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Child Protective Services Handbook

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  • Section 1000: Organization and Administration

    1000 Organization and Administration

    1100 Department of Family and Protective Services - Child Protective Investigations (CPI) and Child Protective Services (CPS) Programs

    1110 DFPS and CPI Mission, Vision, and Values

    1111 Child Protective Services Mission, Vision, and Values

    1120 Guiding Principles of the CPS Program

    1121 Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM)

    1121.1 The FGDM Philosophy

    1121.2 Using Models of FGDM to Guide Safety and Service Planning

    1121.21 Family Team Meeting (FTM)

    1121.22 Family Group Conference (FGC)

    1121.23 Circle of Support (COS)

    1121.24 Transition Plan Meeting (TPM)

    1121.25 Permanency Conference (PC)

    1121.3 Family Group Decision-Making Strategies

    1121.4 The Attendance and Participation of Children and Families in FGDM Conferences

    1121.41 Alternate Methods of Participation for Children

    1121.42 Alternate Methods of Participation for Older Youth

    1122 Focus on Resources and Outcomes

    1130 Program Organization

    1131 State Office

    1132 Regional Offices

    1140 Relationship to Other Agencies and Entities

    1141 Federal and State Agencies

    1142 Protective Services Contracts

    1142.1 Development of Protective Services Contracts

    1143 Statewide Parent Collaboration Group and Regional Parent Support Group

    1144 Criminal Records Check for Authorized Volunteer Organizations

    1145 Bookkeeping and External Entities

    1150 DFPS Volunteer and Community Engagement

    1151 Acceptance of Gifts and Donations

    1160 Public Information About Child Protective Investigations and Child Protective Services

    1170 Program Planning

    1171 Regional Planning

    1171.1 Development of Regional Program Plans

    1172 State Planning

    1172.1 Plans Required by Federal Funding Sources

    1180 Information Systems

    1181 Information Management Protecting Adults and Children in Texas (IMPACT)

    1181.1 Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry

    1181.2 Who Can Access Central Registry

    1182 Self-Request Central Registry Checks

    1183 Previous Information Systems (Legacy Systems)

    1200 Legal Foundation for Child Protective Investigations and Child Protective Services

    1210 State Laws Governing DFPS

    1211 Texas Human Resources Code

    1212 Texas Family Code

    1212.1 Texas Family Code Chapter 261 (Legal Definitions of Abuse and Neglect)

    1212.2 Texas Family Code Chapter 262 (Removal of Children)

    1212.3 Texas Family Code Chapter 263 (Review of Placement of Children in DFPS Conservatorship)

    1212.4 Texas Family Code Chapter 264 (Child Welfare Services)

    1212.5 Texas Family Code Chapter 266 (Medical Care and Educational Services for Children in DFPS Conservatorship)

    1213 Texas Administrative Code

    1220 The U.S. Constitution and Federal Laws

    1221 Federal Funding Under the Social Security Act

    1221.1 Title IV-A and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

    1221.2 Title IV-B Child Welfare Services

    1221.21 Title IV-B, Subpart 1 (The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program)

    1221.22 Title IV-B, Subpart 2 (Promoting Safe and Stable Families)

    1222 Title IV-E Payments for Foster Care, Adoption Assistance, and PCA Payments

    1223 Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)

