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FosterData

Texas

Foster care in Texas, from Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) official data, down to every county.

children in substitute care

DFPS CPS 3.2 · Aug 31, 2025

removals from home

DFPS CPS 2.1 · FY 2025

children reunified with family

DFPS CPS 2.8 · FY 2025

adoptions consummated

DFPS CPS 4.5 · FY 2025

youth aged out

DFPS CPS 2.8 · FY 2025

Texas explorer

Every county. Pick a measure, find your county, download the table.

Children in substitute care

Aug 31, 2025
  • 0
  • up to 6
  • 6–15
  • 15–29
  • 29–66
  • over 66
  • Not reported

Source: CPS 3.2 Children in Substitute Care by Placement Type on August 31 FY2016-2025, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Retrieved 2026-10-04. Children living in a DFPS out-of-home placement on August 31, 2025. Includes youth 18+ in extended foster care.

See the need close to home, then see what you can do about it.

Search above or tap the map to see a county’s numbers side by side, with its share of the Texas total (16,866 in care).

Counties ranked by children in substitute care

Children in substitute care by county, Aug 31, 2025
#CountyIn care
1
2,011
2
1,876
3
1,419
4
1,039
5
393
6
383
7
351
8
347
9
343
10
323
11
313
12
305
13
254
14
245
15
233
  • · Blank means the county does not appear in that DFPS dataset for FY 2025. DFPS omits rows with no count, so read blank as “none reported,” not a verified zero.
  • · Exits (reunification, aged out) are attributed to the county where the case ended. DFPS does not state whether substitute-care counts use the legal or placement county.
  • · Counts reflect population size and local practice. They are signals of pressure on local families and services, not scores of any county, agency or family.
  • · Per-1,000 rates use the DFPS 2025 child population (ages 0–17). In small counties a handful of children can swing a rate sharply; read rates next to counts.

Trends

Ten years of Texas foster care

Texas fiscal years run September 1 to August 31. Removals fell by half after FY 2021 and rose again in FY 2025. Every series is from the DFPS Data Book.

  • Removals
  • In substitute care (Aug 31)
  • In DFPS custody (Aug 31)
013K25K38K50KFY16FY17FY18FY19FY20FY21FY22FY23FY24FY2517,623 In DFPS cust…16,866 In substitut…10,011 Removals
Definitions & sources for this view

The way home

How children left care in FY 2025

Of 9,876 exits, nearly three in four were to a parent or relative.

  • Reunified with family3,22333%
  • Custody to relatives2,83729%
  • Adopted by relatives1,20112%
  • Adopted by non-relatives1,74118%
  • Aged out (emancipation)7728%
  • Other1021%

Source: DFPS Data Book CPS 2.8 Exits by Exit Type, FY 2025. “Custody to relatives” combines exits with and without Permanency Care Assistance (PCA).

Regions

11 DFPS regions

Texas DFPS regions, FY 2025
RegionIn care, Aug 31RemovalsAdoptions
3 · Arlington
3,783
2,200644
8 · San Antonio
2,710
1,533474
6 · Houston
2,550
1,305398
7 · Austin
2,009
1,356402
11 · Edinburg
1,480
1,007187
4 · Tyler
1,116
762202
1 · Lubbock
1,009
543160
2 · Abilene
870
503152
5 · Beaumont
671
420173
9 · Midland
434
273105
10 · El Paso
234
10845

Source: DFPS Data Book, FY 2025. One removal with region “Unknown” is excluded.

Cross-check with federal data

The federal AFCARS dashboard counted 17,520 Texas children in foster care on September 30, 2025. DFPS counted 16,866 in substitute care on August 31, 2025. Different days and definitions; both official. Why the numbers differ →

Texas stories

All 10 →

The need is close to home. So is the first step.

DFPS's first step is a free information meeting. You can work with DFPS or a private agency that partners with it.

DFPS: Get Started →Other ways to help