Texas Child-Centered Care (T3C) is a transformative project that better defines the foster care service continuum, modernizes the methodology that goes into calculating the cost of foster care, and collectively establishes a new foster care system in Texas. The system was designed to 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 clearly defines foster care models and service packages in the General Residential Operations (GRO) and Child Placing Agency (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. T3C will help residential childcare providers and caregivers specialize in, and focus on, providing distinct and clearly defined services.   

The Department began credentialing providers to deliver T3C service packages in early 2025 and will continue through August 2027.