More Than Paperwork: How Foster Care Licensing Helped Nikki's Family

In Spring 2021, Nikki's family celebrated the birth of her cousin Karter. He was the sixth child born into a family with a history of challenges. Unfortunately, circumstances warranted intervention, and when Child Protective Services (CPS) stepped in, everything changed. CPS asked Nikki to become Karter's Kinship Caregiver while they supervised his parents’ efforts to make it safe for him to return home. It was optional, but if she did not say yes, Karter would enter foster care.

Caring for a newborn is a lot of work, so taking on the responsibility with no warning is extremely hard. Nikki had to quickly find a rhythm for her 10-year-old daughter, Avery, and Karter, and establish stability in their home environment. She also had to learn CPS rules, work with lawyers and case workers, take Karter to family visitation, and ensure he attended all his necessary medical appointments. 

Need help as a kinship caregiver in Texas?

Call (281) 324-0544 or

Text "Kinship" to (281) 324-0544

When CPS asked Nikki to care for Karter, they also asked her to take in two of his siblings, Tyler (7) and Trinitee (5). She didn't think she could manage four children by herself, but she felt guilty for saying no and worried about the kids.

She asked the CPS worker if she could meet Tyler and Trinitee's foster parents, hoping it would bring some peace of mind. It did. She was surprised to discover they only lived five minutes away. The families began connecting regularly. This helped Tyler, Trinitee, and Karter get to know each other and calmed Nikki’s spirit.

Nikki could tell that Trinitee and Tyler were making real progress as their foster parents helped them begin the healing process. Things started to feel more stable at home for Nikki, too, and she sensed that God was preparing her heart for another change. She was glad that Tyler and Trinitee were with a safe, loving family, but she wanted the kids to grow up involved in every aspect of each other’s lives. She asked for Tyler and Trinitee to come and live with her, and the team agreed it would be best.

CPS team members suggested that Nikki become a verified foster parent at various stages as the process progressed. Kinship care has less regulation but also affords fewer resources. Getting verified by a child-placing agency provides much more support.

Many kinship families don't pursue this because the benefits are unclear, or they expect that the children will return to their parents soon enough that it won’t be worth the effort. Nikki eventually connected with Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services (PCHAS) after hearing Tyler and Trinitee's foster family share about their experience with the agency.

Nikki took almost a year to complete her verification. As a busy working mom coordinating visits and court requirements on her own, the requirements felt overwhelming, and sometimes she wondered if she'd finish. 

But looking back, Nikki says, "The support PCHAS gave me was top tier." She felt genuinely cared for. "They checked in and asked, 'How can we help?' and they meant it. They helped me fill out forms, took care of details... it was like having an assistant!"

PCHAS blessed Nikki and the children at Christmas, bringing gifts for all the kids, including Avery. "They always included her in every single thing," Nikki said.

Nikki thought she'd have Karter for weeks or months. When she completed verification, he'd been with her for over two years. The team estimated that the children’s cases would wrap up in six months, but it took another 21 months.

The court eventually named Nikki as the Permanent Managing Conservator for the children, entitling her to Permanency Care Assistance benefits. While initially annoyed by delays, she's now glad it wasn't just six months. "I got to know people at PCHAS, and they got to know my kids. They really helped us, and the changes Tyler and Trinitee made are dramatic."

Nikki shares invaluable wisdom for other kinship caregivers:

Trust the process: "There's a lot of training, but it's valuable. I learned things about my kids I thought I knew, but didn't. It seems tedious, but it's worth it; trust the process."

Be open to new approaches: Nikki learned Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®). "I was raised with 'spare the rod, spoil the child.' The training forced me to look at parenting differently. I wasn't eager to try it, but it was so worth it."

Consider financial reality: Kinship families rarely say “yes” because of money, but raising kids is expensive, and finances can become an issue. “It's not all about financial support, but you don't know what the future holds." Verification leads to expanded, long-term benefits that may help in ways you can’t anticipate right now.

Trust the support: "I didn't want to go through all the steps, but looking back, I don't wish PCHAS had done anything different. They gave me grace, worked with me, and were mindful of my whole situation." Nikki said, "I didn't do it all on my own. My family was a huge help. With the support of my aunts and uncles, the kids have a true village."

If you're a kinship caregiver in Texas, PCHAS is here to help. We have offices in Itasca, Irving, Wichita Falls, and Graham.

To contact your Foster Care & Adoption Guide:

• Call (281) 324-0544


• Text "Kinship" to (281) 324-0544


• Email FosterAdopt@pchas.org