9000 Background Checks for External Partner Organizations
Background Checks June 2026
The DFPS Background Checks program completes background checks for a number of external partner organizations as required by federal and state statutes. In addition, DFPS conducts these checks using a formal agreement such as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
A background check may contain the following types of checks:
- Texas Name-Based Criminal History Check
- DFPS History Check
- Central Registry Check
- FBI Criminal History Check
- Reportable Conduct Check
The results of the background check are sent to the requestor or subject of the background check based on who requested the background check. For some external partner organizations, Background Checks staff review the subject’s criminal, abuse or neglect, and reportable conduct history to determine if the subject is Eligible/Clear or Ineligible/Barred based on the requested role with the organization. See 9300 Processing Background Check Results.
9100 External Partner Organizations
Background Checks June 2026
The following external partner organizations may request the required background checks for any person who works with or applies to work with the external partner organization. See 9200 Requesting a Background Check.
9110 Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)
Background Checks June 2026
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) supports volunteers who are in one-to-one mentoring relationships with children in communities across the country. The agency’s goal is to have direct and lasting effects on the lives of young people. Texas Government Code §411.114(3)(N) authorizes DFPS to obtain criminal history information on a volunteer or applicant volunteer with BBBS in Texas.
Background Checks staff process the following background checks for BBBS volunteers:
- Texas Name-Based Criminal History Check
- Central Registry Check
In addition, when a BBBS organization volunteers under a direct contract with DFPS, the background check is processed according to 2000 Background Checks for Contracted Services.
9120 Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC)
Background Checks June 2026
This agency includes staff and volunteers who work with children suspected of being victims of abuse or neglect or who have witnessed a violent crime. The centers offer forensic interviews, medical exams, and counseling during the investigation and prosecution of abuse or neglect cases.
Texas Government Code §411.114(3)(P) authorizes DFPS to obtain criminal history information on an employee, volunteer, or applicant volunteer of a children’s advocacy center under Subchapter E, Chapter 264, Texas Family Code, including a member of the governing board of a center.
Background Checks staff process the following background checks for CAC staff and volunteers:
- Texas Name-Based Criminal History
- Central Registry Check
9130 Human Trafficking Advocacy Agencies
Background Checks June 2026
DFPS works with a number of external partner organizations that seek to identify and provide coordinated services to victims of commercial exploitation. The agency does this through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Background Checks staff process the following background checks for Human Trafficking Advocacy staff and volunteers that may have contact with DFPS clients:
- Texas Name-Based Criminal History Check
- DFPS History Check
- Reportable Conduct Check
- An FBI fingerprint check is required for any subject that, at the time of his or her background check request, meets any of the following criteria:
- Currently lives outside Texas.
- Has lived outside Texas in the past two years.
- DFPS has good cause for requesting an FBI check.
9140 Superior Health Plan
Background Checks June 2026
Superior Health Plan (SHP) is a managed health care company that provides health care for many Texans and is the exclusive provider of STAR Health. STAR Health provides health care coverage for children and young adults in foster care.
The Health and Human Services Commission STAR Health contract terms require Texas Central Registry background checks for behavioral health providers seeking credentialing or re-credentialing with SHP, because these providers have access to DFPS resources and clients. This includes the following license types:
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
- Doctor of Psychology (PhD)
Background Checks staff process Texas Central Registry background checks on SHP providers.
9150 Texas Juvenile Justice Department
Background Checks June 2026
Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) facilities must comply with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), a federal law that establishes a zero-tolerance standard against sexual abuse of incarcerated people of any age. TJJD facilities make prevention a top priority and check the child abuse registry maintained by DFPS. Based on the MOU between DFPS and TJJD, background checks should be submitted only for the following people:
- Applicants TJJD intends to hire.
- Current TJJD employees who have been identified for promotion.
- Contractors whose job responsibilities may place them in contact with correctional facility residents.
Background Checks staff process Central Registry checks on current and prospective TJJD employees, as well as contractors who have access to correctional facility residents.
9200 Requesting a Background Check
Background Checks June 2026
Background checks are requested through the DFPS Automated Background Check System (ABCS). The external partner organization completes the action in the applicable subsection to either set up an ABCS account or submit background checks.
