Definition of Temporary Absence

A temporary absence from a placement is when a child or youth in DFPS conservatorship has a planned or unplanned overnight absence from a paid placement. Examples of this include:

• Psychiatric hospitalization.
• Medical hospitalization.
• Respite care (to allow the caregiver to rest from caregiving).
• Being held in jail, a juvenile detention center, or another locked facility.
• Short-term placement to receive services related to substance use.
• Summer camp or another similar camp.
• Trip with a church group, scout group, or other community organization.
• Child goes missing (such as suspected runaways or abductions).

Child or Youth Without Placement (CWOP)

If a child or youth is without placement and is absent from the CWOP location overnight for any of the reasons listed above, the caseworker changes placement information to reflect this and does not enter this as a temporary absence.

Documentation

Paid Placement – IMPACT Documentation

Any time a child or youth in DFPS conservatorship is temporarily absent from the current paid placement, the caseworker documents a Temporary Absence event in the Temporary Absence tab, with the exception of a child who goes missing.

The caseworker creates a Missing Child Temporary Absence by documenting a missing child event on the Missing Child tab. This automatically creates a Missing Child Temporary Absence on the Temporary Absence tab. See 6461.1 Notification Requirements When a Child or Youth Runs Away or Is Missing.

Non-Paid Placement – IMPACT Documentation

The caseworker uses a contact in IMPACT to document the details of a temporary absence from a non-paid placement. The caseworker does not change the placement or enter a Temporary Absence event.

All Placements (Paid and Non-Paid) – Information about Sexual Victimization, Sexual Behavior Problem, Human Trafficking, or Sexual Aggression

The caseworker makes sure that the temporary caregiver for the child or youth has been informed of the child or youth’s history of sexual victimization, sexual behavior problem, human trafficking, or sexual aggression. The caseworker has the temporary caregiver review and sign the child’s Sexual History Report, Attachment A. The caseworker then uploads the signed copy into the Sexual History Report Attachment A tab in OneCase. 

If a Foster and Adoptive Home Development (FAD) caseworker gives Attachment A to the temporary caregiver, the FAD caseworker also gives a copy of the completed Form 2279b Certification of Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse or Sexual Aggression InformationWord Document to the child or youth’s primary caseworker. See 7911 Notice of Any Associated Child Sexual Aggression, Behaviors, or Victimization to an Alternate Caregiver or Temporary Placement.

More Information Related to Absences

See:

4231.1 Notifying a Facility Regulated by Another State Agency of a Child’s Sexual Victimization and Sexual Aggression History

11611.11 Caseworker Actions During Psychiatric Hospitalizations

See Texas Administrative Code §700.323External Link for the legal basis for DFPS policy on payments to providers and caregivers during absences from placement.