BCFS began in 1944 as a home for orphaned children. In recent years, this San Antonio–based, non-profit charity grew into a global nonprofit with regional offices around the U.S., as well as in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa.
In 2000, BCFS was a partner with the Texas Youth Commission and Bexar County to establish a transition center for young people who were aging out of the foster care system.
The company has operated the Guadalupe Street Coffee and Westside Community Center in San Antonio, providing services to area youth and their families in partnership with city agencies, non-profits, and faith-based organizations.
By 2014, BCFS operated two large temporary detention centers and six permanent shelters for unaccompanied migrant minors.
In 2015, BCFS received more funding than any other office of refugee resettlement contractor and nearly a quarter of total funding designated for the unaccompanied minor’s program.
BCFS operated the Tornillo tent city, the largest detention camp for minors at the time, June 2018-January 2019. In December 2018 it is estimated that the camp held more than 2,800 minors, mostly from Central America. CEO Kevin Dinnin claims that the organization was pressured to expand its operations by the federal government.
The company opened the Carrizo Springs shelter in June 2019. The CEO, who is paid as much as $300 million to operate this facility, was heard to say “I hate this mission.”
The company recently said that they don’t plan to extend their contract with the US government to continue to run the Tornillo tent city and had plans to close it down due to all the negative publicity.
BCFS still maintains headquarters in San Antonio, Texas.
BCFS began in 1944 as a home for orphaned children. In recent years, this San Antonio–based, non-profit charity grew into a global nonprofit with regional offices around the U.S., as well as in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa.
In 2000, BCFS was a partner with the Texas Youth Commission and Bexar County to establish a transition center for young people who were aging out of the foster care system.
The company has operated the Guadalupe Street Coffee and Westside Community Center in San Antonio, providing services to area youth and their families in partnership with city agencies, non-profits, and faith-based organizations.
History
By 2014, BCFS operated two large temporary detention centers and six permanent shelters for unaccompanied migrant minors.
In 2015, BCFS received more funding than any other office of refugee resettlement contractor and nearly a quarter of total funding designated for the unaccompanied minor’s program.
BCFS operated the Tornillo tent city, the largest detention camp for minors at the time, June 2018-January 2019. In December 2018 it is estimated that the camp held more than 2,800 minors, mostly from Central America. CEO Kevin Dinnin claims that the organization was pressured to expand its operations by the federal government.
The company opened the Carrizo Springs shelter in June 2019. The CEO, who is paid as much as $300 million to operate this facility, was heard to say “I hate this mission.”
The company recently said that they don’t plan to extend their contract with the US government to continue to run the Tornillo tent city and had plans to close it down due to all the negative publicity.
BCFS still maintains headquarters in San Antonio, Texas.