Handbook Revision, April 1, 2024
These revisions of the Child Protective Services Handbook were published on April 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
Child Day Care Services (PATS 14017)
This handbook revision updates policy about child day care services and better aligns it with the Texas Administrative Code (TAC).
See:
8235 Child Day Care Services
8235.1 Funding Availability for Child Day Care Services
8235.2 Authorizing, Adding, Extending, Reauthorizing, Terminating, or Changing Services
8235.21 Caseworker Responsibilities
8235.22 When a Child Care Provider's Licensing Status Changes
8235.3 General Protective Child Day Care
8235.31 Determining Eligibility for General Protective Day Care
8235.32 Types of Centers Facilities That May Be Used for General Protective Day Care
8235.33 Resolving Issues of Space
8235.34 Authorizing, Reauthorizing, and Terminating Services
8235.4 Foster Child Day Care
8235.41 Determining Eligibility for Foster Day Care
8235.42 Types of Day Care Centers Facilities That May Be Used for Foster Day Care
8235.43 Resolving Issues of Space
8235.44 Authorizing, Reauthorizing, and Terminating Services
8235.5 Kinship Child Day Care
8235.51 Determining Eligibility for Kinship Day Care
8235.52 Types of Centers Facilities That May Be Used for Kinship Day Care
8235.53 Resolving Issues of Space
8235.54 Initiating, Authorizing, Reauthorizing, and Terminating Services
8235.6 Regional Day Care Coordinator Responsibilities
8235.61 Handling Program-Related Duties
Child Sexual Issues (PATS 14076)
This handbook revision updates policy about working with children who are sexually aggressive, have sexual behavior problems, or are victims of sexual abuse.
See:
6419 Working with Children Who Are Sexually Aggressive, Have Sexual Behavior Problems, or Are Victims of Sexual Abuse
Medical Needs Staffings (PATS 14122)
This new policy provides direction on the need to staff Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS) cases with children who have medical needs. This includes when these need to be staffed and how often, as well as who needs to participate and the roles of the participants.
See:
12460 Children with Medical and Mental Health Issues and Medical Needs Staffings
Consent for Psychotropic Medications (PATS 14127)
This policy revision ensures that caseworkers are notified of all changes to a youth’s psychotropic medication and that all changes are documented. Caseworkers will be notified of all changes to psychotropic medication, and Form 4526 can be completed for all prescribing actions for psychotropic medications.
See:
11324 Documenting Consent for Psychotropic Medications
11324.1 Documenting Consent to an Initial Psychotropic Medications and Changes to Active Prescriptions
11324.2 Documenting Consent to Psychotropic Medication in an Inpatient Setting
11324.3 Documenting the Decision to Consent for Psychotropic Medication
11324.4 Documenting Consent for Changes in Psychotropic Medication
11325 Psychotropic Medications Follow-Up Visits
Temporary Medical Consenter (PATS 14128)
This policy revision ensures that children in foster care can receive timely consent for their medical needs when a medical consenter is unavailable. Thus, temporary medical consenters can be designated for all medical needs for children in foster care.
See:
11113.23 Temporary Backup Medical Consenters
11113.24 Local Permanency Human Services Technicians as Temporary Medical Consenters
11113.25 Documenting Temporary Medical Consenters
11113.26 Extending a Temporary Medical Consenter’s Service beyond 24 Hours
Child Protective Investigations Revisions
None