Kinship

In a testament to the power of unconditional love, a medically fragile foster youth held on to life just long enough to experience the security of a permanent family, passing away peacefully on the very day his adoption was finalized. The journey began when Alyssa Sadler and her family stepped into foster care with a deep sense of purpose, opening ...

Kristy and Ryan Anderson always knew they wanted to foster or adopt. The conversation started while they were dating, fueled by their personal histories. Kristy was raised by a stepfather who loved her as his own and she spent seven years working in a neonatal intensive care unit caring for infants born addicted to drugs. Ryan grew up watching his ...

The Association for Training on Attachment and Children (ATTACh) concluded its annual conference April 10. With the ATTACh Conference in the rearview, Arrow Child and Family Ministries is celebrating a week of collaborative learning and clinical presentation aimed at strengthening the foster care community. The conference, themed “Healing Connection: The Heart of the Matter,” brings together international professionals and caregivers ...

Generations United Grandfamilies and Kinship Support Network recently designated Arrow Child and Family Ministries a ‘nationally exemplary kinship practice.’ A designation which recognizes the organization’s commitment to keeping children with family and the intentional design of Arrow’s Kinship Straight Adopt (KSA) program. According to Arrow’s Senior Vice President of Texas Programs, Carolyn Bishop, the designation reflects the belief that family-first approaches ...

Arrow Child and Family Ministries' Brownwood office marked a major milestone in its commitment to family wellness this year, celebrating the first graduate of its newest trauma-informed initiative. After launching the Nurturing Parenting Program in October 2025, Behavioral Health Services staff proudly presented the inaugural certificate of completion to a dedicated caregiver on Friday, Feb. 6. The Nurturing Parenting Program ...

Family Centered Treatment (FCT) is an evidence and home-based treatment which reduces the need for out-of-home placements. It has been refined based on research, experience and effectiveness, meeting families where they are to help them build a path forward. An Arrow family is showing us how the process of Family Centered Treatment can transform a household to help them find ...

Arrow was honored to join Craig Cohen on Houston Public Media’s Houston Matters radio show on Thursday, Feb. 12, for a meaningful conversation about multicultural adoptions in Texas. Scott Batson, Associate VP of Capacity Development, and Natalie Kelly, an adoptive parent of five African American children, shared insight into how adoption works across the state and why culturally responsive placements ...

In 2025, the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services (TACFS) named 4Kids4Families Regional Kinship Manager for 4Kids4Families, Skye Hayes, as this year’s SSCC Staff Member of the Year. The award is a high honor in Texas child welfare as it recognizes staff across the state who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to children and families. “It makes me emotional,” 4Kids4Families Regional ...

Recently, the Texas legislature announced its adoption and implementation of the Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) Kinship Licensing Standards, which were unveiled in October of this year. These updated standards recognize the unique challenges kinship families face and thoughtfully remove many barriers that previously overwhelmed the licensing process. This shift precedes the federal government’s move to allow states to ...

Kinship Camp Weekend Thanks to the generosity of donors who made it possible for kinship families to experience an unforgettable and life-changing weekend at Camp For All! Your support reminds kinship families that they are not alone! Check out the full story here! ...