Located in the Texas capital, the Austin field office serves this bustling city of 1.5 million as well as rural communities in Central Texas.  Open since 1984, we provide services to young people living with foster families or with relatives in kinship care arrangements.

Nearly 45 percent of the people we serve are Caucasian, 30 percent are Hispanic, and 25 percent are African American.

Launching pad for independence
In addition to supporting youth in out-of-home care, we help young people make it on their own as they leave foster care at age 18. Here’s an example of what can happen with intensive, supportive case management: in one single family we served, five siblings have graduated or are currently enrolled in college.

The motivated youths did so with help from After Care Transitional Services (ACTS), a joint effort of Casey Family Programs and Lifeworks, a community agency. Nearly 250 youth are expected to receive ACTS services in 2004.

Many causes for celebration
Children don’t live by social services alone. Our staff of 17 sustains the spirit, as well:

• Our holiday party each year draws 150-200 family members for an evening of food, celebration, music, and good cheer.
• The annual summer picnic attracts scores more.
• We focus attention on youth in out-of-home care during Foster Care Month. One eye-catching display on the state capitol grounds used life-size figures to represent the 18,000 Texas youth in foster care.