PFPartnerships For Children
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About Partnerships For Children
A child entering the CPS system may need something immediate, like diapers, a car seat, a bed, or a backpack. Partnerships For Children helps caseworkers meet those needs through Rainbow Rooms in Austin and Waco, while also supporting children, youth, and families with mentoring, music lessons, holiday gifts, adoption outreach, and family assistance. In 2024, its Rainbow Rooms provided essential items to 8,604 children and their families, and Holiday Wishes delivered more than 22,500 presents to 7,500 children across 33 counties. Your donation helps turn urgent needs into practical support, and gives young people room to build skills, relationships, and a next step.
Partnerships For Children puts 24/7 supply centers inside CPS offices, so caseworkers can access essentials for children and families in their care. It also stays alongside young people beyond the immediate crisis, with programs such as KING music mentoring, NextStep career support, and the Heart Gallery of Central Texas for children awaiting adoption.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Rainbow Room
24/7 supply centers located within CPS offices in Austin and Waco. Caseworkers obtain essential items such as diapers, formula, clothing, beds, backpacks, car seats, hygiene supplies, and household items for children and families.
Holiday Wishes
Provides holiday gifts for children connected to CPS by matching their wishes with community donors and sponsors.
Heart Gallery of Central Texas
Uses professional portraits, community exhibits, and weekly local news segments to connect children in CPS care who are awaiting adoption with families interested in adoption.
NextStep Mentoring
Connects youth and young adults impacted by foster care with caring professionals for mentoring, life-skills training, job-readiness preparation, career exploration, professional shadowing, and workforce support.
Kids in a New Groove, KING
Provides youth ages 5 and older who have experience with the child welfare system with free weekly private music lessons and one-on-one mentoring relationships.
YES Mentoring and Mission Possible
Supports teens and young adults connected with the child welfare system through mentoring, financial literacy, life-skills activities, job readiness, budgeting, goal setting, and career development.
Foster Community
A network of nonprofits, government agencies, and community leaders that provides resources, information sessions, and support for families involved with or at risk of involvement with the child welfare system.
Back-to-School Support
Provides backpacks and school supplies to children connected with CPS and helps caseworkers request supplies for individual children.
Family Resource Assistance
Provides resources such as meal delivery, grocery gift cards, rent assistance, utility assistance, transportation assistance, and household essentials to families connected with CPS.
About this work
Mission
To make tomorrow better than today by supporting and empowering children, youth, and families involved with Child Protective Services.
Who they serve
Children, youth, and families involved with or connected to Child Protective Services, including children awaiting adoption, youth transitioning into adulthood, foster families, kinship families, and families involved or at risk of involvement with the child welfare system.
Their impact
- In 2024, 8,604 children and their families received essential items from the Rainbow Room.
- In 2024, the Rainbow Room distributed 58,494 diapers and 557 car seats, along with clothing and other essential items.
- In 2024, Holiday Wishes provided gifts to 7,500 children across 33 counties, distributing more than 22,500 presents.
- Nearly 700 volunteers supported Holiday Wishes in 2024.
- In 2024, 55 youth were matched with a dedicated KING mentor musician.
- KING youth received 2,500 hours of free weekly music lessons in 2024.
- In 2024, 36 KING youth showcased their talents in live performances.
- In 2024, 70 youth were newly placed in the Heart Gallery, and 50 youth featured in the Heart Gallery found placements.
- In 2024, 703 families attended Foster Care and Adoption Information Meetings.
- In 2024, 40 community partners collaborated to share resources.
- A 2025 Thanksgiving kinship food drive served more than 60 families.
- Eight KING youth participated in a 2025 songwriting workshop and recorded demo versions of original songs.
- A 2025 KING singer-songwriter competition raised an additional $10,000 for Kids in a New Groove.
- A 2026 gala raised more than $345,000 for children and families connected with CPS.
How your donation helps
- Stocking Rainbow Rooms with diapers, clothing, beds, car seats, hygiene supplies, school supplies, and other emergency essentials.
- Purchasing holiday gifts through Holiday Wishes.
- Providing instruments and free music lessons through KING Mentoring.
- Supporting Heart Gallery portraits, exhibits, and adoption-awareness outreach.
- Funding mentoring, life-skills training, job readiness, and career opportunities for youth.
- Providing rent and utility assistance, food assistance, meal delivery, transportation assistance, and household essentials to families connected with CPS.
