Handbook Revision, February 1, 2024
These revisions of the Child Protective Services Handbook were published on February 1, 2024.
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
Providing Contact Information for a Child or Youth’s Caseworker (PATS 14030)
This handbook revision adds policy about providing contact information for a child or youth’s caseworker to the foster parent, kinship caregiver, prospective adoptive parent, or director of the general residential operation where the child is residing.
See:
6143.1 Child or Youth Access to Contact Information for Caseworker and Unit Management
Texas NTDC (PATS 14046)
This handbook revision updates policy about training foster and adoptive home applicants. DFPS now uses the Texas National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC), and the number of required pre-service training hours was reduced.
See:
7310 Pre-Service Training of Foster and Adoptive Homes
7311 Pre-Service Training Sessions
Documenting Legal Activity (PATS 14049)
This handbook revision updates policy to specify that all legal actions and legal statuses for a child in conservatorship are entered in the child’s substitute care stage in IMPACT.
See:
6133.3 Documenting Legal Activity
Foster Care Maintenance Payments (PATS 14101)
This new policy clarifies that the amount a licensed foster family home is paid for a foster care maintenance payment is the same whether it is a relative/kinship home or a non-relative/kinship home.
This policy revision is necessary to comply with new rules from the federal Administration for Children and Families.
See:
1551.4 Foster Care Maintenance Payments to Licensed Foster Family Homes
Child Protective Investigations Revisions
Mental Health Services (PATS 13795)
This policy revision updates the department’s Mental Health Support Protocol to incorporate Post Adoption (Adopt) families into the Diversion Bed Project.
The original policy exempts all Post Adopt families from qualifying for the Diversion Residential Treatment Center (RTC) Bed Project. The updated policy no longer exempts Post Adopt Families from the project, but requires all Post Adopt Resources to be exhausted first. Additional edits include expanded information around DFPS’s ability to pay for a psychological evaluation for indigent families attempting to utilize the Diversion RTC Bed Project, as well as time frame requirements for the psychological evaluation.
Previous policy indicated the psychological evaluation had to be completed within the last six months. Currently, the project allows for a psychological evaluation to have been completed within the last year.
See:
2390 Working with Families Seeking Assistance with Who Are Unable to Obtain Mental Health Services for Children with Severe Emotional Disturbance (SED)
2391 Assessing the Parent or Legal Guardian’s Access to Mental Health Services Basis for the Parent’s Refusal to Allow the Child to Remain in or Return to the Child’s Home
2392 Determining Referring the Child for a Residential Treatment Center (RTC) Bed Project Eligibility Funded by DSHS
2392.1 Referral Criteria
2392.3 Responding to the Referral Process Outcome
2393 Assessing for Joint Managing Conservatorship (JMC)
2393 If DFPS Removal Appears Necessary
2394 2393.1 Documenting the Discussion Discussing the Option of Joint Temporary Managing Conservatorship (JMC)
2395 Dispositioning Allegations Related to Children with Severe Emotional Disturbance
2396 Relinquishment of Custody Question on Allegation Detail Page
2397 2392.2 Providing Crisis Services During the Referral Process
2398 2393.2 Documenting Removal
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6960 Post Adoption Services
6961 Post Adoption Substitute Care Services
6961.1 Circumstances Requiring Post Adoption Substitute Care Services
6961.2 Procedures for Obtaining Post Adoption Substitute Care Services
6961.3 How Post Adoption Substitute Care Services Affect the Permanency Plan
6961.4 Initiating Post Adoption Substitute Care Services IMPACT Procedures
6961.5 Processing Legal Documentation of Post Adoption Substitute Care
6961.6 Transitioning from Post Adoption Services to Post Adoption Substitute Care Services
6961.7 Adoption Subsidy Assistance