Child Protective Services
Handbook Revision, June 2014
This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on June 2, 2014. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below.
Considerations During Negotiations for Adoption Assistance Benefits
Revisions to the Affordable Care Act
Reporting Requirements for DFPS Staff
Adoption Assistance Benefits (PATS 5047)
The item below has been revised for clarity. See:
1718.1 Termination of Benefits
Considerations During Negotiations for Adoption Assistance Benefits (PATS 5122)
The item below has been updated to outline the eligibility requirements for Adoption Assistance. See:
1715 Negotiating Adoption Assistance Agreements and Deferred Adoption Assistance Agreements
Revisions to the Affordable Care Act (PATS 6682)
The following items are revised to comply with changes made to the federal Affordable Care Act. The changes are effective as of January 1, 2014. CPS staff were informed about the revisions through PSA 14-028, issued on November 18, 2013.
See:
1544 Eligibility for Medicaid for Young Adults Who Age Out of Transitioning Foster Care Youth (MTFCY)
10150 Healthcare Coverage for Transitioning Youth and Young Adults Who Age Out of Foster Care
10151 The Former Foster Care Children (FFCC) Program
10151.1 Eligibility for the FFCC Healthcare Program
10152 Healthcare Benefits for Former Foster Care Youth in Higher Education
10152 10151 The Medicaid for Transitioning Foster Care Youth (MTFCY) Program
10152.1 Eligibility for the MTFCY Healthcare Program
10153 Applying or Re-Applying for the FFCC and MTFCY Healthcare Programs Accessing Benefits
10153.1 Phone and Online Support for the FFCC and MTFCY Healthcare Programs
10153.11 The Your Texas Benefits Website
10153.12 The 2-1-1 Texas System
10153.13 The HHSC Mailbox for FFCC and MTFCY Issues
10122.22 10154 Designating a Medical Power of Attorney
10154 Informing Youth and Young Adults About the FFCC and MTFCY Healthcare Programs
10155 The STAR Health Program
10155.1 Phone and Online Support for STAR Health and STAR Member Services
The following items contain cross references that are revised:
10491 Planned Discharge From Extended Foster Care
11151 Youth Who Are 18 Years or Older
10442.2 Young Adult’s Refusal to Sign the VEFCA Financial Agreement
Reporting Requirements for DFPS Staff (PATS 6732)
The items below are added or revised to reflect legislative changes related to reporting abuse or neglect. The changes were passed during the 83rd legislative session in 2013.
See:
2132 Reporting Requirements Responsibilities for DFPS Staff
2132.1 Reporting Requirements for Licensed or Certified DFPS Staff
2132.2 Reporting Requirements for All Staff When Incidents Involve Older Adults or Adults Who Have Disabilities
2132.3 Reporting Requirements for All DFPS Staff When a Person Refuses to Report
2132.4 Exception to the Requirement That CPS Staff Notify SWI About Additional Allegations
Permanency Care Assistance (PATS 6927)
The items below have been revised and added to update the recertification of extended permanency care assistance, and the recoupment of overpayments. See:
1621.1 Recertification of Eligibility for Permanency Care Assistance
1621.21 Recertification of Eligibility for Extended Permanency Care Assistance
1718.3 Recouping an Overpayment of Permanency Care Assistance Payments
1718.31 Standard Cases – Recouping PCA Overpayments in 30 Days
1718.32 Hardship Cases – Recouping PCA Payments in Any Dollar Amount
1718.33 Extreme Hardship Cases – Recouping PCA Payments in More Than 12 Months (Requires State Office Approval)
Consent to Enter a Residence (PATS 6112)
The items below were revised to provide clarification to staff that they cannot enter a residence if law enforcement invites them to after they have conducted a search with the consent of the occupant, a court order, or exigent circumstances.
Inform staff to enter clear documentation in the narrative on how they determined the child could give consent if relying on a child's consent for entry to a home.
CPS staff were informed of this policy with the issuance of PSA 14-006 on 9/16/2013.
See:
2351.7 Scope of the Consent Given by an Adult Caretaker, Child, or Occupant of the Home
2351.7 Scope of the Consent Given by an Adult Caretaker, Child, or Adult Occupant of a the Home, Law Enforcement or Military Personnel
2351.71 Limitations of Consent Given by Law Enforcement or Military Personnel
The items below are revised to clarify how to document Baby Moses case in IMPACT, specifically the naming of the child and identification of the parent.
CPS staff were informed of this policy with the issuance of PSA 13-038 on 2/26/2013, and a correction issued with PSA 13-055 on 7/1/2013.
See:
2720 Baby Moses Cases
2721 Criteria for a Baby Moses Case
2721.1 When Statutory Criteria Are Not Met
2721.2 When a Child Is Abandoned After Birth in a Medical Facility
2721.3 When There Is a Presumed or Acknowledged Father
2721.4 When Application of Statutory Criteria Is Unclear
2722 A Harmed Infant
2723 A Designated Emergency Infant Care (DEIC) Provider
2724 Investigating Cases Under the Baby Moses Law
2724.1 Legal Provisions
2724.2 Disposition of a Baby Moses Case
2725 Special Issues Relating to a Baby Moses Case When Someone Claims to be a Parent or Relative of the Infant