Handbook Revision, September 3, 2024
This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on September 3, 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
Issuing the College Tuition and Fee Exemption Letter (PATS 14089)
These policy updates are related to staff responsibilities and authorization to sign The DFPS State College Tuition and Fee Waiver form and Education and Training Voucher forms.
See:
10311 Issuing the College Tuition and Fee Exemption Letter
10311.1 PAL Staff Responsibilities for College Tuition and Fee Exemption
10311.2 Adoption Assistance Eligibility Specialist Responsibilities for College Tuition and Fee Exemption
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10321 Goal of the ETV Program
10322 Staff Responsible for the ETV Program
Personal Documents Provided to Youth (PATS 14102)
This update includes revisions on personal documents.
See:
6452 Personal Documents Provided to Youth
6452.1 Personal Documents Provided to Youth Before Age 16 Age 15 Through 17
6452.2 Additional Personal Documents Provided to Youth Bbefore Age 18
6452.3 Documentation Requirements for Personal Documents
6452.4 Proof of Foster Care
Driver License and State Identification (ID) Card (PATS 14103)
These updates concern driver licenses and State Identification Cards.
The last two sections listed below (State Identification (ID) Card and Affidavit Requirements) are being renumbered but not revised.
See:
6454 Driver License and State Identification (ID) Card
6454.1 Driver License
6454.11 Driver License Assessment for Youth under 18
6454.12 Driver License Approval Process for Youth under 18
6454.13 Insurance Coverage
6454.14 Reassessing a Youth before or after Receipt of a Driver License for Youth under 18
6454.15 Eligible Youth Applying for a Driver Learner License or Driver License
6454.16 Young Adult in Extended Foster Care Applying for Driver License
6454.1617 Affidavit Requirements for a Driver License Foster Care Residency Verification Form for Driver License or State Identification (ID) Card and Fee Waiver Form 2042
6454.1718 Documenting the Assistance and Maintaining Forms Provided to Obtain Verification for a Driver License or State IDdentification Card Fee Waiver for a Youth in Foster Care or a Residency Youth or Young Adult in Extended Foster Care
6454.1819 Address Changes for a Driver License or State Identification (ID) Card
6454.192 Canceling or Withdrawing a Driver License
6454.23 State Identification (ID) Card
6454.2131 Affidavit Requirements
Circle of Support (COS) Information (PATS 14114)
Modified information includes updates to Circle of Support (COS) and Permanency Conference (PC) as follows:
- Updates language on the purpose of a COS.
- Appropriately references list of people to participate in a child’s Plan of Service (See Section 6241.3.)
- Adds the requirement that the caseworker or others involved in a youth’s case refer a youth for a COS within 60 days of the youth turning 14 years old. Note: Transition Planning Meetings (TPMs) are no longer applicable. A youth’s plans for successfully transitioning to adulthood are reviewed as part of a regular review of the Child’s Plan of Service or during a COS.
- Streamlines the Permanency Conference section.
- Adds that, for a youth aged 14 or older, a COS or Family Group Conference (FGC) is the preferred type of Permanency Plan Meeting. A permanency conference (PC) is never preferred over a COS or FGC.
See:
1121.23 Circle of Support (COS)
1121.24 Transition Plan Meeting (TPM)
1121.2524 Permanency Conference (PC)
Permanency Planning Meetings (PPM) (PATS 14115)
Changes to specific sections of 6250 are as follows:
- 6251—Streamlines the purpose and things specific to types.
- 6252—
- Adds that a Circle of Support (COS) or Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) is the preferred PPM for a youth 14 or older.
- Adds that parents and children have scheduling preference for Family Group Conferences (FGCs).
- 6253—Tells when to hold a PPM and combines time frame requirements for when in the timeline of a case a PPM is held.
- 6254—Lists who participates in PPMs and references the list of people who participate in a Child’s Plan of Service (CPOS).
- 6255—Changes the two-week minimum notification to an “as soon as possible” notification.
- 6256—Combines the things that are covered during a meeting from multiple sections of the current 6250 into 6256.
- 6257—Shows that documenting according to Appendix 1121 is not a new requirement, but 6250 currently is lacking the cross-reference, and it shows that:
- A plan is a requirement that is taught in FGDM training.
- It is a general best practice expectation.
- It is now in policy as a full requirement.
See:
6250 Permanency Planning Meetings (PPM)
6251 Overview and Purpose of Permanency Planning Meetings
6251.1 When CPS Is the Temporary Managing Conservator
6251.2 When CPS Is Permanent Managing Conservator
6251.3 Written Notice of a Permanency Planning Meeting
6251.4 Permanency Planning Meeting
6251.5 Fifth-Month Permanency Planning Meeting
6251.6 Issues to Address if DFPS Has PMC
6252 Types of Permanency Planning Meetings for Youth 14 and Older
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6253 When to Hold a Permanency Planning Meeting
6254 Permanency Planning Meeting Participants
6255 Notice of Permanency Planning Meetings
6256 Requirements of Permanency Planning Meetings
6256.1 Additional Requirements in Specific Situations
6257 Documentation of Permanency Planning Meetings
Basic Description and Content of the Child’s Plan of Service (PATS 14116)
Requirements for a youth’s plans for a successful transition to adulthood (known as the Transition Plan for a long time, prior to a few years ago) were cut from 6250 and pasted into 6241.1, where they properly belong, since all plans for transitioning to adulthood go in the Child’s Plan of Service (CPOS).
This revision also does the following:
- Puts the specifics in 6241.11 for referencing.
- Puts all requirements for when a CPOS is reviewed into 6241.22.
- Updates language around discipline and behavior management to be trauma-informed.
- Adds that for youth 17 and older, the Housing Plan must be discussed as part of the CPOS review.
- Adds that the CPOS must be reviewed when a Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) assessment or Permanency Team Meeting (PTM) is held.
See:
6241.1 Basic Description and Content of the Child’s Plan of Service
6241.11 Reviewing and Documenting a Youth’s Plans for a Successful Transition to Adulthood
6241.2 Child Plan of Service Types and Frequency of Reviews
6241.21 Initial Child’s Plan of Service
6241.22 Review of Child’s Plan of Service
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6252.1 Reviewing and Documenting a Youth’s Plans for Transitioning to Successful Adulthood
Ruling In Family Reunification (PATS 14117)
This new section adds policy about situations when DFPS must consider reinstating parental rights and changing the permanency goal back to Family Reunification.
See:
6234.17 Changing the Permanency Goal Back To Family Reunification
Appendix 1121: Documentation Requirements for Models of Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) (PATS 14118)
There were minor updates throughout, and outdated or unnecessary information was removed.
See:
Appendix 1121: Documentation Requirements for Models of Family Group Decision Making (FGDM)
Conducting the Monthly Visit (PATS 14119)
Added requirement that the caseworker must discuss the Housing Plan at monthly visits if the youth is age 17 or older.
See:
6411.22 Conducting the Monthly Visit
Updating Records (PATS 14172)
This handbook revision updates policy about updating adoption and Texas Adoption Resource Exchange records after a child is adopted.
See:
6944.8 Updating Adoption and TARE Records
Provide and Discuss the Placement Summary (PATS 14277)
This edit clarifies the language about when to use Form 2279.
See:
4133 Provide and Discuss the Placement Summary (Form 2279)
Temporary Absence from Paid Placement (PATS 14278)
This handbook revision clarifies policy about providing temporary caregivers with information about a child’s sexual victimization, sexual behavior problem, human trafficking, or sexual aggression.
See:
4280 Temporary Absence from Paid Placement
Child Protective Investigations Revisions
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