8400 Post Adoption Services (Consummated Adoptions)
CPS November 2006
Post Adoption Services help the adoptive family and adopted child:
• Adjust to the adoption;
• Cope with any history of abuse or neglect in the child's background;
• Cope with mental health issues the child may have; and
• Avoid the permanent or long-term removal of children from the family.
8410 Post Adoption Services
8411 Obtaining Services
CPS November 2006
Delivery and maintenance of the Post Adoption Services program is the responsibility of the contractor. DFPS workers do not authorize Post Adoption Services; however, they may refer families that have adopted a child who is under the age of 18. Referrals are made to the region's contractor who will verify the family's eligibility.
8411.1 Determining Eligibility
CPS November 2006
A contractor may certify an adoptive family as eligible for Post Adoption Services if all four of the following criteria are met:
• When the child was placed for adoption, either:
• DFPS served as the child's managing conservator and placed the child for adoption, or
• A licensed child-placing agency in Texas served as the child's managing conservator and placed the child for adoption, and DFPS is currently providing Title IV-E adoption assistance to the child;
• The adoption is consummated;
• The adoptive parents have requested Post Adoption Services; and
• The child is younger than 18. (When necessary, services may continue for up to 90 days past the child's 18th birthday to ensure an orderly termination of services.)
Note: Eligible families need not live in Texas to receive services.
For complete instructions, see:
8161.2 Post Adoption Services (Consummated Adoptions)
8411.2 Authorizing Service
CPS November 2006
To verify a client's eligibility for post Adoption Services, the contractor:
• completes Form 2054-A, Service Authorization, before providing services; and
• specifies a time limit of up to six months, within which services will be provided.
• files each Form 2054 in the client's case record.
Note: If a client still requires services after the specified time limit, the contractor must complete a new Form 2054 to extend the authorization period. The contractor can extend the authorization period as often as necessary, but no single extension may exceed six months.
8411.3 Identifying Available Services
CPS November 2006
The Post Adoption Services available through the contract must include:
• Casework or service planning;
• Support groups;
• Parent training;
• Post adoption counseling, including day treatment services;
• Respite care; and
• Residential treatment services.
All post adoption contractors must be accessible to clients 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
8411.4 Referring Clients
CPS November 2006
To refer a family for Post Adoption Services, the worker provides the contractor's name, address or telephone number to the adoptive family.
After the referral, the CPS worker is usually no longer involved.
Note: The contractor is responsible for verifying and documenting eligibility and authorizing the services.
8411.5 Identifying Providers
CPS November 2006
DFPS may purchase Post Adoption Services from:
• licensed child-placing agencies that have experience in providing adoptive and post adoption services to children who have been abused and neglected; and
• social service agencies and organizations that have contracted with DFPS in the past to provide post adoption services to children who have been abused and neglected.
Exception: When no qualified child-placing agency is willing to contract with DFPS to provide services, the CPS program administrator may authorize another contractor to provide the services, after the administrator verifies that the prospective contractor has the skills and experience to do so. The associate commissioner of CPS must approve each exception in advance.
8411.6 Sharing the Child's Record
CPS November 2006
CPS gives the contractor a copy of the child's case record so that the contractor can determine eligibility and assess a child's needs. Before giving the record to the contractor, DFPS must delete identifying information from it.