Child Protective Services Handbook Revision July 27, 2012
This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on July 27, 2012. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below.
Reorganization of CPS Handbook Section 6000 (PATS 5147)
Section 6000 has been reorganized. Kinship and Placement policies have been moved to Section 4000. Medical and mental health policies have been moved to Section 11000. Redundant items have been removed from the handbook.
No policies have been revised. Handbook items have been moved in their entirety with no changes other than the item numbers. Revision dates have not changed, since the policies have not changed.
Items Renumbered in Section 6000 Substitute Care Services
Previous item numbers are shown in parentheses.
6100 (6110) Overview of Substitute Care
6110 (6120) Before Removing a Child and Placing the Child in Substitute Care
6120 (6130) Providing Substitute Care After a Child Is Removed
6121 (6131) Removing a Child
6121.1 (6131.1) Creating FSU and SUB Stages in IMPACT
6121.2 (6131.2) Assigning a Conservatorship (CVS) Caseworker
6121.3 (6131.3) Handling Initial CVS Caseworker Activities
6122 (6132) Consulting With Staff After a Child Is Removed
6123 (6133) Locating Relatives and Providing Notice of Removal
6123.1 (6133.1) When Relatives Have Been Contacted and Have Responded
6124 (6134) Providing Substitute Care Immediately After a Child Is Removed
6124.1 (6134.1) Substitute Care Services to the Parents
6124.2 (6134.2) Substitute Care Services to the Child
6124.3 (6134.3) Substitute Care Services to the Caregiver
6124.4 (6134.4) Substitute Care Services to Grandparents or Other Relatives
6130 (6930) Documentation of Substitute Care
6131 (6931) Documentation of Contacts in Substitute Care
6131.1 (6931.1) Documentation of Monthly Contacts and Visits
6131.2 (6931.2) Documenting Contacts in IMPACT
6131.21 (6931.21) Documenting Contacts Using the Contact Details Page
6131.22 (6931.22) Completing a Monthly Evaluation/Assessment Report and Entering the Required Content
6131.23 (6931.23) Required Documentation for a Contact Detail
6131.24 (6931.24) Required Narrative Content
6131.25 (6931.25) Entering Contacts and Submitting the Monthly Evaluation/Assessment for Supervisory Approval
6131.26 (6931.26) Obtaining Supervisory Approvals
6132 (6932) Documentation of Legal Activity
6133 (6933) Documentation of Child’s Biographical Data and Information About Relatives and Fictive Kin
6134 (6934) Documentation of Information on Case Principals
6135 (6935) Documentation of Services to Parents and Caregivers
6136 (6936) Documentation of Permanency Planning Meetings
6137 (6937) Documentation of Transfer and Closing Summaries
6138 (6938) External Documentation
6140 (6940) Approvals
6141 (6941) Actions Requiring Level 1 Approval
Section 6200 has not been moved
6240 (6400) Case Planning
6241 (6410) Initial Assessment Plan
6250 (6420) The Case Plan
6251 (6421) The Child’s Service Plan
6251.1 (6421.1) Documentation Required for a Child’s Service Plan
6251.2 (6421.2) Approval and Implementation of the Child’s Service Plan
6252 (6422) The Family’s Service Plan
6252.1 (6422.1) Assessing the Family
6252.2 (6422.2) Family Participation in Developing the Family Service Plan
6252.3 (6422.3) The Family Plan for Children Under Age Two
