Handbook Revision, March 12, 2018
This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on March 12, 2018.
CPS wants to ensure that the general public understands what critical actions caseworkers are required to perform and why. To further this understanding, CPS has set up a policy email box for the general public: CPSPolicyQuestions@dfps.texas.gov. Please feel free to contact us, via this email address, with any general questions related to policy.
For questions or concerns regarding specific cases, please contact the caseworker or supervisor, or the Office of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-720-7777.
Streamlined 5000 Court Related Services (PATS 10302)
This section has been streamlined in consultation with Legal staff and with input from other CPS divisions. Policy has been updated, non-policy information removed and language restructured. Most appendices associated with this section have been removed and replaced with resource guides. Only Appendix 5000-1: When a Suit to Terminate Must Be Filed remains in the handbook.
See:
5000 CPS Legal Functions
5000.1 Purpose and Scope of CPS Legal Functions
5100 Alternatives to Removal CPS's Role in Litigation
5110 Alternatives to Removal
5110.1 Purpose and Scope: Alternatives to Removal
5110 5111 Court Orders in Aid of an Investigation
5111 5111.1 Approval to Seek a Court Order in Aid of an Investigation
5112 5111.2 Required Proof Required to Obtain in Support of a Court Order in Aid of Investigation
5113 5111.3 Notice and Service Requirements for a Court Order
5120 5112 Removal of Removing the Alleged Perpetrator From the Home
5121 5112.1 Seeking an Order for Removal of an Alleged Perpetrator From the Home
5121.1 5112.11 Approval to Seek an Order for Removal of an Alleged Perpetrator From the Home
5121.2 5112.12 Required Proof Required to in Support of an Order for Removal of to Remove an Alleged Perpetrator From the Home
5121.3 Standard for Court’s Decision on Whether to Issue a Temporary Restraining Order
5112.13 Standard for Court's Decision on Whether to Issue a Temporary Restraining Order
5121.4 5112.14 Notice and Service Requirements for a Court Order for Removal of to Remove an Alleged Perpetrator From the Home
5112.2 The Effect of a Temporary Restraining Order for Removal of Alleged Perpetrator
5122 The Effect of a Temporary Restraining Order for Removal of the Alleged Perpetrator
5123 5112.3 Duration of a Temporary Restraining Order for Removal of an Alleged Perpetrator
5130 5113 Order to Obtain a Parent's Mental Health Records or an Examination of a Parent
5131 5113.1 Approval to Seek a Court Order to Obtain a Parent's Records or to Require an Examination
5132 5113.2 Required Proof Required in Support of a Court Order to Obtain a Parent's Records or Require an Examination
5133 5113.3 Notice and Service Requirements for a Court Order to Obtain a Parent's Records or Examination
5140 5114 Orders for Protection of a Child or Family Member
5141 5114.1 Seeking a Protective Order
5141.1 5114.11 Who May Apply for a Protective Order
5141.2 Alternatives to Seeking a Protective Order
5114.12 Seeking a Protective Order
5141.3 5114.13 Approval to Seek a Protective Order
5141.4 5114.14 Notice About a Protective Order
5142 5114.2 Required Findings and the Protective Order
5143 5114.3 Duration of Protective Orders
5143.1 5114.31 Duration of a Temporary Protective Order
5143.2 5114.32 Duration of a Final Protective Order
5143.3 The Caseworker’s Role in Supporting the Victim
5114.4 Protective Order Under the Code of Criminal Procedure
5150 5115 Temporary Restraining Orders (TRO)
5151 5115.1 Purpose and Use of Temporary Restraining Orders
5152 5115.2 Approval to Seek a Temporary Restraining Order
5153 5115.3 Service Requirements for a Temporary Restraining Order
