Child Protective Services Handbook Revision July 19, 2012
This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on July 19, 2012. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below.
Reorganization of CPS Handbook: new Section 4000 Placement/Kinship
Kinship Safety Evaluations in Kinship Placements
Reorganization of CPS Handbook: new Section 4000 Placement/Kinship (PATS 5148)
Kinship and Placement policies have been moved from Section 6000 to Section 4000. Redundant items have been removed from the handbook.
No policies have been revised other than the Kinship Safety Evaluations revision documented below. Handbook items have been moved in their entirety with no changes other than the item numbers. Revision dates have not changed, since the policies have not changed.
New Items in Section 4000
4000 Placement Options for Children in the Conservatorship of DFPS
4100 The Placement Process
4110 (6310) The Placement Process for Initial and Subsequent Placements
4111 (6311) Identify the Child’s Needs
4112 (6312) Identify the Child’s Permanency Goal
4113 (6313) Select Appropriate Placement Category and Follow Process
4114 (6315) Secure Appropriate Approvals
4120 Issues to consider in selecting a placement (6314) Consider Key Issues in Selecting a Caregiver
4121 (6314.1) Required Factors to Consider for Placement
4130 The Placement
4131 (6316) Discussing the Move
4132 (6316.1) Preplacement Visit
4133 (6317) Making the Placement
4134 (6318) Issues Regarding Subsequent Placements
4134.1 (6318.1) Selecting a Subsequent Caregiver
4134.2 (6318.2) Revising the Case Plan
4135 (6318.3) Plans for Children When Placement is Unavailable - needs to be multiple items
4140 The Placement Team
4141 (6313.1) Centralized Placement Team
4142 (6920) Regional Placement Coordinators
4200 (6320) Types of Licensed Placements
4210 (6323) Placement with Licensed Caregivers
4211 (6323.1) Foster Family-Homes
4211.1 (6323.21) Disallowing Placements into Foster Homes
4211.2 (6323.22) Re-Allow Placement Procedure
4212 (6323.2) Foster Group Homes
4212.1 (6332) Basic Care
4212.2 (6333) Therapeutic Care
4212.3 (6334) Primary Medical Needs Care
4212.4 (6335) Habilitative Care
4213 (6323.3) Residential Group-Care Facilities
4214 (6323.31) DFPS-Licensed Institutions Serving Children With Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
4215 (6323.4) Emergency Shelters
4215.1 (6331) Emergency Care
4220 (6323.5) Facilities Under the Authority of Other State Agencies
4221 (6323.51) Home and Community-Based Services (HCS) Program
4222 (6323.52) Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons With Mental Retardation/Related Conditions (ICFMR/RC)
4229 (6323.53) Nursing Homes
4240 (6323.6) The IPTP Program - Short-Term Therapeutic Placement
4241 (6323.61) IPTP Definitions
4242 (6323.62) Determining Eligibility for IPTP Placement
4243 (6323.63) Referring a Child for IPTP Placement
4244 (6323.64) Planning for Discharge From IPTP Placement
4245 (6323.65) How to Request the Extension of an IPTP Placement
4250 (6323.7) Intense Foster Family Care Services
4260 (6324) Independent Living Arrangements
4261 (6324.1) Authorized Arrangements
4262 (6324.2) Unauthorized Arrangements
4270 When Placement Issues Arise
4271 (6325) Court-Ordered Placements in Unapproved Facilities
4272 (6370) Abuse and Neglect Investigations of Placements Regulated by RCCL
4273 (6323.21) Disallowing placement
4300 (6340) Texas Service Levels System
4310 (6341) Definitions
4311 (Appendix 6340-A): Definitions of Service Levels
4312 (Appendix 6340-B): Service Level Standards for Foster Caregivers
4320 (6342) Service Level Determinations and Reauthorizations
4321 (6343) Responsibility for Timely Determinations
4322 (6343.1) Authorized and Billing Service Levels
4323 (6344) Common Application
4324 (6345.1) Obtaining an Initial Service Level Authorization (ASL)
4324.1 (6345.11) Process for Obtaining an Initial Service Level Authorization