6252.4 (6422.4) Content of the Family Service Plan
6252.5 (6422.5) Completing and Documenting the Family Service Plan
6252.6 (6422.6) Filing the Family Service Plan With the Court
6260 (6430) Case Plan Review
6261 (6431) Reviewing the Family Service Plan
6262 (6432) Reviewing the Child’s Service Plan
6263 (6433) Enforcement of the Family Service Plan
6264 (6434) Required Content When Reviewing a Service Plan
6265 (6435) Participation in the Case Plan Review
6266 (6436) Required Documentation for Child and Family Service Plans
6267 (6451) Children in Therapeutic Foster Care
6268 (6452) Children in Residential Treatment
6269 (6440) Case Planning in Subsequent Placements
6270 (6437) Special Types of Service Plan Conferences, Meetings and Reviews
6271 (6437.1) Periodic Review
6272 (6437.2) Administrative Case Reviews
6273 (6437.3) Permanency Planning Meetings
6273.1 (6437.31) Family Group Conferences
6273.2 (6437.32) Permanency Conference
6274 (6437.4) Permanency Planning Meetings for Youth 16 and Over
6274.1 (6437.41) Circle of Support
6274.2 (6437.42) Transition Plan Meeting
6280 (6453) The Health, Social, Educational, and Genetic History (HSEGH) Report
6281 (6882) Releasing the Health, Social, Educational, and Genetic History (HSEGH) Report to Other Parties on Request
6282 (6822) Completing the Health, Social, Educational, and Genetic History (HSEGH) Report
6283 (6614) Providing Additional Medical, Psychological, or Psychiatric Information to the Adoptive Family
6300 (6500) Services to Children in Substitute Care
6310 (6510) Supervision of Children In Substitute Care (needs revision)
6311 (6511) Contact With the Child
6311.1 (6511.11) Preparing for the Monthly Visit
6311.2 (6511.12) Conducting the Monthly Visit
6311.3 (6511.13) Assessing the Monthly Visit
6311.4 (6511.14) Documenting the Monthly Visit
6311.5 (6511.15) Following Up on Identified Needs
6311.6 (6511.2) Visits Conducted by an Alternate Caseworker
6312 (6511.3) Responsibility for Contact Across Regional Lines
6313 (6511.41) Providing the Caseworker’s Contact Information (Form 6590)
6313.1 (6511.42) Explaining How to Obtain Immediate Assistance
6313.2 (6511.43) Responding to a Message From a Child or Youth
6314 (6572) When a Child or Youth is Missing from Care
6314.1 (6572.1) Minor Child Missing from Foster Care Placement
6314.2 (6572.2) When a Missing Child Returns to Care
6314.3 (6572.3) Documenting a Child as a Runaway
6315 (6534) Rights of Children and Youth in Foster Care
6315.1 (6515) Texas Foster Care Handbook
6315.2 (6513) Sibling Contact
6315.3 (6535) Discipline
6315.4 (6536) Respect for Religious Practices
6316 (6514) Maintaining Current Photograph of a Child
6317 (6574) Hunting
6320 (6571) When a Child Travels
6321 (6571.1) Transporting Children by Vehicle
6322 (6571.2) Transporting Children by Airplane
6323 (6571.3) Special Issues While Transporting
6324 (6571.4) When a Child Travels Within Texas
6324.1 (6571.41) Travel Within Texas With a Caregiver
6324.2 (6571.42) Travel Within Texas With a Person Who Is Not a Caregiver or Relative
6325 (6571.5) Blanket Authorizations
6326 (6571.6) When a Child Travels Outside of Texas
6326.1 (6571.61) Travel Outside of Texas With a Caregiver
6326.2 (6571.62) Travel Outside of Texas With a Person Who Is Not a Caregiver or Relative
6327 (6571.7) When a Child Travels Outside of the U.S.
