The FAD worker must review Form 2286 Foster Care and Adoption Parenting Application packet for completeness within three business days of receiving the form from a prospective foster or adoptive parent.

If the application packet is complete, the FAD worker must check the application to confirm that the prospective parents are interested in a child in DFPS conservatorship.

Prospective Parents Seek a Child in DFPS Conservatorship

If the prospective parents are interested in fostering or adopting a child in DFPS conservatorship, and they have completed and signed Form 4054c Background Check Statement, the FAD worker must conduct:

 •   a name-based criminal history check with the Texas Department of Public Safety; and

 •   a check in IMPACT to see if there are reports of child abuse and neglect.

If the results of the check are clear, the FAD worker must invite the prospective parents to the next available pre-service training session.

See 7400 Checking Criminal Records and Abuse and Neglect History.

Prospective Parents Do Not Seek a Child in DFPS Conservatorship

If the application shows that the family is not seeking to foster or adopt a child in DFPS conservatorship, the FAD worker must inquire whether the applicants have considered adopting or becoming foster parents to a child in DFPS conservatorship.

If the applicants prefer not to foster or adopt a child in DFPS custody or DFPS conservatorship, the FAD worker must:

 •   refer them to private child-placing agencies; and

 •   close the family's application.

Application is Incomplete

If the application is missing information, the FAD worker must contact the applicants to:

 •   explain what is needed; and

 •   provide a deadline for submission.

If the FAD worker does not receive the missing information by the midpoint before the deadline (for example, after one week, if the deadline is two weeks), the worker must contact the applicants to answer questions or help them complete the form.

If the family does not respond, the FAD worker must make reasonable efforts to contact them, as defined by regional policy. If these efforts are unsuccessful, the FAD worker must:

 •   document the result in IMPACT; and

 •   close the application.