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RCL
Residential Child Care Licensing Overview

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is granted its authority to
regulate child care facilities and child placing agencies (CPS) by the Texas Legislature in
Chapter 42 of the Texas Human Resources Code.

The purpose of regulation is to protect a group or class of children by establishing and enforcing statewide minimum standards.

Paid Expenditures and Total Average Filled
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Staff

Total Staff 168.3
Direct Delivery Total Staff 162.6
Caseworkers 119.0
Supervisors 22.4
Clerical 14.4
Other 12.5
Staff Costs $8,745,272.45

Worker demographic

Demographic Subcategory Number or Percent
Turnover Rate n/a 13.9%
Tenure Less than 1 Year 5.9%
1-3 Years 41.2%
Greater than 3 Years 52.9%
Entry Salary (INV) n/a $36,355.68
Entry Salary (Non INV) n/a $32,610.96
Average Age n/a 39.6
Race/Ethnicity African-American 37.0%
Anglo 39.5%
Hispanic 21.8%
Other 1.7%

Supervisor Demographics

Demographic Subcategory Number or Percent
Turnover Rate n/a 4.4%
Tenure Less than 1 Year 4.5%
1-3 Years 9.1%
Greater than 3 Years 86.4%
Entry Salary n/a $43,673.00
Average Age n/a 40.2
Race/Ethnicity African-American 45.5%
Anglo 22.7%
Hispanic 27.3%
Other 4.5%

Description of the Monitoring/Investigation Process

Step 1: Application/Permit Issuance
  • Orientation
  • Inspection
  • Background Check
  • Technical Assistance
  • Fees
  • Initial Permit
  • Non-expiring Permit
Step 2: Monitoring/Investigation
  • Routine Action: Continue to Monitoring
  • Complaint Based Action: Continue to Investigation
Step 2a: Monitoring
  • Assess Risk
  • Annual Unannounced Inspections
  • Biennial Background Checks
  • Random Sampling of CPA Foster Homes
  • Technical assistance
Step 2b: Investigation
  • Assess Risk
  • Abuse, Neglect, or exploitation
  • Minimum Standards violations, including serious incidents
Step 3: Deficiencies Found? Reports Validated?
Step 4: Due Process
Step 5: Enforcement/Remedial Action
  • Document Inspection
  • Share results with facility and the public via CLASS database
  • Require correction to reduce risk
  • Verify compliance
  • Increase monitoring plan as necessary
Types of Remedial Action
  • Corrective Action
  • Probation/Evaluation
  • Fines/Penalties
  • Denials
  • Suspension
  • Revocation

Note: The described process is for reference only and does not necessarily represent the flow of a case.

Statistics FY 2010

  • 24-Hour Care Facilities: 10,322
  • Capacity of Facilities: 42,722
  • Abuse/Neglect Investigations: 1,751
  • Non-Abuse/Neglect Investigations: 2,938
  • Inspections: 10,488
  • Adverse Actions: 1

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Legal Responsibility for Child-Care Licensing

Statutory References

Day Care and Residential Care: Statutory References
Social Security Act
Human Resources Code, Chapters 40, 42, and 43
Texas Family Code, Title 5
Texas Government Code
Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 249
Texas Administrative Code, Title 40

Major Provisions

  • Develop minimum standards to promote the
    health, safety and well being of children in out-of-home
    care.
  • Validating a system of weighted minimum
    standards in order to help quantify compliance.
  • Inspect child-care operations to ensure they
    maintain compliance with minimum standards.
  • Investigate allegations of abuse/neglect, violations
    of standards violations or the law and ensure
    appropriate corrective or adverse actions are taken.
  • Conduct criminal background checks and DFPS
    central registry checks on all adult staff or
    caregivers, and youth age 14 – 18 who will be
    in frequent contact with children in child-care
    operations excluding children in care.
  • Offer consultation to potential applicants and
    permit holders about meeting and maintaining
    compliance with Licensing standards, and achieving
    programs of excellence.
  • Educate and advise consumers of child-care
    operations by providing the operations’ compliance
    history.
  • Balancing standards for safety with the needs for
    the least restrictive environment.

