7000 Foster and Adoptive Home Development
CPS October 2017
Foster and Adoptive Home Development (FAD) staff recruits, trains, approves, and verifies prospective foster and adoptive families.
Foster and adoptive families provide safe homes for children in DFPS substitute care during planned placements and on an emergency basis. Foster families work closely with CPS staff to develop and meet the permanency planning goals established for the children placed in their care.
The Foster and Adoptive Home Development program admits children and youth, of both genders, under the age of 18 years in foster homes for child-care services as defined in Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies §749.61(a).
FAD workers:
• guide prospective foster and adoptive families through the verification process;
• ensure that the families understand and comply with Licensing's Minimum Standards; and
• ensure that the families receive the necessary resources and support to provide for children in substitute care.
Refer to the Foster and Adoptive Home Resource Guide for FAD-related terms.
Race, Color, or National Origin
FAD staff must comply with federal law that prohibits using a child's or prospective foster or adoptive parent's race, color, or national origin ("RCNO") as a factor in a placement decision, with extremely limited exceptions.
42 U.S.C. §1996b, the Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 as amended by the Interethnic Adoption Provisions of 1996.
FAD staff may consult with the regional attorney for further guidance.
See:
4115 Prohibited Considerations Based on Race, Color, or National Origin
Appendix 4115: Information to Consider About Race, Color, and National Origin (RCNO) in Placement Decisions
6931.3 Race, Color, or National Origin
7100 Inquiries and Initial Applications
7110 Responding to Inquiries From Potential Foster Care or Adoptive Parents
CPS October 2017
The FAD worker must respond to inquiries from interested persons:
• making a general inquiry about becoming a foster or adoptive parent; or
• inquiring about becoming a foster or adoptive parent to a specific child.
The FAD worker must accept inquires:
• by phone;
• by email;
• online through the TARE website; or
• in person.
The FAD worker must respond in writing within 10 working days of receiving an inquiry, to provide more information about the process of becoming a foster or adoptive family with DFPS.
To obtain the necessary information about an interested family, the FAD worker must use Form 2169 Inquiry Form for Prospective Foster/Adoptive Families.
See 6980 Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE) for more information.
7120 Information Meetings
CPS October 2017
Most prospective and adoptive parents begin the verification and approval process by attending an information meeting to learn about fostering and adoption. The TARE website contains details on information meetings, and FAD staff may inform prospective parents of upcoming information meetings during the follow up to the prospective parents' inquiry.
Regional FAD workers must host a minimum of two information meetings each month. At least one of these meetings must be a "collaborative" meeting held in conjunction with private child-placing agencies (CPAs).
The FAD worker must ensure prospective foster or adoptive families attend an information meeting before they are given an application to foster or adopt.
In rare instances when, despite best efforts, a prospective foster or adoptive parent is unable to attend a public information meeting, the FAD worker may conduct an individual information meeting with the parent.
See the Foster and Adoptive Home Resource Guide.
7121 Previously Verified or Approved Applicants
CPS October 2017
Verified foster parents or approved adoptive parents are not required to attend another information meeting if DFPS verified or approved them during the 12 months preceding their attempt to foster or adopt.
In this case the FAD worker must:
• discuss changes in services or programs that have occurred since the previous verification or approval; and
• ensure that foster or adoptive parents have received DFPS training during the past 12 months on preventing, identifying, treating, and reporting child abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The FAD worker must document this discussion in the foster or adoptive parents' case file in IMPACT.
Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies, 40 TAC §749.833
7122 Topics of Information Meetings
CPS October 2017
All information meetings must provide:
• DFPS philosophy, organizational structure, and policies;
• a description of the services and programs offered;
• demographics of children in the local area who need placement;
• general information about the foster and adoption process;
• the basic requirements of foster and adoptive parents;
• an overview of the applicable rules found in the Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies;
• an opportunity for prospective foster and adoptive parents and their families to ask questions;
• DFPS's goal to recruit foster and adoptive parents for all children in care; and
• information about disproportionality and the need for targeted recruitment of foster and adoptive parents for African American children.
The FAD worker must ensure that:
• all attendees have signed Form 2171 Information Meeting Sign-In Sheet; and
• a copy of this sheet is placed in each foster or adoptive family's case file before the pre-service training starts.
Race, Color, or National Origin
When DFPS conducts a targeted recruitment for foster and adoptive parents for African American children, all interested persons should be encouraged, not only African American individuals. FAD staff must ensure the use of race, color, and national origin (RCNO) in the placement process is prohibited, except in limited, individualized circumstances.
In those rare occasions where the race, color, or national origin (RCNO) of a child or a prospective foster or adoptive family may be considered, the decision to consider this must be consistent with federal law and mutually agreed upon by:
• the child's caseworker;
• the caseworker's supervisor;
• the FAD worker for the family; and
• the FAD supervisor.
A program director must approve the final decision.
