Tour & History

Who is Jonathan?

Jonathan was the first baby fostered by founder, Lisa Matthews (pictured to the right) and serves as the inspiration to help North Texas’ abused, abandoned, and neglected children.

History & Campus

Kid Net Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit agency, was formed in May of 1991 to provide housing and specialized services to needy children with an emphasis on under-served and at-risk populations.

On September 10, 1994, Jonathan’s Place opened as the first licensed foster group home in the State of Texas serving children under the age of 11, including newborns. In the fall of 1999, the license for Jonathan’s Place changed to an emergency shelter.

In October of 2002, we began an aggressive expansion project to meet the increased demand in the community. The following year, we opened the doors to two new cottages – The Mike Modano Cottage and the T. Boone Pickens Cottage – in Northeast Dallas County.

In February 2006, the license for Jonathan’s Place was amended once again, and we now provide emergency residential care for children in crisis, newborn through 18-years-old, for up to 90 days, depending on the age and circumstances of each child.

In August 2006, we were granted a license by the State of Texas and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to serve as a Child Placing Agency. With this license, we recruit, train and certify foster families and place children from Child Protective Services with these families. In October 2007, we added an adoption license to our Foster Family Program, allowing the facilitation of adoptions.

In May 2008, we began construction on the final two phases of our expansion project, with construction being essentially complete in August 2009. We now have the T. Boone Pickens Children’s Services Center, The Rees-Jones Foundation Lodge, The Meadows Foundation Cottage and The Hillcrest Foundation Donation Center on our campus with the T. Boone Pickens Cottage and the Mike Modano Cottage.

In August 2010, under the leadership of current CEO, Allicia Frye, we were granted a license by the State of Texas and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to operate a Girls Residential Therapeutic Program for girls age 10–17. The residents in this program require a higher level of therapeutic care and specialized services.

In 2012, Jonathan’s Place became the Dallas County affiliate for the National Safe Place Program.  Through the National Safe Place program, Jonathan’s Place works with families and teenagers to prevent runaway or homeless situations by offering a 24-hour crisis hotline and emergency counseling services.  In addition, we also facilitate community outreach and education for runaway prevention.  In these presentations, we talk about the dangers of running away, the alternative solutions, and if you do runaway, how you can get help.

In October of 2016, we launched the Transitional Living Program for girls age 17-23 that are aging out of the foster care system.  Most of these girls have experienced extensive abuse over long periods of time and have had multiple failed placements.  Through this unique program, we can work with each girl to develop the skills needed to overcome their abuse and become self-sufficient.

In December of 2018, recognizing a need for quality foster homes, especially for children in need of specialized care, Jonathan’s Place expanded the license of our Foster Care & Adoption Program to include children with intellectual disabilities, children on the autism spectrum, and children who have been sex trafficked.

Our RESET (Restoring and Educating Survivors to Empowerment and Transformation) Program was added in December 2019 to provide critical shelter and services to child sex trafficking victims. The program includes an emergency shelter as well as long term therapeutic foster care.