Bill > HB3853

This bill requires foster parents in Texas who care for children in the state's conservatorship (legal custody) to complete a comprehensive trauma-informed care training program. The training must cover six key areas: understanding trauma symptoms and their impact on child development, emotions, memories, and decision-making; exploring attachment issues; explaining how trauma-informed care can help children build resilience; emphasizing the importance of proper trauma screening and the risks of mislabeling or inappropriately treating children; discussing the potential for re-traumatization; and providing information about research-supported, non-pharmacological interventions and trauma-informed mental health services. The Department of Family and Protective Services must adopt rules to implement this training requirement and ensure that foster parents complete the training by September 1, 2027. The bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and is designed to help foster parents better understand and support children who have experienced trauma.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3853