See:
4115 Prohibited Considerations Based on Race, Color, or National Origin
Appendix 4115: Information to Consider About Race, Color, and National Origin (RCNO) in Placement Decisions
6931.3 Race, Color, or National Origin
7123 Distributing and Assisting with Applications
CPS October 2017
Distributing the Application Packet
At the end of each information meeting, the FAD worker must provide a packet with Form 2286 Foster Care and Adoption Parenting Application to attendees interested in pursuing verification to foster or approval to adopt through DFPS. The packet must also include the following:
• Form 2286b Additional Household Information
• Form 2286c Residence History
• Form 4054c Background Check Statement
Assisting with Completing the Application Packet
The FAD worker must encourage prospective foster or adoptive parents to complete the application before leaving the meeting, if they intend to work with DFPS as their child-placing agency. The FAD worker must remain on-site and available to assist prospective applicants as necessary.
The FAD worker must collect completed applications and provide information to the applicants about the next step in the foster or adoption process.
The FAD worker must document the date of the information meeting that the applicants attended, in the space provided at the top of the application.
Prospective Parents Who Are Relatives or Fictive Kin
Prospective parents may want to adopt or become foster parents to a specific child in DFPS managing conservatorship. This might occur if the prospective parents are the child's relatives or fictive kin (that is, they have a longstanding and significant relationship with the child or with the child's family). See the Services to Kinship Caregivers Resource Guide for definitions of fictive kin.
In this instance, the FAD worker must ask the prospective parents to complete Form 2286r Foster Care and Adoption Kinship Application.
7124 Processing the Application Packet Submitted by Prospective Foster or Adoptive Parents
CPS October 2017
The FAD worker must review Form 2286 Foster Care and Adoption Parenting Application packet for completeness within three business days of receiving the form from a prospective foster or adoptive parent.
If the application packet is complete, the FAD worker must check the application to confirm that the prospective parents are interested in a child in DFPS conservatorship.
Prospective Parents Seek a Child in DFPS Conservatorship
If the prospective parents are interested in fostering or adopting a child in DFPS conservatorship, and they have completed and signed Form 4054c Background Check Statement, the FAD worker must conduct:
• a name-based criminal history check with the Texas Department of Public Safety; and
• a check in IMPACT to see if there are reports of child abuse and neglect.
If the results of the check are clear, the FAD worker must invite the prospective parents to the next available pre-service training session.
See 7400 Checking Criminal Records and Abuse and Neglect History.
Prospective Parents Do Not Seek a Child in DFPS Conservatorship
If the application shows that the family is not seeking to foster or adopt a child in DFPS conservatorship, the FAD worker must inquire whether the applicants have considered adopting or becoming foster parents to a child in DFPS conservatorship.
If the applicants prefer not to foster or adopt a child in DFPS custody or DFPS conservatorship, the FAD worker must:
• refer them to private child-placing agencies; and
• close the family's application.
Application is Incomplete
If the application is missing information, the FAD worker must contact the applicants to:
• explain what is needed; and
• provide a deadline for submission.
If the FAD worker does not receive the missing information by the midpoint before the deadline (for example, after one week, if the deadline is two weeks), the worker must contact the applicants to answer questions or help them complete the form.
If the family does not respond, the FAD worker must make reasonable efforts to contact them, as defined by regional policy. If these efforts are unsuccessful, the FAD worker must:
• document the result in IMPACT; and
• close the application.
7200 Screening Applicants for Foster Care and Adoption
CPS October 2017
DFPS, as a child-placing agency (CPA), is subject to the same minimum standard rules that govern private CPAs.
DFPS policy for screening foster and adoptive applicants is based on the minimum standard rules for child-placing agencies in the Title 40 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 749, Subchapter S, Division 2, Adoptive Home Screening.
7210 Reasons for Screening Applicants for Foster Care and Adoption
CPS October 2017
The FAD worker must ensure that every applicant to become a foster or adoptive parent, whether married or single, possesses the qualifications and abilities necessary to protect, care for, and nurture abused or neglected children.
Screening Prospective Foster Parents
The FAD worker must screen prospective foster parents to ensure that they have the ability to:
• meet a child's immediate and short-term needs for health, education, and social and emotional development, as identified in the child's service plan;
• meet Licensing's Minimum Standards for agency foster family homes; and
• become familiar with the DFPS foster care system.
Screening Prospective Adoptive Parents
The FAD worker must screen and evaluate persons applying to become adoptive parents to ensure that they are suitable to adopt a child and can meet not only a child's short-term needs, but also the child's long-term need for a supportive family.
DFPS Rules, 40 TAC §749.107(5)
7220 Screening Requirements for Prospective Foster and Adoptive Parents
CPS October 2017
The FAD worker must ensure that prospective foster and adoptive parents meet the basic screening requirements at the time of application.
DFPS Rules, 40 TAC §700.1502
Applicants must meet these basic requirements before they can continue for verification as foster parents or approval as adoptive parents.
The FAD worker must not begin the screening process until he or she receives the following information on a prospective foster or adoptive family:
• an initial criminal background check (see 7441 Evaluating Criminal History Results); and
• a check of IMPACT abuse and neglect history (see 7442 Evaluating DFPS and Out of State Abuse or Neglect History Results).