6327.1 (6571.71) Requesting Court Approval
6327.2 (6571.72) Steps After Obtaining Court Approval
6327.3 (6571.73) Obtaining Travel Documents
6400 (6600) Services to Parents and Caregivers
6410 (6610) Services to the Child’s Family When the Child Is in Substitute Care
6411 (6610.1) The Participation of Parents’ Attorneys When a Child Is in Substitute Care
6412 (6611) Family Services When Family Reunification is the Permanency Goal
6412.1 (6611.1) Contact With the Family
6412.2 (6611.2) Conducting Visits With the Family
6412.3 (6611.3) Review the Family Service Plan
6412.4 (6611.4) Initiate the Reunification Process
6413 (6611.5) When a Child Is Reunified with their parents
6413.1 (6611.51) Providing Services After a Child Is Returned
6413.2 (6611.52) Maintaining Contact with Families When Children Are Returned Home
6413.3 (6611.53) Conducting Follow-up Visits With the Family When Children Are Returned Home
6414 (6612) Ongoing Efforts to Achieve Permanency When DFPS Obtains Permanent Managing Conservatorship Without Termination of Parental Rights
6414.1 (6612.1) When to Complete a Family Plan of Service and Safety Plan
6414.2 (6612.2) Parental Participation
6414.3 (6612.3) Reassessment of Inactive Parents and Parents Unable to Provide a Safe Home
6414.4 (6612.4) Contact Between the Parent, the Child in Care, and the DFPS Caseworker
6414.5 (6612.5) Contact and Service Planning for Children Remaining in the Home
6415 (6613) Maintaining Contact Between the Family and the Child
6415.1 (6613.1) The Right to Regular Contact
6415.2 (6613.2) Planning for Family-Child Contact
6415.3 (6613.3) Documenting Visitation, the Contact Plan, and Progress
6415.4 (6613.4) Keeping Parents Informed of the Child’s Circumstances
6415.5 (6613.5) Sibling Rights
6416 (6615.1) Services to Parents Across Regional Lines
6417 (6630) Working With Military Families
6418 (6615.2) Incarcerated Parents
6418.1 (6615.21) Types of Incarceration Facilities
6418.2 (6615.22) Locating a Parent Who is Incarcerated
6418.3 (6615.23) Guidelines for Caseworker Visitation to an Incarceration Facility
6418.4 (6615.24) Engaging an Incarcerated Parent
6418.5 (6615.25) Service Planning for the Incarcerated Parent
6420 (6620) Services to the Substitute Caregiver
6421 (6621) Caregiver Access to Caseworker and Unit Management
6490 (6700) Discharging Children from Substitute Care
6491 (6710) Services Preceding Discharge
6492 (6720) Services at Discharge From Substitute Care
6493 (6721) Family Reunification
6494 (6722) Permanent Placement with the Caregiver
6495 (6730) Supervision, Dismissal, Continuation, and Closure
6500 Special Circumstances for Children in Substitute Care
6510 (6573) When a Child Dies While in Substitute Care
6511 (6573.1) Notifying DFPS Staff When a Child Dies While in Substitute Care
6512 (6573.2) Notifying Persons Outside of DFPS When a Child Dies While in Substitute Care
6513 (6573.3) Making Funeral Arrangements
6520 (6577) CPS Youth and Juvenile Justice
6521 (6577.1) Reporting Juvenile Offenses to Law Enforcement
6522 (6577.2) When a Youth Is in TJJD Custody or on TJJD Parole
6522.1 (6577.21) General Procedures When Youth Are Committed to the TJJD
6522.2 (6577.22) Documenting in IMPACT Actions Related to Youth Committed to the TJJD
6522.3 (6577.23) Providing Medical Care to Youth in TJJD Custody or on TJJD Parole
6522.4 (6577.24) Meeting and Consulting With TJJD Staff
6522.5 (6577.25) Providing Other Services to Youth in TJJD Custody or on TJJD Parole
6522.6 (6577.26) Addressing Other TJJD-Related Issues
6700 International Issues
6710 Immigration Issues
6711 (6580) Services to Children and Families Who Are Not U.S. Citizens
6712 (6566) Undocumented Youth Who Are 16 or Older
6713 (6581) Notification to Foreign Consulate
6714 (6582) Requesting Home Studies in Foreign Countries
6715 (6583) Deciding Whether to Repatriate or to Plan for a Child to Remain in the US
6715.1 (6583.1) Repatriation Procedures
6716 (6584) Verifying Immigration Status of Children in Care
