Second Chances Foster Care

What's missing from our mission is you

Every volunteer, partnership and dollar takes us one step closer to breaking the cycle of abuse for Texas children. Join us.

What you can do

Partnerships

Uniting our collective power

In Texas in 2024, approximately 9,220 children were removed from their homes. Securing a future free from the damage of abuse cannot be achieved by one agency alone — it requires a sustained, collaborative effort. We are deeply thankful to join forces with strategic partners who share our mission of safety, healing, and hope for children and families.

Volunteer

Help us write a new story

Volunteers are vital to the work of breaking the cycle of child abuse. As you give of your time, your talents, your encouragement and care, hope rises in the hearts of the children you serve. New stories develop in their minds and memories. Stories of healing and hope replace the damages of abuse.

General Requirements

  • Adult volunteers must be 21 years of age and graduated from high school or equivalent
  • Able to communicate well in English (second language skills are a plus)
  • Complete the volunteer application (based on volunteer event)
  • Attend a 1-hour orientation session

What to Expect After Applying

  1. Applications can take 1-2 weeks to process.
  2. Once your application has been processed, we will contact you to arrange an appointment for a personal interview.
  3. We will discuss a volunteer role that will be fulfilling for you and meet the needs of our Upbring family.

Planned Giving

When a child is nurtured, a heart begins healing

Our mission to break the cycle of abuse starts with the most humble steps forward. For some children coming out of abuse, it’s having their own bed, a warm blanket and four sturdy walls around them for the first time in their lives. For others, the cycle of abuse erodes when a compassionate foster parent holds a child’s hand for the first time. Every new beginning starts with an act of love, powered by the resources and support of Upbring. No matter the size or frequency, every dollar counts.

Make a plan, begin a lasting impact

By making a plan for your contributions, you provide a gift that will serve children and families significantly over time, from the toddlers who need a forever home to the teenage women who are ready to start a new chapter after a life of abuse. Here are the many ways you can contribute:

Will or Trust

A gift made through a will or living trust can be made with a simple provision or amendment prepared by your attorney. Gifts included in wills and living trusts are popular because they are flexible, easy to arrange and may be changed with your life circumstances.

Charitable Gift Annuity

A charitable gift annuity permits you to transfer assets to Upbring in return for a partial tax deduction and a fixed income for your lifetime. Charitable gift annuities are easy to establish and can be funded with relatively modest amounts.

Charitable Lead Trust

A charitable lead trust is an irrevocable trust that allows you to provide financial support to Upbring for a specific period of time, with the remaining assets eventually going to family members or other beneficiaries.

IRA and Retirement Plan Gifts

A retirement plan can be a tax-efficient way of including Upbring in your estate plan by simply naming Upbring as a beneficiary on your plans designation form.

Real Estate

Property such as a house, apartment, condominium or vacation home constitutes a significant percentage of a person’s net assets and can also be a tax-deductible gift.

Securities

Giving securities is one of the most effective ways to give from a tax planning perspective. Securities that are publicly traded, purchased over a year ago and have increased in value, can be an especially attractive way to fund a donation to Upbring.