Additional Screening for Prospective Adoptive Families
For families who wish to adopt, the FAD worker must also conduct an adoptive home screening. The FAD worker must only begin a screening on a family that plans to live in the community long enough for the screening to be completed and for a placement to be made.
See 7512 Home Screenings.
7221 Household Members
CPS October 2017
The FAD worker must evaluate the relationships of all persons living with a prospective foster or adoptive parent, regardless of age, during the foster or pre-adoptive home screening. The FAD worker must assess each person's role with respect to a foster or adoptive child.
7222 Age and Finances
CPS August 2023
The FAD worker must ensure all foster and adoptive parent applicants are at least 21 years old and financially stable.
State law prohibits FAD from doing either of the following:
- Setting a maximum age for any prospective adoptive parent.
- Setting a maximum age differential between a child and any prospective adoptive parent.
FAD may consider the health and expected lifespan of each prospective adoptive parent when determining the best interest of a child.
Although there are no specific income requirements, the FAD worker must ensure applicants have both of the following:
- Income to meet a child's basic material needs before reimbursement.
- Ability to manage their income.
The FAD worker must evaluate income based on the applicant's ability to do the following:
- Manage money, in both the past and the present.
- Meet the family's financial needs.
- Meet the foster or adoptive child's additional financial needs.
7223 Relationship Status
7223.1 Relationship Status of Prospective Foster Parents
CPS October 2017
The FAD worker must evaluate prospective foster parents' relationship status according to DFPS Rules, 40 TAC §700.1502.
If a couple lives together, only one person is required to apply and become verified as a foster parent. However, the FAD worker must assess and verify both persons during the home screening process.
There is no minimum amount of time that a couple must be married or living together for the couple to be verified. However, during the couple's home screening, the FAD worker must:
• assess the stability of the couple's relationship; and
• discuss how fostering could affect the dynamics of the couple's relationship.
DFPS Rules, 40 TAC §700.1502
7223.2 Relationship Status of Prospective Adoptive Parents
CPS October 2017
Although there is no minimum amount of time that a couple must be married to become approved as an adoptive parent, the FAD worker must assess:
• the stability of the couple's relationship; and
• the couple's reason for wanting to adopt.
Parents Who Wish to Adopt a Specific Child
The FAD worker's assessment must include a review of the prospective parent's relationship with the child, if any, whether that relationship is familial or fictive, past or present. See the Services to Kinship Caregivers Resource Guide for definitions of fictive kin.
Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies, 40 TAC §749.3623
7223.21 The Divorce Requirement for Adoptive Parents
CPS October 2017
If a prospective adoptive parent is separated from a spouse, he or she must not be approved as an adoptive parent until the divorce is final.
DFPS Rules, 40 TAC §700.1502(2)(B)(ii)(II)
7223.22 Requesting a Waiver of the Divorce Requirement for Adoptive Parents
CPS March 2019
The associate commissioner or designee may grant a waiver allowing an adoption by a prospective parent whose divorce is not final, if the adoption is in the child’s best interest and two or more of the following conditions are met:
• The applicant has a pre-existing relationship with the child.
• The applicant has a pre-existing relationship with the child’s birth family.
• Placing the child with the applicant would allow the child to maintain a familial relationship with a sibling.
• The applicant can meet the child’s particular needs (current and long-term).
See the Foster and Adoptive Home (FAD) Resource Guide for the process of obtaining a waiver.
If a waiver is granted, the caseworker or attorney representing DFPS must inform the court that:
• DFPS determined that it is in the child’s best interest to be adopted by the prospective parent.
• DFPS granted a divorce waiver allowing the prospective parent to proceed with becoming approved to be an adoptive parent.
• The spouse of the prospective parent did not consent to the adoption.
7223.3 Single Applicants as Prospective Foster or Adoptive Parents
CPS October 2017
DFPS may place a child with an unmarried person based on the child's specific needs.
DFPS must evaluate single persons who apply to become foster care or adoptive parents based on the DFPS rule requirements published in the Texas Administrative Code, §700.1502.
7224 Physical and Mental Health
CPS October 2017
The FAD worker must evaluate prospective foster and adoptive parents' physical and mental health during the home screening.
See the Foster and Adoptive Home Resource Guide.
7225 Criminal History
CPS October 2017
Before an applicant can be verified or approved as a foster or adoptive parent, the FAD worker must complete a criminal history background check on:
• the applicants; and
• any member of the applicant's household who is age 14 or older and is not under DFPS conservatorship.
See the FAD Background Check Resource Guide.
See 7400 Checking Criminal Records and Abuse and Neglect History.
7226 Citizenship
CPS October 2017
DFPS may only approve U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or other qualified aliens as foster or adoptive parents. For exceptions to this policy, see 7226.2 The Citizenship Requirement for Adoptive Parents.
