Texas Administrative Code
Title 40 - SOCIAL SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE
Part 19 - DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Chapter 700 - CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Subchapter O - FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE HOME DEVELOPMENT
Section 700.1504 - Approval of Foster and/or Adoptive Home Study

The Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (TDPRS) evaluates applicants based on the applicants' ability to care for specific children needing placement. TDPRS approves home studies based on an evaluation of the applicants' total situation; their flexibility in all areas of life; their sensitivity and understanding of children's needs, and their ability to meet the developmental, maintenance, and protection needs of children in TDPRS's managing conservatorship. The written assessment or home study of the family must be completed within four months beginning on the date all information and documentation is returned by the family or on the date of the last pre-service training session. If these two dates are different, staff may use the later date to determine the time frame for completion of the home study. Staff must submit the home study to the supervisor for approval. Supervisors must approve or disapprove the home study within 30 days. Staff must inform the family that they need to return all information and necessary documents within two weeks after pre-service training has ended or their case will be closed. Staff need to inform the family that they may re-open their application to become adoptive parents at a later time, if their case was closed for failure to return all necessary documents. Families who reapply within one year of completing pre-service may need to complete an overview training. This decision must be made by the supervisor. Reasons for this decision must be documented in the family's record. Families who reapply after one year of pre-service will need to attend pre-service training again.