5154 5115.4 Duration of a Temporary Restraining Order
5160 5120 Court-Ordered Services
5161 5121 Approval to Seek a Court Order for Services
5162 5122 The Proof Required to Support a Court Order for Services
5163 5123 Notice and Service Requirements for Order for Services
5170 5130 Taking Possession of a Child With Intent to Return
5180 5140 Taking Possession of a Missing Child
5190 5150 Hague Abduction Convention and Foreign Custody Court Orders
5200 Notice, Service, and Working with Attorneys and Advocates General Issues and Requirements Relevant to CPS Legal Proceedings
5200.1 Purpose and Scope: General Issues and Requirements
5210 5200.2 General Caseworker Duties and Restrictions
5220 5210 The Child's Best Interest
5230 5220 Due Diligence and Service of a Citation
5231 5221 Purpose of Serving a Citation for a Lawsuit
5232 5222 Caseworker Requirements Related to Missing Parents Serving a Citation
5222.1 The Parties to Whom the Due Diligence Requirement to Locate Applies
5233 5223 Exercising Due Diligence to Locate Missing Parents and Other Relatives
5233.1 5223.1 Overview of Due Diligence: Making a Diligent Effort to Locate Missing Parents and Relatives
5233.2 5223.2 Court Monitoring of Due Diligence
5233.21 5223.21 Requirements When a Parent Is Not Located Before the Status Hearing
5233.3 5223.3 Steps in Making a Diligent Search for a Missing Parent
5233.31 Asking the Custodial Parent for Absent Parent Information
5233.32 Requesting a Diligent Search
5233.33 Searching for Residents of a Foreign Country
5233.34 Attempting Contact by Mail
5233.35 Continuing to Search
5233.36 Notifying Parties Involved That the Parent Is Located
5233.37 Repeating Diligent Search With New Information
5233.4 5223.4 Additional Requirements When Locating an Alleged Father
5233.5 Making a Detailed Diligent Search for Relatives
5233.6 5223.5 Additional Requirements and Procedures Related to Serving a Citation When a Parent Lives in a Foreign Country
5233.61 Due Diligence Search for a Person Believed to Be in Mexico
5233.7 5223.6 Additional Requirements When the Parent of a Native American Child Cannot Be Located
5223.7 Additional Requirements When a Parent Cannot Be Located Despite the Exercise of Due Diligence
5233.8 Documenting the Search
5234 5224 Providing Notice of a Hearing
5235 5225 General Notice Requirements for CPS Hearings
5236 5226 Notice Requirements Specific to Parents and Children
5236.1 5226.1 Notify Parents and Children About Planned Court Actions
5236.2 5226.2 Notify Parents of Their Rights to an Attorney and to Attend Hearings
5237 5227 Form of Notice
5240 5230 Working With the Child's Attorney Ad Litem, Guardian Ad Litem, and CASA
5241 5231 Court Appoints Attorney Ad Litem and Guardian Ad Litem
5241.1 5231.1 Roles of the Attorney Ad Litem and Guardian Ad Litem
5241.2 5231.2 Cooperating With the Attorney Ad Litem and the Guardian Ad Litem
5241.3 5231.3 Providing Access to the Child
5241.4 5231.4 Communicating With the Child’s Attorney Ad Litem and Guardian Ad Litem
5241.5 5231.5 Documenting the Communication Plan With the Attorney Ad Litem and Guardian Ad Litem
5241.6 5231.6 Providing Records to the Attorney Ad Litem and Guardian Ad Litem
5241.61 5231.61 Providing Drug or Alcohol Treatment Records
5242 5232 Working With a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
5242.1 5232.1 Working With a CASA Who Is Appointed as a Guardian Ad Litem
5242.2 5232.2 Working With a CASA Who Is Not Appointed as a Guardian Ad Litem
5242.21 5232.21 Court Orders for CASAs Seeking Access to a Child or a Child's Records
5242.22 5232.22 Statewide Memorandum of Understanding and Local Agreements
5250 5240 Documentation of Documenting Legal Status and Legal Action
5241 Definition of Legal Status
5242 Definition of Legal Action
