| (a) DFPS has established policy and protocols that
guide caseworkers in providing support and information to kinship
and other non-contracted caregivers of children in DFPS conservatorship
to prevent and reduce the occurrence of runaway incidents. The protocols:
(1) address child safety while promoting normalcy;
(2) include guidelines for identifying children who
might be at risk of running away from their placement;
(3) require caregivers to use the reasonable and prudent
parent standard when making decisions regarding the child; and
(4) are trauma-informed.
(b) DFPS contracts with residential child care providers
include a provision that requires the providers to maintain policy
and protocols to prevent and reduce the occurrence of runaway incidents
by children in DFPS conservatorship that are placed in their operations
and/or foster homes. The contracts require that the protocols:
(1) address child safety while promoting normalcy;
(2) include guidelines for identifying children who
might be at risk of running away from their placement;
(3) require caregivers to use the reasonable and prudent
parent standard when making decisions regarding the child; and
(4) be trauma-informed.
(c) In this section, the following terms have the following
meaning:
(1) "Normalcy" has the same definition as specified
in §748.701 of title 26 (relating to What is "normalcy"?) and §749.2601
of title 26 (relating to What is "normalcy"?). For purposes of this
DFPS section, "age-appropriate normalcy activity" means an activity
or experience as defined in Texas Family Code §264.001(1).
(2) "Reasonable and prudent parent standard" has the
same definition as specified in §748.705 of title 26 (relating
to What is the "reasonable and prudent parent standard"?) and §749.2605
of title 26 (relating to What is the "reasonable and prudent parent
standard"?).
(3) "Runaway" incident is defined as a type of unauthorized
absence where a child who has left the child's placement on the child's
own accord and without permission from the caregiver, does not appear
to have the intent to return and is unable to be located. An unauthorized
absence in which the child has temporarily left the placement without
permission from the caregiver but intends to return, is not considered
a runaway incident for purposes of this DFPS section. For the definition
of an unauthorized absence, see §748.301(3) of title 26 (relating
to What do certain terms mean in this subchapter?) and §749.501(3)
of title 26 (relating to What do certain terms mean in this subchapter?)
for the definition of an unauthorized absence.
(4) "Trauma-informed" has the same definition as specified
in §748.43(70) of title 26 (relating to What do certain words
and terms mean in this chapter?) and §749.43(72) of title 26
(relating to What do certain words and terms mean in this chapter?).
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