Belong asks Frio County to reestablish child welfare board to keep foster youth local

Frio County commissioners on June 10 heard a request from Belong representatives to reestablish a county child welfare board to help return children in foster care to the county and pursue federal funding to support placements.

Belong community liaison Billy Alonso introduced the presentation and said the organization and local volunteers want the county to formally reauthorize a board so the group can apply for federal grants and coordinate placements. "We're not asking for any money. At this point, that would be years down the road because we can get funding federally, once we do establish [a] child welfare board," Alonso said.

Dr. Knox, speaking for Belong, told the court the board must be formally appointed by the commissioners to be recognized by the Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards and to access federal resources. "Until we get a child welfare board up and running, we're not gonna be able to get those kids back to this county," Knox said, noting placements are now outside the county in Houston and Dallas.

Roger Navarro, who identified himself as a former child protective services investigator, described operational gaps he observed during removals, saying local agencies often lacked placement options and sometimes had to send children out of county. "Whenever any type of removal happens here in Frio County, they're the ones that will actually help facilitate and get any kind of materials needed for the child or children or find the facility where they're gonna be housed," Navarro said.

Belong told commissioners it has potential board members ready and is coordinating with local partners, including Restoring Hope. The group asked the court to place the matter on a future agenda so commissioners can appoint members and begin the formal process.

Commissioners responded that county officials would follow up and set meetings to begin drafting appointments; no formal county action was taken at the June 10 meeting.

Why it matters: A formally appointed child welfare board would make Frio County eligible for some federal funding streams and could help keep children placed closer to home, supporters said. The presentation emphasized the board is a county-authorized entity whose members must be appointed by the commissioners.

Next steps: Belong representatives said they will provide a list of proposed members and requested that commissioners place an item on a forthcoming agenda to consider reestablishing the board.