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Parent Resource Workgroup

The Parent Resource Workgroup supports efforts to assist parents in understanding the Texas child welfare system, their role and responsibilities when involved in a child welfare case, and the roles and responsibilities of others. As a result of these efforts, the Family Helpline and Parent Resource Guide were created. 

Please visit the sections below to learn more about our current projects or the Reports & Resources page for recent publications.

In 2017, the Children’s Commission partnered with Access to Justice and the Children’s Justice Act to fund the Texas Legal Services Corporation to establish the Family Helpline for Strong Families and Safe Children (“Family Helpline”), which provides easily available, statewide access for parents, family members, and community members to basic information, education, and resources addressing issues facing parents and caregivers as they relate to child welfare law including: 

  • Child Protective Investigations;
  • The provision of Family-Based Safety Services;
  • Safety Plan and Parental Child Safety Placements;
  • Chapter 34 non-parent agreements;
  • Termination of parental rights;
  • Custody, access, and visitation;
  • Service plans;
  • The court’s role in conducting hearings and oversight;
  • The right to legal counsel;
  • Non-offending parents, minor parents, and incarcerated parents;
  • Survivors of family violence;
  • Intergenerational issues;
  • Reinstatement of parental rights; and 
  • Other variations of these situations.

The Parent Resource Guide is a handbook designed to help parents and caregivers understand the Texas child welfare system, their roles and responsibilities when involved in a Child Protective Services case, and the roles and responsibilities of others. The guide is updated periodically and made available on the Children’s Commission website. A copy of the most recent version of the Parent Resource Guide is available below.