    1224 Indian Child Welfare Act

    1240 General Eligibility Criteria

    1241 Child Protective Services Priorities

    1242 Request for Child Protective Services

    1243 Right to Refuse Services and Consequences of Refusal

    1244 Reviews of Client Complaints

    1245 Fair Hearings

    1250 Clients With Limited English Proficiency (LEP)

    1251 Clients with Disabilities

    1251.1 Definition of a Person with a Disability

    1251.2 Documentation of Disabilities

    1251.3 Child Safety Considerations

    1251.4 Accommodations and Modifications to Services

    1251.5 Requirements for Auxiliary Aids and Services

    1251.6 Sign Language Interpreter Requirements during DFPS Interventions

    1251.61 Obtaining Qualified Interpreters

    1251.62 Prohibition against Using Family Members, Friends, or Child Victims as Interpreters

    1251.63 Certified Interpreters Required for Court Hearings

    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

    1262 Delaying the ARIF Because of a Court Case or Criminal Investigation

    1262.1 Notifying the Requester of the ARIF Delay

    1262.2 Determining Eligibility and Notifying the Requester After a Delay

    1263 Conducting the ARIF Meeting

    1263.1 Notifying People of the ARIF Meeting

    1263.2 Holding the ARIF Meeting

    1264 Making a Final ARIF Decision

    1265 Documenting the ARIF in IMPACT

    1265.1 Documenting and Changing Allegations in the ARIF Stage

    1265.2 Documenting in a Closed-Stage Addendum Contact

    1265.3 Changing Allegations Through a Data Fix

    1265.4 Changing the Type of Abuse or Neglect in a Confirmed Allegation

    1265.5 Changing the Severity of a Confirmed Allegation to or From Fatal

    1266 Sending Notification of the Written Decision

    1266.1 Notifying the Requester of the Decision

    1266.2 Notifying the Parent or Guardian and Reporter of the Decision

    1266.3 Preparing and Sending Notification Letters

    1267 Providing an ARIF During the Release-Hearing Process

    1270 Evaluation and Monitoring of CPS Cases

    1271 Federal Monitoring of CPS Cases

    1272 Federal Eligibility Reviews of Title IV-E Foster Care

    1273 Federal Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSR)

    1280 Reviews by the Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA)

    1281 Overview of the OCA Review Process

    1282 Regional Responsibilities

    1290 Release Hearings When CPI Releases Investigation Findings

    1291 Factors CPI Considers When Deciding Whether Release Is Necessary

    1292 Approval before Releasing Information

    1293 Release of Designated Perpetrator Information

    1293.1 Notice to Perpetrator

    1293.2 Emergency Release to Outside Entity

    1294 Release of Sustained Perpetrator Information When Release Hearing Is Waived

    1295 Release of Sustained Perpetrator Information When Release Hearing Occurs

    1295.1 Preparation for and Scheduling of a Release Hearing

    1295.2 Procedures for a Release Hearing

    1295.3 Decisions an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Can Make

    1295.4 Notification of SOAH Decision to DFPS and Perpetrator

    1295.5 Appeal of the Decision

    1295.6 Required Regional Actions after Final SOAH Decision

    1295.61 Regional Actions on Sustained Findings

    1295.62 Regional Actions on Overturned or Altered Findings after an Emergency Release

    1295.63 Timing of Sending Notices and Updating IMPACT

    1296 Release of Sustained Perpetrator Information When Perpetrator Does Not Appear at Release Hearing

    1297 Release of Previously Sustained Perpetrator Information

    1298 Templates for Notice Letters in the Release Hearing Process

    1300 Fiscal Requirements

    1310 Federal Funds

    1320 State Funds

    1330 Local Funds

    1331 Public Local Funds

    1332 Private Local Funds

    1332.1 Funds Received on Behalf of a Child

    1400 Case Records and Workload Management

    1410 Definition of Case and Stage

    1411 Types of Cases and Stages of Service

    1420 Opening a Case

    1421 The Case Record

    1422 Parts of the Case Record

    1422.1 IMPACT Record

    1422.2 External Record

    1430 Documentation in the Case Record

    1431 References for Detailed Requirements for Case Documentation

    1431.1 References for Detailed Case Recording Requirements

    1432 Family Tree

    1432.1 Establishing Relationships Using Family Tree in IMPACT

    1432.2 Situations in Which a Staff Member Is Included in Family Tree

    1432.3 Handling Exceptional Relationships in Family Tree

    1432.4 Viewing Family Tree Graphs

    1432.5 Printing Family Tree Reports

    1432.51 Family Tree Contact Information Report

    1432.6 Confidentiality and Release of Family Tree Reports

    1433 Supervisory Approval Process in IMPACT

    1440 Security of Case Records

    1450 Confidentiality of Information

    1451 Sharing Confidential Information

    1452 Requests for Case Records

    1453 Releasing Information for the Safety or Protection of a Child or Family, or for Legal Processes

    1453.1 Sharing Information During the Course of an Investigation

    1453.2 Releasing Information to Locate Missing Parents or Children

    1453.3 General Prohibition against the Release of Criminal History Records Information

    1453.31 Exception Allowing Release of Information for Court and Administrative Hearings

    1453.32 Exception Allowing Release of Information for Child Safety or to Carry Out Certain DFPS Functions

    1453.33 Releasing Information for the Child's Safety

    1453.34 Criminal History Information Policy

    1453.35 Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (TLETS)

    1453.4 Releasing Information to Law Enforcement, Out-of-State Child Protective Services Agencies, and County or District Attorneys

