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Section 6000: Substitute Care Services
6100 Overview of Substitute Care
6110 Actions Required When a Child Initially Comes into DFPS Conservatorship
6120 Required Tasks at Conservatorship Assignment
6130 Notifications and Efforts to Locate Family Members
6140 Documentation Requirements When a Child is Placed in DFPS Conservatorship
6141 Timeliness of Documentation
6142 Approval of Documentation
6143 Actions Requiring Child Placement Management Staff Approval
6144 Additional External Documentation
6160 Communication and Discipline for Children and Youth
6170 Notification to Parties of Significant Events
6171 Exceptions to the Notification Requirements
6172 Child Admitted to an Inpatient Mental Health Facility
6173 Notification Requirements and Schedule
6180 Caseworker’s Duty to Report Abuse and Neglect in an Open Conservatorship (CVS) Case
6190 Discharging Children from Substitute Care
6191 Services Preceding Discharge
6192 Services at Discharge from Substitute Care
6200 Case Planning for Positive Permanency
6210 Overview of Case Planning
6211 Requirements to Produce a Case Plan
6213 Concurrent Permanency Planning
6220 Permanency Planning Process
6230 Factors to Consider When Planning for Permanency
6231 Working with Family of Origin
6233 Selecting the Permanency Goal
6234 Prioritizing Permanency Goals
6234.11 Exceptions to Planned Reunification
6234.12 Priority of Family Reunification
6234.14 Aggravated Circumstances or Criminal Convictions
6234.16 Ruling Out Family Reunification
6234.17 Changing the Permanency Goal Back To Family Reunification
6234.21 Categories of Adoption
6234.23 Adoption vs. Conservatorship
6234.24 Ruling Out Family Reunification and Adoption Before Pursuing Permanency Care Assistance
6234.3 Permanent Managing Conservatorship to a Relative or Suitable Individual
6234.4 Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement
6234.42 Identifying Support of a Family or Other Caring Adult
6234.43 Reassessing APPLA as the Permanency Goal
6235 Documenting the Permanency Plan
6236 Approving the Permanency Plan
6236.2 Presenting the Permanency Plan to the Court
6236.3 Changing or Revising the Permanency Plan
6237.1 Time Frames for Permanent Family Placements in Temporary Managing Conservatorship
6241 The Child Plan of Service (CPOS)
6241.1 Basic Description and Content of the Child's Plan of Service
6241.11 Reviewing and Documenting a Youth’s Plans for a Successful Transition to Adulthood
6241.2 Child Plan of Service Types and Frequency of Reviews
6241.21 Initial Child Plan of Service
6241.22 Service Planning and Documentation for Youth with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
6241.23 Review of Child Plan of Service
6241.25 Person Characteristics in IMPACT
6241.3 Participating in Development of the Child's Plan of Service
6241.31 Documenting Participation in the Development of the Child's Plan of Service
6241.32 Distributing the Approved Child's Plan of Service to Participants
6241.4 Documenting and Approving the Child's Plan of Service
6241.41 Changing or Revising the Permanency Goal
6242 The Family Plan of Service (FPOS)
6242.1 Family Plan of Service Types
6242.11 Initial Family Plan of Service
6242.12 Family Plan of Service Evaluation
6242.13 Family Reunification Family Plan of Service
6242.2 The Family Plan of Service for Children Under Age Two
6242.3 Requirement for a Family Plan of Service
6242.31 Exceptions to Requirements for the Family Plan of Service
6242.4 Developing the Family Plan of Service
6242.41 Family Participation in Developing the Family Plan of Service
6242.5 Content of the Family Plan of Service
6242.6 Documenting and Approving the Family Plan of Service
6242.7 Reviewing the Family Plan of Service
6242.8 Updating the Family Strengths and Needs Assessment (FSNA)
6243 Services to Parents Who Live Outside of the Country
6250 Contact with Special Populations
6260 Permanency Planning Meetings (PPM)
6261 Overview and Purpose of Permanency Planning Meetings
6262 Types of Permanency Planning Meetings
6263 When to Hold a Permanency Planning Meeting
6264 Permanency Planning Meeting Participants
