VZC Child Welfare Board: Part of bigger picture

Many Van Zandt county citizens may not be aware of the local Child Welfare Board, but the board is an integral part of a network of child-centered service organizations that help to support Van Zandt county children in the foster care system. 

The Van Zandt County Child Welfare board is made up of volunteers throughout the community who work in cooperation with the state agency staff who deliver the Child Protective Services (CPS) program at the grass-roots level.  The CWB falls under the jurisdiction of the local county commissioner’s court.  In the state of Texas, county boards contribute $20-30 million dollars annually to meet the needs of children in the foster care system that cannot be met by the limited state funding of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) according the Texas Council for Child Welfare Boards’ website.   The Child Welfare Board allocates federal, state and local funds to accommodate some of these needs including birthday presents, Christmas gifts and various school-related items like sports equipment.  These are the things that make a child feel like a child.  Many of the children in the foster care system have been abused and/or grossly neglected.  They have been removed from their home.  In 2015 there were 17,151 children removed from their homes in Texas.  Also in 2015, 27,895 children were placed in substitute care.  Of those children, 16,378 were placed in foster care and 11,517 were placed in kinship & adoptive care.  Our county, through the Child Welfare Board, can provide a bright moment in their current dark situation.

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