Child Protective Services Handbook Revision July 27, 2012

This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on July 27, 2012. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below.

Reorganization of CPS Handbook Section 6000 (PATS 5147)

Section 6000 has been reorganized. Kinship and Placement policies have been moved to Section 4000. Medical and mental health policies have been moved to Section 11000. Redundant items have been removed from the handbook.

No policies have been revised. Handbook items have been moved in their entirety with no changes other than the item numbers. Revision dates have not changed, since the policies have not changed.

Items Renumbered in Section 6000 Substitute Care Services

Previous item numbers are shown in parentheses.

6100 (6110) Overview of Substitute Care

6110 (6120) Before Removing a Child and Placing the Child in Substitute Care

6120 (6130) Providing Substitute Care After a Child Is Removed

6121 (6131) Removing a Child

6121.1 (6131.1) Creating FSU and SUB Stages in IMPACT

6121.2 (6131.2) Assigning a Conservatorship (CVS) Caseworker

6121.3 (6131.3) Handling Initial CVS Caseworker Activities

6122 (6132) Consulting With Staff After a Child Is Removed

6123 (6133) Locating Relatives and Providing Notice of Removal

6123.1 (6133.1) When Relatives Have Been Contacted and Have Responded

6124 (6134) Providing Substitute Care Immediately After a Child Is Removed

6124.1 (6134.1) Substitute Care Services to the Parents

6124.2 (6134.2) Substitute Care Services to the Child

6124.3 (6134.3) Substitute Care Services to the Caregiver

6124.4 (6134.4) Substitute Care Services to Grandparents or Other Relatives

6130 (6930) Documentation of Substitute Care

6131 (6931) Documentation of Contacts in Substitute Care

6131.1 (6931.1) Documentation of Monthly Contacts and Visits

6131.2 (6931.2) Documenting Contacts in IMPACT

6131.21 (6931.21) Documenting Contacts Using the Contact Details Page

6131.22 (6931.22) Completing a Monthly Evaluation/Assessment Report and Entering the Required Content

6131.23 (6931.23) Required Documentation for a Contact Detail

6131.24 (6931.24) Required Narrative Content

6131.25 (6931.25) Entering Contacts and Submitting the Monthly Evaluation/Assessment for Supervisory Approval

6131.26 (6931.26) Obtaining Supervisory Approvals

6132 (6932) Documentation of Legal Activity

6133 (6933) Documentation of Child’s Biographical Data and Information About Relatives and Fictive Kin

