The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) maintains a central registry of reported cases of child abuse and neglect as required by TAC -Texas Administrative Code (state.tx.us) RULE §702.251. The DFPS Central Registry includes information gathered during Child Protective Services (CPS) investigationsof child abuse and neglect that resulted in a disposition of "reason to believe" for CPScases. Findings of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an adult victim are not included in the Central Registry. If there are no findings, you will clear the Central Registry check.
You will not clear the Central Registry check if you:
- Have the role of designated perpetrator or sustained perpetrator in an investigation included in the registry; or
- Are involved as an alleged perpetrator in an open child abuse or neglect investigation being conducted by DFPS.
The Central Registry results will not include any child abuse or neglect case information if there was an investigation, but abuse/neglect was ruled out or if it was unable to be determined.
The checks are conducted by DFPS Background Check employees. These DFPS employees are responsible for processing background checks for a variety of populations.
The Texas Central Registry Portal allows individuals to submit an electronic request for a central registry check by logging into the MyDAP portal: https://dfpsportal.dfps.texas.gov.
Once approved you will be granted access that will allow you to request a central registry background check on yourself. When the check has been completed, you will receive an email notification directing you to log into your account to view and print your background check. Please refer to the Texas Central Registry Portal page below for detailed instructions.
Texas Central Registry Background Checks
If you have questions, please email background checks at TXAbuseNeglectBGC@dfps.texas.gov.
There is not a fee.
DFPS only allows the individual who is the subject of the background check to request a Texas Central Registry Check. The subject of the request has the right to receive the results of this check and to share them with any third party.
Request basic case history by faxing the information needed on your state agency’s letterhead toStatewide Intake: 800-647-7410 or 512-339-5900. Once Statewide Intake receives the fax, an intake specialist will call the requestor and provide the information. See 3423 Out-of-State Agency Requests for Case History (OOS Requests) for additional information.
DFPS is unable to provide any criminal history information, as DFPS does not have the statutory authority to access this information. Contact the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for this information.
Findings of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an adult victim are not included in the Texas Central Registry check that DFPS conducts. You may want to utilize the Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR) as a resource.
Contact DFPS Records Management for instructions related to requesting a copy of your record:
- Send an email
- Phone (during business hours): 512-929-6764 or toll free at 877‐764‐7230
Once your background check is submitted, you cannot make any changes for 7 calendar days. On the 8th day, you can resubmit your background check. Please note that the Central Registry Portal is for personal requests only. Once you create an account, there are some fields that will not be editable. Those include name, SSN, and email address.
You are not permitted to request on behalf of someone else. The email address, name and SSN fields cannot be changed. Once an email address is used, that email address is locked for that account and cannot be reused.