(a) A child-placing agency that is licensed or certified
to provide only foster care services or to provide both foster care
services and adoption services must adopt either:
(1) The model suicide prevention, intervention, and
postvention policy in §749.137 of this division (relating to
What is the model suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention
policy?); or
(2) Another suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention
policy that is approved by the Executive Commissioner of the Texas
Health and Human Services Commission or designee and:
(A) Addresses suicide prevention, intervention, and
prevention for children in the care of your agency;
(B) Is based on current and best evidence-based practices;
(C) Requires employees to receive annual suicide prevention
training that includes understanding of safety planning and screening
for risk;
(D) Requires foster parents in homes verified to care
for children five years of age or older to complete at least one hour
of suicide prevention training:
(i) Within a year of being verified; and
(ii) every two years thereafter;
(E) Promotes suicide prevention training for non-employees,
as appropriate; and
(F) Includes plans and procedures to support children
who return to your agency's care following hospitalization for a mental
health condition.
(b) The suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention
policy adopted under subsection (a) of this section may be part of
a broader mental health crisis plan if the components of the plan
include suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
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