Texas Child Centered Care (T3C) is a transformative project that will better define the foster care service continuum, modernize the methodology that goes into calculating the cost of foster care, and collectively establish a new foster care system in Texas. The system was designed improve outcomes for children, youth, and young adults by meeting the needs of the foster care population and compensating caregivers for delivering high-quality services that incentivize effective and individualized care.   

T3C also will clearly define foster care models and service packages in the GRO and CPA settings. The initiative includes 24 service packages and 3 add-on service packages set out across one tier for CPAs, as well as two tiers for GRO settings for children and youth with the most acute needs.

Each service package has a corresponding rate that better reflects the actual costs of care. Once implemented, T3C will help residential childcare providers and caregivers specialize in, and focus on, providing distinct and clearly defined services.   

The Department anticipates beginning to “credential” providers to deliver T3C services within this new service array starting in January 2025; credentialing will continue through August 2027.