Statewide Intake Policy and Procedures Handbook Revision March 2012

This revision of the Statewide Intake Policy and Procedures Handbook was published on March 1, 2012. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below.

Suicidal Threats From Clients Residing in Facilities Under the Jurisdiction of APS Facility Investigations

Report Regarding a Sexually Active Minor

Name change from TYC and TJPC to new agency Texas Juvenile Justice Department

Subpoena Policy

Walk in Reporters

Address Confidentiality Program

Suicidal Threats From Clients Residing in Facilities Under the Jurisdiction of APS Facility Investigations

SWI occasionally receives calls from clients who reside in facilities or provider agencies (state hospitals, state supported living centers, Rio Grande State Center, community MHMR centers, HCS group homes, ICFs/MR) who are under the jurisdiction of APS Facility Investigation and who are threatening suicide. APS Facility Investigations does not investigate clients who are threatening suicide.

The item below is added to incorporate the following procedures for handling reports received involving a suicidal threat from a client residing in a facility or provider agency who is under the jurisdiction of APS Facility Investigations.

The following are steps that are taken when a client residing in a facility or provider agency under the jurisdiction of APS Facility Investigations calls SWI and makes a suicidal threat:

  •   If the report does not include allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation (A/N/E), the intake specialist calls the facility and notifies the facility staff of the suicidal threat. (The facility contact numbers can be found in the IMPACT Resource directory.) If the intake specialist is not able to make contact with facility staff, then the intake specialist contacts law enforcement. The information and notification is documented as an I&R AFC Client Right/FAC Admin Issue and routed to the local office. Staffing with a supervisor is not required.

  •   If there are A/N/E allegations, the intake specialist generates an intake. The suicidal threat information is included in the intake narrative. A notification to the facility is not required. (Professional judgment should be used to determine of the threat is of an urgent matter and requires notification to the facility.) The intake specialist follows normal routing and notification procedures for processing an APS Facility Investigations intake.

These procedures only apply to those clients who reside in a facility or provider agency under the jurisdiction of APS Facility Investigations and does not include those clients who meet guidelines for APS (in home) investigations.

See:

7210 Suicidal Threats From Clients Residing in Facilities Under the Jurisdiction of APS Facility Investigations

Report Regarding a Sexually Active Minor

The item below is revised to provide procedures for when a caller reports more than one family and involves sexually active minors. See:

4232.2 Reports Regarding a Sexually Active Minor

Name change from TYC and TJPC to new agency Texas Juvenile Justice Department

The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission (TJPC) were abolished during the 82nd Legislative Session. These agencies have been replaced by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) effective 12/1/11.

This handbook is revised to delete the names of TYC and TJPC and replace with TJJD. No other policy changes are being made with this revision, so the revision dates of the items have not been changed.

2721 Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

2722 Texas Youth Commission (TYC)

5420 Programs Exempt From Residential Licensing Regulation

Subpoena Policy

The items below are revised to reflect OP-4105 DFPS Subpoena Policy and Procedures, effective January 1, 2012. See:

1710 Intake Workers

1770 Receiving a Subpoena at Statewide Intake

Walk in Reporters

The items below are revised to provide instructions on what to do when someone walks into the 2401 Ridgepoint facility and wishes to make a report of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. See:

2100 Methods of Reporting and Assessing Reports Made to SWI

2110 Methods of Making a Report of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation to SWI

2120 Assessing Reports

2130 Reporter’s Confidentiality

2131 Calling Back a Reporter

2132 Guidelines for Calling Back a Reporter

Address Confidentiality Program

The item below is revised to instruct intake specialists to search persons participating in the Address Confidentiality Program. However, if a match is found the intake specialist is not to perform a Relate. See:

3411 Address Confidentiality Program