The department has to make a safety-and-return plan before closing certain child safety placement cases, and it may only close some cases if specific written agreements and documents are in place.
Sec. 264.904. DEPARTMENT PROCEDURES FOR CLOSING CASE. (a) Before closing a case in which the department has approved a parental child safety placement, the department must develop a plan with the person who made the placement and the caregiver for the safe return of the child to the person who placed the child with the caregiver or to another person legally entitled to possession of the child, as appropriate. (b) The department may close a case with a child still living with the caregiver in a parental child safety placement if the department has determined that the child could safely return to the parent or person who made the parental child safety placement but the parent or other person agrees in writing for the child to continue to reside with the caregiver. (c) If the department determines that the child is unable to safely return to the parent or person who made the parental child safety placement, the department shall determine whether the child can remain safely in the home of the caregiver or whether the department must seek legal conservatorship of the child in order to ensure the child's safety. (d) Before the department may close a case with a child still living in a parental child safety placement, the department must: (1) determine and document in the case file that the child can safely remain in the placement without the department's supervision; (2) obtain the written agreement of the parent or person who made the parental child safety placement, if possible; (3) obtain the caregiver's agreement in writing that the child can continue living in the placement after the department closes the case; and (4) develop a written plan for the child's care after the department closes the case. (e) The department is not required to comply with Subsection (d) if the department has filed suit seeking to be named conservator of the child under Chapter 262 and been denied conservatorship of the child. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1071 (S.B. 993), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011.