9210 BBBS and CAC
Background Checks June 2026
The ABCS representative for the organization consents to the background check by completing and signing Form 2854 Request for Central Registry and Criminal History Background Checks, and then submitting the form to DFPS CAC TX BGC Request to create the ABCS account.
Once the ABCS account is created and a person clears the background check, the ABCS representative enters background checks for the organization’s employees and volunteers directly into ABCS.
9220 Human Trafficking Advocacy Agencies
Background Checks June 2026
The ABCS representative for the organization consents to the background check by completing and signing Form 2944 Non-DFPS Staff Background Check Request Form and then submitting the form to DFPS External Access BGC to create the ABCS account.
Once the background check is cleared by Background Checks staff, the ABCS representative is authorized to enter background check for the organization’s employees and volunteers directly into ABCS, The ABCS representative initiates a renewal background check annually from the date of the original request for all Human Trafficking Advocacy agency staff and volunteers who continue to have contact with DFPS clients.
9230 Superior Health Plan
Background Checks June 2026
A Superior Health Plan (SHP) representative provides Form 1600 Request for Child Abuse/Neglect Central Registry Check - Superior Health Plan to the subject of the background check who consents to the background check by completing and signing the form. A SHP representative then submits the completed form to Background Checks staff. The staff enters the background check request to initiate the background check.
The Automated Background Check System (ABCS) representative initiates a renewal background check every 24 months from the date of the original request for SHP providers.
9240 Texas Juvenile Justice Department
Background Checks June 2026
The Automated Background Check System (ABCS) representative for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) consents to the background check by completing and signing Form 2944 Non-DFPS Staff Background Check Request Form, and then submitting the form to Purchased Client Services (PCS) to create the ABCS account. Once the ABCS account is created and the person clears the background check, the ABCS representative enters background checks for the TJJD’s employees and volunteers directly into ABCS.
The ABCS representative initiates a renewal background check every 24 months from the date of the original request for TJJD employees and contractors who have access to correctional facility residents.
9300 Processing Background Check Results
Background Checks June 2026
Background Checks staff process background check requests and sends the results to the requestor or subject of the background check based on the type of External Partner Organization that requested the background check.
9310 BBBS and CAC
Background Checks June 2026
After the background check is completed, Background Checks staff do as follows:
- Notify the requestor that the subject is Eligible or Clear and may have access to DFPS resources and clients, if the subject of the background check has no criminal, abuse, or neglect history.
- Consider the person Ineligible/Barred from accessing DFPS resources and clients, and the results are sent to the subject of the background check, if the subject of the background check has any DFPS abuse or neglect history.
- Do not review background check results and sends the results to the requestor, if the subject of the background check has any criminal history.
9320 Human Trafficking Advocacy Agencies
Background Checks June 2026
After the background check is completed, Background Checks staff do as follows:
- Notify the requestor that the subject is Eligible or Clear, if the subject of the background check has no criminal, abuse or neglect, or reportable conduct history.
- Notify the requestor that the person is ineligible to access DFPS resources and clients, if the subject of the background check has criminal, abuse, or neglect. or reportable conduct history that is identified as an Absolute Bar on Appendix 3: Criminal History Bars for DFPS Volunteers, Interns, and Non-DFPS Staff or Ineligible or Barred on Appendix 1: Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, and Reportable Conduct History Bars for DFPS Employees, Prospective Employees, Volunteers, and Interns, Non-DFPS Staff, and CASA Employees, Volunteers, and Board Members..
- Conduct a risk assessment before rendering a decision, if the subject of the background check has a history of criminal convictions that is identified as a Risk Assessment on the Appendix 3: Criminal History Bars for DFPS Volunteers, Interns, and Non-DFPS Staff, or has a role in a case with any type of abuse or neglect listed as a Review on the Appendix 1: Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, and Reportable Conduct History Bars for DFPS Employees, Prospective Employees, Volunteers, and Interns, Non-DFPS Staff, and CASA Employees, Volunteers, and Board Members. See 9400 Completing a Risk Assessment.