6265 Notice of Permanency Planning Meetings
6266 Requirements of Permanency Planning Meetings
6266.1 Additional Requirements in Specific Situations
6267 Documentation of Permanency Planning Meetings
6270 Permanency Roundtables (PRT)
6310 Services to the Child's Family When the Child Is in Substitute Care
6311 Services to the Parent and Family
6312 Participation of Parents’ Attorneys When a Child Is in Substitute Care
6320 Contacts and Visits with the Family
6321 Frequency of Contact and Visits
6330 Services to Children and Parents across Regional Lines
6331 Coordination Between Primary Caseworker and Courtesy Supervision Caseworker
6331.1 Responsibilities of the Courtesy Caseworker
6331.2 Responsibilities of the Primary Caseworker
6340 The Family Strengths and Needs Assessment (FSNA)
6350 When DFPS Obtains Permanent Managing Conservatorship Without Termination of Parental Rights
6351 Assessing Parental Involvement and Participation in Service Planning
6352 Maintaining the Family Substitute Care Stage
6353 Court's Authority to Order CPS to Provide Services
6354 When to Complete a Family Plan of Service
6360 When a Mother in an Open CVS Case is Pregnant
6370 Parental Child Safety Placements in CVS Cases
6400 Services to Children in Substitute Care
6411.1 Conducting the Monthly Face-to-Face Visits
6411.2 Documenting the Monthly Visit
6411.3 Following Up on Identified Needs
6411.4 Contact with Children in IDD GRO, SSLC and ICF Facilities
6411.41 Responsibilities of the Developmental Disability Specialist
6411.5 Contacts with Out-of-State Placements
6412 Children with Primary Medical Needs and Special Health Care Needs
6412.1 Working with Children and Youth in DFPS Conservatorship Using Substances
6412.11 Youth in Extended Care or Return to Care
6413 Services to Children and Caregivers across Regional Lines
6413.1 Courtesy Supervision – Contact across Regional Lines
6413.2 Local Permanency Supervision and Eligibility
6413.21 Responsibilities of the Alternate Caseworker/Local Permanency Specialist
6413.24 Local Permanency Waiver
6414 The Right to Regular Contact
6414.1 Ending Contact if the Child Is at Risk
6415 Visitation between Families and Children in Substitute Care
6416 Supervising a Child Placed in Texas From Another State
6417 The Supervision Services Expected From Another State
6420 Preparation for Long-Term Care or Support in Adulthood for Youth with Disabilities
6421 Planning for Long-Term Care Needs
6421.1 Researching Long-Term Care Resources
6421.2 Ensuring Funding and Eligibility for Services
6422 Home and Community-Based Services (HCS)
6423.1 Preparing to Request Appointment of a Guardian
6423.2 Criteria for HHSC Guardianship Referral
6423.3 Initiating the HHSC Guardianship Referral
6423.4 Guardianship Assessment
6423.5 HHSC Decision, Notification and DFPS Response
6423.51 HHSC Agrees to Become Guardian
6423.52 HHSC Denies Request for HHSC Guardianship
6423.6 HHSC Appointed as Guardian
6423.61 Youth Leaves DFPS Foster Care
6423.62 DFPS Foster Care Placement after HHSC Appointed as Guardian
6430 Rights of Children and Youth in Foster Care
6431 Texas Foster Care Handbook
6432.1 Corporal Punishment is Not Permitted
6432.2 Addressing Behavior Management and Discipline Issues
6433 Respect for Religious Practices
6440 Initial Assessment Services
6441 Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) Assessment
6441.11 When to Request a CANS Assessment
6441.12 Viewing the CANS Report
6441.13 Use of the CANS Assessment to Inform T3C Service Packages
6441.14 CANS for Children Ages Zero through Two (0–2) Years Old
6441.21 Timeline for CANS Assessments
6441.22 Placement Changes within the First 30 Days
6441.23 Annual Updates to the CANS
6441.3 Use of the CANS Assessment for Service Planning
6441.4 The STAR Health Service Plan
6442 Assess for Developmental or Intellectual Disability
6442.1 Medicaid Long-Term Care Interest Lists and Determination of Intellectual Disability
6451 When a Youth in Substitute Care is Pregnant or Parenting
6451.1 When a Youth in Substitute Care is Pregnant
6451.2 When a Youth in Substitute Care Is Parenting
6451.21 When DFPS Has Conservatorship of the Youth's Child