    1453.41 Sharing Information during an Open Investigation

    1453.42 Sharing Information after the Investigation is Closed

    1453.43 Sharing Information with Law Enforcement about Criminal Activity at Any Case Stage

    1453.5 Releasing Information to the Family Court, or to Comply With a Court Order

    1453.6 Releasing Information to Court-Appointed Attorneys and Guardians Ad Litem

    1453.61 Releasing Information to CASA Staff and Volunteers

    1453.7 Protecting Locating Information of Victims of Family Violence, Sexual Assault or Abuse, Trafficking, or Stalking

    1454 Releasing Information to Obtain Services for the Child

    1454.1 Releasing Information to the Caregiver of a Child in Conservatorship

    1454.2 Releasing Information during Family Meetings

    1454.3 Releasing Information to Access Health Care or Social Services

    1454.4 Releasing Information to Access Education Services

    1454.5 Releasing Information to Adoptive or Prospective Adoptive Parents

    1454.6 Sharing Information with Certain Providers Who Serve Children and Youth

    1454.7 Sharing Information with Texas State and Local Juvenile Justice Agencies

    1455 Releasing or Using Children’s Photos and Images

    1455.1 When Children May Release or Use Photos of Themselves

    1455.2 When a Caregiver May Release or Use Photos of the Child

    1455.3 When the Child’s Consent Is Not Required for Use of Photos

    1456 Special Types of Information or Situations

    1456.1 Release of Information on a Child Fatality Investigation

    1456.3 HIV Information

    1456.4 Drug or Alcohol Treatment Records about a Child

    1456.5 Disability Rights Texas

    1456.6 Releasing Information to Military Personnel

    1456.7 Media Inquiries and Requests from Legislative Offices

    1457 Subpoenas

    1458 Public Information (Open Records) Requests

    1459 Family Advocates and Other Advocacy Organizations

    1459.1 Case Records

    1459.2 Communication

    1459.3 Participation in Meetings

    1459.4 Participation in Interviews

    1460 Closing Cases

    1461 Closing Stages or Cases in IMPACT

    1462 Preparing the External Record

    1462.1 Unit Staff Responsibilities

    1462.2 Items Retained in the External Record

    1462.3 Items Returned to the Child When a Conservatorship Case Is Closed

    1470 Retention and Disposition of Case Information

    1480 Workload Management – Case Conferences and Supportive Supervision

    1500 Eligibility for Child Protective Services

    1510 Foster Care Assistance

    1511 Applying for Foster Care Assistance

    1512 Determining Eligibility

    1512.1 Consistency With Income and Resources Information

    1512.2 Unknown Family Income on the Foster Care Assistance Application

    1512.3 Zero Family Income on the Foster Care Assistance Application

    1513 Data Broker

    1514 Annual Review of Eligibility

    1515 Notifications to SSA and Use of the Wire Third Party Query System

    1516 Foster Care Eligibility Case Record

    1520 Obtaining Certified Birth Certificates and Printing Birth Records Screenshots

    1521 Requesting Certified Birth Certificates

    1521.1 Requesting Birth Certificates for Children Born in Texas

    1521.2 Requesting Birth Certificates for Children Born in Texas for Adoption Purposes

    1521.3 Requesting Out-of-State Birth Certificates

    1521.4 Requesting International Birth Certificates

    1521.5 Request Reimbursement if Personal Funds Must Be Used to Obtain Certificate

    1530 Foster Care Assistance Eligibility Requirements for Children and Youth Who Are in DFPS Conservatorship

    1531 General Foster Care Assistance Eligibility Requirements

    1531.1 General Eligibility Requirements for Title IV-E and State-Paid Foster Care

    1531.11 Responsibility for Placement and Care

    1531.12 Age

    1531.13 Placement Facility

    1531.14 Social Security Number

    1531.15 Young Adults and DADS

    1531.2 General Eligibility Requirements for MAO Foster Care

    1532 Additional Eligibility Requirements for Title IV-E Foster Care

    1532.1 Judicial Determinations

    1532.2 Citizenship or Immigration Status

    1532.3 Social Security Number

    1532.4 Valid Removal from the Home

    1532.5 Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) Requirements

    1533 Requirements When IV-E Children are in a Non-IV-E Placement

    1533.1 Trial Home Visits/Monitored Returns

    1533.2 Placements Outside the Scope of Foster Care

    1534 Additional Eligibility Requirements for State-Paid Foster Care

