Senate Select Committee on
Child Protective Services
March 17, 2022
Table of Contents
DFPS Structure
Statewide Intake
Child Protective Investigations
Child Protective Services
Timeline
Process Improvements
2
DFPS STRUCTURE
3
DFPS Structure
Accessible Narrative
4
STATEWIDE INTAKE
5
Statewide Intake (SWI)
Home History Review Process New RCCI PNed Intakes New RCCI Intake
(Only on RCCI PNed Intakes) (Occurs on All new RCCI Intakes)
Notify DFPS Home
NO
History Mailbox
RCCI Screener
Home History
Intake
Review Needed?
Downgraded to PN
YES
The purpose of a Home History Review is so RCCI Screeners RCCI Screeners
caseworkers with children currently in the home Send Email Send Email
can assess the safety and appropriateness of the RCCI Screener H H R Is Not Needed if: Notification of Notification
home and determine if they want their child to Completes • GRO/RTC/HCS Home/ PN New RCCI
Kinship Home Intake
remain in the placement. Therefore, if a case Home History
regarding an open foster home with DFPS • Closed Foster Home
Review • Open or Inactive H o m e
children residing there is assigned a PRIORITY
with no children in care
NONE, an H H R iscompleted.
CV S SUP CVS C W
RCCI Screeners MAILBOX MAILBOX
(SWI) Send One R E G I ONAL
CVS SUP CVS C W
C O M PLIAN C E
Email with HHR M A IL BOX M A IL BOX
M A I L BOX
NOTE:
If PN if Afterhours-
ONCALL CVS SUP and Conduct
DFPS RDA or Ensure Staffing &
ONCALL CW are also CVS SUP CVS C W Staffing to
Documentation
notified. They are MAILBOX MAILBOX SSCC Stage II Ensure Child
was Completed
responsible for Designee Safety
completing a safety
assessment
Document
Review, Ensure H H R was Staffing
Assess, & Reviewed,
Docu m e nt Assessed, &
HHR Documented
6
Intake –
CPI: Residential Child Care Investigations
Statewide Intake assigns reports or “intakes” for Investigations, which meet the
statutory definitions of abuse, neglect and exploitation with an assigned priority
based on the alleged severity of harm and level of risk to the child at time of intake.
Investigations is in a separate DFPS division.
Priority 1:
There is immediate risk of death, serious injury, or life-threatening abuse or neglect.
RCCI must initiate an investigation within 24 hours of receiving a priority 1 intake.
Priority 2:
There is no indication of immediate risk of death or substantial harm. RCCI must
initiate an investigation within 72 hours of receiving a priority 2 intake.
7
INVESTIGATIONS
8
CPI: Residential Child Care Investigations
Receive
Review criminalhistory
investigation M-Ref Complete notifications
No Case Assignment and central registryand
from SWI RCCI investigation? arrange for joint required at beginning
Staffing
Screeners investigations as needed of investigation
RequestM-Ref
Yes review from
CID
Interview alleged
perpetrator(s) and Complete documentation
Initiate
Complete dispositional and submit investigation Supervisor reviews
investigation/interview collaterals/gather
or extension staffingby within 30 calendardays from the investigationfor
alleged victim(s) additional evidence, as intake unless an extension is
25th day approval
needed to make a approved
finding
Approve Reject
Investigation requires
secondary approval?
Investigator
completes additional
tasks and resubmits
CID reviews the to investigation for
No Yes investigationfor approval
approval
Approve Reject Notify applicable
parties of theresult
of the investigation
9
Investigations
• Residential Child Care Investigators investigate reports of abuse, neglect and
exploitation, assess safety and risk, and determine if further services are neededat
licensed residential facilities
• Special Investigators have a background in law enforcement and work with investigators
to complete critical investigation tasks in high-risk cases (child death, serious bodily injury,
sexual abuse).
• Local Law Enforcement investigate jointly with investigations when there is an immediate
risk of physical or sexual abuse of a child that could result in the death of or seriousharm.
• Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) provide forensic interviews of children as well as
counseling of child victims. Some also can provide for medical examinations of children
on physical or sexual abuse cases.
• Multi-disciplinary Teams allow for law enforcement, investigations, medical and mental
health personnel and prosecutors to discuss cases to assist in the transfer of information,
provide appropriate services, and identify where follow-up is necessary.
10
Investigations
Risk Assessment
The risk assessment identifies the likelihood of future
abuse/neglect/exploitation occurring in a facility by designating
facilities with a very high, high, moderate or low probability of
abuse/neglect/exploitation occurring to children in the future.
• By completing the risk assessment, HHSC / DFPS obtains an
objective assessment of the likelihood that a facility will maltreat
their child in the next 12 to 18 months.
• High-risk facilities have significantly higher rates of subsequent
referral and validation than low-risk facilities, and they are more
often involved in serious abuse or neglect incidents.
11
CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
12
Child Protective Services - Conservatorship
Medical
Child is exams Child Plan of Service
removed from Review per CPS
home Policy
CANS /
Family Plan of Service
FSNA
Court reports filed with court 10 days prior
Initial Subsequent
Court Hearings
Emergency
Hearing Status Hearing Permanency Permanency Final Merits
(1 day after (60 days post- Hearing Hearing Trial
removal, TMC removal) (within 180 days (every 120 days
date) post-removal) until final order)
Reunification Monitored Return
PMC to KIN
Exits from fostercare
(Permanency) Adoption Case closure
PMC to DFPS
(if parental rights terminated)
Youth Ages Out of care
Caseworker Required Monthly Tasks: Face-to-Face contact with each child, parent and caregiver(s), updates from service providers, document contacts,
complete and submit Monthly Evaluation in IMPACT, conference with Supervisor
13
CPS Placement Options
Each placement type provides services (treatment, case management, therapy, etc.) based on their
contract
Relative or
Fictive Kin
caregiver
General Residential Operations
DFPS FAD
foster home
(excluding all SSCC
catchment areas and
DFPS Region 6
(Houston))
Private Child Multiple Services:
PlacingAgency Transitional Living Services
Foster home Emergency Care
Assessment Services
Respite Services
Treatment Services
14
TIMELINE
15
Staff Allegation/Investigation #1: Child #1 and Child #2
16
Staff Allegation/Investigation #2: Child #3 and Child #6
17
Staff Allegation/Investigation #3: Child #4 and Child #5
18
State Office Response
19
Process Improvements
• SWI / CPI / CPS Associate Commissioners reinforcing guidelines for
elevation of issues. Associate Commissioners held all-staff
meetings.
• Policy will now reflect that RCCI and CPS are required to do joint
staffings to address issues on all cases.
• Commissioner has directed Human Resources to conduct a
management review of CPS and CPI.
20
DFPS Key Statutes
Chapter 40 of the Texas Human Resources Code: General duties and
functions of the Department of Family and Protective Services
Subchapter B of Chapter 162 of the Texas Family Code: Interstate compact
of the placement of children
Chapter 261 of the Texas Family Code: Investigation of reports of child
abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Chapter 262 of the Texas Family Code: Procedures in suit by governmental
entity to protect health and safety of the child
Chapter 264 of the Texas Family Code: Child welfare services, including
community-based-care.
21
