Joyce James honored for reshaping how systems serve children and families

At the 40th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Support Group Brunch in Port Arthur, Joyce James was honored for decades of work in child welfare, including launching Project Hope and leading reforms in Texas Child Protective Services.

Joyce James was honored at the 40th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Support Group Brunch in Port Arthur for her long record of public service and commitment to equity. The annual event brings community members together each January to recognize local leaders and reflect on Dr. King's legacy. James began her child-welfare career in 1980 as a Child Protective Services case worker in Jefferson County and later moved into regional and state leadership. Her work has emphasized examining system practices and bringing services into neighborhoods. Notable facts: - The recognition took place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Support Group of Southeast Texas's 40th annual brunch in Port Arthur. - James began as a CPS case worker in 1980 and rose to regional administrator overseeing 15 counties in Region Five. - She led a regional study with Lamar University and Stephen F. Austin State University that reported system-level factors contributed to racial disproportionality in foster care. - James helped launch Project Hope on Port Arthur's West side, bringing counseling, workforce help, benefits enrollment and family meetings into the neighborhood; the model saw fewer children removed from homes and was documented by Casey Family Programs as a replication guide. - In 2004 she became the first African American appointed to lead Texas Child Protective Services and helped advance legislation and reforms aimed at addressing racial inequities in the system. - After leaving state service in 2013, James started a consulting practice and now works nationally while maintaining ties to Port Arthur. Summary: James's work shifted focus from blaming families to examining institutional practices, which influenced both a successful local model and statewide reforms. Project Hope's neighborhood-based approach and subsequent state-level initiatives under her leadership are reported to have changed some outcomes for children and families. She continues to consult nationally and returns to Port Arthur to support local efforts.