5251 5243 Entering a Change in Legal Status or Legal Action Into IMPACT
5300 Court Orders, Notice to the Court, Indian Child Welfare Act, Paternity, and Child Support Additional General Issues and Requirements Relevant to CPS Legal Proceedings
5310 The Requirement for Staff to Elevate Certain Court Orders
5311 Purpose and Scope: Requirement to Elevate Certain Court Orders
5311 5312 General Notice Requirements for Elevating Certain Court Orders
5312 Court Orders That Must Be Elevated to State Office
5313 Notice Requirements for Court-Ordered Placements in Unapproved Facilities
5313.1 Definition of Unapproved Facility
5314 Court Orders That Violate the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children
5320 Mediation
5320 5330 Special Court Approvals and Notifications
5321 5331 Obtaining Approval From the Court for Out-of-State Placements and Reunification
5322 5332 Required Notification to the Court
5322.1 5332.1 Notifying the Court When a Child Is or May Be Harmed
5322.2 5332.2 Notifying the Court About a Child Who Is Without a Placement
5322.3 5332.3 Notifying the Court About a Change of Jurisdiction
5322.4 5332.4 Notifying the Court About When Subsequent Removal
5322.5 5332.5 Notifying the Court About a Designated Medical Consenter
5322.6 Notifying the Court About the Education Decision Maker
5330 5340 Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
5340 5350 Seeking Child Support for Children in Substitute Care
5341 5351 Requesting Child Support From the Parents of Children in DFPS Conservatorship
5341.1 5351.1 Requirements for Requesting a Court to Order Parents to Provide Support
5341.2 5351.2 DFPS's Right to Review Child Support Payments
5341.3 5351.3 Requirement to Ask the Court to Modify Support Orders When a Child Is Reunified With the Parents
5352 Referring Child Support Cases to the Office of the Attorney General
5342 5353 Ongoing DFPS Responsibilities in a Child Support Case
5342.1 5353.1 Contact With the Contacting the Office of the Attorney General (OAG)
5342.11 5353.11 Making the OAG Aware of Issues That Could Affect the Collection of Child Support
5342.12 5353.12 Requesting Information on a Parent's Payment of Child Support in Conservatorship Cases
5342.13 5353.13 Communicating With the OAG to Facilitate the OAG's Enforcement of a Court Order to Pay Child Support to DFPS
5342.2 5353.2 When Relatives or Caregivers Caretakers Are Not Receiving Court-Ordered Child Support
5343 5354 Dismissing Dismissal of a DFPS Case and Closing a Child Support Case
5343.1 5354.1 Child Support and Dismissal Orders Not Terminating Parental Rights
5343.11 5354.11 Dismissal of Child Support Orders Following Termination of Parental Rights
5343.12 5354.12 Waiving Child Support Owed to DFPS
5344 5354.2 Closing the Child Support Case in the OAG System
5344.1 5354.21 Initiating the Closing of a Child Support Case in the OAG System
5344.2 5354.22 Determining Whether a DFPS Child Support Case Has Been Closed in the OAG System
5344.3 5354.23 Factors That Affect the Closing of a DFPS Child Support Case in the OAG's Automated System
5354.24 Criteria for Closing a Child Support Case in the OAG Automated System
5344.4 5354.3 Helping a Caretaker Obtain Child Support After DFPS Conservatorship Is Dismissed
5350 5360 Establishing Paternity
5351 5361 Court Ordered Testing When Paternity Has Not Been Established
5351.1 5361.1 Referring Cases to the Office of the Attorney General for Paternity Testing
5351.2 5361.2 Paternity Testing by the OAG and Court Ruling
5352 5362 Court Ordered Testing When Paternity Has Been Established But Is Questioned
5352.1 5362.1 Acknowledgment of Paternity
5352.2 5362.2 Court Order Establishing Paternity
5400 From Removal to the Adversary Hearing of a Child and Related Proceedings and Requirements