4325 (6345.2) Scheduled or Non-Scheduled Review of Service Level
4325.1 (6345.21) Process for Obtaining a Scheduled or Non-Scheduled Review of Service Level
4326 (6345.22) Guidelines for Expired Service Level Authorization
4327 (6345.23) Retroactive Service Level Authorization
4330 When Authorized Service Levels and Billing Service Levels are not the same
4331 (6345.31) Placing a Child One or More Billing Service Levels Lower Than the Authorized Service Level
4332 (6345.32) Requesting a BSL That Is Higher Than the ASL
4333 (6345.33) End Dates for an ASL at the Basic Service Level
4334 (6345.4) State Office Eligibility Program Specialist Role and Responsibilities
4335 (6345.5) How to Appeal Disagreements With ASLs
4480 (6321) Placement With Noncustodial Parents
4481 (6321.1) Definitions
4482 (6321.2) Consideration of Noncustodial Parent
4483 (6321.3) Assessment of the Noncustodial Parent
4484 (6321.4) Placement With the Noncustodial Parent
4490 (6512) Making Placements Across Regional or Unit Lines
4491 (6512.1) Making Placements with Parents, Relatives, or Family Friends Across Regional
4500 (6322) Placing a Child With Relatives and Other Kinship Caregivers
4510 (6322.1) Definitions Related to Kinship Care
4511 (6322.11) Definition of Kinship Care
4512 (6322.12) Definition of a Kinship Caregiver (Verified and Unverified)
4513 (6322.13) Definition of a Fictive Kin or Other Designated Caregiver
4514 (6322.14) Definition of the DFPS Relative and Other Designated Caregiver Program
4515 (6322.15) Definition of a Kinship Development Worker
4516 (6322.16) Definition of Kinship Foster Care
4517 (6322.17) Definition of a Relative
4518 (6322.18) Definition of Permanency Care Assistance
4519 (6322.19) Definition of a Prospective Permanent Managing Conservator
4520 (6322.2) Placing a Child With an Unverified Kinship Caregiver (keep title) and text from (6322.21) Initial Steps for Placing a Child With an Unverified Kinship Caregiver
4521 (6322.22) Identifying Potential Relative or Fictive Kin Caregivers
4521.1 (6322.23) Assessing the Unverified Kinship Caregiver’s Home and Conducting History Checks
4521.2 (6322.24) Identifying Additional Relatives and Kin
4522 (6322.3) When Placing a Child With an Unverified Kinship Caregiver Following a Removal
4523 (6322.31) Conduct and Evaluate CPS History Checks on Potential Kinship Caregivers
4524 (6322.32) Contact Potential Kinship Caregivers Not Ruled Out by a CPS History Check
4525 (6322.33) Conduct and Evaluate Criminal History Checks on Potential Kinship Caregivers (subitems added with PATS 4282; see below)
4526 (6322.34) Complete a Risk Assessment and a Written Home Assessment of the Kinship Caregiver
4526.1 (6322.38) Referring Across Regional Lines for Kinship Home Assessments and Services
4527 (6322.35) Obtain Approval for a Caregiver With a CPS or Criminal History (subitems added with PATS 4282; see below)
4528 (6322.36) Request Special Court Action for Placement With Fictive Kin (Caregivers Not Related to the Child)
4529 (6322.37) Place a Child With a Kinship Caregiver After All Prerequisites Are Met
4530 (6322.4) Services for Unverified Kinship Caregivers
4531 (6322.41) Providing the Kinship Manual and Agreement at Placement
4532 (6322.42) Referring the Case to the Regional Kinship Development Worker
4533 (6322.43) The Duties of a Kinship Development Worker
4534 (6322.44) Explaining the Federal Financial Assistance Available to an Unverified Kinship Caregiver
4535 (6322.45) Explaining the DFPS Financial Assistance Available to an Unverified Kinship Caregiver
4536 (6322.46) Advising the Unverified Kinship Caregiver About Support Services
4537 (6322.47) When Services Are Not Available to the Unverified Kinship Caregiver
4600 (6322.5) Verified Kinship Caregivers
4610 (6322.51) Kinship Caregivers Interested in Becoming Verified as Foster Parents
4611 (6322.52) Assisting a Kinship Caregiver Seeking Verification as a Foster Parent
4612 (6322.53) When a Kinship Caregiver Is Verified as a Foster Parent