For the definition of "Qualified Alien", see 8 U.S.C. §1641(b)
7226.1 The Citizenship Requirement for Foster Parents
CPS October 2017
DFPS must verify that foster parents are:
• U.S. citizens;
• permanent residents; or
• other qualified aliens (see 8 U.S.C. §1641(b))
DFPS does not verify prospective foster parents who do not have, or cannot provide proof of, the required citizenship or immigration status.
In the case of a married couple, DFPS must verify that both applicants meet the citizenship requirement.
Waivers for Foster Parents Prohibited
DFPS cannot provide waivers or exemptions for prospective foster parents who do not have, or cannot provide proof of, the required citizenship or immigration status. DFPS cannot provide waivers or exemptions for prospective foster parents who are married, but only one person holds the required citizenship or immigration status.
7226.2 The Citizenship Requirement for Adoptive Parents
CPS October 2017
DFPS must verify that adoptive parents are:
• U.S. citizens;
• permanent residents; or
• other qualified aliens.
Waivers for Adoptive Parents
The DFPS state office may grant a waiver for certain individuals who do not have the required residency status and who are seeking to adopt.
DFPS Rules, 40 TAC §700.1502
See the Foster and Adoptive Home Resource Guide, under Waiving the Citizenship Requirement for Adoptive Parents.
7226.3 Verifying a Prospective Parent's Citizenship or Immigration Status
CPS October 2017
The FAD worker must verify an applicant's citizenship or immigration status before approving the applicant as a foster or adoptive parent.
The FAD worker must document proof of an applicant's citizenship or immigration status by obtaining a copy of:
• a U.S. certificate of birth;
• a data match from the Bureau of Vital Statistics (BVS);
• a naturalization certificate (UCSIS Form N-550 or N-570);
• a certificate of citizenship (UCSIS Form N-560 or N-561);
• a valid or expired U.S. passport; or
• a permanent resident card (UCSIS Form I-551), also known as an alien registration receipt card or green card.
The FAD worker must:
• copy any qualifying documents provided by an applicant (copying both the front and back, if applicable); and
• keep the copies in the family's case file.
If an applicant cannot provide any of the documents listed above, the FAD worker may allow the person to prove citizenship status through other means. See Appendix 1000-2: Additional Acceptable U.S. Citizenship Verification Documents.
If there are no qualifying documents available to prove U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status, the FAD worker determines, with assistance from a DFPS regional attorney, whether the applicant qualifies under another type of alien status, such as persons admitted as refugees or granted asylum.
If the FAD worker cannot determine whether an applicant qualifies under another type of alien status, the applicant must provide some other form of immigration-related documentation to verify his or her citizenship or immigration status.
7226.4 Requesting a Citizenship Waiver for Adoptive Parents
CPS October 2017
DFPS may only grant a waiver to the citizenship requirement to a relative or fictive kin of a child in DFPS conservatorship, who seeks to adopt that child but does not hold the required citizenship or immigration status or cannot provide proof of his or her status.
To waive the citizenship requirement for a prospective adoptive parent, FAD staff must follow the process outlined in the Foster and Adoptive Home Resource Guide, under Requirements for Requesting a Citizenship Waiver for Adoptive Parents.
7227 Fertility
CPS October 2017
During the adoptive home screening process, the FAD worker must consider the applicant's fertility (either a couple or a single parent).
If the couple or parent is infertile, the FAD worker must assess the couple's or parent's:
• feelings about being infertile; and
• ability to be a parent to a child that is not the couple's or parent's biologically.
DFPS may require applicants to participate in a fertility assessment before adopting, if DFPS believes the applicants need to know more about their fertility before receiving approval.
7228 Physical Discipline
CPS October 2017
Physical discipline must not be used on any child in DFPS conservatorship.
The FAD worker must evaluate prospective foster and adoptive parents based on their willingness and ability to:
• recognize and respect differences in children, especially those who have been abused or neglected;
• employ methods of discipline that suit each child's particular needs and circumstances; and
• employ methods of discipline that conform to the policies in DFPS Licensing's minimum standard rules for child-placing agencies. See 40 TAC, Chapter 749, Subchapter K, Division 6, and §749.3623.
See 40 TAC §700.1331 for additional DFPS rules on discipline.
See Appendix 6000-2: DFPS Discipline Policy.
7229 Religion
CPS October 2017
There are no specific religious requirements for prospective foster and adoptive parents; however, the FAD worker must evaluate foster and adoptive applicants' willingness to:
• respect and encourage a child's own religious affiliation;
• provide a child with the opportunity for religious, spiritual, and ethical development, if the child desires it; and
• protect a child's health, even if the parents' religious beliefs prohibit certain medical treatment.
DFPS makes every effort to accommodate the child and the birth family's wishes about religious practices, within the limits of the foster parent's situation, resources, and abilities.
A child is not required to participate in the foster parent's particular religious practices or activities.
7300 Training Foster and Adoptive Applicants
7310 Pre-Service Training of Foster and Adoptive Caregivers
CPS October 2024
The Foster and Adoptive Home Development (FAD) specialist ensures that all caregivers, except those designated as kinship adopt only, complete a minimum of 19 hours of competency-based, pre-service training before being verified to foster or approved to adopt. The Texas National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) is used for DFPS foster and adoptive home applicants. This curriculum meets a portion of the pre-service training requirements in the Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies. Only this approved curriculum may be used.
