Child Protective Services Handbook Revision May 9, 2011

This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on May 9, 2011. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below. See:

Medical Exams (Texas Health Steps Checkups)

Minimum Requirement for Transitional Living Services

Medical Exams (Texas Health Steps Checkups) (PATS 4017)

The items below are revised to reflect changes to the time frames by which children receive routine medical exams through Texas Health Steps and the STAR Health program. Texas Health Steps and STAR Health provide medical and dental services to children in DFPS conservatorship. See:

6525 Medical and Dental Services

6526 Meeting the Requirements for Medical and Dental Services

6526.1 Initial Texas Health Steps Medical Checkup

6526.2 Initial Texas Health Steps Dental Checkup

6526.3 Subsequent, Ongoing Texas Health Steps Checkups

6526.4 Psychotropic Medications

6526.5 Immunizations

6527 Service Planning

6527.1 Informing Caregivers and Medical Consenters About Health Services

6527.2 Arranging Transportation for Medical Services

6527.3 Arranging for Special Health Care Management Services

6527.4 Referring a Child to Medical Professionals and Health-Related Community Services

6528 Documenting Medical and Dental Issues in IMPACT and the Case File

6528.1 Documenting Checkups (Medical and Dental) in IMPACT and the Case File

6528.2 Documenting Other Health-Related Visits in IMPACT and the Case File

6528.3 Completing a Medical History in IMPACT

6528.4 Documenting Additional Health-Related Details for the Record

6529 Using the Health Passport to Store and Retrieve a Child's Health-Related Information

6529.1 What the Health Passport Contains

6529.2 Restrictions on Using the Health Passport

Appendix 6520-A: STAR Health – Provider for Most Children in DFPS Conservatorship

Appendix 6520-B: Texas Health Steps – Obtained Through STAR Health or Traditional Medicaid

Appendix 6520-C: Traditional Medicaid – For Children Not Eligible for STAR Health

Minimum Requirement for Transitional Living Services (PATS 2983)

The items below are revised to incorporate policy sent to staff in several policy memos. Material is being moved from Section 6000 to the new 10000 section of the handbook. See below for lists of items being added and removed from the handbook.

Policy memos already issued are:

PSI:

09-019 Federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (3rd bullet): 5/18/09

PSAs:

05-016 Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) Annual Plan of Operation for FY2005 (10/8/2004)

05-018 Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) Regional Annual Reports for FY2004 (10/14/2004)

05-039 Simplification of PAL Organization IDs for Ansell Casey Life Skills Assessments (1/7/2005)

07-025 Educational Training Voucher (ETV) Program Update: Allowable Transportation Expenses (10/23/06)

07-027 Transitional Living Services and Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) Annual Plan of Operation FY 2007 (10/27/06)

07-061 Documentation of Citizenship and Identification for Aging Out Youth (12/22/06)

08-092 TLS Transition Plan Template Revised (4/8/2008)

09-005 New Statewide Minimum Standards for PAL Life Skills Training (9/2/2008)

09-010 New Statewide Minimum Requirements for PAL Life Skills Independent Study Guide (9/15/2008)

09-093 Return to Care Program

10-043 Tuition and Fee Waivers for Youth Under DFPS Conservatorship and Adopted Youth (1/4/2010)

10-051 Health Care Benefits for Former Foster Care Youth in Higher Education Programs (1/8/2010)

10-062 New Requirements Related to Issuing Personal Documents to Youth at Age 16 and at Age 18 (2/1/2010)

10-129 Medical Power of Attorney ‑ Transitioning Youth ‑ Age 18 (8/2/2010)

New Policy Items and Appendices in the 10000 Section:

10000 Services to Older Youth in Care

10100 Transitional Living Services

10110 Transitional Living Services Program

10111 Experiential Life Skills Training for Youth Age 14 and older

10120 Transition Planning for Older Youth

10121 Permanency Planning Meetings for Youth Age 16 and Older

10122 Transition Plan

10122.1 Child’s or Youth’s Plan of Service

10122.2 Transition Plan Review

10130 Documents Given to Youth Who Are Transitioning to Adulthood

10131 Personal Documents Provided to Youth at Age 16

10132 Personal Documents Provided to Youth at Age 18

10133 Guidance on Obtaining Documentation for Youth Transitioning to Adulthood

10133.1 Personal Identification Certificates or Driver’s Licenses

10133.2 Social Security Cards

10133.3 Requesting Certified Birth Certificates

10133.4 Health Passports (STAR Health), Proof of Medicaid Enrollment, and Immunization Records

10134 Youth Transition Portfolio

10134.1 Ownership of the Youth Transition Portfolio   Extended Foster Care

10134.2 Documentation of the Youth Transition Portfolio

10134.3 Available Funding Sources

10140 Transition Centers for Youth

10150 Medical Services for Transitioning Youth

10151 Coordination for Medicaid for Transitioning Foster Care Youth (MYFCY)

10152 Healthcare Benefits for Former Foster Care Youth in Higher Education

10153 Medical Power of Attorney

10200 Preparation for Adult Living (PAL)

10210 Preparation for Adult Living Program

10212 Targeted and Eligible Population for PAL

10213 PAL Eligibility for Youth Placed Into Foster Care by a County Juvenile Probation Department (CJPD)

10214 PAL Eligibility for Youth Placed in Texas From Another State

10215 PAL Staff Role for Youth Residing With the Designated Perpetrator of Abuse or Neglect

10220 Required PAL Services and Benefits

10221 Independent Living Skills Assessment

10222 Life Skills Training

10223 Life Skills Independent Study Guide

10230 Optional PAL Services

10240 PAL Transitional Living Allowance (TLA)

10241 Qualifications for PAL Transitional Living Allowance

10242 Payment Limits for the PAL Transitional Living Allowance

10243 PAL Transitional Living Allowance Payment Procedures

10244 PAL Transitional Living Allowance When a Youth Is Living With or Returning to a Parent

10245 Suspension of Payments of PAL Transitional Living Allowance

10250 PAL Aftercare Room and Board

10251 Qualifications for PAL Aftercare Room and Board

10252 Eligibility for PAL Aftercare Room and Board Services

10253 Assessment of Amount for PAL Aftercare Room and Board Payment

10254 Allowable Expenditures for PAL Aftercare Room and Board

10255 PAL Aftercare Room and Board Payment Procedures

10256 Host Home for PAL Aftercare Room and Board Payment

10260 Administration of PAL Services

10261 Regional PAL Staff

10262 PAL Data Entry

10263 PAL Responsibilities When Youth Are Placed Cross-Regionally

10263.1 PAL Services When Youth Are Placed Cross-Regionally

10263.2 PAL Payments When Youth Are Placed Cross-Regionally

10300 Services to Support Adulthood

10310 College Tuition and Fee Waiver

10311 College Tuition and Fee Waiver Information

10312 College Tuition and Fee Waiver Exemption for Foster Youth, Adopted Youth, and Youth in Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC)

10313 College Tuition and Fee Exemption for Youth Who Have Been Adopted

10313.1 PAL Staff Responsibilities for College Tuition and Fee Waiver

10313.2 Adoption Assistance Eligibility Specialist Responsibilities for College Tuition and Fee Waiver

10320 Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program for Youth Aging Out of Care, Adopted Youth, and Youth in Permanency Care Assistance

10321 Eligibility for the ETV Program

10322 Schools That ETV Recipients May Attend

10323 How the ETV Grant Amount Is Determined and Disbursed

10324 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for a Foster Youth

10325 Staff Responsibilities for Youth in Permanency Care Assistance (PCA) to Obtain Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Funds

