Child Protective Services Handbook Revision November 2009
This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on November 2, 2009. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below. See:
Abbreviated Investigations and Risk Assessment
Challenge of Termination Order
Recording Adoption Name Changes in IMPACT
Visits With Parents When DFPS Has Permanent Managing Conservatorship
Abbreviated Investigations and Risk Assessment (PATS 3047)
The items below are revised to incorporate new policy regarding abbreviated investigations.
CPS investigation workers must complete the initial safety assessment, but do not need to complete a risk assessment. This is because investigations may be abbreviated only when:
· it is clear early in the investigation that the child is safe;
· abuse and neglect are ruled out; and
· CPS involvement is not needed.
Staff were informed of this policy with the issuance of PSA 09-118 on August 31, 2009. See:
2224.2 Abbreviated Investigations
2235.7 Investigations in Which Risk Assessments Are Not Conducted
Challenge of Termination Order (PATS 2787)
When parental rights are terminated, certain relatives have 90 days to request managing conservatorship of the child.
All prospective adoptive parents should be made aware of this legislation. If an adoptive family is selected before the end of the 90 day period following the termination of parental rights, then a legal risk placement can be completed. Adoptions should never be consummated before the 90 day period ends.
CPS staff were informed of this policy with the issuance of PSA 07-166 on September 4, 2007. See:
6831.1 Challenges of a Termination Order by Certain Relatives
6832 Adoption by Foster Parents
6841 Presenting Information about the Child
6233 Termination of Parental Rights
6852 Consummating the Adoption
Recording Adoption Name Changes in IMPACT (PATS 2787)
If the child is not receiving social security benefits, then at the time of the adoptive placement, the adoptive family can begin using the child's new adoptive name.
If the child is receiving social security benefits, then at the time of the adoptive placement, the adoptive family can begin using the child's new adoptive name for non-Medicaid related purposes only. This is because changing the child’s biological name to an adoptive name at the time of adoptive placement will cause problems with the child’s Medicaid eligibility. Consequently, the child’s Medicaid card will continue to show the child’s biological name until after the adoption is consummated.
CPS staff were informed of this policy with issuance of PSA 09-031 on November 17, 2008. See:
6843 Completing the Placement
6852 Consummating the Adoption
The item below is revised to reflect that an adopted child is eligible for the tuition and fee waiver if there is an adoption assistance agreement between the adoptive parents and DFPS for monthly financial and medical assistance for the child.
This policy was initiated with the issuance of PSA 08-034 on November 6, 2007.
See:
6579 College Tuition Waiver for Youth
6842 Preparing the Family and the Child for the Placement
6883 College Tuition Waiver for Youth Who Have Been Adopted
Appendix 6883: College Tuition Waiver Letter for Students Who Were Adopted and Received Adoption Assistance
Federal Adoption Tax Credit (PATS 3112)
In compliance with federal legislation regarding fostering connections, DFPS is required to provide information about a federal adoption tax credit to foster and adoptive parent applicants. See:
7220 Pre-service Training of Foster and Adoptive Homes
Family Team Meetings (PATS 2638)
The items below are revised to restructure the criteria of investigations that must be offered Family Team Meetings, versus criteria of investigations for optional Family Team Meetings. The revision incorporates PSA 09-049, effective January 1, 2009. See:
2237 Family Team Meetings
2237.1 Family Team Meeting (FTM) Referral Criteria
2237.11 Circumstances Requiring an FTM Referral
2237.12 Circumstances Allowing an FTM Referral
2237.2 Scheduling and Coordinating FTMs
2237.3 Family Team Meeting Participants
2237.4 Caseworker and Supervisor Roles at Family Team Meetings
2237.5 Documenting Family Team Meetings
2237.51 Investigation Caseworker
2237.52 Family Team Meeting Facilitator
2237.6 Dispute Resolution
Appendix 2237.5: Documentation Requirements for Models of Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM) is deleted.
Visits With Parents When DFPS Has Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PATS 2133)
When the department has permanent managing conservatorship (PMC) of a child, DFPS staff are required to conduct monthly face-to-face contacts with the parents. See:
6611.1 Contact With the Family
6612 Family Services When DFPS Obtains Permanent Legal Custody Without Termination of Parental Rights