    1535 Medical Coverage for Children in Foster Care

    1535.1 Medicaid Eligibility Types

    1535.2 Medical Assistance Only (MAO) Auto-Eligibility

    1535.3 MAO Coverage for Children Placed in Kinship, Relative, or Own Home Placement

    1535.4 MAO Coverage for Children in Adoptive Placements

    1535.5 MAO Coverage for Children in Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) Placements

    1536 Eligibility in Medical Facilities Before Placement

    1537 Foster Care Payments During Absences From Foster Care Placements

    1538 Medicaid Benefits for Foster Care Children Placed in Texas From Other States

    1539 Medicaid Benefits for Foster Care Children Placed Out of State

    1540 Foster Care Assistance Eligibility Requirements for Young Adults Formerly in DFPS Conservatorship

    1541 Extended Foster Care Assistance

    1542 Return for Extended Foster Care

    1543 Payment for Long-Term Care in Adulthood

    1544 Medicaid for Young Adults Who Age Out of Foster Care

    1550 DFPS Accounting Staff Information and Responsibilities

    1551 Foster Care Maintenance Payments

    1551.1 Rates for DFPS Foster Care Maintenance Payments

    1551.2 Participation in the Paid Foster Care Program

    1551.3 Effective Dates of Foster-Care Maintenance Payments

    1552 Payment for Foster Care

    1553 Recoupment of Foster Care Maintenance Overpayment

    1553.1 Basic Recoupment

    1553.2 Manual Recoupment

    1553.21 Review of the Invoice Recoupment Report

    1553.22 Manual Recoupment Process

    1553.23 Provider Responds within 30 Days

    1553.24 Documenting Receipt of Payment (State Office)

    1553.25 When Payment is Not Received within 30 Days

    1553.26 Provider Does Not Respond Within 30 Days

    1553.3 Notifying Providers of Recoupment that Exceeds 50 Percent of Next Payment

    1553.31 Extreme Hardship and Repayment Plans

    1553.4 When Not to Initiate Recoupment Procedures

    1560 Managing Children’s Funds

    1561 Accounting Procedures for Children’s Funds

    1561.1 Organization of the Accounting Unit

    1561.2 Separation of Duties

    1561.3 Documentation

    1561.4 Accounts Receivable (Income)

    1561.5 Accounts Payable (Expenditures)

    1562 Management of Children’s Income Accounts (CIAs)

    1562.1 General Information

    1562.11 Electronic Access to Children’s Funds

    1562.12 Deposits and Withdrawals of Children’s Funds

    1562.13 Receipt of Funds

    1562.14 Cash Basis Accounting

    1562.15 IMPACT Financial Account Pages

    1562.16 Excess Funds

    1562.2 Account Resource Limits for Children Who Receive SSI

    1562.3 Adoptive Placement and Children’s Income

    1562.4 Deceased Children’s Income

    1563 Management of Children’s Savings Accounts

    1563.1 Transactions

    1563.2 Establishment of a Child’s Savings Account

    1563.3 Closure of Accounts in a Timely Manner

    1563.31 Children with a Legal Status of Resp Terminated

    1563.32 Children Receiving Funds and No Longer in Conservatorship or the Extended Foster Care Program

    1564 Duties of Accounts Receivable (AR) Staff

    1564.1 Manual Receipt of Funds by Accounts Receivable (AR) Staff

    1564.11 Checks Payable to Person Versus DFPS

    1564.2 Monthly Procedures for Accounts Receivable (AR) Staff

    1565 Duties of Accounts Payable (AP) Staff

    1565.1 New Benefit Award from SSA

    1565.2 Stop Payments

    1565.3 Income When Child Is in Paid Substitute Care

    1565.4 Income When Child Is Not in Paid Substitute Care

    1565.5 Lump Sum Distribution

    1566 Reconciliation Requirements for Accounts Reconciliation (Recon) Staff

    1567 Duties of Accounting Team Lead

    1567.1 Procedures for Reviewing Information and Reports

    1567.2 Monthly Reconciliation Responsibilities of Accounting Team Lead

    1567.3 Annual Reconciliation for Each Child

    1567.4 Reconciliation of Child’s Income at Discharge

    1567.5 Reconciliation of Discrepancies

    1568 Records Retention Requirements for Transactions Involving Children’s Funds

    1569 Child Support Payments

    1569.1 Request for Court Order for Child Support

    1569.2 Enforcement of Child Support Court Order

    1569.3 Distribution of Child Support Funds When the Child Is in DFPS Conservatorship

    1569.4 Excess Child Support Funds in Title IV-E Cases

    1569.5 Distribution of Child Support Funds after the Child Leaves DFPS Conservatorship

    1569.6 Child Support Funds in Placements That Are Unapproved or Not Yet Fully Approved

    1570 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Children in Foster Care

