Community Resources
Transition Center
Transition Centers are one-stop places to serve the many needs of older foster youth and aged-out foster youth. They also may provide services to other older youth, including homeless youth, at-risk youth and young adults, sometimes up to age 25. Current and former foster youth can use the Transition Centers. The Transition Centers serve as central locations for services such as the Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) program. You can learn important job skills, search for jobs, and explore careers. Assistance with enrolling in college, flexible high school diploma programs, or GED programs and applying for financial aid, which includes the Education and Training Voucher (ETV), are also all available. You can also find help with housing, identification documents, mentoring and obtaining the benefits available to aged-out foster youth.
Each Transition Center offers different services. The best way to find out what your Transition Center offers is to visit it and get to know the staff. As part of planning your transition from foster care, be sure you get to visit the Transition Center. Remember, if you move to a different part of the state, there may be a Transition Center there you can use. Even if you don’t live near the Transition Center, or can’t easily get to it, you should call the center and find out more about what they do and how they can help you.
For a list of the most current centers, check the Transition Centers website.
| Region | Name of Center | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi Area | BCFS Transition Center | 361-334-2876 | bcfscsd.org/location_regions/corpus-christi/ |
| Harlingen Area | BCFS Transition Center | 956-230-3849 956-367-4295 |
bcfscsd.org/location_regions/harlingen/ |
| McAllen Area | BCFS Transition Center | 956-630-0010 | bcfscsd.org/location_regions/mcallen/ |
Preparation for Adult Living Program Activities
Regional PAL workers should provide important transitional services for youth who are still in foster care. Someone from the PAL office (often called a PAL worker or PAL Coordinator) should be available to assist you and your caseworker as you prepare to transition. Regional PAL workers should: participate in transition planning, explain your foster youth benefits; assist in identifying and accessing regional education, provide you with employment and housing resources; help with problems getting identification documents; provide guidance in applying for higher education programs, financial aid and more.
| Activity Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Statewide Teen Conference | The Statewide Teen Conference is held each year at a college campus. Youth must go with an adult sponsor such as your caseworker or PAL worker. The three-day conference included workshops on issues that foster youth preparing for adulthood have to deal with. |
| Statewide Youth Leadership Council | The Statewide Youth Leadership Council consists of two current or former foster care youth from each region. The youth give input and a youth perspective for developing policy and programs. They make recommendations to improve services for children and youth. |
| Regional Youth Leadership Council | Some CPS regions have a youth leadership council. To find out what is happening in your region, please contact your regional PAL worker. |
| Regional Activities | From time to time, there may be other activities in your area, like conferences, visiting colleges, wilderness trips, mentor programs, support groups, job development workshops, and youth forums. |
| PAL College Conference | The PAL College Conference is a two-day weekend conference held at Texas A&M University-Commerce where foster youth learn about and prepare for higher education opportunities at colleges around Texas. |
| PEAKS Camp | The PEAKS Camp is a four-day camp for foster youth where you work on building self- esteem, problem-solving, improving communication, and have fun! |
| Aging-Out Seminar / Transitional Living Conference | The Aging-Out Seminar/Transitional Living Conference is a one day program required for any foster youth age 17 who is in licensed or verified foster care. This program builds on what you learned in your Life Skills Training classes – Including foster youth programs, benefits, resources, and other independent living topics. |
If you are interested in attending any of the statewide or regional events or have any questions about services or resources, please contact your regional PAL worker and let your caseworker know as well.
Transition Plan Assistance
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Foster Care to College: Online Resources |
From national scholarships and state tuition waivers to housing assistance and on-campus programs, see where to find help getting to and through college as a former foster care youth. Visit Foster Care to College: Online Resources from STEPS (Student Training & Education in Public Service). |
| Texas Youth Connection | Texas Youth Connection is a project of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services that works with foster youth and youth who are looking for general tips and information. Visit https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/youth-helpline/youth-crisis-line-resources.asp for more information. |
| Texas Youth Hotline | The Texas Youth Hotline is another place youth, including current and former foster youth, can go for help. You can call (800) 989-6884, chat with someone at www.dfps.state.tx.us/youth-helpline/ or text the hotline at (512) 872 -5777 to get confidential counseling, information, referrals and help with finding services in your area. |
| 2-1-1 | Dialing 2-1-1 is a way to connect with health and human services in your community. You can also visit 2-1-1Texas.org to access health and human services programs information. |
Other Resources
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Foster Angels of South Texas |
The mission of Foster Angels of South Texas is to improve the lives of children in foster care ensuring each child has their basic needs met and providing life-enhancing, life-enriching opportunities whenever possible. Foster Care Alumni that have aged out may be eligible for assistance. |
| Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) | Texas Workforce Commission assists former and current foster youth ages 16 to 25 who are seeking assistance with completing their GED or searching for employment. |
| Education Training Voucher (ETV) | The Education Training Voucher program allows Texas to help current and former foster youth and young adults, youth adopted at age 16, and youth that enter Permanency Care Assistance at age 16 by providing funding and supports to help youth and young adults achieve their educational goals. |