions of children in DFPS foster care are by their foster families.

What are the chances statistically that I will be able to adopt my foster child?

• This is always asked and we wish we had a clear answer. When you enter the world of foster care you are working with other humans. We all come with our own baggage, our own assumptions, personalities, etc. Children in care have biological parents and biological family members who are given the chance to step up. Children whose parental rights are terminated and they are placed in your home are ready for adoption

Is there a min/max age for foster parents?

• Must be at least 21-years-old. Max age depends on the health and situation of the child in care.

Join us at the Next Orientation
If you are interested in learning more about becoming foster or foster-to-adopt home, join us at our upcoming orientation. See our website or call for dates and other details.

For the Foster-Adopt Application click here.

On link to the bottom of the application you will find additional links you may find helpful.

For Foster Parent Upcoming Informationals Upcoming Events click here.

To contact us, you can send us a message here,

Or

Write or Call Us:
(210) 245-KIDS (5437)

[email protected]

P.O. Box 129 Marion, TX 78124

What paperwork is needed to adopt/foster?

• To start the process you will need to complete an application, sign a confidentiality form, and complete a background check for everyone in your home that is age 14 years and up.

1. FOSTER/ADOPT BASIC REQUIREMENTS-
The prospective foster/adoptive parents may be single or married and must:

• be at least 21 years of age, financially stable, and responsible mature adults,
• complete an application (staff will assist you, if you prefer),
• share information regarding their background and lifestyle,
• provide relative and non-relative references,
• show proof of marriage and/or divorce (if applicable),
• agree to a home study which includes visits with all household members,
• allow staff to complete a criminal history background check and an abuse/neglect check on all adults in the household, and
• attend free training to learn about issues of abused and neglected children.
  • The training provides an opportunity for the family and TruLight127 to assess whether foster care or adoption is best for the family.
  • The family may withdraw from the meetings at any time. There is no charge for the meetings.
  • Foster/adoptive parents generally train together.

2. ADDITIONAL FOSTER CARE BASIC REQUIREMENTS-
In addition to the basic requirements, foster parents must:

• have adequate sleeping space.
• allow no more than 6 children in the home including your own children or children for whom you provide day care.
• agree to a nonphysical discipline policy.
• permit fire, health and safety inspections of the home.
• vaccinate all pets.
• obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid Certification.
• obtain TB skin testing as required by the local Health Department for household members.
• attend 20 hours or more of training each year
• Complete paperwork required by TruLight127

3. FOSTER PARENTS-

• Provide daily care and nurturing of children in foster care;
• advocate for children in their schools and communities;
• inform the children’s caseworkers about adjustments to the home, school, and community, as well as any problems that may arise, including any serious illnesses, accidents, or serious occurrences involving the foster children or their own families;
• make efforts as team members with children’s caseworkers towards reunifying children with their birth families;
• provide a positive role model to birth families and help children learn life skills.

4. ADOPTIVE PARENTS

• provide permanent homes and a lifelong commitment to children into adulthood;
• provide for the short-term and long-term needs of children;
• provide for children’s emotional, mental, physical, social, educational, and cultural needs, according to each child’s developmental age and growth;
• may become certified as a foster family and accept children who are not legally free for adoption, but whose permanency plan is adoption.

5.Other Requirements/Rules

Will I have to provide a minimum level of income to foster/adopt?

• You will need to supply documentation of income to the Agency.

What are the rules regarding children sharing the same room?

• Same genders in the same room over the age of 5. Four kids in a room as long as there are 40 sq ft per child

Can you keep siblings together?

• YES!!! This is a HUGE need!

What is the wait time to adopt a child?

• No matter how children are placed in your home there is a minimum 6 month monitoring period.

If I have pets will I have to provide vet records?

• Yes, all vaccinations will need to be up-to-date and we will need to have documentation

Will my home be subject to scheduled or random inspections?

• Yes, from Licensing, CPS, and TruLight127. Not all at once and not random every month.