    1571 Effect of SSI Eligibility on Title IV-E Foster Care

    1572 Effect of SSI Eligibility on State-Paid Foster Care

    1573 Effect of SSI Eligibility on MAO Foster Care

    1574 SSI Applications for Youth Aging Out of Care

    1575 Home and Community-Based Services (HCS) Placement

    1575.1 SSI Coordinator and Foster Care Eligibility Specialist Responsibilities

    1575.11 If the Child’s SSI Benefits are Active

    1575.12 If the Child’s SSI Benefits are Suspended by SSA

    1575.13 Child Never Had SSI Benefits or SSA Denies Benefits After Suspension

    1575.2 Medical Assistance Only (MAO) Eligibility in HCS Placements

    1576 Child Specific Contract Placements

    1577 Establishing a Dedicated Account Using a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Lump Sum

    1578 Money Earned by Foster Children From Full- or Part-Time Employment

    1579 Third Party Resources for Medical Care Services

    1579.1 Third Party Payers

    1579.2 Reporting Third Party Payers

    1580 Managing a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Lump Sum or Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) Lump Sum

    1581 Managing SSI and RSDI Lump Sums

    1581.1 Dedicated SSI Account

    1581.2 Approvals for Lump Sum Expenditures

    1581.3 Nine-Month Exclusion Period for SSI and RSDI Lump Sums

    1581.4 Conserved Funds From Prior Payee

    1581.5 Returning Conserved Funds to SSA

    1581.6 Receipt and Deposit of SSI Lump Sum

    1581.7 SSI Overpayments

    1582 Use and Conservation of SSI and RSDI Lump Sums for Children Receiving SSI

    1582.1 Step 1: Consider the Appropriate Needs of the Child

    1582.11 Expenditure Request Form

    1582.2 Step 2: Maintain Funds in a Savings Account

    1582.3 Step 3: Apply Balance to Nine Month's Cost of Care

    1582.4 Step 4: Determine If There Will Be Excess Funds

    1583 Child Receiving SSI Not in Paid DFPS Care

    1583.1 Child Receiving SSI Is Not in DFPS Paid Placement

    1583.2 Child Resides With a Kinship Caregiver or Other Unpaid Caretaker

    1584 How Monthly Payments are Distributed

    1584.1 Child Resides With a Kinship Caregiver or Other Unpaid Caretaker

    1584.2 Child is in an Adoptive Placement

    1584.21 Child is Eligible for Adoption Assistance Payments and Receives SSI

    1584.22 Child is Eligible for AA Payments and Receives RSDI or Another Monthly Payment but Does Not Receive SSI

    1584.23 Child is Not Eligible for Adoption Assistance Payments and Receives SSI, RSDI, or Other Monthly Payments

    1584.3 Child Returns to Parents

    1584.4 Child is No Longer in DFPS Conservatorship

    1585 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Reports

    1585.1 SSI Tracking Report

    1585.2 17-Year-Old SSI Report

    1585.3 SSA Change Reports

    1590 Audits

    1591 Audit Recommendations

    1600 Permanency Care Assistance (PCA)

    1610 Definitions Related to PCA

    1611 PCA Overview

    1612 PCA Eligibility Requirements

    1612.1 Eligibility Requirements for a Prospective Permanent Managing Conservator to Receive PCA

    1612.2 PCA Eligibility Requirements for Children

    1612.3 PCA Eligibility Requirements for Siblings

    1612.4 When a Child Is Not Eligible for PCA (State Paid or Paid by Title IV-E)

    1613 Requesting an Extension of PCA

    1614 Informing Families about PCA

    1615 Applying for PCA

    1616 Determining PCA Eligibility

    1616.1 Regional Eligibility Assistance Units

    1616.2 Steps for Determining PCA Eligibility

    1616.3 Eligibility Units’ Ongoing PCA Responsibilities

    1616.4 Reimbursing Nonrecurring Expenses Covered by PCA

    1616.5 Determining Which Region Maintains a Case Involving PCA

    1617 Negotiating Permanency Care and Deferred Agreements

    1617.1 Role of the Negotiator in Determining PCA

    1617.2 Determining the Payment Ceiling When Negotiating for PCA

    1617.3 Other Considerations When Negotiating for PCA

    1617.4 Explaining Education Requirements When Negotiating for PCA