- Providing backpacks and school supplies to children connected with CPS.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Partnerships For Children’s services.
Children and families are generally connected to services through CPS caseworkers. Caseworkers can access supplies through the Rainbow Rooms, submit Holiday Wishes requests, refer eligible youth to YES or KING mentoring, and request Heart Gallery portraits or filmings. NextStep applications are available for youth ages 12 to 24 impacted by foster care, while KING serves youth ages 5 and older in eligible Central Texas counties. Foster Community offers information sessions for people exploring foster care and adoption.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
"My mentor has given me something a lot of people couldn't - support - and has given me someone I know that I can trust through the most difficult parts of my life. I'm beyond grateful." — NextStep or KING mentoring participant
"I had to grab a few things from the Rainbow Room after an emergency removal and the 10-year-old boy that was with me could not take his eyes off our display of toothbrushes. I realized that he has never had his very own toothbrush." — Investigations Caseworker
"Family makes a difference to a child and it makes just as much of a difference for you." — Wangerin Family
"It’s not about perfection. It’s about connection." — Mélat, KING mentor and volunteer
Grant support
$2,020,013 from 17 funders · through 2024 (IRS 990 records).
- Michael & Susan Dell Foundation — $243,426 (2024)Strengthening Support, Resources, and Permanency for Children and Teens
- WAYNE & JO ANN MOORE CHARITABLE — $50,000 (2024)OPERATING EXPENSES
- LONESTAR LEGACY — $10,000 (2024)
- CREWS KOLODZEY FOUNDATION — $5,000 (2024)SUPPORT
- THE NANETTE C WICKHAM CHARITABLE FNDN — $4,000 (2024)GENERAL OPERATIONS
- Undies for Everyone (2024)To provide children in need with new underwear
- Michael & Susan Dell Foundation — $125,000 (2023)Strengthening Rainbow Room, Mentoring, and Foster/Adoption Programs
- Michael & Susan Dell Foundation — $121,713 (2023)Strengthening Support, Resources, and Permanency for Children and Teens
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Partnerships For Children has shared.
Current needs
- Diapers
- Cleaning supplies
- Hygiene items
- Backpacks and school supplies
- New clothing and household essentials
- Car seats
- Volunteer music mentors for KING
- Professional mentors from varied career backgrounds for NextStep
- Donations and volunteers for Holiday Wishes
- Heart Gallery volunteer photographers and exhibit hosts
Volunteer opportunities
- Serve as a weekly KING music mentor for youth ages 5 and older.
- Serve as a NextStep mentor and provide career guidance, life-skills coaching, mock interviews, career shadowing, or professional connections.
- Collect and deliver new essential items through a Rainbow Room donation drive.
- Collect school supplies or host a Back-to-School drive.
- Sponsor, sort, wrap, or deliver Holiday Wishes gifts.
- Volunteer as a Heart Gallery photographer or host a Heart Gallery portrait exhibit.
- Participate in Teens4Teens activities.
- Support Community Ambassadors by raising awareness and funds.
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- Impact Austin grant awarded in 2012
Press & mentions
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How does the Rainbow Room work?
The Rainbow Room is a 24/7 supply center inside CPS offices. CPS caseworkers can get new essentials there, including diapers, clothing, beds, car seats, toiletries, backpacks, and household supplies for children and families in their care.
Who can participate in KING Mentoring?
Youth ages 5 and older who are involved with the child welfare system and live in Bastrop, Hays, Travis, or Williamson County can enroll. The program provides free weekly private music lessons and one-on-one mentoring.
What does NextStep Mentoring provide?
NextStep connects youth impacted by foster care with caring professionals who can support career exploration, job readiness, life-skills training, career shadowing, and workforce preparation. Youth ages 12 to 24 may apply, with mentors supporting youth ages 16 to 24.
How does the Heart Gallery help children awaiting adoption?
The Heart Gallery uses professional portraits in community spaces and weekly local news segments to raise awareness about children in CPS care who are seeking relational permanency, and to connect them with families interested in adoption.
What does Foster Community offer to people considering foster care or adoption?
Foster Community hosts information sessions that connect prospective foster and adoptive families with child-placing agencies, caregivers, the Heart Gallery, and other community resources. People exploring foster care and adoption in Region 7 can also attend bi-weekly Zoom sessions.
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