5400.1 Purpose and Scope: Removal of a Child and Related Proceedings and Requirements
5410 Types of Court Orders and the Process for Obtaining a Court Order for Removal of Removing a Child
5411 Obtaining a Court Order Before Conducting an Emergency Removal
5411.1 Standard for Obtaining a Court Order Before Conducting an Emergency Removal
5411.2 Basic Process for Obtaining a Court Order Before Conducting an Emergency Removal
5412 Conducting an Emergency Removal Before Obtaining a Court Order
5412.1 Standard for Conducting an Emergency Removal Before Obtaining a Court Order
5412.2 Basic Process for Conducting an Emergency Removal Before Obtaining a Court Order and for Filing a Petition After an Emergency Removal
5412.3 Standards for Court's Decision at the Ex Parte Emergency Hearing
5412.4 5412.3 Process When an Emergency Hearing Is Not Held Within the Required Time Frame
5413 Conducting a Nonemergency Removal
5413.1 Standard When Conducting a Nonemergency Removal
5413.2 Basic Process When Conducting a Nonemergency Removal
5414 Obtaining a Waiver of the Requirement to Provide Notice of Removal
5420 How a Beginning a Child Protection Lawsuit Begins
5421 Requirements for Completing a Removal Affidavit
5422 Essential Information for the Petition
5423 Limited Time Before Dismissal
5430 Adversary Hearing
5431 Purpose of the Adversary Hearing
5431 5432 Requirements for the Adversary Hearing
5431.1 Evidence Required on Request
5431.2 5432.1 Time Frame for the Adversary Hearing
5431.3 5432.2 Standard of Proof in an Adversary Hearing
5431.4 5432.3 Requesting Services and Participation at the Adversary Hearing
5431.5 5432.4 Temporary Visitation Schedule
5431.6 5432.5 Designating Designation of an Education Decision Maker and Notifying Notification of a Surrogate Parent
5432 5433 Requirements Following the Adversary Hearing
5440 Aggravated Circumstances
5500 From Status Hearing to the Final Hearing Hearings Required by Chapter 263 and Final Orders for Children Under 18
5500.1 Purpose and Scope: Hearings Required by Chapter 263 and Final Orders for Children Under 18
5510 The 60-Day Status Hearing
5511 Purpose and Scope: The 60-Day Findings the Court Makes at the Status Hearing
5512 Notice Requirements for the Status Hearing
5513 Required Filings in Preparation for the Status Hearing
5513.1 Original Service Plan – Filed 45 Days After DFPS Is Named Temporary Managing Conservator
5513.2 Status Report (Form 2070) – Filed 10 Days Before the Status Hearing
5513.3 Notice of Efforts to Assess a Child and Place the Child With Relatives or Kin – 10 Days Before the Hearing
5513.4 Visitation Plan – 10 Days Before the Hearing
5514 Required Action Following the Status Hearing
5520 The Family's Service and Visitation Plans: Filing and Review Requirements
5521 Original Family Service Plan
5521.1 Filing a Service Plan With the Court
5521.2 Purpose of the Service Plan
5521.3 Failure to Comply With a Service Plan
5521.4 When the Original Service Plan Takes Effect
5521.5 A Service Plan for the Family of a Native American Child
5522 Amended Service Plans: Signing and Taking Effect
5523 Duration and Scope of the Service Planning Requirement
5524 Visitation Plan: Filing and Court Review
5530 Permanency Hearings for Children Under Temporary DFPS Conservatorship
5531 The Purpose of a Permanency Hearing Before the Final Order
5532 Meeting the Time Frames for Holding a Permanency Hearing
5532.1 Time Frames for the Initial Permanency Hearing
5532.2 Time Frames for Subsequent Permanency Hearings
5533 Filing Requirements for Permanency Hearings
5534 Notice Requirements for All Hearings Prior to Final Order
5535 Meeting the Content Requirements for the Permanency Plan and Progress Report for a Child in TMC
5536 Obtaining Approval of a Permanency Progress Report
