Eliminating Barriers and Empowering Futures Through Scholarships Arms Wide is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025–2026 David and Jacque Holland Scholarships. Each year, this life-changing scholarship program supports youth who have been served through our Foster Care, Adoption, and Permanency Support Services, helping open doors to educational and career opportunities that pave the
A Message From DeJuana S. Jernigan, MSW, President & CEO It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since I began my journey at Arms Wide. In that time, we’ve witnessed sweeping changes in the child welfare landscape – some of the most transformational our state has ever seen. Texas has adopted a new, more
Understanding the Experiences of Birth Children “Through Their Eyes” Even with the best intentions, foster and adoptive parents often unintentionally overlook the needs of their birth children. When parents choose to foster or adopt, the time and energy required to address the needs of the new child/children can leave birth children feeling neglected or sidelined.
A Thanksgiving Message from Annette Williams, Ph.D. It’s that time of the year again. A time when families get together, share meals and stories from the past. Although a pleasant time for some, the holidays can bring sadness especially for those who have lost loved ones or are experiencing hardships. In 2022, I wrote my
When a child experiences abuse or neglect and is separated from their birth home, an immediate priority for the team at Arms Wide is to support a relative to care for them, in what we call kinship care. This could either be a temporary arrangement or a permanent home, depending on the issues the parent(s)
One of our priorities is to ensure that there are enough families who are licensed and willing to welcome children experiencing foster care into their homes. However, more than half of states saw a significant decline in licensed foster homes in 2023 (fostercarecapacity.com). A recent study by Kidsave and Gallup provides insight into what keeps