Other Programmatic Information:

Challenges:

  • Appropriately and consistently enforcing minimum
    standards across operation types.
  • Implementing a system of weighted minimum
    standards in order to help quantify compliance.
  • Developing inclusive, appropriate and effective
    relationships with child-care operations resulting in
    increased compliance and stronger protection for
    children.
  • Determining exemption status for new and
    different types of child care operations.
  • Providing technical assistance to child care
    operations struggling to manage behavior problems
    exhibited by young children.
  • Providing thorough, efficient and timely
    background check results to over a quarter of a
    million people seeking to work in child care, foster
    care or seeking to adopt a child.
  • Maximizing the use of Mobile Technology.

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Fiscal Year 2004 and 2010 Pre- and Post-Reform Statistics by Region (RCCL)

Region 1 - Lubbock

Region 1 - Lubbock 2004 2010
Turnover 0.0% 0.0%
Average Base Salary $44,338 $38,003
Inspections 95 505
Investigations 129 206

Region 2 - Abilene

Region 2 - Abilene 2004 2010
Turnover 0.0% 14.3%
Average Base Salary $0 $37,434
Inspections 38 332
Investigations 134 156

Region 3 - Arlington

Region 3 - Arlington 2004 2010
Turnover 0.0% 36.4%
Average Base Salary $39,191 $36,013
Inspections 341 2,111
Investigations 436 878

Region 4 - Tyler

Region 4 - Tyler 2004 2010
Turnover 0.0% 50.0%
Average Base Salary $32,501 $39,596
Inspections 95 329
Investigations 139 170

Region 5 - Beaumont

Region 5 - Beaumont 2004 2010
Turnover 100.0% 0.0%
Average Base Salary $34,518 $40,125
Inspections 57 277
Investigations 62 125

Region 6 - Houston

Region 6 - Houston 2004 2010
Turnover 0.0% 18.7%
Average Base Salary $36,337 $37,089
Inspections 660 2,637
Investigations 991 1,245

Region 7 - Austin

Region 7 - Austin 2004 2010
Turnover 26.7% 11.9%
Average Base Salary $34,351 $35,920
Inspections 396 1,390
Investigations 603 618

Region 8 - San Antonio

Region 8 - San Antonio 2004 2010
Turnover 38.1% 0.0%
Average Base Salary $34,462 $37,911
Inspections 337 1,686
Investigations 367 787

Region 9 - Midland

Region 9 - Midland 2004 2010
Turnover 0.0% 0.0%
Average Base Salary $0 $47,627
Inspections 24 133
Investigations 87 61

Region 10 - El Paso

Region 10 - El Paso 2004 2010
Turnover 0.0% 0.0%
Average Base Salary $32,865 $40,481
Inspections 38 254
Investigations 47 102

Region 11 - Edinburg

Region 11 - Edinburg 2004 2010
Turnover 0.0% 0.0%
Average Base Salary $33,926 $38,695
Inspections 132 816
Investigations 339 348

Statewide Totals

Statewide Totals 2004 2010
Caseworkers* 33.8 119.0
Turnover 12.9% 13.9%
Average Base Salary $36,499 $37,465
Inspections 2,213 10,473
Investigations 3,341 4,696

* RCCL workers report to a state office division and are not regionally allocated.
The State Total for Completed Investigations includes those where the Region was Unknown and/or Out of State.
The State Total for Completed Investigations and Inspections does not include Illegal Operations.

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Texas Child Population Ages Birth through 17 Years
Fiscal Year 2010

State Total: 6,584,709

Region Number Child Population (Birth - 17 Years)
Region 1 214,859
Region 2 133,598
Region 3 1,796,970
Region 4 264,034
Region 5 182,292
Region 6 1,591,032
Region 7 696,817
Region 8 661,397
Region 9 146,161
Region 10 232,511
Region 11 665,038
Total 6,584,709

Population Data Source: Texas State Data Center; University of Texas (San Antonio)

Texas Child Population Ages Birth through 17 Years by County

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Residential Child Care Licensing Operations* in Texas as of August 31

