The 3 Internal Systems You Need Before Applying for T3C Services

The right people in the right place at the right time is critical to your T3C success

Texas foster care agencies are eager to expand their service offerings under T3C. However, agencies often move forward with applications before their internal operations are adequately equipped to sustain the expansion.

Expansion without infrastructure leads to broken systems, staff burnout, and disrupted care for children and families.

If you plan to apply for additional service types, start by ensuring that three key internal systems are already functioning well. These systems are the foundation on which credentialing and service success depend.

1. Staffing Structure That Matches the Blueprint

T3C services are not just about what you offer—they’re about who delivers them and how. Success depends on having the right people in the right place at the right time. Before applying for a new service package, ask:

• Do we have clearly defined roles, aligned with service expectations?

• Are Program Directors, Supervisors, and Direct Care Staff in place, trained, and functioning at the right capacity?

• Are we scheduling and staffing in a way that prevents overload and ensures consistent coverage?

• Can we maintain continuity if one or more key roles experience turnover?

It’s not enough to fill a position. Agencies must understand how each role functions within the service model and whether that model is sustainable under current conditions.

Your staff model should be able to absorb new responsibilities without diluting the quality of care or compliance oversight.

2. Training and Supervision Systems That Stick under the T3C Framework

Many agencies check off pre-service and annual training requirements but lack systems for reinforcement. T3C services require:

• Targeted training aligned to the population being served (e.g., pregnant/parenting youth, substance use, or IDD)

• Supervision that includes coaching, feedback, and fidelity checks—not just administrative file reviews

• Ongoing staff development that tracks competency, not just completion

You don’t need a perfect training system—but you do need one that’s functional, trackable, and integrated into your leadership approach.

3. Quality and Review Loops That Catch Gaps Early

Without internal quality assurance systems, compliance gaps are only caught during audits, or worse, after a complaint. Before adding new services, agencies should have:

• A process for reviewing files and documentation monthly or quarterly

• Leadership reviews of patterns (e.g., missed contacts, overdue plans, caregiver feedback)

• A plan for internal corrections and retraining

If your current caseload is already challenging to manage, adding new services will only increase the risk.

Final Word

Credentialing is not a badge of ambition—it’s a commitment to deliver high-quality, child-centered care. Expanding services under T3C is a big opportunity. But expansion without infrastructure leads to instability.

Build the systems first. Then grow.