Minimum Standards and state law regarding foster home screenings require that DFPS obtain service call information from the appropriate law enforcement agency for the prospective foster parent's addresses for the past two years.

Texas Human Resources Code §§42.0449, 42.0561

Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies, 40 TAC §§749.2445(d) Link, 749.2447(7)

Though the Minimum Standards apply this requirement only to foster home screenings, FAD policy applies it to both foster and adoptive home screenings.

The FAD worker must:

 •   have the foster or adoptive applicants complete Form 2954 [sic, broken link] Family Violence Calls Disclosure for Foster and Adoptive Applicants;

 •   regardless of whether results are found or whether the applicant discloses any calls or incidents on Form 2954, ask the foster or adoptive applicants whether any law enforcement agency has responded to any of their residences in the past two years. If so:

 •   request background information from each law enforcement agency that responded, and

 •   discuss with the applicants each incident and any additional background information;

 •   obtain service call information for the foster or adoptive applicant's addresses for the past two years and discuss with the applicants any results and the facts surrounding the incident;

 •   address and document information obtained from law enforcement and any discussion with the applicants in the foster or adoptive home screening;

 •   document results in the home record; and

 •   consider whether to move forward with the application in accordance with 7440 Evaluating Background Check Results and Service Call Information.

Reporting Service Call Information to CCL

Even if the application will not move forward and the home screening will not be completed, the FAD worker must report any domestic violence information to Child-Care Licensing.