Fiscal Year Child Placing Agencies (CPS)** Homes Verified by CPAs General Residential Operations Independent Foster Family and Group Homes Residential Treatment Centers Maternity Homes Total Licensed Residential
2006 304 9,842 140 20 91 15 10,412
2007 332 9,438 140 15 87 16 10,028
2008 331 9,518 144 10 90 13 10,106
2009 334 9,761 150 14 89 13 10,361
2010 341 9,731 154 7 79 10 10,322

* Counts do not include Applicants
** Counts include Branch Offices

Residential Child Care Licensing Operations in Texas as of August 31

Child Placing Agencies*

Child Placing Agencies* 2009 Count 2009 Capacity 2010 Count 2010 Capacity
Main Offices 204 NA 200 NA
Branch Offices** 130 NA 141 NA
Subtotal 334 NA 341 NA

Homes Verified by Child Placing Agencies

Child Placing Agencies* 2009 Count 2009 Capacity 2010 Count 2010 Capacity
Agency Foster Homes *** 6,602 22,350 6,741 22,632
Agency Group Homes *** 440 3,974 436 3,894
CPS Foster Homes 1,754 5,239 1,732 5,157
CPS Foster Group Homes 27 188 22 134
CPS Adoptive Homes  938 N/A 800 N/A
Subtotal 9,761 31,751 9,731 31,817

Licensed Residential Operations

Licensed Residential Operations 2009 Count 2009 Capacity 2010 Count 2010 Capacity
General Residential Operations 150 7,217 154 7,050
Independent Foster Family Homes 3 14 1 6
Independent Foster Group Homes 11 106 6 65
Residential Treatment Centers 89 3,838 79 3,630
Maternity Homes 13 181 10 154
Subtotal 266 11,356 250 10,905

Total Residential Child Care Licensing Operations

RCCL Operation in Texas as of Aug 31 2009 Count 2009 Capacity 2010 Count 2010 Capacity
Total Residential Child Care Licensing Operations 10,361 43,107 10,322 42,722

* Includes 11 DFPS Regional Child Placing Agencies
** Branch Offices operate under the license authority of the main office.
*** Adoptive only homes are not included in the number of private agency homes.

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Residential Child Care Licensing Operations Regulated by Fiscal Year

Child Placing Agencies

Region Main Offices 2009 Main Offices 2010 Branch Offices 2009 Branch Offices 2010 Total CPAs 2009 Total CPAs 2010
1 Lubbock 10 10 8 11 18 21
2 Abilene 6 6 13 13 19 19
3 Arlington 68 63 21 21 89 84
4 Tyler 5 6 9 9 14 15
5 Beaumont 4 4 5 6 9 10
6 Houston 36 36 17 19 53 55
7 Austin 35 33 15 19 50 52
8 San Antonio 29 30 14 15 43 45
9 Midland 2 3 3 4 5 7
10 El Paso 4 4 5 5 9 9
11 Edinburg 5 5 20 19 25 24
Unknown/Out of State 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 204 200 130 141 334 341

Homes Verified by Child Placing Agencies (CPAs)

Region Agency Foster Homes 2009 Agency Foster Homes 2010 Agency Group Homes 2009 Agency Group Homess 2010 CPS Foster Homes 2009 CPS Foster Homes 2010
1 Lubbock 280 296 14 11 159 150
2 Abilene 183 177 19 20 103 90
3 Arlington 1,653 1,684 93 117 382 373
4 Tyler 275 300 15 15 122 112
5 Beaumont 150 172 18 19 110 125
6 Houston 1,384 1,416 70 58 338 345
7 Austin 963 998 69 57 161 166
8 San Antonio 997 1,006 64 65 192 172
9 Midland 97 108 13 13 46 56
10 El Paso 180 152 8 9 43 42
11 Edinburg 439 431 57 52 78 68
Unknown/Out of State 1 1 0 0 20 33
Total 6,602 6,741 440 436 1,754 1,732

Homes Verified by Child Placing Agencies (CPAs)