DFPS may require more than 19 hours of pre-service training in the treatment of children with the following issues:
- Complex medical needs
- Sexual victimization
- Sexual aggression
- Emotional disorders
- Intellectual or developmental disabilities
- Human trafficking victimization
- Any other situation as determined by DFPS.
Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies, 26 TAC §749.863
7311 Pre-Service Training Sessions
CPS February 2024
Preferably, a team consisting of a FAD worker and a foster or adoptive parent presents the Texas NTDC training to foster and adoptive home applicants, either in a group setting or one-on-one.
Pre-service training provides families with a base of knowledge about caring for children in DFPS managing conservatorship, and it must do the following:
- Meet all pre-service training requirements as specified in the Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies, 26 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 749, Subchapter F, Training and Professional Development.
- Provide information about the prospective adoptive parents’ potential eligibility for a federal adoption tax credit.
7312 If Prospective Parents Complete Training and Then Withdraw
CPS October 2017
The FAD worker must assess whether a prospective foster or adoptive parent must retake the pre-service training, if the prospective parent:
• attends pre-service training (see 7311 Pre-Service Training Sessions),
• withdraws from the verification or approval process, and
• returns within 12 months requesting verification or approval.
Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies, 40 TAC §749.867
7313 If Prospective Parents Complete Training, Are Approved, and Then Withdraw
CPS October 2017
If the prospective foster or adoptive parent is verified or approved but has withdrawn from foster care or adoption for more than 12 months, the FAD worker must assess whether the prospective foster or adoptive parent must retake the pre-service training.
7314 Exception to the Requirement That Prospective Foster Parents Attend Pre-Service Training
CPS October 2017
If a prospective foster family has a longstanding relationship with or is related to a child in DFPS conservatorship, the FAD worker must determine whether to offer the family an abbreviated pre-service training. Regional FAD workers or a DFPS contractor must provide the training.
7320 Training in CPR and First Aid
CPS October 2017
The FAD worker must ensure that all foster parents are certified in the following, before being the only caregiver responsible for a child in DFPS conservatorship:
• cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for infants, children, and adults; and
• first aid, including training on rescue breathing and choking.
A caregiver must obtain first aid or CPR certification only through the providers specified in Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies §749.985(a).
After the foster parent completes training, the FAD worker must obtain proof of certification from the foster parent.
The FAD worker may accept proof in the form of:
• a certificate, letter, or a statement of successful completion, signed and dated by the training source; or
• a photocopy of the CPR and first aid card, front and back.
The FAD worker must ensure each foster parent renews his or her first aid or CPR training, as required to maintain a current certification.
Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies, Chapter 749, Subchapter F, Division 7
7330 Training in Recognizing and Reporting Sexual Abuse
CPS July 2021
The FAD caseworker makes sure that all foster and adoptive parents are trained to recognize and report sexual abuse, including abuse of a child by another child.
A prospective foster or adoptive parent is required to complete this training before he or she can do any of the following:
- Become verified as a foster parent.
- Become approved as an adoptive parent.
- Be a caregiver for a child in DFPS conservatorship.
The FAD caseworker makes sure each verified foster parent or approved adoptive parent completes this training again at the following times:
- Within 12 months after the date when the parent completed the initial training before becoming verified for foster care or approved for adoption.
- During each subsequent 12-month period thereafter.
The family’s case record is required to contain current documentation of completion of this training for each verified, approved, or prospective foster or adoptive parent. The FAD supervisor reviews the documentation for each of these people for compliance at the following times:
- Before verification of a new foster home.
- Before approval of a new adoptive home.
- During each subsequent 12-month training period (as described above), after the home has become verified or approved.
7400 Checking Criminal Records and Abuse and Neglect History
7410 Determine Need for Background Check
7411 General Requirements for Background Checks
CPS October 2017
Federal law and DFPS and Licensing rules require that, before receiving verification to foster or approval to adopt, certain persons must submit to a name-based check of their:
• criminal history; and
• DFPS abuse or neglect history.
These persons may also be required to submit to:
• fingerprint-based criminal history checks;
• checks of another state's abuse and neglect registry (see 7413 Out-of-State and Out-of-Country Abuse or Neglect History Checks); or
• checks of local law enforcement records.
The FAD worker must consult the tables in 7411.1 Required Background Check Tables to determine which individuals living or present in the home are subject to background checks, and which type of check an individual is subject to.
42 U.S.C. §671(a)(20)
DFPS Rules, 40 TAC §745.615
7411.1 Required Background Check Tables
CPS December 2024
The table below:
- Excludes clients in care, including young adults in extended foster care who are not required to undergo background checks in order to be present in the operation.
- Excludes employees of the operation. If an operation has an employee, consult relevant Minimum Standards and, if necessary, the foster and adoptive home development (FAD) state office.