Adoption through Foster Care is very little to no cost. In most cases, children can meet certain criteria for subsidy that covers lawyer and court fees. This subsidy often provides a monthly stipend until age 18.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) welcomes all Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivor beneficiaries, including diverse gender identities and sexual orientations. “LGBTQ+” refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer identities. The “+” sign captures identities beyond LGBTQ, including but not limited to questioning, pansexual, asexual, agender, gender diverse, nonbinary, gender-neutral, and other identities. LGBTQ+ Veterans have faced stigma and discrimination, which can affect health. As a healthcare institution, we need to make sure that LGBTQ+ Veterans know that they are welcome at Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

There is an LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator  (LGBTQ+ VCC) at every facility to help you get the care you need. VHA policies require that your health care is delivered in an affirming and inclusive environment and that VHA employees respect your identity. Contact the LGBTQ+ VCC at your nearest facility. 

VA Health Care includes, among other services:

• Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy
• Substance use/alcohol treatment
• Tobacco use treatment
• Treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for Veterans at risk for HIV.
• Intimate partner violence reduction and treatment of after effects
• Military Sexual Trauma screening and treatment of after effects
• Suicide prevention services. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive free, confidential support and crisis intervention available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Dial 988 then Press 1, text 838255 or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.
• Whole Health
• Cancer screening, prevention and treatment 
• Virtual Mental Health Care: Veterans can connect with a VA mental health provider through a computer or mobile device from the comfort of their homes or at their nearest VA health facility.
• Infertility: VA is committed to helping Veterans navigate challenges that may arise from issues with fertility and the conception of a child.

To view the services provided for LGBTQ+ Veterans, click here.

Occupational Therapy is to help increase independence and build the necessary skills for purposeful and meaningful daily activities.

Skills include learning to interact with the world around you, balance and coordination, self-care, and fine motor skills like writing and tying your shoes.

We accept Superior, Community First, TMHP Traditional Medicaid, Tricare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Private Pay.

ATC owns single-family and duplex group homes. Residents are matched with staff and fellow residents who meet their needs, interests, and abilities.

Staff members serve as personal care assistants, teachers, and friends offering a warm and accepting environment.

Activities in the home include learning how to be a contributing household member, meeting personal grooming needs, enjoying leisure activities, and participating in community events. Outings to grocery stores, malls, parks, restaurants, movies, and exercise (walking, biking, swimming) increase social skills and well-being.

Call for more information.

101 Advocacy helps families navigate through the special education or 504 processes by educating families on special education/504 laws and their rights, collaborating with parents to get effective educational programs and services from school districts, reviewing the IEP to ensure it is written to meet individual student needs, and assisting at ARD/504 meetings.

101 Advocacy offers bilingual advocacy.

Our physical address is in San Antonio. However, phone or video conferencing is available throughout the state when 101 Advocacy's physical presence is not possible.

The hourly charge for preparation and meeting time is $80.00 an hour. Outside a 20 mile radius from the office, there is an additional charge of $.50 a mile for travel expenses. Outside a 60 mile radius, there is an additional charge of $45 an hour for travel time.

101 Advocacy believes that families should not be without advocacy support simply for not having the financial means to secure an advocate. A payment plan can be arranged.

The Area Agencies on Aging are dedicated to building a community that supports older residents and allows them to age in place with dignity, security, and enhanced quality of life. Services include congregate meals, home-delivered meals, benefits counseling, care coordination, legal assistance, nutrition, counseling and training, caregiver support, and transportation services.

These Call Center Specialists will provide assistance information and referrals to services for individuals who are 60 years of age or older, as well as individuals of any age who are eligible for Medicare.

Elder law is a relatively new specialty area resulting from the growing number of elderly and their specialized needs. With longer life expectancy comes complex legal issues that impact financial needs, long-term care, public benefits, guardianship, and other matters of aging.

We are a team of professionals who work with an extensive network of social workers, financial planners, and health care professionals to address physical, social, psychological, and financial needs.

Our goal is to assist you in finding positive solutions to complex challenges so you can maintain dignity, control and, most of all, peace of mind. Carol Bertsch has over 27 years of Elder Law experience in:

• Estate Planning
• Probate
• Long-Term Care Planning
• Advanced Directive
• Wills & Trusts
• Supplemental Needs Trust
• Asset Protection for Medicaid Eligibility

To view more detailed information on services provided, click here.

