Handbook Revision, September 1, 2026

This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on September 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

Substitute Care Policy Project

Child Protective Services (CPS) implemented significant revisions to its policy handbook. These revisions are intended to:

  • Align policy with the Community-Based Care model and clearly identify whether DFPS or Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) staff are responsible for specific actions.
  • Eliminate discretionary ("may") language and retain only mandatory ("must") requirements. Guidance that is not mandatory may be relocated to resource guides.

Major content revisions and organizational changes were made to the following chapters:

  • 1000 Agency Organization and Administration
  • 4000 Placing Children in DFPS Conservatorship
  • 6000 Substitute Care Services
  • 7000 Foster and Adoptive Home Development (also revised to incorporate statutory changes enacted during the 89th Texas Legislature)
  • 9000 Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)
  • 10000 Services to Older Youth in Care or Young Adults No Longer in Care
  • 11000 Health Care for Youth in Foster Care
  • 13000 Education for Children (previously chapter 15000)
  • 14000 Foster Care Assistance, Permanency Care Assistance, and Adoption Assistance (previously sections 1500–1990)

This project did not affect chapters 2000, 3000, 5000, 8000, and 12000 (other than to update links, where necessary).

Child Protective Investigations Revisions

Completing the Safety Assessment Tool (PATS 00340)

This handbook revision updates policy about completing the safety assessment tool when a child is in the care of DFPS and resides in a kinship home.

See 2624.1 Completing the Safety Assessment Tool