10326 Applying for the ETV Program

10326.1 ETV Application Process and Supporting Documentation Requirements

10326.2 ETV Appeal Rights

10326.3 Ongoing ETV Eligibility Requirements After Initial Qualification

10326.4 ETV for Youth Who Move to Another State

10326.5 Other Educational Resources

10327 Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Expenses

10327.1 Allowable ETV Expenses

10327.2 Allowable ETV Transportation Expenses

10330 Preparation for Long-Term Care or Support in Adulthood for Youth with Disabilities

10331 Planning for Long-Term Care Needs

10331.1 Researching Long-Term Care Resources

10331.2 Ensuring Funding and Eligibility for Services

10332 Appointing a Guardian

10333 Referral to DADS for Guardianship

10333.1 Steps in the Process of Referral to the DADS Guardianship Program

10333.11 DADS Referral Step 1: Preparation, Alert, and Consultation

10333.12 DADS Referral Step 2: Making the Referral

10333.13 DADS Referral Step 3: Guardianship Assessment

10333.14 DADS Referral Step 4: DADS Decision, Notification, and CPS Response

10333.2 Ensuring Timely Referrals to DADS

10334 DADS Appointed as Guardian

10334.1 Youth Leaves CPS Foster Care

10334.2 CPS Extended Foster Care to Continue

10334.3 Foster Parent Wishes to Be a Guardian

10500 Return to Care Program for Youth Age 18 or Older

10510 Determining Eligibility for Returning Youth to Foster Care

10511 Eligibility Criteria

10512 Ineligibility Based on Criminal Background

10520 Processing a Youth’s Request to Return to Foster Care

10521 Receiving the Youth’s Request

10522 Referring the Youth to Regional PAL Staff

10523 Statewide Intake as a Resource for Referral

10530 Roles and Responsibilities of Staff Returning a Youth to Care

10531 PAL Staff Prescreen Youth

10532 Statewide Intake Staff

10533 Re-Entry Staff (Regional and Unit)

10533.1 Regional Re-Entry Staff

10533.2 Unit Re-Entry Staff

10533.21 Criminal History Check by Unit Re-Entry Staff

10533.22 Discussing Placement Options Before a Youth Returns to Care

10533.3 Upon Approval

10540 Closing the Case When a Youth Is Not Eligible

10550 Special Circumstances

10551 Primary Contact for a Youth Who Returns to Care Outside of the Youth’s Legal Region

10552 When Immediate Assistance Is Needed

10553 Youth Receiving SSA Benefits

10553.1 Physically Unable to Sign

10553.2 Handling Monthly SSA Awards That Exceed the Cost of Care

10553.3 Foster Care Re-Entry Checklist

10560 Returning to Care for College Breaks and Holidays

10570 Providing Support After a Youth Returns to Care

10571 Contacts and Time Frames

10572 Revising the Transition Plan

10573 Responsibilities of Youth While in Return to Care

10574 Documenting Eligibility in IMPACT

10575 Annual Eligibility Re-Certifications

10576 Addressing Medicaid Issues and Accessing Health Care Benefits

10577 Third-Party Service Level Reviewer (Youth for Tomorrow)

10580 Discharging a Youth From the Return to Care Program

10600 Other Services to Older Children in Substitute Care

10610 Contraceptive Services

10620 Youth Who Are Pregnant

10621 Notification That Abortion Is Desired by a Youth in DFPS Conservatorship

10621.1 DFPS Requirement to Inform Parents and Caretakers About Abortion-Related Information

10621.2 When a Physician May Perform an Abortion for a Youth in Conservatorship

10621.3 DFPS Appointed as Guardian Ad Litem for Youth in Conservatorship for Judicial Bypass Proceedings

10621.4 Documenting Abortion-Related Information for Youth in Conservatorship

10630 Youth Parents in DFPS Conservatorship

10640 Situations That Require Authorizations

10641 Marriage of Youth in Conservatorship

10642 Driver’s Licenses

10643 Youth Enlisting in the Military

10644 Use of Cigarettes or Tobacco Products

Appendix 10130: Documentation for Youth Changing Placements or for Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care

Appendix 10212: Preparation for Adult Living Life Skills Training Curriculum Outline

Appendix 10333-A: Joint Staffing Process for DFPS Referrals to DADS Guardianship Services

Appendix 10333-B: Review of Guardianship Decision

Appendix 10531: Roles and Responsibilities of Staff Returning a Youth to Care

Policy Items and Appendices Removed from the 6000 Section:

6423 The Transition Plan

6550 Preparation for Adult Living (PAL)

6551 Targeted and Eligible Population

6552 Required PAL Services/Benefits

6553 Transitional Living Allowance

6553.1 Qualifications for Transitional Living Allowance

6553.2 Transitional Living Allowance Payment Limits

6553.3 Transitional Living Allowance Payment Procedures

6553.4 Suspension of Transitional Living Allowance Payments

6554 Optional PAL Services

6555 Aftercare Room and Board

6555.1 Qualifications for Aftercare Room and Board

6555.2 Aftercare Room and Board Payment Procedures

6555.3 Definition and Requirements of a Host Home

6555.4 Eligibility of Youth in Foster Care

6556 Medicaid for Youth Transitioning from Foster Care

6557 Regional PAL Coordinator

6558 PAL Data Entry

6560 Other Services to Older Children in Substitute Care

6561 Contraceptive Services

6562 Minors who are Pregnant

6562.1 Notification of Abortion Desired by a Minor in DFPS Conservatorship

6562.11 DFPS Requirement to Inform Parents and Caretakers about Abortion-Related Information

6562.12 Abortion Notification by Physician for Minor in Conservatorship

6562.2 DFPS Appointed as Guardian Ad Litem for Minor in Conservatorship for Judicial Bypass Proceedings

6562.3 Documenting Abortion-Related Information for Minor in Conservatorship

6562.4 Youth Parents in DFPS Conservatorship

6563 Marriage of Youths in Conservatorship

6564 Preparation for Long Term Care or Support in Adulthood

6564.1 Planning for Long-term Care Needs

6564.11 Researching Long Term Care Resources

6564.12 Ensuring Funding and Eligibility for Services

6564.13 Appointing a Guardian

6564.2 Referral to DADS for Guardianship

6564.21 Steps in the Referral Process

6564.22 Ensuring Timely Referrals to DADS

6564.3 DADS Appointed as Guardian

6564.31 Youth Leaves CPS Foster Care

6564.32 Continuing CPS Extended Foster Care

6564.33 Foster Parent Wishes To Be a Guardian

6565 Youths Who Are 18 or Older

6565.1 Returning Young Adults to Foster Care (Support for Education)

6565.11 Determining Eligibility for Returning Young Adults to Foster Care

6565.12 Processing a Young Adult's Request to Return to Foster Care

6565.13 Returning a Young Adult to Care or Closing the Case

6565.14 Providing Support After a Young Adult Returns to Foster Care

6565.15 Returning to Care for College Breaks and Holidays

6565.16 Discharging a Young Adult From the Return to Care Program

6576 Special Approvals

6576.1 Driver's Licenses

6576.2 Youth Enlisting in the Military

6578 Use of Cigarettes or Tobacco Products

6723 Services to Youths Becoming Adults

6723.1 Education and Training Voucher Program for Youth Aging Out of Care

6883 College Tuition Waiver for Youths Who Have Been Adopted

Appendix 6225: Sample Agreement for Permanent Foster Care

Appendix 6564.2-A: Joint Staffing Process for DFPS Referrals to DADS Guardianship Services

Appendix 6564.2-B: Review of Guardianship Decision

In the items below, references have been updated that referred to policies moved from Section 6000 to Section 10000:

1124 Definition of Stages of Service

1411 Types of Cases

1554 Payment for Long-Term Care in Adulthood

1554.1 Eighteen-Year-Olds in Voluntary Foster Care: Signing over SSI and RSDI Benefits

2225.8 Youth Transitioning Out of DFPS Care

2391 Exceptions to Confidentiality of Abortion-Related Information

2394.51 Assisting the Minor in Applying for Judicial Bypass

4120 The Role of the Education Specialist in Educating Children

4710 Exemptions From College Tuition

4720 The Education and Training Voucher Program

6221.42 Alternative Family Placement with Long-Term Commitment

6221.43 Another Planned Living Arrangement with Support of a Family

6222.3 Permanency Planning for Children With Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities in Institutional Settings

6324.1 Authorized Arrangements

6437.4 Permanency Planning Meetings for Youth 16 and Over

6437.41 Circles of Support

6521 Medical Consent

6577.25 Providing Other Services to Youth in TYC Custody or on TYC Parole

6720 Services at Discharge from Substitute Care

6842 Preparing the Family and the Child for the Placement

6933 Documentation of Child’s Biographical Data

8282 Identifying Available Services

8283 Identifying Additional Services

10441 Loss of Eligibility

10443.1 DADS Guardianship

10480 When Older Youth Are Ready for Discharge

10481 Other Discharge Policies for Older Youth

Appendix 6220-B: Comparison of Permanency-Planning Goals

Appendix 8160: CPS Service Codes and Descriptions as Identified in IMPACT