Sara Bussey holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Tarleton State University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With more than a decade of experience in child welfare, her background includes roles as a Conservatorship Specialist, Adoptions Specialist, and Conservatorship Supervisor with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), as well as experience as a school social worker.
Sara has been part of the CK Family Services team for five years. She initially supported the Treatment Foster Care program, working alongside extraordinary professional foster parents. This program continues to hold a special place in her heart. Treatment Foster Care families, together with their case managers, provide safe and nurturing environments for children who have experienced some of the most complex challenges within the child welfare system. The work requires navigating big behaviors and big emotions and calls for even bigger hearts grounded in patience, empathy, and resilience.
Leading Foster Care at CKFS
In her current role as Director of Foster Care for CK Family Services, Sara’s responsibilities have expanded to supporting families across Region 03. Sara’s passion for leadership and collaboration is evident in the way she supports both the foster families served by CK Family Services and the case managers and supervisors who are the backbone of the agency’s work. She is deeply committed to ensuring that staff feel empowered, confident, and equipped to provide exceptional service and meaningful support to the families they walk alongside.
In foster care, stability for children is essential, and Sara believes that stability must extend throughout the entire system. By fostering harmony, consistency, and trust within teams and across services, she works to strengthen the foundation that allows families and children to thrive.
"Some of the most rewarding moments in my work come from hearing foster parents share that they feel genuinely loved and supported by their case management team, and from hearing our staff say they feel valued, encouraged, and fulfilled in the work they do. Those moments affirm the purpose and impact of this work and reinforce the importance of building strong, supported teams to serve children and families well," she shares.
Meeting the Growing Need
As the needs within foster care continue to grow, so does the need for more loving and committed foster homes. Equally important is the opportunity for current foster families to consider expanding, whether by opening additional beds or broadening the age ranges or levels of need they are able to support. Every step taken to grow capacity within the foster care community helps ensure that more children can remain close to their homes, schools, and support systems. Through collective willingness and shared compassion, more children can experience stability, belonging, and the safety of a family when they need it most.