Varies with services needed.

RAICES provides legal services to asylum-seekers who may be eligible for relief on humanitarian grounds. The primary asylum claim could be due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

Individuals who have been persecuted or who have a credible fear of persecution and who are unable or unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of their country of origin can apply for asylum protection from the U.S. government.

The asylum cases that we handle are complex, fraught, and challenging. Asylum seekers are coming from countries where there is no stability, where violence against them or their families is common, and where they have no hope of building a peaceful life for themselves or their children.

Call 210-222-0964 to make an appointment.

Call (833) 372-4237 to make an appointment.

RAICES pays bonds for qualifying clients in federal government custody.

Between 2018 and 2023, in coordination with the National Bail Fund Network and other partners, RAICES paid out $20M in bonds to keep families together and free.

Call (833) 372-4237 to make an appointment.

RAICES provides legal representation for families and children in federal government custody and after release. Our community advocates offer Know Your Rights presentations and legal consultations in a dozen-plus facilities for unaccompanied children.

Call (833) 372-4237 to schedule an appointment for your consultation.

Current Clients: If you are a client and you do not have an appointment with your attorney, please contact your attorney or legal assistant directly.

RAICES provides the following services to refugee clients on a per-case basis:

Reception and Placement
Resettlement services for refugees and Special Immigrant Visa holders under a public-private partnership, working closely with partners in the community to supplement federal funding through volunteers and donations

Matching Grant
Services under a public-private partnership, supporting refugees and other eligible populations become self-sufficient through employment within 240 days of arrival to the U.S.

Cash and Medical Assistance
Financial assistance services that support individuals in meeting their most basic needs, including food, shelter, transportation, and medical coverage for those ineligible for Medicaid

Preferred Communities
Services designed to support the specific needs of refugees with challenging needs that require special attention, including those with serious medical conditions, women at risk, and elderly refugees

Employment Services
Services that enable access to employment opportunities, including employability assessment, training and job development, job placement, and job maintenance

Social Adjustment Services
Services extending beyond job placement and English Language Instruction that enable positive community integration, including support completing and following up on application forms and understanding client rights and responsibilities

Refugee Health Promotion
Services designed to support client well-being, including opportunities to increase health literacy, coordinate physical and mental health care, and organize wellness groups

PC Gaps
Resettlement services under a public-private partnership for all populations ineligible for Reception and Placement support, including Cuban, Haitian, and Ukrainian community members

RAICES attorneys represent people in detention who are seeking release through bond, and we handle a full range of defenses both for people in detention and those who are fighting their court cases following release.

Call (833) 372-4237 to make an appointment.

RAICES provides low-cost assistance with residency and citizenship applications.

Please call (833) 372-4237 to make an appointment.

Fee-for-service support is provided on a sliding scale based on federal poverty guidelines. 

From the courtrooms to the halls of Congress, RAICES fights for systemic change, recognizing the power of the collective. 

We hold ourselves accountable to the people that we serve. Our fight has never been about who is in political power. It has always been to defend, empower, and advocate for the communities we represent. 

Together, we can ensure every person has the right to seek asylum and call this country home.

RAICES advocate for refugee rights in the following ways:

Impact Litigation
Our impact litigation seeks to secure restitution for clients who have faced unlawful harm while in U.S. government custody, defend access to counsel rights, and establish humane safeguards for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. 

Creative Partnerships
RAICES looks to the arts to spark conversations around immigration, justice, and humanity in order to touch hearts and minds, and ultimately impact immigration policies and practices.

Narrative Change
We believe the law is downstream from culture. Storytelling — or uplifting the voices of those who are most impacted by our immigration system — can move the hearts and minds of the American public in support of urgent action to fix our nation’s broken immigration system.

Community Engagement
While we can’t all be first responders, everyone can play a role in supporting community members by volunteering and asking friends and families to contribute to our cause.

Asylum: We represent people from around the world in their search for protection in the United States.

For those we don’t have the capacity to represent, we also provide support in the following areas:

• Preparing for asylum interviews.
• Filling out applications for protection and writing declarations.
• Searching for human rights reports on conditions in their home country.
• Preparing to present testimony in court.
• Understanding denials and writing appeals.

