University Of Texas Foundation
$25,000.00 through 8/31/19
Literacy First
Laila Scott, Board Member
Jordan Scott, President
Megan Etz, Program Manager
As a legacy of the RGK Foundation, Reissa is dedicated to making long-lasting change in the child welfare system across Texas. Building on the 50 years of grantmaking experience at RGK, we are engaged in listening, partnering, and research to align our work and make a positive impact.
About the Initiative
Our work in Texas is focused foremost on listening to the all those involved in and affected by the child welfare system. We know no single foundation can bring about systems-level change on its own, so we will collaborate with other funders and organizations. In our grantmaking, we aim to be innovative and progressive.
At this stage of our work, we emphasize:
- Engagement
- Relationship-Building
- Partnership
- Listening
The Goal
We want to engage with those working within the child welfare system, to understand their vision for systemic change. We know that many stakeholders are working together in this system. We want to understand their priorities and challenges. From these stakeholders, we hope to learn: How can we all make the foster care system better for children and families in Texas?
Focus Areas
Our grantmaking in Texas is built on three pillars for understanding and supporting the child welfare system:
- Research: We seek to learn how the child welfare system works, and help others learn.
- Advocacy: Because systemic change requires change at a statewide level, we help families and child welfare professionals tell their story to a statewide audience.
- Trauma Informed Care: At Reissa, we support this emerging best practice in the child welfare system, and promote its adoption across Texas.
20%
The percentage of foster kids who go through 4 or more placements in foster care
3
The average number of years kids are in the Travis County foster system
1,200
The number of kids who age out of Texas’s foster system every year
Grantees
Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Travis County
$25,000.00 through 8/31/18
Early Family Engagement Expansion
Foster Angels Of Central Texas Foundation
$20,000.00 through 2/28/18
General Support