- Is specific to FAD.
Descriptions
DFPS History Check (FPS): Texas Department of Family and Protective Services child abuse and neglect history check, which includes Central Registry information.
DPS Name-Based Criminal History (DPS): Texas Department of Public Safety name-based criminal history check (FAD requirement). DPS checks should be completed before initiating an FBI History Check.
FBI History (FBI): Federal Bureau of Investigations fingerprint-based criminal history check. This check contains both the Texas fingerprint and FBI fingerprint check information.
Out-of-State Abuse/Neglect Registry (OOS A/N): Out-of-state child abuse and neglect check in each state where the person resided during the preceding five-year period prior to the date the FAD Specialist submits the request for a background check, if the person has lived outside of Texas any time in the past five (5) years or is suspected of child abuse or neglect.
Out-of-State Sex Offender Registry (OOS SOR): Out-of-state sex offender registry check in each state where the person resided during the preceding five-year period prior to the date the FAD Specialist submits the request for a background check, if the person has lived outside of Texas any time in the past five (5) years or is suspected of having sex offender history.
| Category |
Description |
FPS |
DPS |
FBI |
OOS A/N |
OOS SOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CATEGORY 1 Foster or adoptive parents |
Includes all current and prospective:
*If any of these persons have lived outside of Texas in the past five years, see Category 4. |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
CATEGORY 2 A person 14 years or older, who:
|
Includes:
*If this person has lived outside of Texas in the past five years, see Category 4. |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
CATEGORY 3 Person, 14 or older, who is regularly or frequently present at a home. |
Includes:
Excludes individuals unrelated to the foster parents who are regularly or frequently present at the home, if they do not have unsupervised access to children in care, unless there is reason to believe that the person has criminal history or previously abused or neglected a child. *If this person has lived outside of Texas in the past five years, see Category 4. |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
CATEGORY 4 A person who has lived outside the state of Texas in the past five years. |
Includes anyone:
FBI checks for a frequent or regular visitor: Not required, even if the visitor is frequently or regularly present, unless one or more of the following apply:
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
The following individuals are not required to have background checks:
- A client in care.
- A professional who is licensed or is required to have a background check to meet compliance with another governmental entity’s requirements, so long as the individual does not employ or contract with the professional, and the professional is only present in an official capacity.
- A child unrelated to a foster parent who visits the foster home, unless one of the following applies:
- The child is responsible for the care of a foster child.
- There is reason to believe that the child has a criminal history or previously abused a child.
- An adult unrelated to a foster parent who visits the foster home, unless one of the following applies:
- The adult has unsupervised access to children in care.
- There is reason to believe that the adult has criminal history or previously abused or neglected a child.
7412 Background Check Statement Form 4054
CPS October 2017
Before conducting any of the background checks, the FAD worker must obtain a completed and signed Form 4054c Background Check Statement from each subject of a background check.
Immediately upon receiving the signed and completed Background Check Statement, the FAD worker must ensure that all available information on each person submitting the form is documented in IMPACT. After verifying that all available information is accurately documented, the FAD worker must request:
• criminal history record information (CHRI) from DPS or the FBI; and
• DFPS abuse and neglect history information from IMPACT.
7413 Out-of-State and Out-of-Country Abuse or Neglect History Checks
CPS June 2019
The FAD caseworker must request an out-of-state central registry check for:
• A person who applies to become a foster or adoptive parent and who lived outside of Texas at any time in the five years before submitting the application.
• Any adult who lives in the home of the applicant and who lived outside of Texas at any time in the five years before the applicant submitted the application.
The FAD caseworker is not required to check abuse and neglect records in foreign countries. However, the FAD caseworker must request a check of abuse and neglect registries in the U.S. territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
If a child welfare agency in another state or U.S. territory refuses to release the information to the FAD caseworker, the FAD caseworker works with the applicant to have the individual obtain his or her own results. If the other state or territory does not have an abuse and neglect registry, the FAD caseworker must file a letter from that state or territory in the case record saying that it has no such registry before verifying or approving the individual.
DFPS Rules, 40 TAC §745.615
7420 Submitting Checks
7421 Ensuring Checks Are Submitted Timely
7421.1 Time Frames for Initial Checks
CPS October 2017
A person's initial background check must be submitted and received according to specific time frames. See the table in the FAD Background Check Resource Guide, under Time Frames for Initial Checks.
7421.2 Relying on a Previously Conducted Fingerprint Check for an Initial Check
CPS September 2021
In certain situations, the FAD caseworker may satisfy the fingerprint-based criminal history check requirement for a person by using such a check that the person previously submitted through DFPS or CCR (Child Care Regulation). The FAD worker may use checks previously conducted by DFPS if both of the following are true:
- DFPS still has access to the results of the previously conducted check.
- No more than 24 months have passed since the last name-based criminal history check was submitted.
7421.3 Time Frames for Recurring Checks
CPS October 2017
The FAD worker must run recurring background checks for each individual subject to an initial background check, as long as that individual remains in a role that requires background checks. For instance, if an elderly relative stops visiting because of poor health, checks would not be required unless the relative plans to resume visits.
