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Fort Worth families navigating financial hardship, food insecurity, unstable housing, or emotional challenges—especially those involved in Child Protective Services (CPS) cases—have access to a wide range of governmental and nonprofit resources. These organizations offer referrals, crisis support, and direct assistance that can help stabilize households, promote child safety, and support parents working toward CPS reunification or compliance with service plans.
Food and Basic Needs Assistance
The Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) provides food assistance throughout Fort Worth and surrounding Tarrant County communities. Through mobile food distributions, partner pantries, and community-based programs, TAFB ensures families have access to groceries and emergency food supplies. CPS-involved parents who need help meeting basic needs can use TAFB’s online locator to find available services.
Catholic Charities Fort Worth offers a variety of programs designed to reduce poverty, prevent homelessness, and support family stability. Services may include food assistance, limited emergency rent and utility help, case management, financial coaching, and disaster relief. These programs often serve parents working to meet CPS expectations while improving their financial situation.
Community Enrichment Center (CEC) also connects Fort Worth families to food assistance, clothing resources, crisis support, and referrals. Their programs include limited financial aid and support services for individuals and families experiencing acute hardship—resources that can help CPS-involved parents create safer, more stable home environments.
Family and Child Support Services
The Parenting Center, based in Fort Worth, offers counseling, parenting classes, and family education programs designed to strengthen parent-child relationships and reduce the risk of abuse or neglect. These programs can support CPS service plan requirements and help families build healthier communication and parenting habits.
The Alliance for Children, Tarrant County’s recognized children’s advocacy center, works with CPS, law enforcement, and medical professionals to support children who have experienced abuse. They provide forensic interviews, family advocacy, counseling, and trauma-informed services for children and non-offending caregivers involved in CPS cases.
Crisis Response, Housing Support, and Domestic Violence Services
SafeHaven of Tarrant County provides confidential shelter, transitional housing, counseling, and legal advocacy for survivors of domestic violence. Many CPS cases involve safety concerns, and SafeHaven offers protective services that help families escape dangerous environments and comply with CPS risk-reduction plans.
The City of Fort Worth, through its Directions Home program and partner agencies, offers crisis housing assistance for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Services include emergency shelter, transitional housing, meal programs, and case management. These programs support CPS-involved families who must secure stable housing to meet reunification requirements.
Other local agencies listed in emergency assistance directories provide temporary housing, utility help, and wraparound support for eligible residents throughout Tarrant County.
Information, Referral, and Access to Local Services
Families seeking help with food, shelter, mental health care, utilities, medical services, childcare, or senior resources can contact 2-1-1 Texas. This free statewide information and referral service, operated in partnership with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, connects callers with up-to-date community resources, including family support programs, shelters, rental assistance, and child services. For parents involved in CPS, 2-1-1 can be an essential tool for locating the support needed to complete service plans and stabilize their households.
Together, these Fort Worth-based governmental and nonprofit organizations provide a crucial safety net for families experiencing crisis or engaging with CPS. Whether a family is addressing temporary challenges or navigating a long-term CPS case, these services help connect parents and caregivers with the support necessary to strengthen their homes and promote child well-being.
