Texas Parental Placements
Texas conducts the following types of home studies:
- Relative Care
- Foster Care
- Parent Care
- Adoption
Texas will not accept more than 2 home study requests on several prospective caregivers for placement of the same child at a time. The sending state will need to wait until the homestudies are completed prior to sending additional home study requests on other prospective caregivers.
Custodial Parent - Reunification
If child has been removed from the parent, Texas requires a home study evaluation before reunification:
Non-Custodial Parents
Placements with non-custodial parents are not subject to the ICPC if:
-
A court does not have evidence before it that such parent is unfit;
-
Does not seek such evidence; and
-
Does not retain jurisdiction over the child after the court transfers the child.
Texas will not accept a parent home study request on a Non Offending Parent unless Court Ordered by the sending state.
Proof of Paternity Required for Placement with Paternal Relative:
Regulation 7 Priority Placement
Texas performs priority placements:
Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study)
Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):
Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):
Texas determines the "Date of Receipt" for an interstate home study as:
- Date stamped in the ICPC Office.
Mailing Process - Interstate Home Study
Method of requesting, sending, and/or reporting an interstate home study:
|
Regular Mail |
Express Mail |
Overnight Mail |
Electronic Mail |
| Send request for a home study to Receiving State |
y |
|
y |
y |
| Send home study request to Local office |
|
|
|
y |
| Send home study report to Sending State |
y |
|
y |
y |
Criminal Records Checks
Texas requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:
- Foster Care
- Relative Care
- Adoption
- Parent
Types of Checks (Criminal & Abuse Neglect Registry)
Texas requires the following types of criminal background and perpetrator checks:
Federal (F), State (S), Local (L), Abuse and Neglect Registry (ANR), Not Required (NR)
|
Federal |
State |
Local |
ANR |
NR |
| Parent |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
| Relative |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
| Foster Care |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
| Adoption |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
Wait Time for Criminal Records Checks
Wait time for fingerprint results are:
Live Scan or other technology
- State: 8-14 days
- Local/County: Not Offered
Manually - Fingerprint Card
- State: 15-30 days
- Local/County: 15-30 days
Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):
Verification of Criminal Records Results
- Actual results/information contained in the Criminal Background
- Signature verifying background check completed
Wait Time - (License/Certification/Approval - Education and Training)
Average Length of time it takes for a home to be licensed/approved/certified:
Length of time a license is valid before renewal required:
Texas offers classes (education and training) for placement resources' homes to become licensed/certified/approved:
- Other: if classes are offered at state or county discretion. - Varies among each Region in Texas (there are 11 Regions)