The FAD worker must re-run and update background checks no later than once every 24 months from the date of the most recently submitted background check. A new fingerprint based FBI check is not required if the name-based check is kept current within 24 months, unless:
• DFPS previously conducted a fingerprint-based FBI check for the person or waived the requirement based on a previously submitted check that another entity completed, and the person failed to undergo a name-based check at least every two years since the most recent fingerprint-based FBI check;
• the person moved out-of-state after DFPS or another entity completed the most recent fingerprint-based check; or
• there is reason to suspect that the person has out-of-state criminal history since DFPS or another entity completed the most recent fingerprint-based check.
DFPS Rules, 40 TAC §§745.615, 745.625 and 745.630
7421.4 Time Frames for Checks Required Before Consummating an Adoption
CPS October 2017
While Child-Care Licensing rules require recurring checks to be conducted every 24 months, criminal history record checks for adoptive parents must be current within 12 months of a petition for adoption.
Texas Family Code §162.0085, Criminal History Report Required
DFPS May Provide Documentation
The court may accept DFPS documentation instead of ordering the adoptive parents to personally obtain and provide copies of their criminal history record checks. If this is the case, CPS staff must provide the court with a copy of the criminal history record check received directly from DPS, local law enforcement, or FBI.
See Records Management Group Handbook, 2540 Handling Criminal History Record Information.
7430 Requesting Information from Law Enforcement
7431 Service Call Information from Law Enforcement
CPS October 2017
Minimum Standards and state law regarding foster home screenings require that DFPS obtain service call information from the appropriate law enforcement agency for the prospective foster parent's addresses for the past two years.
Texas Human Resources Code §§42.0449, 42.0561
Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies, 40 TAC §§749.2445(d), 749.2447(7)
Though the Minimum Standards apply this requirement only to foster home screenings, FAD policy applies it to both foster and adoptive home screenings.
The FAD worker must:
• have the foster or adoptive applicants complete Form 2954 Family Violence Calls Disclosure for Foster and Adoptive Applicants;
• regardless of whether results are found or whether the applicant discloses any calls or incidents on Form 2954, ask the foster or adoptive applicants whether any law enforcement agency has responded to any of their residences in the past two years. If so:
• request background information from each law enforcement agency that responded, and
• discuss with the applicants each incident and any additional background information;
• obtain service call information for the foster or adoptive applicant's addresses for the past two years and discuss with the applicants any results and the facts surrounding the incident;
• address and document information obtained from law enforcement and any discussion with the applicants in the foster or adoptive home screening;
• document results in the home record; and
• consider whether to move forward with the application in accordance with 7440 Evaluating Background Check Results and Service Call Information.
Reporting Service Call Information to CCL
Even if the application will not move forward and the home screening will not be completed, the FAD worker must report any domestic violence information to Child-Care Licensing.
7440 Evaluating Background Check Results and Service Call Information
CPS October 2017
Background check results are not printed; exceptions are provided in Records Management Group Handbook, 2540 Handling Criminal History Record Information. However, the FAD worker must document the results in the home screening. See the FAD Background Check Resource Guide.
DFPS Rules, 40 TAC §§749.2447(7); 749.3623(5)
The FAD worker must document all criminal history check results in IMPACT on the Criminal History Results page, for each completed check.
If no matches are received on any individuals in a prospective foster or adoptive home, the FAD worker continues with the verification or approval process.
If matches are received on any individuals in a prospective foster or adoptive home, the FAD worker must follow the processes described in the FAD Background Check Resource Guide, depending on whether the results involve criminal history or DFPS abuse or neglect history.
If FAD receives new background check information about a person connected to a home already verified or approved (including arrests, convictions that have not yet been evaluated, abuse or neglect investigations, and so forth) the FAD worker must follow 7443 New Background Check Results on a Verified or Approved Home.
7441 Evaluating Criminal History Results
CPS October 2017
Once the FAD worker has the results of a person's criminal history checks, the worker must evaluate the criminal history results as outlined in the FAD Background Check Resource Guide, under Criminal History.
7442 Evaluating DFPS and Out of State Abuse or Neglect History Results
CPS October 2017
Once the FAD worker has the results of a person's DFPS abuse or neglect history checks or out-of-state abuse or neglect history checks (if required), the FAD worker must evaluate the results as outlined in the FAD Background Check Resource Guide, under Abuse and Neglect History Checks.
7443 New Background Check Results on a Verified or Approved Home
CPS December 2024
If a home is already verified or approved and the Foster and Adoptive Home (FAD) specialist receives new information about criminal or abuse and neglect history, the FAD specialist must consult with the program administrator or designee and take the following actions, as applicable:
- If the person is arrested or charged with a crime, the FAD specialist must report the information to Residential Child Care Regulation (RCCR), a division of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
- If the offense for which the person is arrested or charged would be a bar to being present, either permanently or temporarily pending the outcome of a risk evaluation, the person cannot be present where children are in care unless one of the following occurs:
- The charge is dismissed, the prosecutor rejects the charge, the person has been acquitted, etc.
