Child Protective Services

Handbook Revision, June 2014

This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on June 2, 2014. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below.

Adoption Assistance Benefits

Considerations During Negotiations for Adoption Assistance Benefits

Revisions to the Affordable Care Act

Reporting Requirements for DFPS Staff

Permanency Care Assistance

Consent to Enter a Residence

Baby Moses

Adoption Assistance Benefits (PATS 5047)

The item below has been revised for clarity. See:

1718.1 Termination of Benefits

Considerations During Negotiations for Adoption Assistance Benefits (PATS 5122)

The item below has been updated to outline the eligibility requirements for Adoption Assistance. See:

1715 Negotiating Adoption Assistance Agreements and Deferred Adoption Assistance Agreements

Revisions to the Affordable Care Act (PATS 6682)

The following items are revised to comply with changes made to the federal Affordable Care Act. The changes are effective as of January 1, 2014. CPS staff were informed about the revisions through PSA 14-028, issued on November 18, 2013.

See:

1544 Eligibility for Medicaid for Young Adults Who Age Out of Transitioning Foster Care Youth (MTFCY)

10150 Healthcare Coverage for Transitioning Youth and Young Adults Who Age Out of Foster Care

10151 The Former Foster Care Children (FFCC) Program

10151.1 Eligibility for the FFCC Healthcare Program

10152 Healthcare Benefits for Former Foster Care Youth in Higher Education

10152 10151 The Medicaid for Transitioning Foster Care Youth (MTFCY) Program

10152.1 Eligibility for the MTFCY Healthcare Program

10153 Applying or Re-Applying for the FFCC and MTFCY Healthcare Programs Accessing Benefits

10153.1 Phone and Online Support for the FFCC and MTFCY Healthcare Programs

10153.11 The Your Texas Benefits Website

10153.12 The 2-1-1 Texas System

10153.13 The HHSC Mailbox for FFCC and MTFCY Issues

10122.22 10154 Designating a Medical Power of Attorney

10154 Informing Youth and Young Adults About the FFCC and MTFCY Healthcare Programs

10155 The STAR Health Program

10155.1 Phone and Online Support for STAR Health and STAR Member Services

The following items contain cross references that are revised:

10491 Planned Discharge From Extended Foster Care

11151 Youth Who Are 18 Years or Older

10442.2 Young Adult’s Refusal to Sign the VEFCA Financial Agreement

Reporting Requirements for DFPS Staff (PATS 6732)

The items below are added or revised to reflect legislative changes related to reporting abuse or neglect. The changes were passed during the 83rd legislative session in 2013.

See:

2132 Reporting Requirements Responsibilities for DFPS Staff

2132.1 Reporting Requirements for Licensed or Certified DFPS Staff

2132.2 Reporting Requirements for All Staff When Incidents Involve Older Adults or Adults Who Have Disabilities

2132.3 Reporting Requirements for All DFPS Staff When a Person Refuses to Report

2132.4 Exception to the Requirement That CPS Staff Notify SWI About Additional Allegations

Permanency Care Assistance (PATS 6927)

The items below have been revised and added to update the recertification of extended permanency care assistance, and the recoupment of overpayments. See:

1621.1 Recertification of Eligibility for Permanency Care Assistance

1621.21 Recertification of Eligibility for Extended Permanency Care Assistance

1718.3 Recouping an Overpayment of Permanency Care Assistance Payments

1718.31 Standard Cases – Recouping PCA Overpayments in 30 Days

1718.32 Hardship Cases – Recouping PCA Payments in Any Dollar Amount

1718.33 Extreme Hardship Cases – Recouping PCA Payments in More Than 12 Months (Requires State Office Approval)

Consent to Enter a Residence (PATS 6112)

The items below were revised to provide clarification to staff that they cannot enter a residence if law enforcement invites them to after they have conducted a search with the consent of the occupant, a court order, or exigent circumstances.

Inform staff to enter clear documentation in the narrative on how they determined the child could give consent if relying on a child's consent for entry to a home.

CPS staff were informed of this policy with the issuance of PSA 14-006 on 9/16/2013.

See:

2351.7 Scope of the Consent Given by an Adult Caretaker, Child, or Occupant of the Home

2351.7 Scope of the Consent Given by an Adult Caretaker, Child, or Adult Occupant of a the Home, Law Enforcement or Military Personnel

2351.71 Limitations of Consent Given by Law Enforcement or Military Personnel

Baby Moses (PATS 7002)

The items below are revised to clarify how to document Baby Moses case in IMPACT, specifically the naming of the child and identification of the parent.

CPS staff were informed of this policy with the issuance of PSA 13-038 on 2/26/2013, and a correction issued with PSA 13-055 on 7/1/2013.

See:

2720 Baby Moses Cases

2721 Criteria for a Baby Moses Case

2721.1 When Statutory Criteria Are Not Met

2721.2 When a Child Is Abandoned After Birth in a Medical Facility

2721.3 When There Is a Presumed or Acknowledged Father

2721.4 When Application of Statutory Criteria Is Unclear

2722 A Harmed Infant

2723 A Designated Emergency Infant Care (DEIC) Provider

2724 Investigating Cases Under the Baby Moses Law

2724.1 Legal Provisions

2724.2 Disposition of a Baby Moses Case

2725 Special Issues Relating to a Baby Moses Case When Someone Claims to be a Parent or Relative of the Infant