Region CPS Foster Group Homes 2009 CPS Foster Group Homes 2010 CPS Adoptive Homes 2009 CPS Adoptive Homes 2010 Subtotal - Homes Verified by CPAs 2009 Subtotal - Homes Verified by CPAs 2010
1 Lubbock 4 3 30 25 487 485
2 Abilene 0 0 12 15 317 302
3 Arlington 4 4 149 109 2,281 2,287
4 Tyler 0 0 47 69 459 496
5 Beaumont 0 0 42 33 320 349
6 Houston 9 6 317 262 2,118 2,087
7 Austin 2 2 150 136 1,345 1,359
8 San Antonio 4 5 105 77 1,362 1,325
9 Midland 1 1 4 5 161 183
10 El Paso 1 0 20 25 252 228
11 Edinburg 2 1 40 36 616 588
Unknown/Out of State 0 0 22 8 43 42
Total 27 22 938 800 9,761 9,731

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Residential Child Care Licensing Operations Regulated by Fiscal Year

Licensed Residential Operations

Region General Residential Operations 2009 General Residential Operations 2010 Independent Foster Family Homes 2009 Independent Foster Family Homes 2010 Independent Foster Group Homes 2009 Independent Foster Group Homes 2010
1 Lubbock 13 12 0 0 0 0
2 Abilene 6 6 0 0 0 0
3 Arlington 23 22 1 0 0 0
4 Tyler 7 6 0 0 0 0
5 Beaumont 5 5 0 0 0 0
6 Houston 21 28 1 0 9 6
7 Austin 22 23 0 0 2 0
8 San Antonio 30 30 1 1 0 0
9 Midland 4 4 0 0 0 0
10 El Paso 6 5 0 0 0 0
11 Edinburg 13 13 0 0 0 0
Unknown/Out of State 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 150 154 3 1 11 6
Region Residential Treatment Centers 2009 Residential Treatment Centers 2010 Maternity Homes 2009 Maternity Homes 2010 Subtotal - Licensed Residential Operations 2009 Subtotal - Licensed Residential Operations 2010
1 Lubbock 2 2 1 1 16 15
2 Abilene 1 1 1 1 8 8
3 Arlington 6 7 4 2 34 31
4 Tyler 5 4 1 1 13 11
5 Beaumont 3 2 0 0 8 7
6 Houston 44 36 2 1 77 71
7 Austin 14 13 2 2 40 38
8 San Antonio 12 12 1 1 44 44
9 Midland 0 0 0 0 4 4
10 El Paso 1 1 0 0 7 6
11 Edinburg 1 1 1 1 15 15
Unknown/Out of State 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 89 79 13 10 266 250

Total Residential Child Care Licensing Operations

Region Total Residential Child Care Licensing Operations 2009 Total Residential Child Care Licensing Operations 2010
1 Lubbock 521 521
2 Abilene 344 329
3 Arlington 2,404 2,402
4 Tyler 486 522
5 Beaumont 337 366
6 Houston 2,248 2,213
7 Austin 1,435 1,449
8 San Antonio 1,449 1,414
9 Midland 170 194
10 El Paso 268 243
11 Edinburg 656 627
Unknown/Out of State 43 42
Total 10,361 10,322
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Total Residential Child Care Licensing Operations

Region Residential Applications Accepted Residential Initial Permits Issued (New)
1 Lubbock 1 1
2 Abilene 0 0
3 Arlington 18 13
4 Tyler 3 2
5 Beaumont 4 2
6 Houston 21 15
7 Austin 7 4
8 San Antonio 7 5
9 Midland 1 1
10 El Paso 0 0
11 Edinburg 1 0
State Total 63 43

Note: Does not include homes verified by CPA's.

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Inspections in Residential Child Care Licensing Operations

Facility Type 2009 Number 2009 Percent 2010 Number 2010 Percent
Child Placing Agencies 4,783 45.6% 4,572 43.6%
CPA Foster Family & Group Homes 2,221 21.2% 2,462 23.5%
CPS Foster Family & Foster Group & Adoptive Homes 516 4.9% 611 5.8%
Licensed Residential Operations 2,934 28.0% 2,828 27.0%
Illegal Operations 27 0.3% 15 0.1%
Total 10,481 100% 10,488 100%

Note: RCL inspects agency foster homes for two reasons (1) to conduct an investigation; or (2) to determine whether the CPA managing the foster homes is compliant in its verification, monitoring and management of the foster home and the child in care. Foster home inspections for the latter purpose are periodically selected at random from across the state from across the state from the DFPS database for inspection.

