Handbook Revision, April 1, 2026

This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on April 1, 2026.

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

Previous Revisions

Child Protective Services Revisions

Providing Notice When a Child Goes Missing (PATS 00183)

This handbook revision adds the attorney representing DFPS to the list of people who must be notified when a child in DFPS’s managing conservatorship goes missing.

See:

3117 Child in DFPS Conservatorship Goes Missing

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6151 Whom to Notify

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6461.1 Notification Requirements When a Child or Youth Runs Away or Is Missing

Child Protective Investigations Revisions

Alternative Response (PATS 14378 / 00071)

This policy update does the following:

  • Provides guidance for staff who work Alternative Response investigations.
  • Expands the criteria for what makes a case eligible or ineligible for Alternative Response.
  • Gives criteria for stage progressing a traditional investigation to an Alternative Response investigation.
  • Adds policies regarding daily briefings, home visits, and safe sleep.  
  • Gives guidance on when to send an Alternative Response investigation to a child safety specialist.

See:

2600 Alternative Response

2610 Eligibility for Alternative Response

2611 Intakes or Cases Ineligible for Alternative Response (AR)

2611.1 Intakes Ineligible for Alternative Response

2611.2 Criteria for Routing a Case to Traditional Investigation

2612 New Intakes on an Open Alternative Response Case Investigation

2612.1 If the New Intake Meets Alternative Response Criteria

2612.2 If the New Intake Does Not Meet Alternative Response Criteria

2612.3 Completing Case Merges

2612.4 2612.3 Determining Whether Family Contact Needs to be Be Made on a New Intake

2620 Contacts

2621 Documentation and Contact Entry

2621.1 Same-Day Contact Entry with Children

2621.2 Case Activities Requiring 24-Hour Documentation

2621.3 All Other Documentation

2622 AR Initial Contacts

2622.1 First Contact

2622.2 First Face-to-Face Contact

2622.3 Daily Briefings for Alternative Response

2622.3 2622.4 Meaningful Contact

2622.5 Home Visits

2622.51 Safe Sleep

2622.4 2622.6 Notifying and Making Face-to-Face Contact with an Involved Parent

2622.5 2622.61 Family Member Not Present

2622.6 2622.62 Family Refuses to Participate

2622.7 Unable to Make Contact

2622.8 Unable to Locate

2622.9 Determining Military Status

2623 Initial Contact Tasks

2623.1 Initial Tasks

2623.11 Required Notification of Rights to A a Parent or Legal Guardian

2623.12 Audio and Video Recordings in an AR Case Investigation

2623.13 Photos in an AR Case Investigation

2623.2 Contact with Collaterals

2624 Assessing Child Safety

2624.1 Completing the Safety Assessment Tool

2624.2 Time Frames for Completing a Safety Assessment Tool

2624.3 Safety Interventions

2624.4 Safety Assessment Discussion Box

2625 Completing the Risk Assessment Tool

2625.1 Time Frames for Completing the Risk Assessment Tool

2626 Supervisor Review of Case Actions and Safety Decisions

2627 Alternative Response Family Agreement Plan

2627.1 Completing the Family Agreement Plan

2627.2 Documenting the Family Agreement Plan in IMPACT

2628 Ongoing Contacts

2628.1 15-Day Contact

2628.2 30-Day Contact

2630 Stage Progressing an AR Case Investigation to Traditional Investigation

2631 When an AR Case Investigation Must be Be Progressed to Traditional Investigation

2632 When an AR Case May be Progressed to Traditional Investigation

2633 2632 Approval for Transferring a Case to AR Investigations Traditional Investigations

2634 2633 Stage Progression Time Frames

2635 2634 Referring a Case to Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS)

2636 2635 Legal Orders to Participate in Services

2637 2636 Parent or Caregiver Request for Reassignment

2640 Extension

2641 Criteria for Extension

2642 When Not to Allow Extension

2643 Closure Time Frames for Cases with Extension

2650 Case Closure

2651 Required Actions

2652 Closure Time Frames

2653 Action on a Submitted AR Case Investigation

2654 Roles of the Child Safety Specialist, Supervisor, and Program Director

2654 2655 Alternative Response Case Investigation Closure Notifications

2654.1 2655.1 Exceptions to Providing Case Closure Notifications

2655 2656 Resulting Actions

2656 2657 Submitting an Alternative Response Case Investigation for Administrative Closure

2656.1 2657.1 Close – ADMIN – Anonymous Report

2656.2 2657.2 Close – ADMIN – Refuting the Allegations

2656.3 2657.3 Close – ADMIN – Lacks Authority

2656.4 2657.4 Close – ADMIN – Already Investigated