Child Protective Services Handbook Revision July 2010

This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on July 1, 2010. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below.

Psychological Evaluations

FAD Waiver or Variance Requests for the Purpose of Fostering Connections

The Role of Investigation Staff in Removals During Other Stages of Service

Consent to ECI Services

HIV Testing

Eligibility Requirements for Title IV-E, State-Paid and MAO Foster Care Assistance

Finding Families That Move (DPS Child Safety Check Alert List)

Child Day Care Services

Psychological Evaluations (PATS 3642)

The item below is revised to reflect language required by legislative hearing.

See:

8242.1 Psychological Evaluation

FAD Waiver or Variance Requests for the Purpose of Fostering Connections (PATS 3542)

The item below is added to document the process for requesting waivers and variances for relative and fictive kin families for the purpose of Fostering Connections. See:

7271.1 Waivers and Variances

The Role of Investigation Staff in Removals During Other Stages of Service (PATS 3563)

The item below is revised to clarify that investigation (INV) workers are not involved in all removals that are conducted during an open stage of service; they are involved only when a new allegation of abuse or neglect is made. See:

6131.1 Creating FSU and SUB Stages in IMPACT

Consent to ECI Services (PATS 3602)

The item below is revised to clarify who may consent to an initial diagnostic evaluation to determine the need for ECI services for a child in DFPS conservatorship. Staff was informed of this policy with the issuance of PSA 07-092 on 2/15/2007. See:

6521 Medical Consent

HIV Testing (PATS 3822)

CPS staff and a child's medical consenter may now consent to HIV testing for a child in DFPS conservatorship without obtaining the approval of a CPS program director. The approval of a CPS program director is no longer required.

The items listed below explain the procedures for consenting. CPS is also revising its medical consent forms to reflect this change in policy.

See:

6521.22 Participating in Each Medical Appointment

6542 Testing Children in DFPS Conservatorship for HlV Antibodies

Eligibility Requirements for Title IV-E, State-Paid and MAO Foster Care Assistance (PATS 3582)

The items below are revised to Provide guidance on policy related to extended foster care. See:

1542 Foster Care Assistance Eligibility Requirements for Children and Youth Who Are in DFPS Conservatorship

1542.1 Additional Eligibility Requirements for Title IV-E Foster Care

1542.2 Additional Eligibility Requirements for State-Paid Foster Care

1542.3 Additional Eligibility Requirements for MAO Foster Care

1543 Foster Care Assistance Eligibility Requirements for Children and Youth Formerly in DFPS Conservatorship

1543.1 Extended Foster Care Assistance

1543.2 Return to Care Assistance

1545 Foster Care Maintenance Payments

Finding Families That Move (DPS Child Safety Check Alert List) (PATS 3097)

The child safety check alert list is an automated program operated by the Department of Public Safety to help DFPS locate families in order to begin or finish an investigation. See Texas Family Code, 261.3022 Child Safety Check Alert List.

CPS places families on the list when:

  •   all means available for locating the family have been exhausted;

  •   the alleged abuse or neglect is serious (or is not serious, but the CPS program director approves of placing the child on the list for the child's safety); and

  •   CPS has sufficient demographics and identification on the family.

To place a family on the child safety check alert list, CPS must apply for a court order.

If a law enforcement officer encounters a family member whose name is on the list:

  •   the officer asks about the child’s well-being and current residence;

  •   the officer reports that information to the DFPS Statewide Intake Division (SWI); and

  •   a SWI staff person designates the call as priority one (P1), or takes other appropriate action.

See:

2224.3 Unable to Complete an Investigation

2224.31 When a Family Has Moved or Cannot Be Located

2224.33 After a Disposition of Unable to Complete Is Approved

2224.36 When a Subsequent Intake Is Received for a Family With a Previous Unable to Complete Investigation (Close – Family Moved/Cannot Locate)

2224.38 The DPS Child Safety Check Alert List

Child Day Care Services (PATS 3222)

Self-Arranged Child Care

Policy is revised to require foster parents to arrange child care through a DFPS third-party contractor, rather than arranging for care.

Issues of Space

Policy is revised to clarify that funding for foster child day care must be carefully monitored to conserve limited funding.

Title IV-E Eligibility

Title IV-E eligibility is no longer required for foster children to qualify for Special Needs Foster Child Day Care services.

Changes in Terminology

Policy is revised to redefine Voluntary Placement as Parental Child Safety Placement.

Policy is revised to update terminology to reflect current Licensing division monitoring categories. These categories were changed from Plans 1, 2, and 3, to the more descriptive evaluation, probation, and adverse action categories. Policy is revised to:

  ·  forbid enrollment of additional children in any operation under evaluation, probation, or adverse action monitoring by the Licensing division; and

  ·  require the removal of children from any operation under adverse action monitoring by the Licensing division;

See:

8235 Child Day Care Services

8235.1 For All Child Day Care Cases

8235.11 Definitions

8235.12 Contracting for Child Day Care

8235.13 Identifying Available Services

8235.14 Availability of Funding for Child Day Care Services

8235.15 Authorizing, Adding, Extending, Reauthorizing, Terminating, or Changing Services

8235.16 Worker Responsibilities

8235.17 When a Child Care Provider's Licensing Status Changes

8235.2 General Protective Child Day Care

8235.21 Determining Eligibility

8235.22 Types of Centers That May Be Used

8235.23 Resolving Issues of Space

8235.24 Authorizing, Reauthorizing, and Terminating Services

8235.3 Foster Child Day Care

8235.31 Determining Eligibility

8235.32 Types of Day Care Centers That May Be Used

8235.33 Authorizing, Reauthorizing, and Terminating Services

8235.4 Special Needs Foster Child Day Care

8235.41 Determining Eligibility

8235.42 Types of Centers That May Be Used

8235.43 Authorizing, Reauthorizing, and Terminating Services

8235.5 Kinship Child Day Care

8235.51 Determining Eligibility

8235.52 Types of Centers That May Be Used

8235.53 Resolving Space Issues

8235.54 Initiating, Authorizing, Reauthorizing, and Terminating Services

8235.6 Former CPS Child Day Care — Provided by the Texas Workforce Commission

8235.61 Determining Eligibility

8235.62 Types of Centers That May Be Used

8235.63 Ensuring Continued Care

8235.64 Authorizing Services

8235.7 Regional Day Care Coordinator Responsibilities

8235.71 Handling Program-Related Duties

8235.72 Handling Fiscal Responsibilities

8235.73 Coordinating With Local Child Care Management Services (CCMS) Agencies