Unjustified Detention: We help people get released from immigrant detention centers through bond and parole requests, habeas corpus petitions and other federal litigation.

Access to Counsel: We advocate for access to legal representation regardless of ability to pay. Specifically, we help with:

• Language access for non-English speakers.
• Reunification of families separated by the U.S. government.

We only accept detained cases.

Free or low-cost.

Awaaz advocates work with multiple local agencies in San Antonio to better serve the unique needs of South Asian families affected by family violence. By providing culture-specific education, we aid in advocating for more comprehensive care for South Asians.

We serve as a public benefit organization. Our vision is to improve the quality of life in our community by educating the public and making them aware of the steps to take in order to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to the reality of child abuse.

GOC is a Biker Organization also dedicated to protecting the victims of child abuse. Our alliances as Bikers allow us the ability to call upon resources that might not generally be available to the public at large.

We partner with Children Advocacy Agencies, Victim Assistance Groups and others to raise awareness of the prevalence of child abuse. GOC assist these agencies by being one of many resources available to them and introduce the child into our organization where it has been determined it would be beneficial in order to lend support to their family and at the same time protect that child.

Our members share a common goal in that we enjoy the open road on our iron horses and are here to convey an important message; ‘We stand as one prepared to protect this priceless resource’.

"Valor, Truth & Integrity is the Guardian Way"

Please email us if you know a child who could benefit from our services.

Provides various services suited to meet each child's developmental and emotional needs at our residential and non-residential facilities.

Play therapy techniques are used in individual and group counseling that is offered to help children process and heal from domestic violence.

Ongoing family case management services with a focus on the spectrum of needs of every child client are provided while maintaining an emphasis on meeting the academic needs of children identified as victims/survivors of family violence. Services are provided to every child.

For more information, call administration at 210-930-3669.

Legal representation through FVPS is generally focused on the areas of family law such as

• Protective Orders
• Divorce
• Child Custody
• Modifications, and Enforcements
• Or a combination of those services.

How to Apply

Applications for legal services with FVPS must be filled out. It is also important to include any relevant documents with your application, such as police reports, photos of injuries, court orders and documents, and any documents from Child Protective Services.

Apply online using fillable form(s) OR print, fill out, and mail downloadable form(s) to:

FVPS Legal Services Department
ATTN: Natalie Pruitt,
7911 Broadway,
San Antonio, Texas 78209

Fax: to 210-314-1016
Email to [email protected]
Phone: (210) 821-3823 or 210 930-3669 ext 2223

Once your application has been received and reviewed by the Department, you will be notified whether your application has been accepted.

Free for eligible participants.

Meets the specialized needs of active and Veteran military service members and their dependents through partnerships with San Antonio's military installations.

For more information, call 210-930-3669.

Easy Expunctions makes it easy and affordable to clear your arrest record fast.

In Texas, an expunction means the Court destroys all records of the arrest and any court proceedings, so they can’t ever be found on any government-maintained database by anyone. Any record of the expunction also gets destroyed. It’s like the arrest (and the expunction) never happened.

To receive an expunction, a Petition must be filed with a court that has jurisdiction requesting that all records about a specific offense(s) be destroyed. If a court finds a petitioner entitled to an expunction, it will grant an order.

In Texas, you can expunge an arrest as long as you didn't get convicted or receive some community supervision. You can also expunge a Class C Misdemeanor if you've completed a deferred adjudication (probation, treatment, or community service).

San Antonio Independent Living Services (SAILS) provides people with disabilities and their families:

• information, assistance, and support systems to promote changes that enhance their full integration to the community
• education on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• information about disability rights

At SAILS, you can:

• Learn skills to become independent
• Meet other people with disABILITIES
• Receive information and referrals
• Learn how to advocate
• Learn how to volunteer at SAILS
• Be a part of our community

Adults with disabilities

SAILS provides information and assistance to people of all ages with disabilities and their families to access support systems and promote changes that result in full access to the community. SAILS can also provide information and education on the Americans with Disabilities Act and information on disability rights.

You do not have to have an actual doctor's diagnosis to be assisted.