5540 Final Orders and Supporting Actions
5541 Issues to Resolve Before DFPS's Role in the Lawsuit Ends
5542 Dismissal Deadlines and the Final Order Requirement
5542.1 A Final Order in a DFPS Conservatorship Case in General
5542.2 Standard for Modifying a Final Order
5541.3 Required Preparation for Final Hearing
5543 Extending the Dismissal Deadline
5550 Outcomes in a Court's Final Order
5551 Family Reunification and Dismissal of DFPS as Conservator
5551.1 Monitored Return of a Child to a Parent
5551.2 Presumption in Favor of a Parent as Managing Conservator
5552 Appointing a Conservator Who Is Not the Parent and Dismissing DFPS From the Case
5552.1 Required Caseworker Actions Before Naming a Person Who Is Not the Parent as Managing Conservator
5553 DFPS Named as the Child's Permanent Managing Conservator (PMC)
5553.1 DFPS Named as the Child's PMC With Termination of Parental Rights
5553.11 Standard for DFPS to Be Named as the Child's PMC With Termination of Parental Rights
5553.12 Procedural Requirements Following an Award of PMC With Termination of Parental Rights
5553.2 When DFPS Is Named as the Child's PMC Without Termination of Parental Rights
5553.21 The Limited Circumstances in Which DFPS Requests PMC Without Terminating Parental Rights
5553.22 The Requirements Specific to Agreeing to PMC Without Terminating Parental Rights During Mediation
5553.23 The Casework Requirements When PMC Is Awarded Without Terminating Parental Rights
5553.3 Pursuing Preferred Permanency Options When DFPS Is Named as the Child's PMC
5553.4 Requesting a Change in PMC After DFPS Is Appointed
5560 Involuntary and Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights
5561 Procedures for Terminating Parental Rights
5561.1 Providing Services to the Parents
5561.2 Searching for Missing Parents
5562 Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights
5562.1 Circumstances in Which Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights May Be Appropriate
5562.2 Requirements for Termination of Parental Rights Based on a Voluntary Affidavit of Relinquishment
5563 Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights
5564 The Legal Basis for Termination of Parental Rights
5564.1 Grounds for Termination of Parental Rights
5564.11 Endangerment
5564.12 Abandonment
5564.13 Failure to Support a Child
5564.14 Criminal Activity and Imprisonment
5564.15 Court-Ordered Service Plan
5564.16 Drug Use
5564.17 Alleged Father
5564.18 Mental Illness
5564.19 Relinquishment
5564.2 Additional Grounds for Termination of Parental Rights
5565 The Child's Best Interest in Regard to Terminating Parental Rights
5570 Mediation and Other Forms of Dispute Resolution
5571 Requirements for Mediations and Other Dispute Resolutions
5572 Types of Mediation
5571.1 5572.1 Court-Ordered Mediation
5571.11 5572.11 Overview of Court-Ordered Mediation
5571.12 5572.12 Who Must Attend Court-Ordered Mediation
5571.13 5572.13 When a Named Person Cannot Attend Court-Ordered Mediation
5571.2 5572.2 Informal Other Forms of Dispute Resolution
5572.21 Overview of Other Forms of Dispute Resolution
5571.3 5572.22 Requirements Before Entering Into an Agreement in an Informal Mediation
5572 5573 Agreeing to Accept DFPS Conservatorship Without Termination of Parental Rights
5573 5574 Actions Prohibited When Negotiating for Conservatorship
5573.1 5574.1 The Termination of Parental Rights Agreement Must Comply With Law, Rule, and Policy
5573.2 5574.2 Visitation May Not Be Used to Encourage Agreement to Termination of Parental Rights
5573.3 5574.3 Parent Must Not Be Pressured to Relinquish Parental Rights
5573.4 5574.4 An Agreement to Relinquish Parental Rights Must Reflect a Child's Permanency Goals
5573.5 5574.5 Joint Managing Conservatorship and Mediation