6134 (6934) Documentation of Information on Case Principals

6135 (6935) Documentation of Services to Parents and Caregivers

6136 (6936) Documentation of Permanency Planning Meetings

6137 (6937) Documentation of Transfer and Closing Summaries

6138 (6938) External Documentation

6140 (6940) Approvals

6141 (6941) Actions Requiring Level 1 Approval

Section 6200 has not been moved

6240 (6400) Case Planning

6241 (6410) Initial Assessment Plan

6250 (6420) The Case Plan

6251 (6421) The Child’s Service Plan

6251.1 (6421.1) Documentation Required for a Child’s Service Plan

6251.2 (6421.2) Approval and Implementation of the Child’s Service Plan

6252 (6422) The Family’s Service Plan

6252.1 (6422.1) Assessing the Family

6252.2 (6422.2) Family Participation in Developing the Family Service Plan

6252.3 (6422.3) The Family Plan for Children Under Age Two

6252.4 (6422.4) Content of the Family Service Plan

6252.5 (6422.5) Completing and Documenting the Family Service Plan

6252.6 (6422.6) Filing the Family Service Plan With the Court

6260 (6430) Case Plan Review

6261 (6431) Reviewing the Family Service Plan

6262 (6432) Reviewing the Child’s Service Plan

6263 (6433) Enforcement of the Family Service Plan

6264 (6434) Required Content When Reviewing a Service Plan

6265 (6435) Participation in the Case Plan Review

6266 (6436) Required Documentation for Child and Family Service Plans

6267 (6451) Children in Therapeutic Foster Care

6268 (6452) Children in Residential Treatment

6269 (6440) Case Planning in Subsequent Placements

6270 (6437) Special Types of Service Plan Conferences, Meetings and Reviews

6271 (6437.1) Periodic Review

6272 (6437.2) Administrative Case Reviews

6273 (6437.3) Permanency Planning Meetings

6273.1 (6437.31) Family Group Conferences

6273.2 (6437.32) Permanency Conference

6274 (6437.4) Permanency Planning Meetings for Youth 16 and Over

6274.1 (6437.41) Circle of Support

6274.2 (6437.42) Transition Plan Meeting

6280 (6453) The Health, Social, Educational, and Genetic History (HSEGH) Report

6281 (6882) Releasing the Health, Social, Educational, and Genetic History (HSEGH) Report to Other Parties on Request

6282 (6822) Completing the Health, Social, Educational, and Genetic History (HSEGH) Report

6283 (6614) Providing Additional Medical, Psychological, or Psychiatric Information to the Adoptive Family

6300 (6500) Services to Children in Substitute Care

6310 (6510) Supervision of Children In Substitute Care (needs revision)

6311 (6511) Contact With the Child

6311.1 (6511.11) Preparing for the Monthly Visit

6311.2 (6511.12) Conducting the Monthly Visit

6311.3 (6511.13) Assessing the Monthly Visit

6311.4 (6511.14) Documenting the Monthly Visit

6311.5 (6511.15) Following Up on Identified Needs

6311.6 (6511.2) Visits Conducted by an Alternate Caseworker

6312 (6511.3) Responsibility for Contact Across Regional Lines

6313 (6511.41) Providing the Caseworker’s Contact Information (Form 6590)

6313.1 (6511.42) Explaining How to Obtain Immediate Assistance

6313.2 (6511.43) Responding to a Message From a Child or Youth

6314 (6572) When a Child or Youth is Missing from Care

6314.1 (6572.1) Minor Child Missing from Foster Care Placement

6314.2 (6572.2) When a Missing Child Returns to Care

6314.3 (6572.3) Documenting a Child as a Runaway

6315 (6534) Rights of Children and Youth in Foster Care

6315.1 (6515) Texas Foster Care Handbook

6315.2 (6513) Sibling Contact

6315.3 (6535) Discipline

6315.4 (6536) Respect for Religious Practices

6316 (6514) Maintaining Current Photograph of a Child

6317 (6574) Hunting

6320 (6571) When a Child Travels

6321 (6571.1) Transporting Children by Vehicle

6322 (6571.2) Transporting Children by Airplane

6323 (6571.3) Special Issues While Transporting

6324 (6571.4) When a Child Travels Within Texas

6324.1 (6571.41) Travel Within Texas With a Caregiver

6324.2 (6571.42) Travel Within Texas With a Person Who Is Not a Caregiver or Relative

6325 (6571.5) Blanket Authorizations

6326 (6571.6) When a Child Travels Outside of Texas

6326.1 (6571.61) Travel Outside of Texas With a Caregiver

6326.2 (6571.62) Travel Outside of Texas With a Person Who Is Not a Caregiver or Relative

6327 (6571.7) When a Child Travels Outside of the U.S.

6327.1 (6571.71) Requesting Court Approval

6327.2 (6571.72) Steps After Obtaining Court Approval

6327.3 (6571.73) Obtaining Travel Documents

6400 (6600) Services to Parents and Caregivers

6410 (6610) Services to the Child’s Family When the Child Is in Substitute Care

6411 (6610.1) The Participation of Parents’ Attorneys When a Child Is in Substitute Care

6412 (6611) Family Services When Family Reunification is the Permanency Goal

6412.1 (6611.1) Contact With the Family

6412.2 (6611.2) Conducting Visits With the Family

6412.3 (6611.3) Review the Family Service Plan

6412.4 (6611.4) Initiate the Reunification Process

6413 (6611.5) When a Child Is Reunified with their parents

6413.1 (6611.51) Providing Services After a Child Is Returned

6413.2 (6611.52) Maintaining Contact with Families When Children Are Returned Home