6451.22 When DFPS Does Not Have Conservatorship of the Youth's Child
6451.23 When the Youth's Child Leaves Paid Foster Care – Closing Stages in IMPACT
6451.24 When the Youth Parent is on a Runaway Status
6453 Personal Documents Provided to Youth
6453.1 Personal Documents Provided to Youth Age 15 Through 17
6453.2 Additional Personal Documents Provided to Youth before Age 18
6454.1 Credit Reports for Youth Age 14 Through 17
6454.2 Credit Reports for Young Adults in Extended Foster Care
6455 Driver License and State Identification (ID) Card
6455.1 Driver License Approval Process for Youth under 18
6455.3 Eligible Youth Applying for a Driver Learner License or Driver License
6455.4 Young Adult in Extended Foster Care Applying for Driver License
6455.7 Address Changes for a Driver License or State Identification (ID) Card
6455.8 Canceling or Withdrawing a Driver License
6455.9 State Identification (ID) Card
6455.91 Affidavit Requirements
6456 Youth Enlisting in the Military
6457 Marriage of Youth in Conservatorship
6460 When a Child or Youth Is Missing from DFPS Conservatorship
6461 Child or Youth Missing from Substitute Care Placement
6461.1 Notification Requirements When a Child or Youth Runs Away or Is Missing
6461.3 Ongoing Efforts to Recover
6461.31 Documentation and Review
6461.4 When a Child Who Is Missing Is Recovered
6461.5 Caseworker Actions When a Missing Child Returns to Care
6461.51 Documentation and Review
6462 Confirmed or Suspected Victims of Human Trafficking
6471 Approvals Required for Travel
6472 Transporting a Child by Vehicle
6473 Transporting a Child by Airplane
6474 When a Child Travels Outside of the United States
6474.1 Requesting Court Approval for International Travel
6480 Email, Internet, and Social Media Use by Children and Youth in Foster Care
6481 Online Privacy Expectations of Children and Youth in Foster Care
6482 Use of Digital Services by Children in DFPS Conservatorship
6490 If a Child Dies While in Substitute Care
6491 Immediate Notification Requirements When a Child Dies
6492 Making Funeral Arrangements
6492.1 Inquire About the Child's Funds
6492.2 Involve Biological Parents
6492.3 Involve Foster Parents and Other Significant People
6492.4 Involve Community Partners
6510 Completing a Reunification Assessment Tool
6520 Starting the Reunification Process
6531 Providing Services and Ensuring Child Safety after a Child Returns Home
6540 Maintaining Contact with the Family When a Child Is Returned Home
6542 Conducting Follow-Up Visits with the Family When a Child Is Returned Home
6542.1 Preparing for the Visit
6550 Completing a Risk Reassessment Tool
6560 Closing a Case with a Child in a Parent’s Home
6561 Tasks Required before Dismissal
6562 Tasks Required before Closure
6563 Approval for Case Closure
6610 Identifying a Potential Relative Placement Before the Adversary Hearing
6620 Assessing a Potential Kinship Caregiver
6621 Background Checks as Part of the Kinship Assessment Process
6621.1 If No DFPS or Criminal History Is Found
6621.2 Conducting a Criminal History Check
6621.3 If DFPS or Criminal History Is Found
6621.4 Determining the Consequences of a Criminal History
6621.5 Considering the Totality of the Circumstances
6621.6 Determining Whether to Proceed with Kinship Caregiver Home Assessment
6621.7 Informing Potential Kinship Caregivers of Potential Consequences of Criminal History
6621.8 Authority to Disclose Criminal History Information
6623 The Written Home Assessment
6630 Placing a Child with a Kinship Caregiver
6640 The Kinship Caseworker or SSCC Equivalent
6642 Services and Initial Contact with the Kinship Caregiver
6643 Expectations for Face-to-Face Contact with the Kinship Caregiver
6643.2 Where Visits Must Occur
6644 Preparing for the Subsequent Visits
6645 Conducting the Kinship Caregiver Visit
6646 Actions after each Kinship Caregiver Visit
6648 Closing the Kinship Case in IMPACT
6650 Financial Assistance Available to a Kinship Caregiver
6651 Explaining the Federal Financial Assistance Available to a Kinship Caregiver
6652 Explaining the DFPS Financial Assistance Available to a Kinship Caregiver
6652.2 DFPS Relative and Other Designated Caregiver Program
