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Families navigating Child Protective Services (CPS) cases often face challenges related to housing, food access, transportation, childcare, and mental health. Austin provides a strong network of governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations designed to help families stabilize, comply with CPS service plans, and ensure children remain safe and supported throughout the CPS process. These community resources play a vital role in helping parents, relatives, and caregivers rebuild stability and work toward reunification.
Food and Basic Needs Assistance
Parents involved in CPS cases may need help meeting essential needs while completing service plans. Austin offers several programs that provide food support, emergency financial assistance, and basic household resources.
Central Texas Food Bank
The Central Texas Food Bank serves Austin and surrounding counties through mobile food distributions, partner food pantries, and emergency grocery programs. Families can use the Food Bank’s online tools to locate nearby food assistance sites.
Catholic Charities of Central Texas
Catholic Charities provides food pantry access, limited rental and utility assistance, case management, disaster relief services, and budgeting support—resources that help families maintain stability while navigating CPS requirements.
Foundation Communities
This nonprofit helps Austin families with financial coaching, rental support (when available), income tax assistance, and stability programs aimed at preventing crises that can affect CPS cases.
Family and Child Support Services
Many CPS service plans require parenting classes, counseling, or support programs. Austin offers organizations committed to strengthening family relationships and preventing child abuse or neglect.
Any Baby Can
Provides parenting education, in-home support, early childhood intervention, and counseling programs. These services are often used by CPS families to meet curriculum and support requirements.
Center for Child Protection (CCP)
The CCP partners with law enforcement and CPS to provide forensic interviews, medical evaluations, therapy services, and family advocacy for child abuse victims and their caregivers.
Austin Child Guidance Center
Offers outpatient mental health counseling, family therapy, psychiatric evaluations, and trauma-informed services for children involved in CPS cases.
Crisis Response, Housing Assistance, and Domestic Violence Services
Housing instability, family violence, and unsafe living conditions are common contributing factors in CPS investigations. Austin provides multiple shelter and crisis programs to support families in immediate need.
SAFE Alliance (SAFE Austin)
SAFE provides emergency shelter, domestic violence services, sexual assault support, counseling, safety planning, and legal advocacy for survivors. CPS often works with SAFE when cases involve family violence concerns.
Caritas of Austin
Caritas offers housing assistance, case management, meal programs, and support services for families experiencing homelessness or facing eviction—key stability factors in CPS cases.
ECHO (Ending Community Homelessness Coalition)
ECHO coordinates access to community shelters, transitional housing, and supportive housing services. Families working toward CPS reunification may rely on ECHO resources to secure stable housing.
Information, Referrals, and Local Service Access
CPS families often need help navigating complex support systems such as childcare, medical care, housing assistance, and mental health services.
2-1-1 Texas (Central Texas Region)
Families can call 2-1-1 or visit the website to find up-to-date information on services including:
- Food pantries
- Rental and utility assistance
- Childcare and parenting support
- Domestic violence services
- Mental health and substance abuse programs
- Shelter and emergency housing
- Senior and disability resources
This statewide resource is essential for CPS-involved families seeking guidance on available community programs.
Austin CPS Resources for Families: Food, Housing & CounselingSummary
Austin provides a strong network of governmental and nonprofit organizations that support CPS-involved families. From food assistance and housing support to counseling programs and crisis shelters, these services help parents and caregivers create a safe, stable environment for their children. Accessing these resources can also help families complete service plan requirements and work toward reunification or long-term caregiving stability.