4613 (6322.54) Foster Care Reimbursement Payments and Kinship Financial Assistance
4614 (6322.6) Services for Verified Kinship Caregivers (Foster Parents)
4700 Permanency Care Assistance
4710 (6322.7) Obtaining Permanency Care Assistance
4711 (6322.71) Adding Permanency Care Assistance to the Child’s Plan of Service
4712 (6322.72) Ruling Out Family Reunification and Adoption Before Pursuing Permanency Care Assistance
4713 (6322.73) Discussing the Intent to Pursue Permanency Care Assistance
4720 (6322.74) Applying for Permanency Care Assistance
4730 (6322.75) Granting Permanent Managing Conservatorship to the Kinship Caregiver
4734 (6322.76) Granting Assistance to the Sibling of a Child Who Receives Permanency Care Assistance
Appendices
Appendix 4120-A (Appendix 6311-A): Issues to Consider in Placement Decisions
Appendix 4120-B (Appendix 6311-C): Information to Consider About Race and Ethnicity in Placement Decisions
Appendix 4121 (Appendix 6311-B): Federal Requirements
Appendix 4320 (Appendix 6343.3A): DFPS Guidelines for Service Authorizations
Appendix 4525 (Appendix 6322-C): Offenses From the Texas Penal Code
Appendix 4533-A (Appendix 6322-A): Working in the KIN Stage of Service in IMPACT
Appendix 4533-B (Appendix 6322-A.1): Add a Kinship Home to IMPACT
Appendix 4533-C (Appendix 6322-A.2): Search for a Home That Already Exists in IMPACT
Appendix 4533-D (Appendix 6322-D): Roles and Responsibilities of the Kinship Development Worker
Items Deleted
6360 Administrative Review of Foster-Parent Concerns About New Placements
Appendix 6311: Issues to Consider in Placement Decisions
Cross-References in CPS
Cross-references to the sections being moved were updated throughout the handbook. See:
1121 Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM)
1432.1 Establishing Relationships Using Family Tree in IMPACT
1432.1 Establishing Relationships Using Family Tree in IMPACT
1432.1 Establishing Relationships Using Family Tree in IMPACT
15223 School Services in Nursing Homes and for the Homebound
15310 Prompt Enrollment in School After Removal From the Home or a Change in Placement
1546.51 SSI Coordinator and Foster Care Eligibility Specialist Responsibilities
1561.8 When Adoption Assistance Is Not Available (Transferring Permanent Managing Conservatorship)
1561.8 When Adoption Assistance Is Not Available (Transferring Permanent Managing Conservatorship)
1581 Definitions Related to Permanency Care Assistance
1583.1 Eligibility Requirements for a Prospective Permanent Managing Conservator to Receive Permanency Care Assistance
1583.1 Eligibility Requirements for a Prospective Permanent Managing Conservator to Receive Permanency Care Assistance
1583.1 Eligibility Requirements for a Prospective Permanent Managing Conservator to Receive Permanency Care Assistance
1583.2 Eligibility Requirements of Children for Permanency Care Assistance
1583.3 Eligibility Requirements of Siblings for Permanency Care Assistance
1586 Applying for Permanency Care Assistance
1587.24 Step 4: Activating PCA Benefits Upon a Transfer of Managing Conservatorship
1811.1 Persons/Entities on Whom Criminal Records Checks Can be Made
1922.1 Determining Eligibility for Substance Abuse Testing Conducted by a Contracted Laboratory
2223.31 Documentation of Removal, Initial Placement and Medical Consenter
2264.4 Use of the Background Check Information
2663.4 Evaluating Relatives as Caregivers After a Child Has Been Removed
2663.4 Evaluating Relatives as Caregivers After a Child Has Been Removed
2671 Information Provided to the Parents at the Time of Removal
2672 Information Provided to the Child After a Removal
2680 Select a Substitute Caregiver at the Time of Removal
2680 Select a Substitute Caregiver at the Time of Removal
2680 Select a Substitute Caregiver at the Time of Removal
2680 Select a Substitute Caregiver at the Time of Removal
3152.2 Documenting the Removal of a Child From His or Her Home