6652.3 Kinship Reimbursement Payment
6652.4 Post-Permanent Managing Conservatorship Annual Reimbursement Payment
6660 Kinship Caregivers Interested in Becoming Verified as Foster Parents
6661 Assisting a Kinship Caregiver Seeking Verification as a Foster Parent
6680 Permanency Care Assistance (PCA)
6681 Overview of Permanency Care Assistance
6681.2 Caregiver Ineligibility for Permanency Care Assistance
6681.3 Child Eligibility for Permanency Care Assistance
6681.4 Meeting the Conditions to Verify Eligibility for Permanency Care Assistance
6682 Adding Permanency Care Assistance to the Child's Plan of Service
6683 Ruling Out Family Reunification and Adoption Before Pursuing Permanency Care Assistance
6684 Applying for Permanency Care Assistance
6684.1 Time Frame for Applying
6684.2 Negotiating the Monthly Payment
6684.21 Submitting the Permanent Managing Conservatorship Order
6684.22 Receiving the First Payment
6684.3 Signing the PCA Agreement Before Conservatorship is Granted: Court Time Frames and Processes
6685 Granting Assistance to the Sibling of a Child Who Receives PCA
6686 Enhanced Permanency Care Assistance
6686.1 Definition of Enhanced Permanency Care Assistance
6686.2 Eligibility Requirements for Enhanced Permanency Care Assistance
6686.4 Approval Process for Enhanced Permanency Care Assistance
6686.5 Deferred Agreements for Enhanced Permanency Care Assistance
6700 International and Immigration Issues
6710 Services to Children and Families Who Are Not U.S. Citizens
6711 Immigration Opportunities for Foster Children
6712 Caseworker Responsibility for Citizenship and Immigration
6713 Contacts With the Immigration Authorities
6714 Working with the Foreign Consulate
6714.1 Giving Notice to a Foreign Consulate
6715 Transporting Undocumented People
6720 Staff Travel Outside of the United States
6730 Placements in a Foreign Country
6731 Home Studies in Foreign Countries
6732 Procedure for International Placement
6733 U Visa Certification Requests
6740 Temporary CPS Custody Resulting from a Foreign Custody Order or a Hague Abduction Suit
6811 Discussing the Option of Joint Temporary Managing Conservatorship
6811.1 Determination of Joint Temporary Managing Conservatorship
6811.2 Documenting the Discussion
6820 CPS Youth and Municipal or County Courts and the Juvenile and Criminal Justice Systems
6821 CPS Youth with Tickets and Fines Involving Municipal or County Courts
6822 CPS Youth and Juvenile Justice
6822.1 Detention Before an Adjudication (Court Decision) Hearing
6822.11 Documenting Living Arrangement in IMPACT
6822.12 Legal Status and Legal Action in IMPACT
6822.13 Providing Medical Care
6822.3 When a Youth Is in Juvenile Probation Department (JPD) Custody or on JPD Probation
6822.31 Medical Care for a Youth in JPD Custody or on JPD Probation
6822.32 Serving as Medical Consenter
6822.4 Coordinated Service Planning
6822.43 Juvenile Record Requests with JPDs
6822.6 Addressing Other Issues Related to Juvenile Probation
6823 When a Youth Is in TJJD Custody in a Secure Facility or on TJJD Parole
6823.1 General Procedures When Youth Are Committed to the TJJD Secure Facility Program
6823.2 Medical Care for a Youth in TJJD Custody or on TJJD Parole
6823.3 Coordinated Service Planning
6823.32 DFPS and TJJD Casework
6823.33 Juvenile Record Requests with TJJD
6823.41 Attendance at Permanency Hearings
6823.5 Addressing Other TJJD-Related Issues
6824 Sealing Juvenile Records for Minor Offenses
6900 Adoption Preparation and Support Services
6910 Planning for a Child's Adoption
6911 Completing the Health, Social, Educational, and Genetic History (HSEGH) Report
6912 Completing the Adoption Readiness Summary (ARS)
6915 Preparing the Child's Records for Presentation to Prospective Adoptive Parents
6920 Selecting an Adoptive Family
6921 Issues to Consider When Selecting an Adoptive Home
6922 Time Frames Related to Termination of Parental Rights
6923 Adoption by Foster Parents
6924 Adoptive Homes Located by Private Child-Placing Agencies
6925 Adoptive Homes in Other States
6926 Considering the Need for Adoption Assistance
6927 Adoption by Military Families Both In the United States and Outside the United States