6716.1 (6584.1) CAPS Immigration Status Categories
6716.2 (6584.2) Immigration Assessment Guide
6717 (6585) Immigration Opportunities for Undocumented CPS Children
6717.1 (6585.1) Staff Responsibility for Monitoring a Child’s Immigration Status
6718 (6586) Transportation of Undocumented Persons
6719 (6587) Contacts with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
6900 (6800) Adoption Services
6910 (6810) Criteria and Types of Service
6920 (6820) Planning for a Child’s Adoption
6921 (6821) Assessing the Child’s Readiness
6922 (6824) Preparing the Child
6923 (6825) Preparing the Child’s Records for Presentation to Adoptive Parents
6924 (6826) Swift Adoption Teams
6930 (6830) Selecting an Adoptive Family
6931 (6831) Issues to Consider When Selecting an Adoptive Home
6931.1 (6831.1) Challenges of a Termination Order by Certain Relatives: 90-Day Period Following Termination
6932 (6832) Adoption by Foster Parents
6933 (6833) Adoptive Homes Located by Outside Child-Placing Agencies
6934 (6834) Adoptive Homes in Other States
6935 (6835) Considering the Need for an Adoption Subsidy
6936 (6836) Adoption by Military Families
6937 (6837) Adoptive Parent Registry
6938 (6838) Meeting to Discuss the Home Studies of Prospective Adoptive Families
6938.1 (6838.1) Holding Separate Discussions About the Child to Protect Privacy
6938.2 (6838.2) Holding Separate Discussions About Adoptive Families to Protect Privacy
6938.21 (6838.21) Including the Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Discussions About Prospective Adoptive Families
6938.3 (6838.3) Confirming Approval of a Prospective Adoptive Family
6939 (6839) When No Prospective Adoptive Family Is Available
6940 (6840) Presenting and Placing the Child for Adoption
6941 (6841) Presenting Information about the Child
6942 (6842) Preparing the Family and the Child for the Placement
6943 (6843) Completing the Placement
6944 (6844) Making Adoptive Placements in Other Regions and With Private Agency Adoptive Homes
6945 (6845) Making Placements in Other States
6946 (6846) Making Out of Country Placements
6950 (6850) Supporting and Consummating the Adoption
6951 (6851) Supporting the Adoptive Placement
6951.1 (6851.1) Developing an Adoption Services Plan
6951.2 (6851.2) Contact with the Child and Adoptive Family
6951.3 (6851.3) Conducting Visits With the Child and Adoptive Family
6952 (6852) Consummating the Adoption
6952.1 (6852.1) Time Frames for Consummating the Adoption
6952.11 (6852.11) Time Frames for Consummating Kinship Adoptions
6952.12 (6852.12) Non-Kinship Adoptions
6952.13 (6852.13) Foster Parent Adoptions
6952.2 (6852.2) CPS Caseworker’s Tasks After the Adoption Petition if Filed
6952.3 (6852.3) Termination of DFPS’s Managing Conservatorship
6952.4 (6852.4) Adoption Reporting Requirements
6953 (6853) Postadoption Services
6954 (6854) Post Adoption Substitute-Care Services
6955 (6855) Subsequent Placements in the Same Home
6956 (6860) Resolving Problems in an Adoptive Placement
6960 (6870) Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE)
6961 (6871) Definitions
6962 (6872) Databases of the Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE)
6963 (6873) TARE Adoption Recruitment Efforts
6963.1 (6873.1) Pre-TARE Regional Recruitment Efforts
6963.2 (6873.2) National Recruitment Efforts
6964 (6874) Time Frames for Registering Children on TARE
6965 (6875) Court Orders Related to Adoption Recruitment
6966 (6876) TARE Procedures
6966.1 (6876.1) Initial Registration on TARE
6966.2 (6876.2) Maintaining TARE Registrations
6966.3 (6876.3) Adoption Status Designations in the TARE Database
6966.4 (6876.4) Reason to Unpublish in the TARE Database
6966.5 (6876.5) Managing Home Screenings in TARE
6967 (6877) TARE Inquiries
6967.1 (6877.1) TARE Child Inquiry Forms
6967.2 (6877.2) TARE Inquiry Logs
6967.3 (6877.3) Responding to Inquiries for Children on TARE
6968 (6878) TARE Family Registry Database Procedures
6968.1 (6878.1) Registering Families on TARE
