Handbook Revision, June 3, 2019
This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on June 3, 2019.
On September 1, 2017, the investigations branch of CPS became a separate division named Child Protective Investigations (CPI). Until CPI develops its own policy handbook, investigation policies and procedures will remain in the CPS handbook.
See:
Child Protective Services Revision
Child Protective Investigations Revision
CPS wants to make sure that the 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 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 about specific cases, please contact the caseworker or supervisor, or the Office of Consumer Relations at 1-800-720-7777.
Child Protective Services Revision
Foster and Adoption Development Out-of-State Central Registry (PATS 11537)
Initial Assessment and Plan (PATS 11658)
Family-Based Safety Services Policy Rewrite (PATS 11562)
Foster and Adoption Development Out-of-State Central Registry (PATS 11537)
CPS is revising this policy to make sure it is consistent with the Texas Administrative Code. It now specifies that the requirement for an out-of-state central registry check applies to people who lived outside of Texas within the past five years. Previously, there was no time frame associated with this requirement.
See:
7413 Out-of-State and Out-of-Country Abuse or Neglect History Checks
Initial Assessment and Plan (PATS 11658)
This policy revision states that a child is required to have a 3-day medical exam within three business days of when DFPS removes the child. This revision also updates policy on the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment.
See:
6430 Initial Assessment and Plan
6430 6431 Initial Assessment Services
6431 6431.1 Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) Assessment and Family Strengths and Needs Assessment (FSNA)
6431.1 6431.11 Timeline for CANS and FSNA
6431.11 Placement Changes within the First 30 Days
6431.2 6431.12 Use of Using the CANS Assessment for Service Planning
6431.3 6431.13 The STAR Health Healthcare Service Plan
6431.4 6431.14 Annual Updates to the Annually Updating CANS
6431.5 6431.15 Court Order to Obtain a CANS Assessment
6431.6 6431.16 Child in Inpatient Hospitalization and the CANS
6432 6431.2 Assess for Developmental or Intellectual Disability
Family-Based Safety Services Policy Rewrite (PATS 11562)
CPS is moving, revising, and expanding its policy on Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS).
See:
12000 Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS)
12100 Philosophy and the Role of FBSS Staff
12110 Philosophy
12120 The Role of the FBSS Caseworker
12130 The Role of the FBSS Supervisor
12200 Contacts in Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS)
12210 Constitutional Requirements for Family-Based Safety Services
12211 Consent to Enter and Remain in a Family’s Home
12212 Consent to Visually Examine the Child in the Home
12213 Consent to Transport the Child
12214 Meeting Federal Requirements
12215 Assessing Communication Needs
12220 Initial Contact
12230 Contacts When the Child Is Not in a PCSP
12240 Contacts When the Child Is in a PCSP
12250 Notifying a Supervisor When Unable to Meet the Time Frames for Face-to-Face Contact
12260 Locating, Contacting, and Assessing Absent or Noncustodial Parents
12261 Locating Absent or Noncustodial Parents
12262 Contacting and Assessing Absent or Noncustodial Parents
12270 FBSS Actions When a Child or Principal Cannot Be Located
12300 Transferring a Case in Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS)
12310 Transferring a Case from Alternative Response or Investigation to FBSS
12320 Transferring FBSS Cases between Counties and Regions
12321 Transfer Process
12322 Resolving Disagreements Regarding Case Transfers
12400 Documentation and Case Reviews in FBSS
12410 Documentation and Contact Entry
12420 Caseworker Monthly Review of Progress
12430 Submitting Monthly Evaluations
12440 Supervisor Monthly Review
12450 Risk Reassessment
12451 Risk Scores
12452 Risk Score Overrides
12453 Policy Override
12454 Discretionary Override
12455 Recommended Action and Planned Action
12500 Providing Services in FBSS
12510 Family Strengths and Needs Assessment (FSNA)
12520 Participation in the Family Plan of Service
12530 Creating the Initial Family Plan of Service
12540 Family Plan of Service Evaluations
12550 Foster Care Candidacy (FCC) Determination for FBSS
12560 Drug Testing in FBSS
12570 Referral to Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Services
12580 Child Trafficking (Sex and Labor Trafficking)
12590 Family’s Lack of Participation
12591 Documenting Court-Ordered Participation
12600 Safety in FBSS
12610 Safety Assessment
12620 Ongoing Assessment of Child Safety
12621 Criminal and DFPS Background Checks
12630 Safe Sleep and Other Safety Related Issues
12640 CPS Actions When Danger to a Child is Present
12650 Safety Plans in FBSS
12651 Refusal to Participate in a Safety Plan
12652 Required Contact
12653 Ending a Safety Plan
12660 Parental Child Safety Placement (PCSP)
12670 Removing a Child
12700 Case Closure in Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS)
12710 Closing an FBSS Case
12711 Case Closure Conference (Staffing)
12712 Final Risk Reassessment Before Closure
12713 Final Safety Assessment Before Closure
12714 Closing Summary
12715 Final Face-to-Face Contact
12716 Case Closure Approval
12720 Whom to Notify of the Case Closure Decision
12730 Submitting an FBSS Case for Closure
12731 Case Closure Letter
12800 Program Director Involvement in FBSS
12900 Special Circumstances in Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS) Cases
12910 Opening an Investigation While an FBSS Case is Open
12911 Staffing with Risk Manager
12920 When a Child Dies During an Open FBSS Case
12921 Immediate Notifications
12922 Joint Staffing
12923 Documentation
2500 Basic Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS) Process
2510 General Provisions of the FBSS Process
2511 Ongoing Child Safety Assessment
2512 Safety Assessment
2513 Risk Reassessment
2514 Reasonable Effort to Engage Parents
2515 CPS Actions When Danger to a Child is Present
2516 CPS Actions When a Child or Principal Cannot Be Located
2517 Uncooperative Principal in an FBSS Case
2518 Transferring Stages between Counties
2519 Documentation and Same Day Contact Entry
2519.1 Same Day Contact Entry
2519.2 Case Activities Requiring 24 Hour Documentation
2519.3 All Other Documentation
2520 Child Trafficking (Sex and Labor Trafficking)
2530 Contacting Principals That Receive FBSS Services
2531 Safe Sleep and Other Safety Related Issues
2540 Family Plan of Service
2541 Family Strengths and Needs Assessment (FSNA)
2542 Creating the Initial Family Plan of Service
2543 Foster Care Candidacy (FCC) Determination for FBSS
2544 Participation in the Family Plan of Service
2545 Legal Staffing Due to a Family’s Lack of Participation
2546 Caseworker Monthly Review of Progress
2547 Supervisor Monthly Review
2550 Opening an Investigation While a Family Preservation Stage is Open
2560 Closing a Family Preservation Stage
Child Protective Investigations Revision
No CPI revisions were published on this date.