Child Protective Services Handbook Revision June 2010
This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on June 1, 2010. Summaries of new and revised items are provided below.
Removing References to Targeted Case Management (TCM) From the Handbook
Enrollment of Child in Drug Research Programs
Addressing Psychotropic Medications in Court Reports
Burial Services for Children in DFPS Conservatorship
Foster Parent CPR-First Aid Requirements
Pre-Service Training of Foster and Adoptive Homes
Acknowledging a Family's Agreement to Contribute (Concrete Services Agreement)
Star Health Issues (PATS 2122)
This revision adds references to STAR Health, medical consenters, and revised time frames for initial screenings. Staff were informed of this policy with the issuance of PSAs 05-046 (1/28/05), 08-055 (1/25/08), and 08-069 (3/3/08). See:
6525 Medical and Dental Services
6526 Meeting the Requirements for Medical and Dental Services
6526.1 Initial Medical Exam
6526.2 Initial Dental Exams Within 90 Days
6526.3 Subsequent, Ongoing Routine Exams
6526.4 Psychotropic Medications
6526.5 Immunizations
6527 Service Planning
6527.1 Informing Caregivers and Medical Consenters About Health Services
6527.2 Arranging Transportation for Medical Services
6527.3 Arranging for Special Health Care Management Services
6527.4 Referring a Child to Medical Professionals and Health-Related Community Services
6528 Documenting Medical and Dental Issues in the Case File
6528.1 Using the Health Passport to Store and Retrieve a Child's Health-Related Information
6529 Informing Parents About Serious Medical Issues
Appendix 6520-A: STAR Health (new appendix)
Appendix 6520-B: Texas Health Steps (previously Appendix 6520)
Appendix 6520-C: Traditional Medicaid (new appendix)
Cross-references have been updated in the following items:
3173 Children in DFPS Conservatorship Living at Home
6720 Services at Discharge from Substitute Care
6730 Supervision, Dismissal, Continuation, and Closure
Appendix 6720: Discharging Children from Substitute Care
June 3, 2010: The policy in 6525 and its sub-items replaces policy previously contained in 6520. In the June 1 release the old policy in item 6520 was not removed. This has now been done. 6520 is now an introductory heading titled Health Care.
The section below is added to provide guidance on substance abuse issues. Staff were informed of these policies with the release of PSA 07-058 on 12/20/2006 and PSA 09-020 on 10/28/2008. Sections 8244 and 6537 have been incorporated into this new section and are being deleted.
See:
1900 Substance Abuse Services
1910 Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment
1911 Determining Eligibility for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Services
1912 Referring Clients to DSHS-Funded Substance Abuse Treatment
1912.1 Inpatient Treatment of Substance Abuse
1912.11 Referring Clients to Providers of Outreach, Screening, Assessment, and Referral (OSAR) Services
1912.12 Direct Referrals to Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment
1912.13 Required Forms for Inpatient Treatment of Substance Abuse
1912.2 Outpatient Treatment and Detoxification Services for Substance Abuse
1913 Purchasing Substance Abuse Treatment Services for Eligible Clients
1914 Identifying Available Services
1915 Authorizing Substance Abuse Treatment Services in IMPACT
1916 Coordinating With a DSHS Provider to Deliver Substance Abuse Services
1917 Terminating DSHS Services for Substance Abuse
1920 Substance Abuse Testing
1921 Definitions Related to Substance Abuse
1921.1 Chain of Custody
1921.2 Drug Confirmation
1921.3 Drug Screen
1921.4 Instant Test (Oral Swab)
1922 Eligibility for Substance Abuse Testing
1922.1 Determining Eligibility for Substance Abuse Testing Conducted by a Contracted Laboratory
1922.2 Identifying the Substances That Are Eligible for Testing
1922.3 Identifying Laboratory Services for Substance Abuse Testing
1922.4 Referring Clients for Substance Abuse Testing
1922.5 Authorizing Substance Abuse Testing in IMPACT
1922.6 Adding, Extending, Reauthorizing, or Terminating Substance Abuse Services
1923 Testing for Substance Abuse
1923.1 Detection Periods for Substance Abuse
1923.2 Diluted Samples Obtained During Testing
1923.3 Instant (Swab) Tests and Court Hearings
1923.4 Using Acceptable Contractors to Obtain Test Results
1923.5 Frequency of Random Substance Abuse Testing
