Low-income and immigrant families frequently rely on informal caregiving arrangements when parents face medical emergencies, immigration issues, or economic instability. Without written authority, caregivers may be unable to enroll children in school, consent to medical care, or access services that support the child’s wellbeing. This session will introduce delegations of parental authority under Chapters 34 and 35 of the Texas Family Code and explore how these tools can help families create more stable caregiving arrangements. Presenters will also discuss how Community Justice Workers, non-lawyer advocates, can collaborate with legal teams to work closely with families and help identify when these tools are appropriate, support families in understanding their options, and connect caregiver households with public benefits and other resources that support children.