9330 Superior Health Plan
Background Checks June 2026
If the subject of the background check is not listed as a designated perpetrator (DP) or sustained perpetrator (SP) in an abuse, neglect, or exploitation investigation that was found Reason to Believe (RTB), Background Checks staff notify Superior Health Plan (SHP) that the person is Eligible or Clear.
If the subject of the background check has any of the following history, Background Checks staff use the table below to determine which action to take.
| Subject’s Role and Type of Maltreatment |
Action |
|---|---|
Sustained perpetrator (SP) of any of the following:
|
Background Checks staff notify Superior Heath Plan (SHP) that the person is Ineligible or Barred from accessing DFPS resources and clients. For physical abuse, the person is Ineligible or Barred if the incident occurred within the last five years. |
Sustained perpetrator (SP) of any of the following:
|
Background Checks staff conduct a risk assessment before rendering a decision. See 9400 Completing a Risk Assessment. SHP is not notified of the results until the risk assessment process is complete. For physical abuse, a risk assessment must be conducted if the incident occurred more than five years ago. |
Designated perpetrator (DP) of any of the following:
|
Background Checks staff send the results to the subject of the background check and offer an opportunity for the subject to request an appeal through the State Office of Administrative Hearings. Background Checks staff do not notify SHP of the results until the appeal process is complete. For physical abuse, this applies if the incident occurred within the last five years. |
Designated perpetrator of any of the following:
|
Background Checks staff conduct a risk assessment before rendering a decision. See 9400 Completing a Risk Assessment. SHP is not notified of the results until the risk assessment process is complete. For physical abuse, a risk assessment must be conducted if the incident occurred more than five years ago. |
Either of the following:
|
Background Checks staff do not review this type of history until the case or stage closes. Background Checks staff take the appropriate action based on the final results. |
9340 TJJD
Background Checks June 2026
After checking the Central Registry for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), Background Checks staff do as follows:
- Notify the requestor that the subject of the background check is Eligible or Clear, if the subject of the background check is not listed on the Central Registry.
- Send results to the subject of the background check, if the subject of the background check is listed on the Central Registry. The requestor does not receive any notification.
9400 Completing a Risk Assessment
Background Checks June 2026
If the subject of a background check requested for a Human Trafficking Advocacy agency or the Superior Health Plan (SHP) has any of the following criminal, abuse, or neglect history, Background Checks staff conduct a risk assessment before rendering a decision.
- The subject of a Human Trafficking Advocacy Agency background check has a history of criminal convictions identified as a Risk Assessment on the Appendix 3: Criminal History Bars for DFPS Volunteers, Interns, and Non-DFPS Staff or has abuse or neglect history identified as a Review on the Appendix 1: Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, and Reportable Conduct History Bars for DFPS Employees, Prospective Employees, Volunteers, and Interns, Non-DFPS Staff, and CASA Employees, Volunteers, and Board Members.
- The subject of an SHP background check has abuse or neglect history listed on Table 1: Central Registry Results and Required Action that indicates a risk assessment is required.
The subject of the background check may not access DFPS resources or clients until the risk assessment is complete, and the results clear the person for accessing DFPS resources or clients.
Background Checks staff also conducts a risk assessment on juvenile criminal history obtained from DPS or the FBI for these populations. If Background Checks staff assesses that there is risk of immediate harm if access to DFPS Resources and clients is allowed, Background Checks staff may consult with the DFPS Office of General Counsel (Legal Division) to make a final determination.
Certain criminal convictions not specifically noted in Appendix 3: Criminal History Bars for DFPS Volunteers, Interns, and Non-DFPS Staff may also require a risk assessment for Human Trafficking Advocacy agency volunteers. The assessment is required if there is concern that the criminal offense poses a risk of harm to DFPS resources and clients.
Based on the risk assessment, Background Checks staff do either of the following:
- Notify the requestor that the person is cleared or eligible to have access to DFPS resources and clients.
- Notify the requestor or subject of the background check (based on the external partner organization that requested the background check) that the subject is barred or ineligible to have access to DFPS resources and clients.
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