6928 Legal Risk Adoptive Homes
6928.1 Requirements for Dual-Licensed Parents
6928.2 Requirements for Children
6928.3 Requirements for the Match
6929.3 Discussions of the Child
6929.4 Discussions of the Potential Adoptive Families
6929.5 Confirming Selection of a Prospective Adoptive Family
6929.6 Requirements for Adoptive Families
6929.7 When No Prospective Adoptive Family Is Available
6930 Presenting and Placing the Child for Adoption
6931 Presenting Information About the Child
6931.2 Documenting That Prospective Adoptive Parents Have Received the HSEGH Report
6931.3 Sharing Other DFPS Records with the Prospective Adoptive Parents
6931.4 Providing Adoptive Parents with Access to Research
6931.5 Refusal to Review the Child's Records
6932 Deciding Not to Proceed with a Placement
6933 Preparing the Family and the Child for the Placement
6934.1 Providing Continuing Access to the Child's Records
6934.2 Providing Written Consent to Secure Medical Services for the Child
6934.31 If the Child Is Not Receiving Social Security Benefits
6934.32 If the Child Is Receiving Social Security Benefits
6934.4 Informing the Adoptive Family of the Availability of Continuing Services
6934.5 Providing the Child's Personal Documents
6934.6 Discussing the Adoptive Placement Agreement
6934.61 Completing the Placement Summary
6934.7 Arranging to Forward the Child's Income and Records
6934.8 Updating Adoption and TARE Records
6934.9 Receiving Documents Back from a Canceled Placement
6935 Making Adoptive Placements in Other Regions
6936 Making Placements in Other States
6937 Making Placements in Other Countries
6940 Supporting and Consummating the Adoption
6941 Supporting the Adoptive Placement
6941.1 Developing an Adoption Services Plan
6941.11 Objectives of an Adoption Services Plan
6941.12 Establishing the Adoption Services Plan
6942 Resolving Problems in an Adoptive Placement
6943 Contact with the Child and Adoptive Family
6943.1 Conducting Visits With the Child and Adoptive Family
6943.11 Preparing for the Visit
6944 Consummating the Adoption
6944.1 Time Frames for Consummating the Adoption
6944.2 Caseworker Tasks after the Adoption Petition Is Filed
6944.21 Preparing a Post-Placement Report
6944.22 Filing the Health, Social, Education, and Genetic History (HSEGH) Report
6944.23 Providing the Child's History to the Adoptive Parents
6944.24 Providing Documents to the Family's Attorney
6944.25 Providing Advice on Obtaining Post-Adoption Services
6944.26 Documenting the Adoption Decree and Other Actions
6944.27 Transferring a Legal Case between Jurisdictions for Adoption
6944.3 Additional Tasks Related to Adoption
6944.31 Providing Advice on Applying for a New Social Security Number or Card
6944.32 Transferring Income, Benefits, and Assets
6944.4 Adoption Assistance When DFPS Is Not Consenting to the Adoption
6944.5 Termination of DFPS's Managing Conservatorship
6944.6 Adoption Reporting Requirements
6951 Post-Adoption Substitute Care (Return to Care)
6951.1 Circumstances Requiring Post-Adoption Substitute Care
6951.2 Procedures for Obtaining Post-Adoption Substitute Care
6951.3 Permanency Planning for Post-Adoption Substitute Care
6951.4 Processing Post-Adoption Substitute Care
6951.5 Transitioning from Post-Adoption Services to Post-Adoption Substitute Care
6960 Subsequent Placements in the Same Home
6970 Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE)
6971 Community Agencies That Support Child-Specific Recruitment
6972 TARE Adoption Recruitment Efforts
6972.1 Pre-TARE Regional Recruitment Efforts
6972.11 Pre-Recruitment Discussion With the Current Foster Parents
6972.2 National Recruitment Efforts
6973 Time Frames for Registering Children on TARE
6974 Court Orders Related to Adoption Recruitment
6974.1 Court-Ordered Recruitment for a Legal Risk Placement
6974.2 Court Orders to Cease or Suspend Recruitment Efforts
6974.3 Court Orders for Placement Only in Texas
6974.4 Challenge of Termination of Parental Rights (TPR)
6975 Maintaining TARE Registrations
6975.1 Responsibilities of the Child's Caseworker
6975.2 Updating TARE Registrations
6975.3 Discontinuing TARE Registrations
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