This report evaluates permanency outcomes for youth served by the Child Protective Services Reintegration Project in Travis County, Texas. The project attempts to reintegrate difficult-to-place youth back into the community in a family setting. The report concludes that this intensive and innovative intervention is showing evidence of success at helping youth with complex mental and behavioral disorders who otherwise may not have an opportunity to achieve permanency.

The reunification success rate for youth in this project parallels or betters that for youth in the foster care system overall. These findings demonstrate that with the appropriate combination, intensity and duration of services, youth who otherwise would face significant barriers in achieving reunification and likely age out of foster care in institutional settings may be able to live with their families in the community.