Child Protective Services Handbook Revision January 2012
This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on January 1, 2012. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below.
Notifying Relatives After Removing a Child
When a Child or Youth Is Missing From Care
Working With Children Who Have Special Medical Needs
Referring Across Regional Lines for Kinship Home Assessment and Services
Notifying Relatives After Removing a Child (PATS 4652)
This revision expands the requirements for notifying relatives about the removal of a child by requiring that all grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and siblings be notified. Currently, only grandparents must be notified. See:
2663 Notifying Relatives About the Removal of a Child
2663.1 Exercising and Documenting Due Diligence After Removal of a Child
2663.2 The Contents of the Notice to Relatives Following the Removal of a Child
2663.3 The Roles of the Removal and CVS Workers After Removing a Child
2663.4 Evaluating Relatives as Caregivers After a Child Has Been Removed
6133 Locating Relatives and Providing Notice of Removal
When a Child or Youth Is Missing From Care (PATS 4667)
HB 943 (82nd Legislature) tracks CPSH 6572 closely with two exceptions. This bill revises Texas Family Code §264.123 to:
• add CASA to the persons to be notified if a child goes missing; and
• requires that, upon location, the child is to be interviewed to determine if he or she has been the victim of a crime. If so it is to be reported to the proper authorities.
HB 1075 (82nd Legislature) revises Texas Government Code Chapter 411 Subchapter L to qualify an adult with intellectual disability for the Amber Alert system if he or she goes missing. This would impact young adult in extended care.
This policy update also defines the term Runaway. See:
6572 When a Child or Youth Is Missing from Care
6572.1 When a Minor Child Is Missing from Foster Care Placement
6572.2 When a Missing Child Returns to Care
6572.3 Documenting a Child as a Runaway
Working With Children Who Have Special Medical Needs (PATS 4712)
This new policy explains how to ensure that children who have special health care needs receive the medical care that they require. The revision affects policy on investigations, Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS), and DFPS conservatorship. See:
2331 Investigations Involving Children Who Have Special Health Care Needs
3336 Working With Children in FBSS Who Have Special Health Care Needs
6527.5 Working With Children in DFPS Conservatorship Who Have Special Health Care Needs
Incarcerated Parents (PATS 4407)
The items below are added to provide policy for working with incarcerated parents. In addition, the information previously in 6615.2 has been replaced with the information presented in this policy. See:
6615.2 Incarcerated Parents
6615.21 Types of Incarceration Facilities
6615.22 Locating a Parent Who is Incarcerated
6615.23 Guidelines for Caseworker Visitation to an Incarceration Facility
6615.24 Engaging an Incarcerated Parent
6615.25 Service Planning for the Incarcerated Parent
Referring Across Regional Lines for Kinship Home Assessment and Services (PATS 4932)
The items below are revised or added to provide clarification on how to make referrals for kinship services across regional lines.
Form 2078 Inter-Regional Agreement: Parent Residing Across Regional Lines is replaced by Form 2077 Inter-Regional Courtesy Agreement. New forms have been developed:
• Form 0398 Kinship Profile Questionnaire
• Form 0397 Important Information for All Potential Kinship Caregivers
• Form 0399 Release of Information and Acknowledgement
See:
6615.1 Services to Parents Across Regional Lines
6322.38 Referring Across Regional Lines for Kinship Home Assessments and Services