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 personalized approach to foster care called the Texas Child-Centered Care Model, or T3C. This model centers on the well-being of each child and recognizes that every child’s journey is unique. It prioritizes trauma-informed practices, individualized care plans, and better long-term outcomes.

At the same time, Texas has embraced a significant shift toward kinship care – joining children with relatives or trusted adults they already know when they cannot safely remain with their parents. This approach recognizes what we’ve always known: that children thrive when they maintain connections to their family, culture, and community. The research is clear – children in kinship placements experience more stability, stronger identities, and better long-term outcomes.

Perhaps most significantly, Texas is advancing its shift to Community Based Care – shifting responsibility for services from the state to local networks of private providers who understand the communities they serve. This approach allows for more responsive services tailored to each region’s unique needs. It’s a promising change, but one that requires infrastructure, collaboration, and resources.

Through it all, Arms Wide has stayed true to our mission: connecting children in foster care with safe, nurturing families. But we know that our work cannot end when permanency is achieved. This is why our Permanency Support Programs are so critical. These programs provide ongoing support to families long after court decrees and orders have been signed, because permanency isn’t the end of the story, it’s the beginning of a new chapter.

As we navigate these transformative shifts in child welfare, I must emphasize that our work would be impossible without your support. In our 2024 Impact Report, you will see how your support – whether through donating, volunteering, or becoming a foster or adoptive parent – continues to improve the lives of the children we serve. I am so grateful to know that we have a community of supporters that not only empower us to respond to changes in the child welfare system – they help to shape a future where every child knows the security of a permanent, loving family, and every family has the resources they need to thrive.