5574 5575 Consideration of Considering Sibling Groups
5580 Permanency Hearings After Final Orders for Children Under DFPS Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC)
5581 The Purpose of a Permanency Hearing for Children Under DFPS Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC)
5582 Meeting the Time Frames for Holding a Permanency Hearing (PMC)
5583 Filing a Permanency Progress Report With the Court and Parties for Children Under Permanent DFPS Conservatorship
5584 Notice Requirements for Permanency Hearings for Children Under Permanent DFPS Conservatorship
5585 Meeting the Content Requirements for a Permanency Progress Report
5586 Obtaining Approval of a Permanency Progress Report
5600 Extension of Court's Extended Court Jurisdiction When a Youth Turns 18
5610 General Provisions: Extending a Court's Jurisdiction When a Youth Turns 18 in DFPS Conservatorship
5611 Overview of Extending a Court's Jurisdiction When a Youth Turns 18
5611.1 Mandatory Extension of a Court's Jurisdiction
5611.2 Voluntary Extension of a Court's Jurisdiction
5611.3 Other Legal Issues Related to Extending a Court's Jurisdiction
5611 5612 Actions Required by the Caseworker for All Youth Aging Out of DFPS Conservatorship
5611.1 5612.1 Request Requesting That the Court Approve a Trial Independence (TI) Period
5611.2 5612.2 Notify Notifying the Court About a Young Adult's Status After Turning 18
5611.3 5612.3 Document Documenting Court Orders
5620 Court Jurisdiction and Reviews in Extended Foster Care
5621 Court Review Hearings for Extended Foster Care
5622 Actions Required by the Caseworker for Young Adults in Extended Foster Care
5622.1 Request a Review Hearing for Extended Foster Care
5622.2 Provide Notice of the Review Hearing for Extended Foster Care
5622.3 Submit Documents in Preparation for a Review Hearing for Extended Foster Care
5622.4 Request Approval of a 12-Month Trial Independence Period
5622.5 Record the Review Hearing for Extended Foster Care in IMPACT
5622.6 Send a Notice at the Start of the Young Adult's Trial Independence Period
5622.7 When the Probate Court Appoints a Guardian
5622.7 5622.8 Record the Start or End of a Trial Independence Period in IMPACT
5622.8 5622.9 When a Young Adult Turns 21
5630 Court Jurisdiction and Reviews During and After Trial Independence
5631 Court Jurisdiction and Trial Independence
5631 5632 Required Court Actions During and After Trial Independence
5631.1 5632.1 Submit Documents If a Hearing Is Held During Trial Independence
5631.2 5632.2 If a Young Adult Returns to Extended Foster Care Before Trial Independence Ends
5631.3 5632.3 If a Young Adult Returns to Extended Foster Care After Trial Independence Ends
5640 Court Jurisdiction and Reviews for Young Adults Who Continue to Receive Transitional Living Services During or After the Trial Independence Period
5641 Court Jurisdiction and Reviews for Transitional Living Services After Trial Independence
5642 Required Court Caseworker Actions for the Caseworker When the Young Adult Requests Jurisdiction for Transitional Living Services
5642.1 Obtain Extended Jurisdiction for a Case Involving Transitional Living Services
5642.2 File a Motion to Extend the Court's Jurisdiction to Review Transitional Living Services
5642.3 Participate in Hearings Held for a Young Adult's Case
5642.4 Complete a Report in Preparation for a Service Review Hearing
5642.5 If a Young Adult Withdraws Consent to Allow a Court to Extend Its Jurisdiction
5642.6 When a Court's Jurisdiction Ends
5650 Court Jurisdiction and Reviews Pending a Referral to HHSC DADS Guardianship
5651 Required Court Actions for the Caseworker Actions While Waiting for a Resolution From Probate Court
5700 5800 Special Issues
5800.1 Purpose and Scope: Special Issues
