Handbook Revision, July 1, 2021
These revisions of the Child Protective Services Handbook were published on July 1, 2021.
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 Revisions
Child Protective Investigations Revisions
Child Protective Services Revisions
Adoption Policy Changes (PATS 12972)
This policy update does the following:
- Clarifies that the placement summary is needed for matched adoptive placements when the child physically moves to a new home for adoptive placement.
- Details the new process for transferring cases between jurisdictions for adoptions, as a result of House Bill 369 (86th Legislature).
- Clarifies what to do with adoption assistance if DFPS is not consenting to the adoption.
Also, the Adoption Resource Guide has been updated with information about what to do when considering an international adoptive placement with a relative.
See:
6944.6 Discussing the Adoptive Placement Agreement
6944.61 Completing the Placement Summary
6944.7 Arranging to Forward the Child’s Income and Records
6944.8 Updating Records
6944.9 Procedures for Receiving Documents Back from a Canceled Placement
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6954 Consummating the Adoption
6954.1 Time Frames for Consummating the Adoption
6954.2 CPS Caseworker Tasks Aafter the Adoption Petition Is Filed
6954.21 Preparing a Social Study
6954.22 Filing the Health, Social, Education, and Genetic History (HSEGH) Report
6954.23 Securing the Court’s Consent to Adopt the Adoption
6954.24 Providing the Child’s History to the Adoptive Parents
6954.25 Providing Information Documents to the Family’s Attorney
6954.26 Providing Advice on Obtaining Post Adoption Postadoption Services
6954.27 Documenting the Adoption Decree and Other Actions
6954.28 Transferring a Legal Case between Jurisdictions for Adoption
6954.3 Additional Tasks Related to Adoption
6954.31 Providing Advice on Applying for a New Social Security Number or Card
6954.32 Transferring Income, Benefits, and Assets
6954.33 Providing Additional Medical, Psychological, or Psychiatric Information to the Adoptive Family
6954.34 Releasing the Health, Social, Educational, and Genetic History (HSEGH) Report and Adoption Readiness Summary (ARS) to Other Parties People on Request
6954.4 Adoption Assistance When DFPS Is Not Consenting to the Adoption
6954.5 6954.4 Termination of CPS’s DFPS’s Managing Conservatorship
6954.6 6954.5 Adoption Reporting Requirements
Training in Recognizing and Reporting Sexual Abuse (PATS 13437)
This policy update adds adoptive parents to the audience of people who are required to complete training on recognizing and reporting sexual abuse, including child-on-child sexual abuse.
See:
7330 Training in Recognizing and Reporting Sexual Abuse
Child Protective Investigations Revisions
Ongoing Contacts (PATS 13047)
This policy was created to align current child safety standards and protocols for the children and families DFPS serves. A Investigations caseworker must make a face-to-face contact with all alleged victim children and any other children as required by policy, at least every 45 days, until the case is submitted for closure.
See:
2275 Ongoing Contacts
2276 2275 Referral to Services