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Inspections in Residential Child Care Licensing Operations by Type of Inspection
Fiscal Year 2010

Total Inspections: 10,488

Residential Child Care Licensing Operations

Inspection Type Number Percent
Investigation 4,795 45.8%
Agency Home Sample Inspections 3,054 29.2%
Monitoring 1,182 11.3%
Follow-up 231 2.2%
Other 1,211 11.6%
Total  10,473 100%

Illegal Operations

Inspection Type Number Percent
Investigation 10 66.7%
Monitoring 0 0.0%
Follow-up 2 13.3%
Other 3 20.0%
Total  15 100%

Note: RCL inspects agency foster homes for two reasons (1) to conduct an investigation; or (2) to determine whether the CPA managing the foster homes is compliant in its verification, monitoring and management of the foster home and the children in care. Foster home inspections for the latter purpose are periodically selected at random from across the state from the DFPS database for inspection.

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Investigations in Residential Child Care Licensing Operations

Residential Licensing Operations Type

Residential Licensing Operations Type 2007 2008 2009 2010
Child Placing Agencies (CPA)* 4,496 3,851 3,304 3,057
Licensed Residential Operations 2,042 2,048 1,961 1,639
Illegal Operations 2 0 22 15
Total  6,540 5,899 5,287 4,711

* Includes homes regulated by Child Placing Agencies

Investigations in Residential Child Care Licensing Operations
Fiscal Year 2010

Region Child Placing Agencies (CPA)* Licensed Residential Operations Illegal Operations Total Investigations
1 Lubbock 134 72 0 206
2 Abilene 145 11 0 156
3 Arlington 776 102 2 880
4 Tyler 99 71 0 170
5 Beaumont 86 39 0 125
6 Houston 648 597 3 1,248
7 Austin 346 272 1 619
8 San Antonio 419 368 3 790
9 Midland 42 19 1 62
10 El Paso 90 12 0 102
11 Edinburg 272 76 3 351
Other/Unknown 0 0 2 2
Total 3,057 1,639 15 4,711

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Investigations in Residential Child Care Licensing (CCL) Operations
Fiscal Year 2010

Total Number Residential CCL Operations as of 8/31/10 and Investigations

Operation Type Total Number Operations as of 8/31/09 Investigations
Child Placing Agencies (CPA)* 341 3,057
General Residential Operations 154 667
Independent Foster/ Foster Group Homes 7 8
Residential Treatment Centers 79 964
Maternity Homes 10 0
Subtotal 591 4,696
Illegal Operations 16 15
Total 607 4,711

Number of Abuse/Neglect Investigations

Total Number of Abuse/Neglect Investigations Total Valid Percent Validated
Child Placing Agencies (CPA)* 1,213 36 3.0%
General Residential Operations 203 4 2.0%
Independent Foster/ Foster Group Homes 1 0 0.0%
Residential Treatment Centers 334 7 2.1%
Maternity Homes 0 0 0.0%
Subtotal 1,751 47 2.7%
Illegal Operations 0 0 0.0%
Total 1,751 47 2.7%

Number of Non Abuse/Neglect Investigations

Total Number of Abuse/Neglect Investigations Total Investigations with a Deficiency Cited
Child Placing Agencies (CPA)* 1,835 450
General Residential Operations 462 136
Independent Foster/ Foster Group Homes 7 4
Residential Treatment Centers 619 149
Maternity Homes 0 0
Subtotal 2,923 739
Illegal Operations 15 4
Total 2,938 743

* Includes CPA branch offices

Note: The number of Investigations and the number of Non Abuse/Neglect Investigations are based on the date that the worker completed the investigation. The number of Abuse/Neglect Investigations uses the date that the Investigation stage closed. Therefore, the sum of Abuse/Neglect Investigations and Non Abuse/Neglect Investigations will not match the total Investigations.

