| Authority/Reference(s) | |
|---|---|
| Revision Date | September 3, 2024 |
Purchased Client Services
Purchased Client Services (PCS) is a division within the Office of the Chief Operations Officer. PCS is responsible for planning the purchasing of contracted services, contract administration and management, contract monitoring and accountability. Through these functions, PCS establishes the qualifications, service deliverables, reporting requirements, documentation requirements, payment methodology and performance measures for each service. Goods and services are procured through an array of procurement methods, managed through contractual relationships, and have a variety of payment methods which are funded via state and federal funds. PCS serves as a liaison between field staff and service providers. Staff are responsible for processing invoices for the payment of contracted services. PCS units include:
- Child Watch Support Services (CWSS)
- Regional Adult Protective Services (APS)
- Regional Child Protective Services (CPS)
- Residential Child-Care Contracts (RCC)
- State Office Contracts (SO)
Community-Based Care Operations
Community Based Care (CBC) Operations is a division within the Commissioner’s Office. CBC Operations is responsible for contract administration, management, contract monitoring and reporting of CBC related contracts to align with legislative mandates for the program. Functions of the department include assessment and streamlining of contract administration functions, process improvement, development of CBC-related policies and procedures, documenting roles and responsibilities for CBC contract managers and the Office of Community Based Care Transition (OCBCT) staff, and reducing duplication of effort between the CBC contracts team and OCBCT. CBC Operations collaborates across the agency to establish requirements for deliverables, reporting, documentation, payment methodology and performance measures for CBC providers and Single Source Continuum Contractors (SSCC).
Office of Community-Based Care Transition
Stemming from the 87th regular legislative session, the Office of Community-Based Care Transition is an independent state agency where the community-based care director reports to the governor. The Office of Community-Based Care Transition is administratively attached to the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). DFPS provides financial and other administrative functions as needed. CBC is administered through a Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) to accomplish the placement and delivery of services to children in DFPS conservatorship (including children and youth in paid foster care and kinship care), work with their families, and manage the adoptions and kinship placements for these children.
Texas Child Centered Care (T3C) System
In 2019, the legislature directed DFPS and Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to evaluate the methodology supporting the foster care rate. Over the last three decades how DFPS acquires foster care services and the rate methodology remained largely unchanged. Many changes including technology, advancements in data collection, a dedicated Medicaid managed care program, and Community-Based Care help to inform an improved way to deliver services and compensate foster caregivers. In 2021, DFPS was directed to develop an alternative structure to reimburse caregivers. This effort has become known as Texas Child Centered Care (T3C). Under T3C,caregivers specialize in providing distinct and clearly defined services based on the foster child’s needs and receive a rate that better accounts for the cost of providing services. The transition to T3C begins January 2025 with full transition by the end of fiscal year 2027. The T3C Blueprint is a guide for foster care stakeholders to understand the framework in each of the 24 service packages and three add-on services. The T3C Blueprint will be updated to provide up to date information related to transition and implementation. The transition is an iterative process where modifications are made for continued improvement based on lessons learned. The T3C Blueprint will be the primary vehicle for communicating changes.
Information Technology Services
Information Technology Services (ITS), also known as Information Technology, is a division of DFPS reporting to the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Operations. The mission of ITS is to enable DFPS employees to achieve their business goals using innovative, high quality, flexible, and cost–effective technology and business solutions. The vision of ITS is to deliver outstanding customer service by effectively tailoring business solutions to meet current and future DFPS customer needs. IT contracts are administrative in nature and include large scale complex software development contracts for the benefit of DFPS programs. The division works closely with the Department of Information Resources (DIR) to maximize the best value for the agency while meeting the changing technology needs for DFPS.
Visualization and Interpretation for Performance Outcomes (VIPO)
Visualization and Interpretation for Performance Outcomes is part of the Office of Data and Systems Improvement (ODSI). The mission of ODSI is to utilize data reporting in a manner that ensures effective coordination, communication, and consistency across the agency and to demonstrate how data is used to understand and improve performance and outcomes. VIPO promotes the agency’s mission by working with agency partners to craft meaningful performance measures, actionable reports. VIPO supports program, CPS contract managers, and APS contract managers in using information to understand and improve the quality of contracted services. VIPO supports special projects and initiatives to implement statewide strategies for improving outcomes in contracting and service delivery.