Handbook Revision, August 2, 2021
These revisions of the Child Protective Services Handbook were published on August 2, 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
Services to Families (PATS 12522)
This policy revision does the following:
- Restructures the sections for organization.
- Clarifies that CPS provides services regardless of the permanency plan, unless an exception applies.
- Emphasizes that the Family Plan of Service is developed collaboratively.
- Adds requirements about contact and visitation efforts and their documentation when the parent’s attorney requests all contact go through the attorney.
- Clarifies that the caseworker must address safety, permanency, and well-being, and adds examples of questions that do this.
See:
6300 Services to Families
6310 Services to the Child’s Family When the Child Is in Substitute Care
6311 Participation of Parents’ Attorneys When a Child Is in Substitute Care
6311 6312 Services to the Parent and Family When Family Reunification Is the Permanency Goal
6312 6313 Contact with the Family
6313 Participation of Parents’ Attorneys When a Child Is in Substitute Care
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6314.1 Coordination between Primary Caseworker and Courtesy Supervision Caseworker
6314.11 Responsibilities of the Courtesy Caseworker Responsibilities
6314.12 Responsibilities of the Primary Caseworker Responsibilities
6320 Conducting Visits with the Family
6321 Frequency of Contact
6322 6321 Preparing for the Visit
6323 6322 Conducting the Visit
6324 6323 Assessing the Visit
6325 6324 Documenting the Visit
6326 6325 Following Up on Identified Needs
Organization and Administration (PATS 12552)
All of CPS policy section 1000 is in the process of being updated to reflect current definitions and practices. The changes will mirror relevant policy updates in other sections of the handbook.
See:
1000 Organization and Administration
1100 Department of Family and Protective Services - Child Protective Investigations (CPI) and Child Protective Services (CPS) Programs Program
1110 DFPS and CPI Mission, Vision, and Values Purpose and Objectives
1111 Child Protective Services (Mission, Vision, and Values
Child Protective Investigations Revisions
ARIF and CPI Authority for Investigation of Reports of Abuse or Neglect (PATS 13575)
This handbook revision updates policy about the Administrative Review of Investigation Findings (ARIF) and investigations of DFPS employees and contractors.
See:
1260 Administrative Review of Investigation Findings (ARIF)
1261 Determining Eligibility and Notifying the Requester
1261.1 Determining Eligibility for a Requester
1261.2 Notifying the Requester of Initial Eligibility Determination
1261.3 Requesting an Expedited Administrative Review of Investigation Findings
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2120 CPS CPI Authority for Investigating Reports of Abuse or Neglect
2121 Reports Wwithin CPS CPI Authority to Investigate
2121.1 DFPS Employee or Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) Abuse or Neglect Investigations
2121.2 Expedited Investigations
Flexible Response System of Service Delivery (PATS 13538)
This handbook revision deletes Appendix 2000, as it no longer applies.
See:
Appendix 2000 Flexible Response System of Service Delivery