Child Protective Services Handbook Revision March 2009

This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on March 2, 2009. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below.

The Affect of the 4th Amendment Court Decision and Foster Care Candidacy Issues on Service Plans (PATS 2374)

The items below are revised to explain the tasks parents must complete when all children are not removed from the home and clarify that children who are at imminent or serious risk of removal are candidates for foster care.

See:

6422.4 Content of the Family Service Plan

6434 Required Content When Reviewing a Service Plan

Education Policy (PATS 2167)

This revision adds a new section, 4000 Education for Children.

Court-Ordered Participation in CPS Services (PATS 1897)

The item below is revised to reflect changes in the Texas Family Code §264.203(a) that became effective on September 1, 2007. The changes expand the circumstances in which DFPS may request court-ordered services.

Before September 1, 2007, court-ordered services were available only if the court found that a child had been abused or neglected. Consequently, unless an allegation resulted in the court making a finding for a Reason to Believe (RTB) disposition, CPS did not ask the court to order a family to participate in services.

Since September 1, 2007, the statute also permits DFPS to seek court-ordered services when there is evidence that there is a reasonable likelihood that the child may be abused or neglected in the immediate or foreseeable future and services are necessary to reduce the risk.

See:

5214 Court-Ordered Participation in CPS Services

Hunting Policy (PATS 2492)

The item below is revised to correctly define youth who are prohibited from hunting by Child Care Licensing Rules. The CPS policy previously prohibited all youth in a residential treatment center (RTC) or general residential operation (GRO) from using firearms. The Minimum Standards for RTCs and GROs only prohibits children who are receiving treatment services or emergency care services from being taken on hunting trips. This revision brings CPS policy into compliance with minimum standard rules. See:

6574 Hunting