6413.3 (6611.53) Conducting Follow-up Visits With the Family When Children Are Returned Home

6414 (6612) Ongoing Efforts to Achieve Permanency When DFPS Obtains Permanent Managing Conservatorship Without Termination of Parental Rights

6414.1 (6612.1) When to Complete a Family Plan of Service and Safety Plan

6414.2 (6612.2) Parental Participation

6414.3 (6612.3) Reassessment of Inactive Parents and Parents Unable to Provide a Safe Home

6414.4 (6612.4) Contact Between the Parent, the Child in Care, and the DFPS Caseworker

6414.5 (6612.5) Contact and Service Planning for Children Remaining in the Home

6415 (6613) Maintaining Contact Between the Family and the Child

6415.1 (6613.1) The Right to Regular Contact

6415.2 (6613.2) Planning for Family-Child Contact

6415.3 (6613.3) Documenting Visitation, the Contact Plan, and Progress

6415.4 (6613.4) Keeping Parents Informed of the Child’s Circumstances

6415.5 (6613.5) Sibling Rights

6416 (6615.1) Services to Parents Across Regional Lines

6417 (6630) Working With Military Families

6418 (6615.2) Incarcerated Parents

6418.1 (6615.21) Types of Incarceration Facilities

6418.2 (6615.22) Locating a Parent Who is Incarcerated

6418.3 (6615.23) Guidelines for Caseworker Visitation to an Incarceration Facility

6418.4 (6615.24) Engaging an Incarcerated Parent

6418.5 (6615.25) Service Planning for the Incarcerated Parent

6420 (6620) Services to the Substitute Caregiver

6421 (6621) Caregiver Access to Caseworker and Unit Management

6490 (6700) Discharging Children from Substitute Care

6491 (6710) Services Preceding Discharge

6492 (6720) Services at Discharge From Substitute Care

6493 (6721) Family Reunification

6494 (6722) Permanent Placement with the Caregiver

6495 (6730) Supervision, Dismissal, Continuation, and Closure

6500 Special Circumstances for Children in Substitute Care

6510 (6573) When a Child Dies While in Substitute Care

6511 (6573.1) Notifying DFPS Staff When a Child Dies While in Substitute Care

6512 (6573.2) Notifying Persons Outside of DFPS When a Child Dies While in Substitute Care

6513 (6573.3) Making Funeral Arrangements

6520 (6577) CPS Youth and Juvenile Justice

6521 (6577.1) Reporting Juvenile Offenses to Law Enforcement

6522 (6577.2) When a Youth Is in TJJD Custody or on TJJD Parole

6522.1 (6577.21) General Procedures When Youth Are Committed to the TJJD

6522.2 (6577.22) Documenting in IMPACT Actions Related to Youth Committed to the TJJD

6522.3 (6577.23) Providing Medical Care to Youth in TJJD Custody or on TJJD Parole

6522.4 (6577.24) Meeting and Consulting With TJJD Staff

6522.5 (6577.25) Providing Other Services to Youth in TJJD Custody or on TJJD Parole

6522.6 (6577.26) Addressing Other TJJD-Related Issues

6700 International Issues

6710 Immigration Issues

6711 (6580) Services to Children and Families Who Are Not U.S. Citizens

6712 (6566) Undocumented Youth Who Are 16 or Older

6713 (6581) Notification to Foreign Consulate

6714 (6582) Requesting Home Studies in Foreign Countries

6715 (6583) Deciding Whether to Repatriate or to Plan for a Child to Remain in the US