1923.6 Situations Not Appropriate for Drug Testing
1923.7 Discontinuing Drug Testing
1923.8 Assessing Test Results or Accepting an Admission
1923.9 Documenting Prescribed Medicine Before Offering Drug Testing
1924 Special Situations Related to Substance Abuse
1924.1 Methadone and Prescription Medication
1924.2 The Infectious Client
1924.3 Drug Use During a Parent-Child Visit or FGDM Conference
1924.4 The Court Testimony of the Medical Review Officer
1930 Casework Practice for Substance Abuse Cases
1931 Overview of Casework Practice for Substance Abuse Cases
1931.1 The Definition of a Drug
1931.2 Obtaining Diagnostic Classifications From Professionals
1931.3 Guiding Principles of Drug Testing
1931.4 Marijuana Policy
1931.5 Determining Safety and Risk When Marijuana, Other Substances, or Alcohol Are Present
1932 Screening and Assessment for Substance Abuse
1932.1 Screening for Substance Abuse
1932.2 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
1932.3 Drug Use Outside of the Home
1940 Establishing Protective Measures When a Child Is Threatened by Substance Abuse
1950 Newborns, Children, and Youth Who Are Exposed to Drugs or Alcohol
1951 Children and Adolescents Who Smoke Marijuana, Use Other Drugs, or Drink Alcohol
1951.1 Youth Who Are Not in DFPS Conservatorship and Are Not Unemancipated
1951.2 Children and Adolescents in DFPS Conservatorship
1951.3 Youth in Extended Care or Return to Care
1952 Newborns Exposed to Drugs or Alcohol
1952.1 Safety Plan for a Substance-Exposed Newborn
1960 Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Abuse
1961 Treatment Options for Drug and Alcohol Abuse
1962 Education When Treatment Is Not Recommended by an OSAR Screener or Provider
1963 When Treatment Is Unavailable, Resources Are Scarce, Waiting Lists Are Long, or the Distance Is Too Far to Travel
1964 The Prevention and Early Intervention Program (PEI)
1965 Indicators of Progress Made Toward Recovery
1966 Developing a Safety Plan in Case a Client Relapses
1970 Drug-Endangered Children
1971 Drug Raids to Protect Drug-Endangered Children
1972 Safety Tips for Visiting Homes or Areas Where Substance Abuse Is Practiced
1972 Recognizing When a Caseworker Is Physically Exposed to Drugs
1980 Assessing Substance Abuse
Appendix 1922.1: Detection Periods for Abused Substances
Appendix 1931.1 Physical Signs and Symptoms of Drug or Alcohol Use
Appendix 1931.2: Criteria for Diagnosing Substance Abuse
Appendix 1960: Treatment Options for Substance Abuse
Appendix 1961: Family Drug Treatment Courts (FDTC)
Appendix 1971: Protocol for Working With Drug-Endangered Children
The items below have been removed from the handbook. The policy previously in these items has been incorporated into the new 1900 section.
6537 Substance Abuse Assessment and Interventions
8244 Substance Abuse Services
8244.1 Substance Abuse Prevention and/or Treatment Services
8244.11 Determining Eligibility
8244.12 Referring Clients to DSHS-Funded Treatment Providers
8244.13 Purchasing Substance Abuse Treatment Services
8244.14 Identifying Available Services
8244.15 Using IMPACT
8244.16 When IMPACT is Unavailable
8244.17 Handling Additional Duties
8244.18 Terminating Service
8244.2 Stand-Alone Substance Abuse Testing
8244.21 Determining Eligibility
8244.22 Identifying Eligible Substances
8244.23 Identifying Available Laboratory Services
8244.24 Referring Clients for Testing
8244.25 Using IMPACT
8244.26 Adding, Extending, Reauthorizing, or Terminating Services
A link in the item below has been redirected to the new location of the policy being referenced:
8121.1 Direct Services for Active Cases (Standard and ICPC)
Removing References to Targeted Case Management (TCM) From the Handbook (PATS 3197)
References to Target Case Management (TCM) have been removed from the following items. DFPS no longer claims TCM for federal funding. See:
1224 Title XIX, Medicaid
6511.1 Conducting Monthly Visits With the Child
6511.11 Preparing for the Monthly Visit
6511.12 Conducting the Monthly Visit
6511.13 Assessing the Monthly Visit
6511.14 Documenting the Monthly Visit
6511.15 Following Up on Identified Needs
6511.2 Visits Conducted by an Alternate Caseworker
6511.3 Responsibility for Contact Across Regional Lines
6511.4 Ensuring Access to the Caseworker and Unit Management
6511.41 Providing the Caseworker's Contact Information (Form 6590)
6511.42 Explaining How to Obtain Immediate Assistance
6511.43 Responding to a Message From a Child or Youth
