Handbook Revision, October 9, 2017
This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on October 9, 2017.
CPS wants to ensure that the general public understands what critical actions caseworkers are required to perform and why. To further this understanding, CPS has set up a policy email box for the general public: CPSPolicyQuestions@dfps.texas.gov. Please feel free to contact us, via this email address, with any general questions related to policy.
For questions or concerns regarding specific cases, please contact the caseworker or supervisor, or the Office of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-720-7777.
Streamlined Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) Policy (formerly 9000)
Streamlined 10000 Section – Services to Older Youth
7000 Foster and Adoptive Home Development (FAD) Streamline
Streamlined Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) Policy (formerly 9000) (PATS 10132)
CPS is streamlining and reorganizing its policy handbook. This revision involves ICPC policy (formerly section 9000). It moves caseworker tasks to the 4500 section of the handbook. Texas Interstate Compact Office tasks remain in section 9000. The revision also removes material on private adoptions because CPS caseworkers are not involved in them.
The attached table documents the new locations of policy.
Streamlined 10000 Section – Services to Older Youth (PATS 10217)
This is the streamlined version of CPS Handbook section 10000, Services to Older Youth in Care. The section was been streamlined in consultation with Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) staff, Education and Training Voucher (ETV) staff, the state office Developmental Disability Specialist (DDS), Extended Foster Care and Trial Eligibility staff, and other staff involved in providing services to older youth in DFPS conservatorship.
The attached table documents the new locations of policy.
7000 Foster and Adoptive Home Development (FAD) Streamline (PATS 10342)
This is the streamlined version of CPS Handbook section 7000, Foster and Adoptive Home Development (FAD). The section has been streamlined in consultation with FAD staff and with input from other CPS divisions. Policy has been updated, non-policy information removed and language restructured.
The attached table documents the new locations of policy.
The following appendices are being removed:
• Appendix 7040-A: Expectations, Roles and Responsibilities of Foster Parents
• Appendix 7040-B: Liability of Foster Parents
• Appendix 7040-C: Expectations, Roles, and Responsibilities of Adoptive Parents
• Appendix 7240: Instructions for Processing FBI Fingerprint Cards
• Appendix 7410-A: Roles and Responsibilities of the Foster Home Development Worker
• Appendix 7410-B: Roles and Responsibilities of the Adoption Worker
• Appendix 7460: Intermittent Alternate-Care Service Provider Assurances
• Appendix 7110: Recruitment of Foster and Adoptive Homes (regional recruitment plans are being rolled into regional business plans)
The following appendices are being moved to resource guides:
• Appendix 7111: Foster Parent Associations
• Appendix 7420: Instructions for Foster Family Quarterly Assessment Narrative
• Appendix 7430: Guidelines for Corrective Action and Closure
• Appendix 7450: Guidelines for Monthly Adoption Assessment
• Appendix 7740: Production of FAD Administrative Review Records for Foster and Adoptive Parents
6000 Substitute-Care Services (PATS 10197)
Various updates to CPS Handbook section 6000 Substitute-Care Services. Many of these updates reassign content from other policy handbook sections; policy was deemed more relevant to substitute care services. Others are realignment or clarification of existing policy. See:
6133.73 Maintaining Current Photograph of a Child
6133.74 6133.73 Documenting Transfer and Closing Summaries
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6140 General Caseworker Court Duties
6141 Services to a Caregiver
6142 General Court Duties
6143 6141 Communication with the Child, Parents, Attorneys, Courts, Relatives and Caregivers
6143.1 6141.1 Child or Youth Access to Caseworker and Unit Management
6143.11 6141.11 Responding to a Message from a Child or Youth
6144 Caseworkers’ Responsibilities Regarding
6150 Notifications
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6151.2 Child Admitted to an Inpatient Mental Health Facility
6151.3 6151.2 Notification Requirements and Schedule
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6241 The Child’s Plan of Service (CPOS)
6241.1 Basic Description of the Child’s Service Plan
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6370 When a Mother in an Open CVS Case is Pregnant
6371 When the Baby is Born
6371.1 Legal Intervention
6380 Parental Child Safety Placements in CVS Cases
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6411.5 Children with Primary Medical Needs and Special Health Care Needs
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6417 9440 Supervising a Child Placed in Texas From Another State
6418 9340 The Supervision Services Expected From Another State
The sections below were deleted from 9000 and became 6417 and 6418 above:
9340 The Supervision Services Expected From Another State
9440 Supervising a Child Placed in Texas From Another State
Any other effects on the 9000 area from the deletions above are being taken care of in PATS alert # 10132 which is streamlining section 9000.
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6420 Rights of Children and Youth in Foster Care
6421 Texas Foster Care Handbook
6422 6432 Discipline
6422.1 6432.1 Corporal Punishment is Not Permitted
6422.2 6433.2 Addressing Behavior Management and Discipline Issues
6423 6433.4 Respect for Religious Practices
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The sections below were deleted, but see a few of the subjects above as re-numbered sections.
6431.3 Children with Primary Medical Needs
6432 Discipline
6432.1 Corporal Punishment is Not Permitted
6433 Caseworkers’ Responsibilities
6433.1 Acting as Caregiver
6433.2 Addressing Behavior Management and Discipline Issues
6433.3 Using the Child’s Service Plan to Guide Discipline Choices
6433.4 Respect for Religious Practices
6433.5 Maintaining Current Photograph of a Child
6440 Hunting (moved to 6451 Hunting below)
6440 6450 When a Youth in Substitute Care is Pregnant or Parenting
6441 When a Youth in Substitute Care is Pregnant
6442 When a Youth in Substitute Care is Parenting
6450 Additional Services
6451 6440 Hunting
6452 Personal Documents Provided to Youth
6452.1 Personal Documents Provided to Youth at Age 16
6452.2 Personal Documents Provided to Youth by Age 18
6453 Consumer Credit Reports
6453.1 Credit Reports for Youth 14 Through 17
6453.2 Credit Reports for Young Adults in Extended Foster Care
6454 Driver Licenses
6454.1 Driver License Assessment
6454.11 Approval Process
6454.12 Reassessing a Youth Before or After Receipt of a Driver License
6454.2 Eligible Youth Applying for a Driver License
6454.3 Affidavit Requirements
6454.4 Documenting the Issuance of a Driver License Fee Waiver Letter
6454.41 Address Changes
6454.5 Canceling or Withdrawing a Driver License
6455 Youth Enlisting in the Military
6456 Marriage of Youth in Conservatorship
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Appendix 6000-2 Appendix 7120: DFPS Discipline Policy