Child Protective Services Handbook Revision March 2010
This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on March 1, 2010. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below.
Adoption Assistance IV-E Eligibility Criteria for Certain Children
The Secondary Approval Process for Child Safety Specialist
Undocumented Youth Who are 16 or Older
Referring a Relative Who Is Interested in Caregiving
Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)
Adoption Assistance IV-E Eligibility Criteria for Certain Children (PATS 3142)
The items below are revised to provide guidance on redetermining a Title IV-E requirement for children when entering adoption assistance. Staff were informed of this policy change with the issuance of PSA 10-031 on 11/16/2009. See:
1565.1 Role of Negotiators
1568.1 Recertification of Eligibility
The Secondary Approval Process for Child Safety Specialist (PATS 3273)
The item below is revised to clarify the responsibilities of the child safety specialist (CSS) and program director when acting as a second approver in investigation cases, including investigations into the death of a child. See:
2284.1 Secondary Approver for Investigations
CPS staff were informed of this policy with the issuance of the following memoranda for protective services actions (PSAs) and protective services information (PSI):
PSA 07-121 – 5/11/2007
PSA 07-124 – 5/22/2007
PSA 06-112 – 8/10/06
PSI 07-034 – 8/23/2007
Undocumented Youth Who are 16 or Older (PATS 3367)
The policy below is revised to address transitional living issues as they relate to undocumented youth who are 16 years old or older:
6566 Undocumented Youth Who Are 16 or Older
The policy below has been deleted to avoid redundancy:
6724 Undocumented Youth Ages 16 and Older
Referring a Relative Who Is Interested in Caregiving
The item below is revised to clarify that the conservatorship (CVS) worker refers interested relatives to the Foster and Adoption (FAD) unit for training and study. The case itself is not transferred from CVS to FAD. See:
6133.1 When Relatives Have Been Contacted and Have Responded
Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) (PATS 1322)
Section 9000 is revised in its entirety to update the ICPC process and include the following new federal guidelines:
Safe and Timely Interstate Placement of Foster Children Act of 2006
Adam Walsh Act
CPS staff were informed of these policies and procedures with the issuance of the following Protective Services Action (PSA) and Protective Services Information (PSI) memos:
PSA 06-025, issued on 10/27/2005
PSI 07-022, issued on 4/4/2007
PSA 07-023, issued on 10/9/2006
PSA 08-008, issued on 9/21/2007
PSA 08-086, issued on 3/27/2008
PSA 08-129, issued on 8/26/2008
PSA 09-079, issued on 4/20/2009
Cross-references to the old Section 9000 items were updated in the following items:
2223.2 Time Frames for Initiating Priority I and Priority II Investigations
2280 Documenting and Approving the Investigation and Assessments
8315 Handling Additional Duties
8325 Handling Additional Duties
8316 Adding, Extending, Reauthorizing, or Terminating Services
6350 Out-of-State Placements
6512.3 Placements in DFPS Foster or Adoptive Homes Across Regional or Unit Lines
6710 Services Preceding Discharge
6322.34 Complete a Risk Assessment and a Written Home Assessment of the Kinship Caregiver
8310 ICPC Home Study Services
8320 ICPC Placement and Courtesy Supervision Services
6340 Texas Service Levels System
6350 Out-of-State Placements
1542.9 Medicaid Benefits for Foster Care Children Placed Out of State
5420 Court-Ordered Social Studies
6810 Criteria and Types of Service
6510 Placement Supervision
8315 Handling Additional Duties
8331 Determining Eligibility