1. Child Protective Services Update
Kristene Blackstone
Associate Commissioner for CPS
February 22, 2018

2. 85th Legislative Session implementation Families First
State of the State
Significant organizational changes over past 2 years
On the Horizon
85th Legislative Session implementation
Families First
Federal Performance Improvement Plan

3. Family Based Safety Services Pilot in Region 10
SB 11 requires DFPS to develop a performance-based contract with a single source to establish pilot programs for FBSS services.
Contract was signed with Pathways Youth and Family Services on January 9, 2018, to deliver services in Region 10 (El Paso area) beginning March 1, 2018.
Purpose of the pilot is to:
Increase quality, availability, and effectiveness
Improve safety, permanency, and well-being of children
Test the approach of case management
FBSS Pilot Performance Measures
Engage with FBSS families until case is successfully closed
Reduce the length of time to successfully close a case
Reduce the length of time the case is open
Clients enhance protective factors during their participation
Reduce recidivism
Caregivers achieved all or most of their goals prior to case closure
Services viewed positively by family

4. Treatment Family Foster Care
Time-limited clinical intervention that includes placement and service delivery in specifically trained foster parent homes for children/youth with severe mental, emotional, or behavioral health needs.
The program is an alternative to residential treatment by placing eligible children or youth in a more structured home.
DFPS will award five contracts in districts across the state.
DFPS is currently evaluating proposals.
DFPS anticipates an April 1, 2018, start date to begin providing these services to children
This program stems from SB 1758.
DFPS' objective for this new service is to procure evidence based, or research supported promising practices for foster care treatment and placement services to serve these children to prevent the need for placement in a residential treatment center and to assist in transitioning the child to a less restrictive, permanent placement.
DFPS will be awarding five contracts in different districts that cover the following areas across the state.
Northwest: Regions 1, 2, 9, 10
Northeast: Regions 3 East and 3 West
(The following counties located in Region 3B are excluded: Erath, Hood, Johnson, Tarrant, Palo Pinto, Somervell and Parker)
East Central: Regions 4, 5, 7
Houston: Regions 6A and 6B
South: Regions 8, 11

5. Community-Based Care Implementation Timeline
CBC Catchment Area
RFA Release
Contract Award
Stage Start Date
Region 3b Stage II NA
3/1/18
9/1/18
Region 2 Stage I
10/18/17
4/1/18
10/1/18
Bexar Stage I
12/5/17
6/1/18
12/1/18
Area X Stage I
5/1/18
11/1/18
5/1/19
Area Y Stage I
7/1/18
1/1/19
7/1/19

6. Expansion of PAL Assessment
SB 1758 requires CPS to conduct independent living skills assessments annually for youth in permanent conservatorship aged 14 and 15 and for all youth in temporary or permanent conservatorship aged 16 and older.
FY 18 – DFPS is referring youth at age 15 for assessments.
FY 19 – DFPS will refer youth at age 14 for assessments.
SB 1758

7. 25.7% 19.6% 23.7%↓ CPS Turnover Overall Turnover December 2016 2017
%Change
since 2016
25.7%
19.6%
23.7%↓

8. Average Daily Caseload
December
2016
2017
%Change
since 2016
INV
17.2
13.2
23.3% ↓
CVS
Stages
29.1
26.7
8.2% ↓
Children
20.1
18.5
8% ↓
FBSS
15.8
11.4
27.8% ↓

9. Conservatorship and Permanency Outcomes
December
2016
2017
%Change
since 2016
Relative Placements
44.6%
46.5%
4.3% ↑
Sibling Groups Placed Together
64.7%
65.3%
.9% ↑
Children Placed in Region
78.5%
77.5%
1.3% ↓
Youth Completed PAL
61.3%
81.7%
33.3% ↑