When interviewing the alleged victim, the APS worker:
• addresses all important factors regarding the allegations and the alleged victim’s overall situation;
• interviews the alleged victim alone in cases involving an alleged perpetrator, but allows the alleged victim to have another person present, if requested by the alleged victim; and
• interviews the alleged victim again at a later time as necessary to resolve discrepancies.

When another person is present during the interview, the APS worker documents whether the alleged victim requested that the person be present and the person’s relationship to the alleged victim.

The APS specialist monitors the alleged victim during the interview to see if the alleged victim appears to be hesitant, withdrawn, or nervous while participating in the interview. Such cues may be indications that the alleged victim is not comfortable speaking openly in the presence of the other person.

FOOTNOTES
1. Includes victims who were also perpetrators (findings of self-neglect.)

2. Victims have been unduplicated by investigation stage.

3. Some investigations were completed without region or county location information being recorded. These investigations are included in the relevant annual total, with "None Specified" as their Region and County values.

This table addresses Texas Human Resource Code Section 40.0516, subsection (a) (1)(F).

After FY21 SWI screeners completed the screening process for RCCI intakes.
Data can now be found under:
SWI 1.5 Residential Child Care Investigation (RCCI) Intakes Screened Out FY2014-2023
https://data.texas.gov/dataset/SWI-1-5-Residential-Child-Care-Investigation-RCCI-/yip4-ziki/about_data

Chapter 48, Title 2, of the Texas Human Resources Code (HRC) and Chapter 705 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) authorizes APS to investigate abuse and financial exploitation of a person age 65 or older or an adult with a disability when the person responsible for the maltreatment is a:
• caretaker;
• paid caretaker;
• family member; or
• person who has an ongoing relationship with the alleged victim. Examples include a personal friend, paramour, or roommate.
In the case of neglect, the perpetrator may also be the victim himself or herself. This is called "Self-neglect".
In cases of family violence, a protective order can be obtained from a court that prohibits a member of a family or household from remaining in the household, and from contacting or coming near the victim. The purpose of the order is to prevent that person from committing further acts of family violence against the victim.
The statutes governing family violence protective orders are set forth in Texas Family Code Chapters 71-87. This order is only available when family violence has been committed by a family member, member of the household, or in some circumstances by a person the victim has dated.

Each victim may have more than one perpetrator at the end of an investigation.

Visit dfps.state.tx.us for information on all DFPS programs.

When interviewing the alleged victim, the APS worker:
• addresses all important factors regarding the allegations and the alleged victim’s overall situation;
• interviews the alleged victim alone in cases involving an alleged perpetrator, but allows the alleged victim to have another person present, if requested by the alleged victim; and
• interviews the alleged victim again at a later time as necessary to resolve discrepancies.

When another person is present during the interview, the APS worker documents whether the alleged victim requested that the person be present and the person’s relationship to the alleged victim.

The APS specialist monitors the alleged victim during the interview to see if the alleged victim appears to be hesitant, withdrawn, or nervous while participating in the interview. Such cues may be indications that the alleged victim is not comfortable speaking openly in the presence of the other person.

1. Includes victims who were also perpetrators (findings of self-neglect.)

2. Victims have been unduplicated by investigation stage.

3. Some investigations were completed without region or county location information being recorded. These investigations are included in the relevant annual total, with "None Specified" as their Region and County values.

Visit dfps.state.tx.us for information on all DFPS programs.

This chart includes statewide intake staff, investigation staff, Alternative Response staff with caseworker job classifications along with CPI Screeners and CPI Special Investigators.

SWI Intake Workers are located in Austin (Travis County), El Paso and Texarkana (Bowie County).

This dashboard addressed a prior reporting requirement from the Texas Family Code.

Visit dfps.texas.gov for information on CPS Abuse/Neglect Investigations and all DFPS programs.

Chapter 48, Title 2, of the Texas Human Resources Code (HRC) and Chapter 705 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) authorizes APS to investigate abuse and financial exploitation of a person age 65 or older or an adult with a disability when the person responsible for the maltreatment is a:
• caretaker;
• paid caretaker;
• family member; or
• person who has an ongoing relationship with the alleged victim. Examples include a personal friend, paramour, or roommate.
In the case of neglect, the perpetrator may also be the victim himself or herself. This is called "Self-neglect".
In cases of family violence, a protective order can be obtained from a court that prohibits a member of a family or household from remaining in the household, and from contacting or coming near the victim. The purpose of the order is to prevent that person from committing further acts of family violence against the victim.
The statutes governing family violence protective orders are set forth in Texas Family Code Chapters 71-87. This order is only available when family violence has been committed by a family member, member of the household, or in some circumstances by a person the victim has dated.

Each victim may have more than one perpetrator in an investigation.

Visit dfps.state.tx.us for information on all DFPS programs.

Child Protective Investigations (CPI) conducts either a traditional investigation or Alternative Response (AR). Traditional investigations and Alternative Response require caseworkers to assess safety and take needed actions to protect a child while assessing any risk of abuse or neglect in the foreseeable future. AR cases present a less adversarial more collaborative approach to working with families by allowing for family engagement along with other community supports to ensure child safety. AR differs from traditional investigations in that AR cases are Priority 2 cases involving victims who are age 6 or older, there is no substantiation of allegations, no entry of perpetrators into the Central Registry (a repository for reports of child abuse and neglect), and there is a heightened focus on guiding the family to plan for safety in a way that works for them and therefore sustains safety.

Alterative Response has been fully implemented in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. AR in Region 6A is in the implementation stage. Full state implementation is anticipated in March 2021. Region 6A is Harris County and Region 6B is Region 6 excluding Harris County.

Stages that were administratively closed or closed to merge were excluded from this report.

This dashboard addresses Texas Family Code Section 264.017 (b) (3).

A Family Team Meeting (FTM) is a family-centered rapid response meeting CPI uses to try and prevent a removal by engaging caregivers, parents and extended family and friends to address child safety concerns. An FTM is not limited to an investigation and can occur at any point or stage in which CPI or CPS is involved with a family.

More information at www.dfps.texas.gov

Family and Youth Success Program (FAYS) (Formerly Services to At-Risk Youth (STAR)) - The FAYS program contracts with community agencies to offer family crisis intervention counseling, short- term emergency respite care, and individual and family counseling. Youth up to age 17 and their families are eligible if they experience conflict at home, truancy or delinquency, or a youth who runs away from home. FAYS services are available in all 254 Texas counties. Each FAYS contractor also provides universal child abuse prevention services, ranging from local media campaigns to informational brochures and parenting classes.

Data as of December 21, 2023.

Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) is a collaborative approach to service planning and decision making. Using the FGDM approach, families join with relatives, friends, and others in the community to develop a plan to ensure children are cared for and protected from future harm. This broader constellation of “family” convenes with information providers/community supports and CPS caseworkers in a unique partnership that empowers the “family group” with a high degree of decision-making authority and responsibility. FGCs generally are held after a child is removed, but may also be used before removal when the family receives Family Based Safety Services.

More information at www.dfps.texas.gov.