Handbook Revision, April 3, 2023
These revisions of the Child Protective Services Handbook were published on April 3, 2023.
On September 1, 2017, the investigations branch of CPS became a separate division named Child Protective Investigations (CPI). Until CPI develops its own policy handbook, investigation policies and procedures will remain in the CPS Handbook.
See:
Child Protective Services Revisions
Child Protective Investigations Revisions
Child Protective Services Revisions
Temporary Absence from Placement (PATS 13849)
This handbook revision removes “visit to family or friend” as an example of a temporary absence from paid placement. This is a normalcy activity and does not require a temporary absence entry.
See:
4280 Temporary Absence from Paid Placement
Disaster Procedures for Foster and Adoptive Home Development (FAD) Workers (PATS 13885)
This edit removes any language referring to Send Word Now (SWN).
See:
7642.3 Disaster Procedures for FAD Workers
Adoption and the Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (PATS 13888)
This revision updates the adoption and TARE policy to bring it in line with the suggestions from the adoption audit.
See:
6930 Selecting an Adoptive Family
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6980 Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE)
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6985 Maintaining TARE Registrations
6985.1 Child’s Caseworker Responsibilities
6985.2 Discontinuing TARE Registrations
6986 TARE Inquiries
Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention (PATS 13950)
This policy is required by Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) Child Care Regulation (CCR) Minimum Standards 749.136 and 749.137 (26 TAC §§749.136-137). The policy addresses requirements related to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention for Foster and Adoptive Home Development (FAD) homes and children and youth placed in those homes.
See:
7645 Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention
7645.1 Suicide Prevention and Intervention Training
7645.2 Suicide Risk Screening
7645.3 Suicide Prevention and Intervention Planning
7645.4 Returning Post-Hospitalization
7645.5 Postvention Protocols and Support
Child Protective Investigations Revisions
Requirements for Consent (PATS 13813)
This handbook revision adds situations in which the caseworker must request parental consent to interview a child and clarifies determining factors in capacity to consent.
See:
2242 General Requirements for Consent
2242.1 Capacity to Consent
2242.11 Determining Whether a Child Has the Capacity to Consent
2242.2 Authority to Consent
2242.3 Voluntary Consent
2242.4 Withdrawing Consent
2242.5 Documenting Consent and Actions Taken Based on Exigent Circumstances
Emergency Assistance (PATS 13822)
This handbook revision updates policy about determining whether a child is eligible for emergency assistance.
See:
2700 Eligibility for Emergency Assistance (EA) Eligibility
2710 Determining the Family’s Total Annual Income
2711 People for Whom to Collect Income Information
2712 Types of Income Information to Collect
2713 Verification of Income
2714 Documentation
2720 Responding to the Eligibility Statements
2721 Risk Level
2722 Child’s Living Situation
2723 Cause of the Risk