Child Protective Services Handbook Revision
August 2009
This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on August 3, 2009. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below.
Intake, Investigation, and Assessment
Transferring Cases From Investigation Stage to FBSS
Documentation in Contracted FBSS
Placement Notification to Courts
Intake, Investigation, and Assessment (PATS 2752)
The revisions to sections 2000-2100 provide a clearer understanding of which reports are accepted by Statewide Intake, establishing criteria for those reports that are reviewed by regional screeners and those reviewed by investigation supervisors. This revision also clarifies steps for changes in priority once the report goes to the field, and clarifies reasons for closing a report without assignment for investigation.
See:
2000 Intake, Investigation, and Assessment
2100 The Intake Process for Reports of Abuse or Neglect
2110 The Roles of SWI and CPS During Intake
2120 Requirements for Reporting Abuse or Neglect
2121 Legal Requirements for Reporting Abuse or Neglect
2122 Special Issues Relating to Reporting Abuse or Neglect
2130 The Process for Reporting Abuse or Neglect to the DFPS Statewide Intake Division (SWI)
2131 Reporting Directly to SWI About Abuse or Neglect
2132 Reports Made to Field Offices
2140 Screening and Prioritizing Reports of Abuse or Neglect
2141 The Allegations That CPS Accepts for Investigation and Assessment
2141.1 Criteria for Initiating an Investigation
2141.2 Applying Statutory Definitions of Abuse or Neglect to Determine if a Report Meets the Criteria for CPS Investigation
2141.3 Incomplete or Questionable Reports of Abuse or Neglect
2141.4 When Abuse or Neglect Occurs in a Foster or Adopted Home
2141.5 Reports of Abuse or Neglect That Relate to Child-Care Facilities
2142 Assigning Priority to Reports of Abuse or Neglect
2143 The Role of SWI in Screening Reports of Abuse or Neglect
2144 The Role of CPS in Screening Reports of Abuse or Neglect
2144.1 Contacting Collateral Sources About Reports of Abuse or Neglect
2144.2 The CPS Supervisor's Role in Screening Reports of Abuse or Neglect
2144.3 Formally Screening Reports of Abuse or Neglect (The Role of the Investigation Screener)
2144.31 Criteria for Formally Screening Reports of Abuse or Neglect
2144.32 CPS Staff Who Formally Screen Reports of Abuse or Neglect
2144.33 Determining a Report's Eligibility for Screening
2144.34 Reports That Clearly Meet Investigation Guidelines
2144.35 Reports That Do Not Clearly Meet Investigation Guidelines
2144.36 Recommending a Formally Screened Report for Investigation
2144.37 Closing a Formally Screened Report (Not Recommending Investigation)
2144.38 Time Frames for Completing the Formal Screening of a Report
2144.39 Documenting the Formal Screening of a Report
2144.4 Notifying the Reporter When a Report Is Closed
2145 Changing the Priority of a Report About Abuse or Neglect
2146 Closing Reports of Abuse or Neglect Without Assignment for Investigation
2146.1 Reports of Abuse or Neglect That Require Supervisory Approval for Closure
2147 Receiving a New Report During an Open Investigation of Abuse or Neglect
2150 When to Notify Law Enforcement About Reports of Abuse or Neglect
Cross-references to items changed with this revision have been updated in the items below. See:
1474 Case Records Not Involving Abuse/Neglect or Conservatorship
2221 Assignment and Required Completion of Investigations
2224.36 Subsequent Referrals on Unable to Complete Investigations
2232.6 Making a Contact to Initiate the Investigation
2232.7 Follow-Up When Contact Is Not Made Within Priority Time Frames
2370 Special Requests
2700 Intake and Investigation in Facilities Under the Authority of Other State Agencies
5100 Overview of Court-Related Services
Transferring Cases From Investigation Stage to FBSS (PATS 2497)
This is a clarification of the policy on the case transfer process from Investigations to Family-Based Safety Services.
Changes are being made to enhance the understanding of the timeframes involved in staffing the case to provide Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS) and the transfer process. Clarify changes to the transfer process when a Family Team Meeting is held before progressing the investigative stage to FBSS. See:
2234.35 Developing a Safety Plan When Transferring to Family-Based Safety Services
2238 Case Transfers
2238.1 Transferring a Case to Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS)
2238.11 Completing the Referral to FBSS
2238.12 If Court Ordered FBSS Services Are Requested
2238.13 Documenting Case Transition to FBSS
2238.2 Transferring a Case From FBSS to Conservatorship
2238.21 Conferring Through a Post-Removal Staffing
3141 Overview of Case Transition, Initial Face-to-Face Contact, and Frequency of Face-to-Face Contacts With Children and Parents
Documentation in Contracted FBSS (PATS 2617)
The items below are revised to clarify the CPS Program Liaison's documentation responsibilities. See:
3250 Contracted Family-Based Safety Services
3251 Overview
3252 Stages of Service
3253 Assigning and Monitoring a Contracted Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS) Case
3254 Closing a Contracted Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS) Case
8225 Handling Liaison Duties
Placement Notification to Courts (PATS 2012)
The Texas Family Code requires DFPS to provide notice to the court no later than the next business day after a child is placed in the temporary care of CPS staff in a DFPS office.
The child’s caseworker must also notify the court where the case is filed whenever a child has to remain in a DFPS office.
This policy was implemented with PSA 08-028, issued to staff on October 15, 2007.
See:
5360 Special Court Approvals and Notifications
5361 Obtaining Court Approval
5362 Notifying the Court