- A risk evaluation is completed and allows the person to be present.
- If the FAD specialist becomes aware of a criminal conviction or finding of abuse or neglect that was not previously considered, the FAD specialist must report the information to RCCR. The person with the finding may be barred from being present in the home, or RCCR may place conditions on the person’s presence.
- If a person in the home who is required to undergo background checks becomes the subject of an abuse or neglect investigation, the FAD specialist must notify RCCR immediately. The person may remain present unless RCCR determines that the person poses an immediate threat or danger to the children’s health or safety.
RCCR, through the DFPS Background Checks team or its designee, makes the ultimate decision about the person’s presence or conditions on the person’s presence in the verified or approved home.
7450 Risk Evaluations
CPS October 2017
When requesting a risk evaluation, the FAD worker must complete Form 2974c CPS Request for Risk Evaluation Based on Past Criminal History or Central Registry Findings for Foster or adoptive Homes. The FAD worker must complete the form according to the form instructions, and attach all required documentation.
7451 Contact With Children During Risk Evaluations
CPS October 2017
DFPS may or may not prohibit individuals with a criminal history or a history of abuse or neglect from being present in a home while children are in care, pending the outcome of a risk evaluation.
For further guidance, see DFPS Rules, 40 TAC, Chapter 745, Subchapter F, or contact the Centralized Background Check Unit (CBCU).
7452 When a Risk Evaluation is Not Required
CPS October 2017
A risk evaluation is not necessary for criminal history or abuse and neglect history at the time of a later background check if all of the following conditions are met:
• A risk evaluation was previously requested for the same finding of abuse or neglect or criminal conviction and DFPS approved the risk evaluation.
• A more recent criminal history check or DFPS abuse or neglect history check does not reveal a new finding or criminal conviction.
• The circumstances of the person's contact with children in the home are the same as when the previous risk evaluation was completed.
7460 Information Related to Specific Types of Checks
7461 Rejected Fingerprints
CPS August 2020
DPS and the FBI may reject fingerprint submissions because of poor quality. If fingerprints are rejected, the FAD worker must immediately notify the subject that he or she must re-submit fingerprints. The subject is not required to pay an additional fee for the new submission.
If the fingerprints are rejected a second time, and the two rejections display “L0008 – The quality of the characteristics is too low to be used,” the person’s results can be considered cleared. In IMPACT, under the person’s associated FBI background check, the FAD worker:
- Selects Cancel Reason: Complete/Prior Documentation.
- Documents the following in the Comments section: “Two L0008 – low quality rejection responses were received, and no potential matches were found. Therefore, person’s fingerprint results are cleared.”
If either of the two rejections display “L0008 – The quality of the characteristics is too low to be used. Candidate(s) were found. Please, resubmit a new set of fingerprints for comparison to the candidate(s),” a name-based search is required, using the following process:
- The FAD worker requests a name-based search by sending an email from a DFPS email to AP_Team@leo.gov with the two rejected TCNs.
- CJIS staff returns an email response and attaches a rap sheet, if applicable.
- The FAD worker documents the results in IMPACT under the person’s associated FBI background check in the Comments section.
The FAD worker must notify the subject that he or she must re-submit fingerprints as soon as possible in accordance with the following timelines, set by the FBI CJIS Division:
- The second FBI-rejected fingerprint submission must be done within 1 year of the first FBI-rejected fingerprint submission.
- The Name Check request must be submitted to the FBI CJIS Division within 90 days of the second FBI-rejected fingerprint submission.
If these deadlines are not met, the subject must start the process from the beginning and is responsible for any associated cost.
7462 Incorrect Criminal History Information
CPS October 2017
Accuracy of an individual's criminal history record information is vital to the foster and adoption application processes. DFPS assumes that information returned during the course of a fingerprint-based or name-based check is correct.
If the subject of the criminal history record check believes that information contained in his or her criminal history record is incomplete or inaccurate; he or she may contest the results with the appropriate federal or state criminal justice agency.
Because criminal history record information is confidential, only the subject of the criminal history may contest the results. To the extent possible, the FAD worker assists the individual through the process of contesting inaccurate or incomplete criminal history results.
7462.1 Texas Department of Public Safety
CPS October 2017
The Texas Department of Public Safety's Error Resolution Unit is responsible for updating and evaluating possible errors in criminal history records. The process for contacting the Error Resolution Unit is located on the Texas Department of Public Safety's Criminal History Error Resolution webpage.
7462.2 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
CPS October 2017
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducts either name- or fingerprint-based checks of their National Crime Database. These checks compile information submitted to the FBI by various federal and state criminal justice agencies. If an individual believes that the information contained in his or her name or fingerprint based check is incomplete or inaccurate, the individual may contest the results by either:
• contacting the criminal justice agency that reported the information to the FBI; or
• submitting a written request to:
FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division
Attention: Crime History Analysis Team 1
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306
Additional information about this process is located on the FBI website.