Kinship Care in Lubbock
Many local agencies work with Kinship families who have taken in relatives or fictive kin children in the foster care system. Agencies work with kinship families to provide extra support through financial means (funding to get the home into compliance with licensing standards, as well as higher daily reimbursement rates than DFPS kinship payments offer) as well as advocacy and additional training and resources to support the family through the process from licensing to adoption if that is the goal.
The chart below allows you to compare the local agencies and what they are each able to offer specifically for Kinship families in the Lubbock and surrounding areas.
| Agency | Training | Financial Assistance | Languages Spoken | Summary of Services & Special Considerations | Will Provide Adopt – Only Home Studies |
| Arrow Trashaunda Tatum trashaunda.tatum@arrow.org | Online | Arrow can help pay for FBI fingerprinting, fire inspection, fire extinguisher, medication lock box, etc. | English | Arrow has a behavioral health program and a durable medical equipment supply called Arrow Health Solutions. They do not require the same amount of training for adopt-only families. They license single parents, cohabiting, married, and same-sex couples. | Yes |
| Bair Foundation Kaedan Garrison kagarrison@bair.org 806 797 2247 | Online, In-Person | Families receive a fire extinguisher upon licensing. | English | Bair hosts Christmas, summer, and fall parties for their families. They license single parents, cohabiting, married, and same-sex couples. | |
| Buckner Children and Family Services Jennifer Hardgrove jhardgrove@buckner.org | Online, In-Person | Buckner provides reimbursement for fingerprints, training, inspections, clothing at time of placement plus twice a year, and financial assistance for a home to be in compliance. | English & Spanish | Buckner has holiday summer, and back-to-school events, plus free summer and fall camp at Camp Buckner for the whole family. Childcare may be an option during training if requested in advance. Applicants may be single or married for at least two years. | Yes |
| Children’s Home of Lubbock Johnna Prather 806-762-0481 ext 232 jprather@childshome.org | Online, In-Person, In-Home | CHOL will pay for CPR, TB test and finger printing. They provide smoke alarms/co2 detectors, babyproofing supplies, and med lock boxes. There is also assistance available for health inspections. | English | CHOL has a monthly support group and several annual family events. Childcare during training is available upon request. CHOL will allow children over 3 in the caregiver’s room and license families with more than six children to keep siblings together. Applicants may be single or married for two years. | Yes |
| Children’s Hope Zandria Rodriguez zandria.rodriguez@childrenhp.org | Online, In-Person | Reimbursements are provided when they get their fingerprints, CPR training, Fire inspections/Health inspections, and TB tests. | English & Spanish | Children’s Hope has a foster parent support group. Training on Zoom is available for families who do not have childcare. They license single parents, cohabiting, married, and same-sex couples. | Yes |
| DePelchin Children’s Center Sarah Schleiger sschleiger@depelchin.org Britni Mann bmain@depelchin.org | Online, In-Person | Reimbursements are available for fingerprints, TB tests, fire extinguishers, and other household needs. CPR is paid for. | English | DCC has back-to-school and Christmas parties. Training is available through Zoom, otherwise childcare during training can be accommodated. Mentors are also available to families. They license single parents, cohabiting, married, and same-sex couples. | |
| National Youth Advocate Program Scott Mansfield 806-548-2471 smansfield@nyap.org | Online, In-Person, In-Home | Reimbursement available for fingerprints and TB tests. NYAP will provide financial assistance to help homes meet compliance. | English | NYAP will license a home in 45 days. Most training is in the home, and they do not require the same amount of training for adopt-only families. They license single parents, cohabiting, married, and same-sex couples. | Yes |
| Saint Francis Foster Care Joe Grossman joe.grossman@st-francis.org | Online | Reimbursements are available for pre-licensing expenses. | English & Spanish | Saint Francis provides holidays, back-to-school, and foster parent appreciation. They do not require the same amount of training for adopt-only families. Applicants must be able to read & write. They do not have any marriage requirements. | Yes |
| Texas Family Initiative Ashley Hernandez 325-738-0765 ahernandez@tfifamily.org | Online | Reimbursements for fingerprints and CPR. Funds for clothing twice a year ($100). | English | TFI has an annual foster parent retreat. They have a counseling team available. They license single parents, cohabiting, married, and same-sex couples. | Yes |
| Texas Girls and Boys Ranch Kaylee Newbold 806-773-9456 knewbold@txgbr.org | Online, In-Person | TXGBR can help as needed. | English | TXGBR has a monthly support group with childcare, holiday parties, and summer programs. Equine therapy is available in addition to typical therapy services. Mentors are available for foster parents and children. Childcare during training is available. Applicants must be single or married for two years. | Yes |
| Upbring Monica Casey monica.casey@upbring.org https://upbring.org/ | Online, In-Person | Reimbursements for fingerprints, pet vaccination, and inspections. Other needs are also considered. | English | Upbring has foster parent meetings and mentors available for support. There are also parties throughout the year. Childcare is available during training when needed. They license same sex couples, any marriage requirements depend on the case |