Texas Service Members, Veterans, and Families
Program Description
The Service Members, Veterans, and Families program provides support for families of children birth to 17 years old in which one or both parents are serving, or have served, in the armed forces, reserves or National Guard. Through parenting support, education, counseling, and youth development programming, the program:
- Builds on the strengths of caregivers and children to promote strong families.
- Partners with military and veteran caregivers to support positive parental involvement in their children's lives.
- Partners with military and veteran caregivers to maximize their ability to give their children emotional, physical and financial support.
- Builds community coalitions focused on promoting positive outcomes for children, youth and familes.
Service Focus
Military families with children ages birth to 17 years old in which one or both parents are serving, or have served, in the armed forces, reserves or National Guard.
Map of Providers and Communities
Measures of Success
- Children remain safe during services and within one to three years after services.
- Increase in protective factors, such as family functioning and resiliency, social supports, and nurturing and attachment.
Program Data
- Program start date: 2014
- Target number of youth/families served annually, FY 2024: 1,917
- Average number of youth/families served per month, FY 2023: 527
- Counties served: 12
- Annual budget for community contracts: $1,825,000
- Total number of community grantees: 5 grantees, 6 subgrantees
- Average grantee budget: $365,000
Success Story
Child Crisis Center, El Paso
Grace joined her local Service Members, Veterans, and Families program after hearing information about it through an outreach coordinator at a community event. At the time, Grace was pregnant, parenting two children and feeling overwhelmed about her husband's upcoming deployment. She mentioned wanting to participate in program classes to sharpen her parenting strategies.
Through participation in group classes, Grace became part of a community of parent participants and set up a playdate for her children with other group members.
Grace was able to access child care through the program so her husband could attend the birth of their child. Grace continued to attend classes, and she is planning to enroll in wraparound services through the program. Grace said the program helped her learn parenting strategies and develop a support system.