6968.2 (6878.2) TARE Family Registry Broadcasts
6968.3 (6878.3) TARE Family Registry Broadcasts for Children Age Six or Younger
6968.4 (6878.4) Searching the TARE Family Registry Database for Potential Adoptive Matches
6969 (6879) Prospective Inquiry Database Procedures
Appendices
Appendix 6133 (Appendix 6233): When a Suit to Terminate Must be Filed
Appendix 6141 ( Appendix 6410): Federal Case-Planning Requirements
Appendix 6180 (Appendix 6443): Requirements for Completing the Health, Social, Educational, and Genetic History Report
Appendix 6273.1 (Appendix 6437.31): Roles and Responsibilities of Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM)
Appendix 6520 (Appendix 6577): Filing Charges with the Juvenile Justice System
Appendix 6717-A (Appendix 6585-A): Understanding the Risks and Benefits of Applying for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Appendix 6717-B (Appendix 6585-B): Entendiendo los Riesgos v Beneficios al Aplicar para el Estato de Inmigrante Juvenil Especial
Appendix 6392 (Appendix 6720): Discharging Children From Substitute Care
Appendix 6931-A (Appendix 6831-A): Information to Consider about the Child When Selecting an Adoptive Family
Appendix 6931-B (Appendix 6831-B): Information to Consider about the Prospective Adoptive Family When Placing a Child for Adoption
Appendix 6151-A (Appendix 6941-A): Licensing Criteria for Granting Variances for Level 1 Child Placing Staff Qualifications
Appendix 6151-B (Appendix 6941-B): Procedure for Requesting a Level 1 Policy Variance
Appendix 4531 (Appendix 6535-A): DFPS Kinship Homes Discipline Policy
Items Deleted From Section 6000
6345 Procedures
6350 Out-of-State Placements
6450 Special Requirements
6511.1 Conducting Monthly Visits With the Child
6511.4 Ensuring Access to the Caseworker and Unit Management
6512.2 When DFPS Foster or Adoptive Homes Move Across Regional Lines
6512.3 Placements in DFPS Foster or Adoptive Homes Across Regional or Unit Lines
6530 Other Services
6531 Day Care for Children in CPS Foster Homes
6570 Special Issues
6575 Disaster Plans
6615 Other Issues Regarding Services to Families
6880 Special Issues
6881 Regional Designation of Responsible Units
6900 Administrative Issues
6910 Licensing, Certification, and Verification
6911 Certification of Regional Child-Placing Programs
6912 Waiver or Variance of Minimum Standards
Appendix 6225: Sample Agreement for Permanent Foster Care
Appendix 6620: Quarterly Visits to Foster Families
Appendix 6825: Deleting Identifying Information Before Releasing Records to Adoptive Parents or Other Authorized Parties
Cross-References in CPS
Cross-references to the sections being moved were updated throughout the handbook. See:
1121 Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM)
1124 Definition of Stages of Service
1431.1 References for Detailed Case Recording Requirements
1432.1 Establishing Relationships Using Family Tree in IMPACT
1452 Release of Confidential Information
1461 Phase 1: Discontinuing Services
1463.3 Items Returned to the Child When a Conservatorship Case Is Closed
1531 Eligible Individuals
1542 Foster Care Assistance Eligibility Requirements for Children and Youth Who Are in DFPS Conservatorship
1542.1 Additional Eligibility Requirements for Title IV-E Foster Care
1574.3 Proceeding With Adoptive Placements in a Timely Manner
1952.1 Safety Plan for a Substance-Exposed Newborn
2234.47 Closing a Case Involving a Parental Child Safety Placement
2237 Family Team Meetings
2237.1 Family Team Meeting (FTM) Referral Criteria
2283.1 Documenting Health, Social, Educational, and Genetic History (HSEGH) Information About the Birth Family In a Subsequent Investigation
2311.4 The Parents and Others When a Child Dies
2663.1 Exercising and Documenting Due Diligence After Removal of a Child
2671 Information Provided to the Parents at the Time of Removal
2672 Information Provided to the Child After a Removal
3122.2 Scope and Purpose of an FBSS Family Assessment
3141.1 Applying Family Group Conferences to an FBSS Case