6715.1 (6583.1) Repatriation Procedures

6716 (6584) Verifying Immigration Status of Children in Care

6716.1 (6584.1) CAPS Immigration Status Categories

6716.2 (6584.2) Immigration Assessment Guide

6717 (6585) Immigration Opportunities for Undocumented CPS Children

6717.1 (6585.1) Staff Responsibility for Monitoring a Child’s Immigration Status

6718 (6586) Transportation of Undocumented Persons

6719 (6587) Contacts with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

6900 (6800) Adoption Services

6910 (6810) Criteria and Types of Service

6920 (6820) Planning for a Child’s Adoption

6921 (6821) Assessing the Child’s Readiness

6922 (6824) Preparing the Child

6923 (6825) Preparing the Child’s Records for Presentation to Adoptive Parents

6924 (6826) Swift Adoption Teams

6930 (6830) Selecting an Adoptive Family

6931 (6831) Issues to Consider When Selecting an Adoptive Home

6931.1 (6831.1) Challenges of a Termination Order by Certain Relatives: 90-Day Period Following Termination

6932 (6832) Adoption by Foster Parents

6933 (6833) Adoptive Homes Located by Outside Child-Placing Agencies

6934 (6834) Adoptive Homes in Other States

6935 (6835) Considering the Need for an Adoption Subsidy

6936 (6836) Adoption by Military Families

6937 (6837) Adoptive Parent Registry

6938 (6838) Meeting to Discuss the Home Studies of Prospective Adoptive Families

6938.1 (6838.1) Holding Separate Discussions About the Child to Protect Privacy

6938.2 (6838.2) Holding Separate Discussions About Adoptive Families to Protect Privacy

6938.21 (6838.21) Including the Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Discussions About Prospective Adoptive Families

6938.3 (6838.3) Confirming Approval of a Prospective Adoptive Family

6939 (6839) When No Prospective Adoptive Family Is Available

6940 (6840) Presenting and Placing the Child for Adoption

6941 (6841) Presenting Information about the Child

6942 (6842) Preparing the Family and the Child for the Placement

6943 (6843) Completing the Placement

6944 (6844) Making Adoptive Placements in Other Regions and With Private Agency Adoptive Homes

6945 (6845) Making Placements in Other States

6946 (6846) Making Out of Country Placements

6950 (6850) Supporting and Consummating the Adoption

6951 (6851) Supporting the Adoptive Placement

6951.1 (6851.1) Developing an Adoption Services Plan

6951.2 (6851.2) Contact with the Child and Adoptive Family

6951.3 (6851.3) Conducting Visits With the Child and Adoptive Family

6952 (6852) Consummating the Adoption

6952.1 (6852.1) Time Frames for Consummating the Adoption

6952.11 (6852.11) Time Frames for Consummating Kinship Adoptions

6952.12 (6852.12) Non-Kinship Adoptions

6952.13 (6852.13) Foster Parent Adoptions

6952.2 (6852.2) CPS Caseworker’s Tasks After the Adoption Petition if Filed

6952.3 (6852.3) Termination of DFPS’s Managing Conservatorship

6952.4 (6852.4) Adoption Reporting Requirements

6953 (6853) Postadoption Services

6954 (6854) Post Adoption Substitute-Care Services

6955 (6855) Subsequent Placements in the Same Home

6956 (6860) Resolving Problems in an Adoptive Placement

6960 (6870) Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE)

6961 (6871) Definitions

6962 (6872) Databases of the Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE)

6963 (6873) TARE Adoption Recruitment Efforts

6963.1 (6873.1) Pre-TARE Regional Recruitment Efforts

6963.2 (6873.2) National Recruitment Efforts

6964 (6874) Time Frames for Registering Children on TARE

6965 (6875) Court Orders Related to Adoption Recruitment

6966 (6876) TARE Procedures

6966.1 (6876.1) Initial Registration on TARE

6966.2 (6876.2) Maintaining TARE Registrations

6966.3 (6876.3) Adoption Status Designations in the TARE Database

6966.4 (6876.4) Reason to Unpublish in the TARE Database

6966.5 (6876.5) Managing Home Screenings in TARE

6967 (6877) TARE Inquiries

6967.1 (6877.1) TARE Child Inquiry Forms

6967.2 (6877.2) TARE Inquiry Logs

6967.3 (6877.3) Responding to Inquiries for Children on TARE

6968 (6878) TARE Family Registry Database Procedures

6968.1 (6878.1) Registering Families on TARE

6968.2 (6878.2) TARE Family Registry Broadcasts

6968.3 (6878.3) TARE Family Registry Broadcasts for Children Age Six or Younger

6968.4 (6878.4) Searching the TARE Family Registry Database for Potential Adoptive Matches

