Texas foster care agency cancels troubled provider’s contract

Summary by The San Antonio Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Texas Tribune, Terri Langford, KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) · July 21, 2026 · 3 min read

Four months after two children’s deaths and other staffing problems at Dallas-based foster care provider EMPOWER forced the state to place it into receivership , the agency’s commissioner took action on Tuesday and abruptly canceled the private company’s contract. In a letter sent to Texas Family...

Why this matters in The San Antonio

The cancellation of EMPOWER's contract raises concerns about the state's ability to effectively manage its foster care system, particularly in light of San Antonio's own experiences with privatization. As Bexar County continues to navigate its own child welfare needs, the failures of EMPOWER serve as a cautionary tale about the importance of rigorous oversight and accountability in private foster care providers. The transition of services to new contractors, Our Community Our Kids and Texas Family Care Network, will be closely watched, especially given the high stakes for the over 2,000 children affected. San Antonio residents should pay close attention to how these changes impact the broader foster care landscape, and whether the state's efforts to improve quality and safety will have a positive ripple effect in local communities. The city's own child welfare initiatives may need to adapt in response to the state's shifting approach to foster care management.

About this story

Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: government · Published: July 21, 2026 · Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) · Reading time: 3 min

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This article was first published on July 21, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.

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Summary created by	The San Antonio Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Texas Tribune, Terri Langford, KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 21, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 21, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Texas foster care agency cancels troubled provider’s contract

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