3141.11 Criteria for a Required Family Group Conference
3141.12 Criteria for an Optional Family Group Conference
3143 Developing the Family Service Plan for an FBSS Case
3144.21 Using Family Group Conferences to Review an FBSS Case
3151 Closing an FBSS Case
3152.2 Documenting the Removal of a Child From His or Her Home
3164 Required Content of the Family Service Plan
3165 Parental Involvement in Service Planning – Ensuring the Involvement of Fathers
3172 Parental Child Safety Placement
3175 When a Child Dies During an Open FBSS Case
3176 HSEGH Information for Previously Adopted Children
3301.22 Steps for Achieving the Permanency Goal
3410 Purpose of FRS
3421.2 Scheduling a Discharge Planning Meeting
3422 Case Consultations (Staffings) and Reviews
3423.2 Home Visits After a Child Returns Home
3445.2 Developing the Initial Service Plan for Intensive Early Family Reunification Services (IE-FRS)
3452 Eligibility
4110 The Placement Process for Initial and Subsequent Placements
4111 Identify the Child's Needs
4114 Secure Appropriate Approvals
4121 Required Issues to Consider
4131 Discussing the Move
4134.2 Revising the Case Plan
4211 Foster Family-Homes
4212.2 Therapeutic Care
4213 Residential Group-Care Facilities
4220 Facilities Under the Authority of Other State Agencies
4262 Unauthorized Arrangements
4272 Abuse and Neglect Investigations of Placements Regulated by RCCL
4525.7 If More Than One Potential Kinship Caregiver Is Under Consideration
4531 Providing the Kinship Manual and Agreement at Placement
4533 The Duties of a Kinship Development Caseworker
5120 Documentation of Legal Status and Legal Action
5214 Court-Ordered Participation in CPS Services
5300 Court-Related Services for Children in Conservatorship
5311 Working with the Child's Attorney and Guardian Ad Litem
5330 Required Court Reports
5340 Required Administrative Reviews
5351 The 60-Day Status Hearing
5420 Court-Ordered Social Studies
7100 Recruitment of Foster and Adoptive Homes
7120 Inquiry and Screening Foster Family Homes and Adoptive Homes
7273 Legal-Risk/Adoptive Parent Registry
7330 Approval and Verification
7450 Adoptive Home Supervision
7633 When Foster Families Move
7636 Foster Families that Adopt
8123 State Office (Statewide) Contracts
8165 Interregional Service — Authorization
8262.2 Identifying Available Services
8263.1 Identifying Out-of-State Families for Adoption Placement Services
8264.5 Handling Additional Duties
8271 Authorizing Service
8512 Funeral and Burial Services for Children in DFPS Conservatorship
9300 Placing Children Outside of Texas
9311.3 Information About the Child for an ICPC Placement Request
9314 Requesting Placement With an Adoptive Family Outside of Texas
9315 Requesting Placement in a Residential Treatment Center Outside of Texas
9340 The Supervision Services Expected From Another State
9350 Closing an ICPC Case
9440 Supervising a Child Placed in Texas From Another State
9511 Private Adoptions
10121 Permanency Planning Meetings for Youth Age 16 and Older
10122 Transition Plan
10122.1 Child’s or Youth’s Plan of Service
10122.2 Transition Plan Review
10130 Documents Given to Youth Who Are Transitioning to Adulthood
10260 Administration of PAL Services
10630 Youth Parents in DFPS Conservatorship
11142 Notifying Parents About Significant Medical Conditions
11260 Documenting Medical and Dental Issues in the Case File
11412 Working With Children in DFPS Conservatorship Who Have Special Health Care Needs
15340 The Child’s Education Service Plan
15373.2 The Role of the Caregiver in Maintaining the Education Portfolio
15373.3 Maintaining the Education Portfolio at Discharge
Appendix 1121: Documentation Requirements for Models of Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM)
Appendix 1211: Responsibilities Under the Texas Family Code
Appendix 4120-A: Issues to Consider in Placement Decisions
Appendix 7260-IV: Foster/Adoptive Home Study Guidelines
Appendix 8160: CPS Service Codes and Descriptions as Identified in IMPACT