This week, TACFS hosted CBC7 Chat, an information session with Region 7 providers and stakeholders ahead of the long-awaited launch of Community-Based Care in their area
After years of community convenings, landscape analyses, letters to state leadership, and countless hours of preparation, Community-Based Care is coming to Central Texas. And we think Region 7 is ready.
CBC7 is a coalition of regional providers, the judicial community, CASAs, bridge organizations, and more. TACFS recently hosted an information session bringing together these stakeholders, and representatives from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Office of Community-Based Care Transition. The conversation offered an important update on where things stand and on what comes next.
The Long Road to Launch
CBC7’s readiness work formally launched in 2020, funded by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, though community discussions about foster care system transformation have long been happening. Since then, the coalition has conducted a comprehensive landscape analysis, hosted six community conversations in the past year alone, and delivered formal feedback directly to DFPS’s Office of Community-Based Care Transition.
Anticipation is building across the region and while no official RFA release date was announced during the session, a procurement is expected to drop soon.
What Providers Need to Know
For organizations watching and waiting, the CBC7 Chat session offered a clear-eyed look at the procurement and implementation process. The RFA opens, a contract is awarded, and from there, the selected Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) enters a structured, staged rollout.
Panelists emphasized that these timelines are estimates. The region’s readiness drives the schedule, and extensions are not uncommon. The staged approach exists to set providers and the SSCC up for success.
A Great Position for Region 7
Perhaps the most encouraging message of the session was this: Region 7 is entering this process from a position of genuine strength. Years of community engagement through CBC7 have produced a well-informed provider network, a clear articulation of regional priorities, and relationships between community organizations and state leadership that took years to build.
“Whoever is awarded the contract will inherit a great region. The provider network is strong and ready,” said Tracy Rock, formerly in leadership at Region 8As Roy Maas Youth Alternatives. “There are lessons learned from regions that went first.”
Meaning Region 7 benefits from a more refined transition process than earlier implementers experienced.
Stay Informed
Providers and community members who want to stay current on RFA activity are encouraged to subscribe to DFPS’ mailing list and visit their CBC website online. CBC7 will also be distributing updates directly to the network.