5710 5810 Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)
5811 Impact of Interstate Placements on the DFPS Legal Case
5711 5812 Priority Handling for Interstate Placements With Certain Relatives or Guardians
5812.1 Criteria for Priority Handling of an ICPC Case Under Regulation 7
5711.1 5812.2 Required Actions to Request a Court Order for an Expedited Placement Decision Pursuant to Regulation 7
5812.3 Effect of an Order for a Priority Home Screening Under Regulation 7
5812.4 Required Actions Following Issuance of an Order for a Priority Home Screening Under Regulation 7
5813 When an Interstate Placement Is Denied by the Receiving State
5814 Requirement That the Court Retain Jurisdiction After Making an Interstate Placement
5815 International Placements
5720 5820 Court-Related Requirements for Travel by a Child in DFPS Conservatorship
5730 5830 Foreign-Born Children in Foster Care
5831 Notice to the Foreign Consulate Required
5831.1 How to Give Notice to Foreign Consulate
5740 5840 The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
5841 Purpose of ICWA
5741 5842 Identifying ICWA Cases a Native American Child
5742 5843 Decision Regarding Native American Status
5743 5844 Legal Requirements If the ICWA Applies
5750 5850 Judicial Bypass to Notifying a Parent About Abortion
5751 5851 DFPS Appointment as Guardian Ad Litem
5751.1 5852 Record of Guardian Ad Litem Appointment
5760 5860 Social Studies
5861 Definition of Social Studies
5862 Requirements for Social Studies
5761 5863 Orders for DFPS to Conduct a Home Screening in a Case to Which DFPS Is Not a Party
5770 5870 Prior Out-of-State Orders Regarding Children
Appendices
The following appendices are replaced with resource guides and deleted from this handbook:
Appendix 5223.4: Making a Detailed Diligent Search for a Parent (incorporated into policy and Resource Guide0
Appendix 5223.6: Due Diligence Search for a Person Believed to Be in Mexico (incorporated into policy
Appendix 5223.8: Making a Detailed Diligent Search for Relatives (incorporated into policy)
Appendix 5241: List of Legal Statuses (incorporated into RG)
Appendix 5242: List of Legal Actions in IMPACT (incorporated into RG)
Appendix 5243: Legal Status Discharge Reasons (incorporated into RG)
Appendix 5254: Tip Sheet on ICPC Violations (incorporated into RG)
Appendix 5400: Conservatorship Timeline (incorporated into policy)
Appendix 5432.3: Preparing for and Participating in the Adversary Hearing: Tips and Information (incorporated into RG)
Appendix 5440: Aggravated Circumstances (incorporated into RG)
Appendix 5531: Requirements for the Court in a Permanency Hearing Before the Final Order for a Child in TMC (incorporated into RG and addressed in policy)
Appendix 5532: Child Support: Instructions and Troubleshooting for Foster Care Eligibility Specialists (incorporated into RG)
Appendix 5535: Legal Requirements Relevant to the Permanency Progress Report for a Child in TMC (addressed in policy and RG)
Appendix 5541: Computation of Time (incorporated into RG)
Appendix 5541.3: The Caseworker’s Preparation for the Final Hearing (incorporated into policy)
Appendix 5581: Requirements for the Court in a Permanency Hearing After the Final Order of Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC) (incorporated into RG)
Appendix 5585: Legal Requirements Relevant to the Permanency Progress Report PMC (addressed in policy 5535 and 5585)
The appendix below remains in the handbook:
Appendix 5000-1: When a Suit to Terminate Must Be Filed
The following items were revised to reflect changes made in the 5000 section:
4151 Court-Ordered Placements in Unapproved Facilities
6652.31 Eligibility Criteria (for Kinship Reimbursement Payment)
6652.41 Eligibility Criteria (for Post-Permanent Managing Conservatorship Annual Reimbursement Payment)