Handbook Revision, November 1, 2021

This revision of the Statewide Intake Policy and Procedures Handbook was published on November 1, 2021. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below.

Death of a Child (PATS 13337)

Clarifies how to process a child death report when there are current allegations regarding living children. No changes to assessments.

See:

4631 Death of a Child Not in DFPS Conservatorship

4631.1 Assessing the Death of a Child Not in DFPS Conservatorship

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4632 Death of a Child While in DFPS Conservatorship

4632.1 Assessing the Death of a Child in DFPS Conservatorship

Situations That Require an I&R to Existing CPS Case (PATS 13536)

This policy revision clarifies that these instructions also apply to young adults age 18-21 in DFPS conservatorship.

See:

4561.11 Situations That Always Require an I&R to Existing CPS Case

Unable to Complete (UTC) Procedures (PATS 13537)

This policy revision clarifies that if CPI has conducted an investigation since the UTC closure, SWI assesses and processes the report according to standard procedures. This revision also removes duplicate instructions.

See:

4611.1 UTC Procedures

Requirement to Report (PATS 13578)

The SWI Handbook is being updated to comply with HB 3379, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session. The requirement to report is changing from when a person “thinks” abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation occurred to when a person “has reasonable cause to believe” it occurred.

See:

1110 Requirement to Report Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation

Corrections to New 8000 and 9000 (PATS 13650)

SWI has made minor changes to the two new chapters of the SWI handbook, such as correcting omitted words and references.

See:

8222.1 Children as Perpetrators

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8510 I&R DCL Standards Compliance

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9120 Operations Exempt from Regulation by RCCR

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9740 Abuse or Neglect by Home Health Providers