Current through Reg. 50, No. 13; March 28, 2025
(a) Child placement
staff must have at least:
(1) Two face-to-face
contacts with birth parents prior to the relinquishment of parental rights over
a period of two or more days. At least one interview must be held after the
birth of the child. If face-to-face contact with the birth father is not
feasible, you must document justification for contacts that are not
face-to-face; and
(2) Except in
cases of relinquishment or involuntary termination of parental rights,
quarterly contact with birth parents prior to placement of the child.
(b) If the contacts required in
subsection (a) of this section cannot be made, you must document that you have
exercised reasonable efforts to locate the absent parent, and you must document
why the contacts could not be made. Reasonable efforts to locate an absent
parent are not required for an alleged biological father whose rights will be
terminated under Texas Family Code §
161.002(c-1).
(c) Contacts must assist birth parents to:
(1) Understand their feelings regarding
relinquishing the child for adoption;
(2) Understand the long-range implications of
relinquishing the child for adoption;
(3) Freely make a choice regarding
relinquishing the child to the agency for adoption. The birth parents must not
be pressured to make a decision to place their child for adoption;
(4) Express their expectations for adoptive
placement, if placement is chosen, and the degree and type of involvement, if
any, they desire with adoptive family; and
(5) Provide the required Health, Social,
Educational, and Genetic History Report (HSEGH) information, if
applicable.
(d) The
following topics must be discussed with the birth parents:
(1) Preparation for childbirth, when
applicable;
(2) Relinquishment or
waiver of parental rights;
(3)
Termination of parental rights; and
(4) Counseling in regard to separation, loss,
and grief issues.
(e)
Staff providing the service must document all contacts with birth
parents.
(f) You may contract with
another licensed child-placing agency to make these contacts as long as:
(1) The person making the contacts meets the
minimum qualifications for a child-placement staff in §
749.673 of this title (relating to
What are the qualifications that an employee must have to perform child
placement activities?);
(2) The
agency submits the required documentation to you;
(3) Your child-placement management staff
reviews and approves the documentation; and
(4) You maintain the documentation in the
child's record.