    1617.5 Explaining PCA Successor Benefits

    1617.6 Negotiating Deferred Agreements for PCA

    1618 Providing Medical Assistance to PCA Recipients

    1618.1 Providing Medical Care to a Child Who Lives in Texas and Receives PCA

    1618.2 Providing Medical Care to a Child Who Lives Out of State and Receives PCA

    1620 A Change in the Circumstances of a PCA Recipient

    1621 Benefits: PCA Recertification and Termination

    1621.1 Recertification of PCA Eligibility

    1621.2 Terminating PCA

    1621.3 Recertification of Eligibility for Extended PCA

    1622 Recouping a PCA Overpayment

    1622.1 Standard Cases – Recouping PCA Overpayments in 30 Days

    1622.2 Hardship Cases – Recouping PCA Payments in Any Dollar Amount

    1622.3 Extreme Hardship Cases – Recouping PCA Payments in More Than 12 Months (Requires State Office Approval)

    1623 Fair Hearings Regarding Decisions about PCA

    1623.1 Duties of the Adoption Assistance Eligibility Specialist

    1623.2 Appealing Decisions Made Regarding PCA

    1624 PCA Successor

    1700 Adoption Assistance Program

    1710 Adoption Assistance

    1711 Eligibility Requirements for Adoption Assistance for Children Adopted from DFPS Conservatorship

    1711.1 General Eligibility Requirements

    1711.2 Determining Whether a Child Has Special Needs

    1711.3 Medical Assistance Only (MAO) Medicaid When a Child Has Not Qualified for Adoption Assistance

    1711.4 Additional Eligibility Requirements for Monthly Payments and Medicaid Coverage

    1711.5 Eligibility Requirements for State-Paid Adoption Assistance

    1711.6 Determining Who Is an Applicable Child

    1711.7 Eligibility Requirements for Extended Adoption Assistance

    1711.8 Permanent Managing Conservatorship When Adoption Assistance Is Not Available

    1712 Eligibility Requirements for Adoption Assistance for Children Adopted from the Conservatorship of an LCPA

    1712.1 Eligibility Requirements

    1712.2 Case Record for Adoption Assistance

    1712.3 International Adoptions

    1713 Jurisdiction and Responsibility for Determining Eligibility and Activating Benefits

    1713.1 Determining Which Children Are within DFPS Jurisdiction

    1713.2 Determining Which Region Has Responsibility for a Case

    1714 Program Notification, Application Process, and Responsibility for Cases

    1714.1 Informing Families of the Adoption Assistance Program

    1714.2 Application Process for Adoption Assistance

    1714.3 Determination of Eligibility

    1714.4 Responsibilities of the Eligibility Specialist in Entering into the Adoption Assistance Agreement

    1714.5 Commencement of Benefits

    1714.6 Ongoing Responsibilities of Adoption Assistance Eligibility Units

    1714.7 Reimbursement of Nonrecurring Adoption Expenses

    1715 Negotiation of Adoption Assistance Agreements and Deferred Adoption Assistance Agreements

    1715.1 Responsibilities of Negotiators for Initial Adoption Assistance Agreement

    1715.2 Ongoing Responsibilities of Negotiators

    1715.3 Considerations during Negotiations

    1715.4 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Payments and Adoption Assistance Payments

    1715.5 Determining the Payment Ceiling for Adoption Assistance

    1715.6 Education Requirements

    1716 Deferred Adoption Assistance Agreements

    1717 Changes in Circumstances and Periodic Certification of Continued Eligibility

    1717.1 Recertification of Eligibility

    1717.2 Adoptive Parents Die or Their Parental Rights Are Terminated

    1718 Termination of Adoption Assistance and Recoupment of Overpayments

    1718.1 Termination of Adoption Assistance Benefits

    1718.2 Recoupment of Overpayments of Adoption Assistance

    1718.21 Standard Cases - Recouping an Adoption Assistance Payment in 30 Days

    1718.22 Hardship Cases – Recouping an Adoption Assistance Payment in More Than 30 Days (up to 12 Months)

    1718.23 Extreme Hardship Cases - Recouping an Adoption Assistance Payment in More Than 12 Months (Requires State Office Approval)