State's Top 10 Standards Deficiences for Residential Child Care Licensing Operations, Fiscal Year 2010

Rank Standard
Rule*		 Description Non-
Compliances
1 749.607(1) Employee general responsibilities-Demonstrate competency, prudent judgment, self-control in presence of children and when performing assigned tasks 132
2 749.1953(a) Corporal Punishment-May not use/threaten corporal punishment, such as hitting/spanking, forced exercise, holding physical position, unproductive work. 109
3 745.625(a)(7) Background checks submitted-every 24 months after first submitted 86
4 748.507(1) Employee general responsibilities-Demonstrate competency, prudent judgment, self-control in presence of children and when performing assigned tasks 76
5 748.685(a)(4) Caregiver responsibility - providing the level of supervision necessary to ensure each child's safety and well-being 58
6 745.615(a)(8) Required background check - Applicants for a child-care administrator's license 57
7 749.2593(a)(3) Supervision-The caregiver is responsible for ensuring each child's safety and well being, including auditory and/or visual awareness of the child 55
8 748.3301(a) Physical Site-Buildings must be structurally sound, clean, and in good repair. Paints must be lead-free 51
9 749.1521(1) Medication Storage-Store medication in a locked container 48
10 749.1541(a) Medication Record-Maintain cumulative record of prescription medications dispensed to child, include nonprescription meds for child under five yrs old 47

* Only includes deficiencies where administrative review was upheld or waived.
Note: Does not include assessment deficiencies.

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Adverse and Corrective Actions in Residential Child Care Licensing Operations by Region Fiscal Year 2010

Adverse Actions in Residential Child Care Licensing Operations by Region

Region Permits Denied Permits Revoked Permits Suspended Total Adverse Actions
1 Lubbock 0 0 0 0
2 Abilene 0 0 0 0
3 Arlington 1 0 0 1
4 Tyler 0 0 0 0
5 Beaumont 0 0 0 0
6 Houston 0 0 0 0
7 Austin 0 0 0 0
8 San Antonio 0 0 0 0
9 Midland 0 0 0 0
10 El Paso 0 0 0 0
11 Edinburg 0 0 0 0
Unknown 0 0 0 0
State Total 1 0 0 1

Corrective Actions in Residential Child Care Licensing Operations by Region

Region Evaluation Probation Total Corrective Action
1 Lubbock 0 0 0
2 Abilene 0 0 0
3 Arlington 1 0 1
4 Tyler 0 0 0
5 Beaumont 0 0 0
6 Houston 6 2 8
7 Austin 0 0 0
8 San Antonio 1 0 1
9 Midland 0 0 0
10 El Paso 0 0 0
11 Edinburg 0 0 0
Unknown 0 0 0
State Total 8 2 10

Note: Adverse actions are determined by the date the facility was sent the letter of intent. Finalizing adverse action through due process is lengthy. Voluntary Suspensions are not counted in the number of suspensions. Corrective actions begin after the due process is completed.

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Background Checks for Residential Child Care Licensing Operations
Fiscal Year 2010

Residential Child Care Licensing Operations Central Registry Checks DPS Checks FBI Checks*
CPAs, CPA Foster Agency Homes 43,304 43,305 15,427
General Residential Operations 11,277 11,277 694
Independent Foster/ Group Homes 282 282 31
Residential Treatment Centers 8,638 8,638 357
Maternity Homes 148 148 25
Total 63,649 63,650 16,534

* Represents the number of FBI checks that were requested, not the number that were actually processed.
Note: Does not include background checks conducted on individuals in illegal child-care operations or CPS Foster and CPS Adoptive homes.

Child Care Administrator Credential Exam
Fiscal Year 2010

Child Care Administrator Credential Exam Passed Failed Total
Licensed Child Care Administrators (LCCA) 58 3 61
Licensed Child Placing Agency Administrators (LCPA) 45 5 50
Total number of exams n/a n/a 111

On 8/31/2010 there were:

Child Care Administrator Credential Exam Active Inactive Total
Licensed Child Care Administrators (LCCA) 670 152 822
Licensed Child Placing Agency Administrators (LCPA) 338 14 352
Total Exams n/a n/a 1,174

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