Permanent managing conservatorship, or “PMC,” is a legal term in Texas used in child custody cases. It means that a judge appoints a person to be legally responsible for a child without adopting the child. The court can give PMC to someone other than a parent, including DFPS, a relative, a close family friend, or a foster parent. Only a judge can give PMC to another person. The judge decides the rights and responsibilities, depending upon the specific situation. When someone other than a parent is named as permanent managing conservator, he or she is given the right or duty to: 

• Physically possess the child. 
• Choose moral and religious training. 
• Provide clothing, food, shelter, and education. 
• Provide and consent to medical, psychiatric, psychological, dental, and surgical care. 
•  Get the child’s medical records. 
• Receive money that supports the child. 
• Hold or give out money that benefits the child. 
• Consent to get married. 
• Consent to join the armed forces. 
• Represent the child in legal issues. 
• Make legal decisions. 
• Decide where the child lives and goes to school. 
• Make other decisions that the child’s parent would normally make. 

Once the court names you permanent managing conservator, the judge will dismiss DFPS from the case. This means DFPS will no longer be involved with the child or your family. This also means DFPS will not provide services such as case management, day care, and post-placement services. If you are the child’s kinship foster parent, you will not continue to receive foster care payments after you become permanent managing conservator. (“Foster parent” means you have completed the process to become a foster parent through a child placing agency.) If you are permanent managing conservator and decide to adopt later, you will not receive adoption assistance. 

Post-PMC Services in Houston, Corpus Christi, and Edinburg 

Families in the Houston, Corpus Christi, and Edinburg areas who have been granted PMC of a child through DFPS can receive post-permanency services. These services are available to help the child and family: 

• Adjust to permanency. 
• Cope with any history of abuse or neglect of the child. 
• Avoid permanent or long-term removal of the child from the PMC family setting. 

Some of the services available are: 

• Information and referral. 
• Casework services and service planning. 
• Parent groups. 
• Parenting programs. 
• Counseling services. 
• Respite care reimbursement. 
• Crisis intervention. 

To request post-permanency services, you must contact the service provider. If you live in the Houston area, please contact: 

Spaulding for Children 

6925 Portwest Drive, Ste. 110 

Houston, TX 77024 

(713) 681-6991 Ext. 108

If you live in the Corpus Christi or Edinburg area, please contact: 

Spaulding for Children 

500 N. Water St., Ste. 604 

Corpus Christi, TX 78401 

(361) 850-8200 and (800) 460-6298 

For more information, visit www. armswideadoption.org/services/ permanency-support.

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