Houston Strong Children Services
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide direct care services to the underserved communities. We aim to provide wraparound support for foster youth & young adults & their families.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
0 of 250 of 0 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $1.2 million spent. Program service expenses
- Workforce Development and Life Skills Programming: Houston Strong Children Services provides workforce readiness programming for youth ages 1624 to support their transition to independence along with Internships for college students. Services include job readiness training, resume writing, mock interviews, soft skills development, and access to paid internships and career exploration opportunities. Through community and corporate partnerships, participants receive individualized coaching and direct employment referrals.
- Foster Care Licensing, Youth Placement & Specialized Supervision: Houston Strong Children Services is a licensed child-placing agency that recruits, trains, and licenses families to foster and adopt youth in care. The organization is responsible for the placement of children and adolescents into safe, stable foster homes that meet their emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs. HSCS licenses homes and facilitates placement and case management for youth, contributing to permanency and placement stability across the region.
- Transitional Housing and Specialized Youth Supervision:Houston Strong Children Services also operates a Supervised Independent Living (SIL) program for youth aging out of foster care. These young adults, ages 1824, receive stable housing, life skills training, job readiness coaching, and therapeutic support. Additionally, HSCS provides hospital sitting services to supervise and emotionally support youth who are hospitalized while in state care, ensuring that youth who are hospitalized receive around-the-clock supervision and emotional support from trained staff.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.