3153.3 Providing Notification of Removal After Reunification
5432.13 Who Must Attend Mediation (Formal and Informal)
5432.21 Actions Prohibited When Negotiating for Conservatorship
6133 Locating Relatives and Providing Notice of Removal
6133.1 When Relatives Have Been Contacted and Have Responded
6212.2 Adoption
6212.3 Permanent Managing Conservatorship to a Relative or Suitable Individual
6213.3 Adoption vs. Conservatorship
6213.3 Adoption vs. Conservatorship
6232 Transferring Conservatorship From DFPS to a Suitable Person
6400 6400 Case Planning
6410 Initial Assessment Plan
6437.31 Family Group Conferences
6437.4 Permanency Planning Meetings for Youth 16 and Over
6451 Children in Therapeutic Foster Care
6510 Placement Supervision
6511.3 Responsibility for Contact Across Regional Lines
6513 Sibling Contact
6513 Sibling Contact
6615.1 Services to Parents Across Regional Lines
6615.24 Engaging an Incarcerated Parent
6620 Services to the Substitute Caregiver
6620 Services to the Substitute Caregiver
6831 Issues to Consider When Selecting an Adoptive Home
6831 Issues to Consider When Selecting an Adoptive Home
6844 Making Adoptive Placements in Other Regions and With Private Agency Adoptive Homes
6933 Documentation of Child’s Biographical Data and Information About Relatives and Fictive Kin
7100 Recruitment of Foster and Adoptive Homes
8163.1 Authorizing Contract Services
8235.11 Definitions
8235.51 Determining Eligibility
8312 Identifying Available Services
8412.65 Identifying Allowable Providers
8414 The Contract Plan of Operation for Post Adoption Services
8521.31 Identifying Required Services
9300 Placing Children Outside of Texas
9300 Placing Children Outside of Texas
9312 Requesting Placement With a Parent or Relative Outside of Texas
9312 Requesting Placement With a Parent or Relative Outside of Texas
9312 Requesting Placement With a Parent or Relative Outside of Texas
9420 Completing a Home Screening When a Child From Another State Is Placed in Texas
11210 Meeting the Requirements for Medical and Dental Services
Appendix 6323.51: ICF-ID/RC Levels of Care
Appendix 6323.51: ICF-ID/RC Levels of Care
Appendix 6437.31: Roles and Responsibilities of Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM) Staff
Appendix 6831-A: Information to Consider About the Child When Selecting an Adoptive Family
Appendix 6831-B: Information to Consider about the Prospective Adoptive Family When Placing a Child for Adoption
Appendix 8160: CPS Service Codes and Descriptions as Identified in IMPACT
Appendix 9300: States That Require All Non-Parents to Be Licensed as Foster Parents
Kinship Safety Evaluations in Kinship Placements (PATS 4282)
The items below are revised to provide clarity about conducting and evaluating criminal history on potential kinship caregivers and obtaining approval for placement in a kinship home with DFPS abuse/neglect or criminal history.
See:
4525 Conduct and Evaluate Criminal History Checks on Potential Kinship Caregivers
4525.1 Conducting a Criminal History Check
4525.11 Caregivers Living in Texas for Fewer Than Three Years
4525.2 Considering the Totality of the Circumstances
4525.3 Determining the Consequences of a Criminal History
4525.4 Factors to Consider in Proceeding with Kinship Home Assessment or Approval of a Home
4525.5 Determining Whether to Proceed with Kinship Caregiver Home Assessment
4525.6 If a Potential Kinship Caregiver Is Denied Further Consideration
4525.7 If More Than One Potential Kinship Caregiver Is Under Consideration
4527 Obtain Approval for Placement in a Kinship Home with DFPS or Criminal History
4527.1 Requirements for a Kinship Safety Evaluation
4527.2 Obtain CPS Approval for Placement of a Child in a Kinship Home
4527.3 Obtain Court Approval for a Kinship Caregiver with Criminal or DFPS History
4527.4 Explaining Consequences of Criminal History to Kinship Caregivers If Court Approval Received
Appendix 4525: Offenses From the Texas Penal Code