    1719 Fair Hearings about Adoption Assistance Determinations

    1719.1 Appealing Determinations about Adoption Assistance

    1719.2 Adoption Assistance Agreement Was Not Signed before the Adoption’s Consummation

    1719.3 Responsibilities of the Adoption Assistance Eligibility Specialist and Negotiator

    1720 Enhanced Adoption Assistance

    1721 Definition of Enhanced Adoption Assistance

    1722 Eligibility Requirements for Enhanced Adoption Assistance

    1723 Proceeding with Adoptive Placements in a Timely Manner

    1724 Approval Process for Enhanced Adoption Assistance

    1724.1 Regional Approval Process

    1724.2 State Office Approval Process

    1724.3 Approvals and Notification to Family

    1724.4 Summary of Forms

    1725 Timing of Negotiation for Enhanced Adoption Assistance and Placement

    1726 Authorization of Payments for Enhanced Adoption Assistance

    1727 Denials of Enhanced Adoption Assistance

    1728 Deferred Agreements for Enhanced Adoption Assistance

    1729 Appeals and Fair Hearings for Enhanced Adoption Assistance

    1730 Medicaid Coverage, the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance, and Adoption Assistance

    1731 The Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance and its Effect on Adoption Assistance

    1732 Procedures of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance

    1733 Procedures for Children Eligible for Adoption Assistance who Are Placed or Moved Out of Texas

    1800 Records Checks

    1810 Legal Requirements for Criminal Records Checks

    1820 Purpose and Types of Background Checks

    1830 People on Whom Criminal Records Checks Can Be Made

    1840 Limited Disclosure of Criminal History Records

    1900 Substance Use

    1910 Drug Testing Considerations

    1911 Guiding Principle for Drug Testing

    1912 Definitions Related to Substance Use

    1912.1 Drug Screen

    1912.2 Drug Test and Time Frame

    1912.3 Screening Tools (Forms)

    1913 Factors to Consider to Identify Possible Substance Use

    1914 Requirements for Requesting a Drug Test

    1914.1 Infectious Client

    1920 Eligibility for Drug Testing

    1921 Client Eligible for Drug Testing by DFPS or a Contracted Lab

    1922 Client Ineligible for Drug Testing by DFPS or a Contracted Lab

    1923 Frequency of Drug Testing

    1930 Drug Testing Results and Exceptions

    1931 Time Frames for Checking Drug Test Results

    1932 Drug Test Results

    1932.1 Negative Result

    1932.2 Rejected Result

    1932.3 Diluted Result

    1932.4 Presumptive Positive Result

    1932.5 Positive Result

    1932.6 Positive Result with a Valid Prescription

    1933 Client Admission

    1934 Refusal to Test

    1940 Prescription Medication

    1950 Authorization for Drug Testing and Services for Substance Use Disorders

    1960 Substance Use that Affects Children and Youth

    1961 Assessment of Substance Use

    1961.1 Safety during Home Visits When Substances Are Present

    1962 Safety and Risk When Substances Are Present

    1963 Children and Youth Who Are Exposed to or Using Substances

    1963.1 Infants Exposed to or Affected by Substances

    1963.2 Children and Youth Who Are Not in DFPS Conservatorship and Are Not Emancipated

    1963.3 Children and Youth in DFPS Conservatorship

    1963.4 Youth in Extended Care or Return to Care

    1970 Treatment and Other Resources for Substance Use

    1971 Referral to Treatment

    1971.1 Referral to Outreach, Screening, Assessment, and Referral (OSAR) Center

    1971.2 Direct Referral to Treatment Provider

    1971.3 Forms for Referral to Substance Use Services

    1971.4 Purchase of Treatment Services for Substance Use Disorders for Eligible Clients

    1971.41 Changes to an Existing Contract

    1972 Resources When Treatment Is Not Recommended

    1973 Resources When Treatment Is Unavailable or Difficult to Access

    1980 Casework and Substance Use

    1981 Substance Use Affecting a Parent-Child Visit or FGDM Conference

    1982 Recovery, Relapse, and Long-Term Planning

    1982.1 Indicators of Progress in Recovery

    1982.2 Relapse Safety Plan

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