6969 (6879) Prospective Inquiry Database Procedures

Appendices

Appendix 6133 (Appendix 6233): When a Suit to Terminate Must be Filed

Appendix 6141 ( Appendix 6410): Federal Case-Planning Requirements

Appendix 6180 (Appendix 6443): Requirements for Completing the Health, Social, Educational, and Genetic History Report

Appendix 6273.1 (Appendix 6437.31): Roles and Responsibilities of Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM)

Appendix 6520 (Appendix 6577): Filing Charges with the Juvenile Justice System

Appendix 6717-A (Appendix 6585-A): Understanding the Risks and Benefits of Applying for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status

Appendix 6717-B (Appendix 6585-B): Entendiendo los Riesgos v Beneficios al Aplicar para el Estato de Inmigrante Juvenil Especial

Appendix 6392 (Appendix 6720): Discharging Children From Substitute Care

Appendix 6931-A (Appendix 6831-A): Information to Consider about the Child When Selecting an Adoptive Family

Appendix 6931-B (Appendix 6831-B): Information to Consider about the Prospective Adoptive Family When Placing a Child for Adoption

Appendix 6151-A (Appendix 6941-A): Licensing Criteria for Granting Variances for Level 1 Child Placing Staff Qualifications

Appendix 6151-B (Appendix 6941-B): Procedure for Requesting a Level 1 Policy Variance

Appendix 4531 (Appendix 6535-A): DFPS Kinship Homes Discipline Policy

Items Deleted From Section 6000

6345 Procedures

6350 Out-of-State Placements

6450 Special Requirements

6511.1 Conducting Monthly Visits With the Child

6511.4 Ensuring Access to the Caseworker and Unit Management

6512.2 When DFPS Foster or Adoptive Homes Move Across Regional Lines

6512.3 Placements in DFPS Foster or Adoptive Homes Across Regional or Unit Lines

6530 Other Services

6531 Day Care for Children in CPS Foster Homes

6570 Special Issues

6575 Disaster Plans

6615 Other Issues Regarding Services to Families

6880 Special Issues

6881 Regional Designation of Responsible Units

6900 Administrative Issues

6910 Licensing, Certification, and Verification

6911 Certification of Regional Child-Placing Programs

6912 Waiver or Variance of Minimum Standards

Appendix 6225: Sample Agreement for Permanent Foster Care

Appendix 6620: Quarterly Visits to Foster Families

Appendix 6825: Deleting Identifying Information Before Releasing Records to Adoptive Parents or Other Authorized Parties

Cross-References in CPS

Cross-references to the sections being moved were updated throughout the handbook. See:

1121 Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM)

1124 Definition of Stages of Service

1431.1 References for Detailed Case Recording Requirements

1432.1 Establishing Relationships Using Family Tree in IMPACT

1452 Release of Confidential Information

1461 Phase 1: Discontinuing Services

1463.3 Items Returned to the Child When a Conservatorship Case Is Closed

1531 Eligible Individuals

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

1574.3 Proceeding With Adoptive Placements in a Timely Manner

1952.1 Safety Plan for a Substance-Exposed Newborn

2234.47 Closing a Case Involving a Parental Child Safety Placement

2237 Family Team Meetings

2237.1 Family Team Meeting (FTM) Referral Criteria

2283.1 Documenting Health, Social, Educational, and Genetic History (HSEGH) Information About the Birth Family In a Subsequent Investigation

