An Overview of Child Protective Services

1. An Overview of Child Protective Services

2. Children First: Protected and Connected The Mission of Child Protective Services is to protect children and to act in the children’s best interest. To seek active involvement of the children’s parents and other family members to solve problems that lead to abuse and neglect.

3. Legal Basis for CPS Federal Laws State Laws Texas Family Code County Specific: Standing Orders, Contracts

4. Investigations • Mandatory Reporting to Statewide Intake 1-800-252-5400 or Txabusehotline.org • Investigation of abuse/neglect Abandonment ABAN Neglectful Supervision NSUP Physical Abuse PHAB Sexual Abuse SXAB Refusal to Accept Parental Responsibility RAPR Physical Neglect PHNG Emotional Abuse EMAB Medical Neglect MDNG Human Trafficking

5. Investigations Intake Received by Statewide Intake Administratively Closed ADM Close PN None P1 24hrs P2 72hrs Unable to Complete UTC Close with community services Ruled Out R/O Contact Reporter Contact Child/Children Contact Parents/Guardian Contact Collaterals Open to Family-Based Safety Services Unable to Determine UTD May require safety plan & Parental Child Safety Placement to address child safety Reason to Believe RTB Remove to Substitute Care

6. Parental Child Safety Placement • Out of home placement • Made by a parent • Based on child safety • Can be an alternative to CPS petitioning for court-ordered removal of the child • Time-limited • Requires evaluation of voluntary caregiver

7. Family-Based Safety Services • Time Limited (Avg. 8 months) • Designed to be in-home or with PCSP • Services are contracted or community based • Family Group Decision Making • Service to Address: • Safety Threats • Parent’s Protective Capacities • Child Specific Needs

8. Substitute Care • When children cannot live safely with their own parents, CPS may petition the court to remove them from their homes. • Key Parts to Substitute Care: Types of Placements Kinship Care Relatives & Fictive Kin Foster Care Foster Homes Kinship Foster Homes Group Homes Residential Treatment Shelters Services Family Plan of Service Child’s Plan of Service STAR Health Family Group Conferences Parent Support Groups Caregiver Trainings (Kinship & PRIDE) Some Financial Support

9. Substitute Care Timeline Deny Removal 14 1 Child Removed Emergency Hearing Adversary Hearing Order FBSS Child Remains in Care Every 120 days 60 180 Permanency Hearings Initial Permanency Hearing Status Hearing Possible Outcomes: Reunification Relatives Adoption PMC to CPS Independent Living Anniversary of Order giving CPS TMC (1yr) Every 180 days Placement Review Hearings Final Merits Hearing / Trial

10. Substitute Care Programs • Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) • Transitional Living Services (TLS) • Adoption Assistance • Permanency Care Assistance (PCA) • Extended Foster Care • Higher Education Services

11. Family Focused • Knowing the Family Trainings • Parent Collaboration Group & Parent Support Groups • Utilizing Parental Child Safety Placements • Family Group Decision Making • Notification to relatives • Increased Kinship Placements • Increased Kinship Adoptions

12. Keeping Children Protected & Connected Parent Support Groups Kinship Family Based Safety Services Family Group Decision Making

13. What You Can Do • Child Safety is Everyone’s Concern • Speak Up • Ask for help • Know your rights and responsibilities when working with CPS www.dfps.state.tx.us

14. Important Information • CPS Hotline / Statewide Intake: • 1-800-252-5400 or Txabusehotline.org • DFPS Public Website: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/ • Office of Consumer Affairs: • 1-800-720-7777 or oca@dfps.state.tx.us • Central Registry: 1-888-963-7111 x7388 • 2-1-1 Texas (Resources): • 2-1-1 or https://www.211texas.org/211/