6844 Making Adoptive Placements in Other Regions and With Private Agency Adoptive Homes
6611.53 Conducting Follow-up Visits With the Family When Children Are Returned Home
6931.2 Documenting Contacts in IMPACT
6931.21 Documenting Contacts Using the Contact Details Page
6931.22 Completing a Monthly Evaluation/Assessment Report and Entering the Required Content
6931.23 Required Documentation for a Contact Detail
6931.24 Required Narrative Content
6931.25 Entering Contacts and Submitting the Monthly Evaluation/Assessment for Supervisory Approval
6931.26 Obtaining Supervisory Approvals
Cross-references to these items have been updated in:
6851.2 Conducting Visits With the Child and Adoptive Family
6931.1 Documentation of Monthly Contacts and Visits
6931.1 Documentation of Monthly Contacts and Visits
Enrollment of Child in Drug Research Programs (PATS 3587)
Texas Family Code §266.0041 requires a court order before a child in DFPS conservatorship may enroll or participate in a drug research program, unless the person enrolling the child is the child’s parent and has been authorized by the court to make medical decisions for the child. Neither DFPS nor the child's medical consenter may provide consent. A drug research program means a clinical trial, clinical investigation, drug study or active or clinical research to study the effectiveness of an investigational new drug or an approved drug. The items below are added to provide guidance on this requirement. Staff were advised of this new law in PSA 08-125, issued 8/18/2008. See:
6524 Enrollment and Participation in Certain Drug Research Programs
6524.1 Consent by Parent to Enroll Child in Drug Research Program or Administer Investigational New Drug
6524.2 DFPS Actions When a Physician Recommends Enrollment In a Drug Research Program
6524.3 Documentation in IMPACT of Enrollment in Drug Research Program or Administration of Investigational New Drug
Addressing Psychotropic Medications in Court Reports (PATS 3597)
The item below is revised to provide policy on information about psychotropic medications that caseworkers must include in court reports and court testimony. This policy was communicated to staff with the issuance of PSA 08-015 on 10/2/2007. See:
6521.17 Including Medical Information in Court Reports
Burial Services for Children in DFPS Conservatorship (PATS 3302)
The item below is revised to provide current information regarding the use of funds a deceased child may have in various types of accounts that could be used to offset burial expenses. See:
8512.2 Authorizing Payment
Foster Parent CPR-First Aid Requirements (PATS 3672)
The item below is revised to include requirements for CPR and First Aid training for substitute caregivers and to clarify who is required to complete these trainings. Staff were informed of this policy with the issuance of PSA 07-084 on 2/14/2007. See:
7230 CPR and First Aid Training
Pre-Service Training of Foster and Adoptive Homes (PATS 3497)
The item below is revised to clarify the present PRIDE curriculum and hours involved. The revision also includes allowing relative or fictive kin applicants to participate in Mini-PRIDE regardless of the number of participants when it is for the purpose of Fostering Connections. The current policy limited the number of participants to six or less in Mini-PRIDE sessions. Staff were informed of this policy with the issuance of PSA 10-093 on May 11, 2010. See:
7220 Pre-Service Training of Foster and Adoptive Homes
Acknowledging a Family's Agreement to Contribute (Concrete Services Agreement) (PATS 3412)
The following items are revised to explain the new procedures for acknowledging that a family has agreed to contribute to the cost of the concrete services they receive. To acknowledge a family's agreement, caseworkers now use Form 2054 Service Authorization in the IMPACT system.
Caseworkers no longer use paper Form 2055 Client Agreement for Concrete Services to acknowledge agreements. A review by CPS revealed that IMPACT Form 2054 Service Authorization duplicates most of paper Form 2055, so CPS consolidated the forms and discontinued paper Form 2055. The review of the forms was recommended by DFPS Internal Audit.
See:
3243 Documenting and Authorizing Concrete Services
3244 Obtaining Reviews and Approvals of a Request for Concrete Services
The item below is also updated to replace references to CAPS:
8233.3 Referring Clients