2311.4 The Parents and Others When a Child Dies

2663.1 Exercising and Documenting Due Diligence After Removal of a Child

2671 Information Provided to the Parents at the Time of Removal

2672 Information Provided to the Child After a Removal

3122.2 Scope and Purpose of an FBSS Family Assessment

3141.1 Applying Family Group Conferences to an FBSS Case

3141.11 Criteria for a Required Family Group Conference

3141.12 Criteria for an Optional Family Group Conference

3143 Developing the Family Service Plan for an FBSS Case

3144.21 Using Family Group Conferences to Review an FBSS Case

3151 Closing an FBSS Case

3152.2 Documenting the Removal of a Child From His or Her Home

3164 Required Content of the Family Service Plan

3165 Parental Involvement in Service Planning – Ensuring the Involvement of Fathers

3172 Parental Child Safety Placement

3175 When a Child Dies During an Open FBSS Case

3176 HSEGH Information for Previously Adopted Children

3301.22 Steps for Achieving the Permanency Goal

3410 Purpose of FRS

3421.2 Scheduling a Discharge Planning Meeting

3422 Case Consultations (Staffings) and Reviews

3423.2 Home Visits After a Child Returns Home

3445.2 Developing the Initial Service Plan for Intensive Early Family Reunification Services (IE-FRS)

3452 Eligibility

4110 The Placement Process for Initial and Subsequent Placements

4111 Identify the Child's Needs

4114 Secure Appropriate Approvals

4121 Required Issues to Consider

4131 Discussing the Move

4134.2 Revising the Case Plan

4211 Foster Family-Homes

4212.2 Therapeutic Care

4213 Residential Group-Care Facilities

4220 Facilities Under the Authority of Other State Agencies

4262 Unauthorized Arrangements

4272 Abuse and Neglect Investigations of Placements Regulated by RCCL

4525.7 If More Than One Potential Kinship Caregiver Is Under Consideration

4531 Providing the Kinship Manual and Agreement at Placement

4533 The Duties of a Kinship Development Caseworker

5120 Documentation of Legal Status and Legal Action

5214 Court-Ordered Participation in CPS Services

5300 Court-Related Services for Children in Conservatorship

5311 Working with the Child's Attorney and Guardian Ad Litem

5330 Required Court Reports

5340 Required Administrative Reviews

5351 The 60-Day Status Hearing

5420 Court-Ordered Social Studies

7100 Recruitment of Foster and Adoptive Homes

7120 Inquiry and Screening Foster Family Homes and Adoptive Homes

7273 Legal-Risk/Adoptive Parent Registry

7330 Approval and Verification

7450 Adoptive Home Supervision

7633 When Foster Families Move

7636 Foster Families that Adopt

8123 State Office (Statewide) Contracts

8165 Interregional Service — Authorization

8262.2 Identifying Available Services

8263.1 Identifying Out-of-State Families for Adoption Placement Services

8264.5 Handling Additional Duties

8271 Authorizing Service

8512 Funeral and Burial Services for Children in DFPS Conservatorship

9300 Placing Children Outside of Texas

9311.3 Information About the Child for an ICPC Placement Request

9314 Requesting Placement With an Adoptive Family Outside of Texas

9315 Requesting Placement in a Residential Treatment Center Outside of Texas

9340 The Supervision Services Expected From Another State

9350 Closing an ICPC Case

9440 Supervising a Child Placed in Texas From Another State

9511 Private Adoptions

10121 Permanency Planning Meetings for Youth Age 16 and Older

10122 Transition Plan

10122.1 Child’s or Youth’s Plan of Service

10122.2 Transition Plan Review

10130 Documents Given to Youth Who Are Transitioning to Adulthood

10260 Administration of PAL Services

10630 Youth Parents in DFPS Conservatorship

11142 Notifying Parents About Significant Medical Conditions

11260 Documenting Medical and Dental Issues in the Case File

11412 Working With Children in DFPS Conservatorship Who Have Special Health Care Needs

15340 The Child’s Education Service Plan

15373.2 The Role of the Caregiver in Maintaining the Education Portfolio

15373.3 Maintaining the Education Portfolio at Discharge

Appendix 1121: Documentation Requirements for Models of Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM)

Appendix 1211: Responsibilities Under the Texas Family Code

Appendix 4120-A: Issues to Consider in Placement Decisions

Appendix 7260-IV: Foster/Adoptive Home Study Guidelines

Appendix 8160: CPS Service Codes and Descriptions as Identified in IMPACT