ESBD_File_202066_HHS0007900-pkg3-addendum-4 (002).doc

Open Enrollment for In-State Adoption Services

Procurement Number: HHS0007900 Addenda

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

ADDENDA

To Open Enrollment

HHS0007900

For

In-State Adoption Services

Notice is hereby given to prospective applicants to the above referenced open enrollment that changes have been made to requirements or information in the open enrollment, as noted in the addenda below.

(Note: In the column with the heading "Open Enrollment Reference", the references to "Package" refer to the link, as listed on the HHSC Open Enrollment Opportunities webpage and Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD) posting of this open enrollment.)

Addendum #4 January 20, 2023

Item

Open Enrollment

Reference

Previous

Revised Language

(Provider

Enrollment for: In-State Adoption Services)

· 1.2 Point of Contact. The sole point of contact for questions and communications for this Open Enrollment is Delayne Williams at delayne.williams@dfps.state.tx.us.

· 1.2 Point of Contact. The sole point of contact for questions and communications for this Open Enrollment is Delayne Williams at delayne.williams@dfps.texas.gov.

· The following Section 2.12.4 A Home Screening A. Home Screening

The Contractor will provide documentation to DFPS that a home screening has been completed on the home by the Child-Placing Agency (CPA) that meets DFPS’ Minimum Standards for Child Placing Agencies, prior to DFPS considering a child for placement in the home; and upon request by DFPS, the Contractor will complete and submit the Non-DFPS Adoptive Home Registration Form 2238.

· The following Section 2.12.4 A. Home Screening updated:

B. Home Screening

The Contractor will provide documentation to DFPS that a home screening has been completed on the home by the Child-Placing Agency (CPA) that meets DFPS’ Minimum Standards for Child Placing Agencies, prior to DFPS considering a child for placement in the home.

· The following Section 2.15.7 Adoption Competency Training

2.3.1 Adoption Competency Training

CPAs intending to enter into a contract for In-State Adoption Services must provide adoption competency training to staff providing direct services, which specifically includes the Case Manager(s), Supervisor, and any other providers working with the CPA that will be involved in the adoption case.

A. The adoption competency training curriculum must be a minimum of sixteen (16) hours and must include all twenty (20) of the topics below. The curriculum topics are:

1) The role of CPS, the child’s CPS worker, and the CPS Foster and Adoption worker;

2) The role of the Private Agency and the family’s adoption worker;

3) Grief and Loss;

4) Attachment;

5) Types of Abuse/Neglect;

6) The impact of Abuse/Neglect on children;

7) Definition of special needs children;

8) Biases and attitudes that negatively impact Special Needs Adoptions;

9) Sibling placements;

10) Multi-Ethnic Placement Act-Interethnic Provisions;

11) Trans-racial and cross-cultural placements, including issues to consider and specific ways to support the families;

12) General selection process/matching child and family;

13) General presentation process;

14) Transitioning a child and family from foster care to adoption;

15) Preparing families to be an adoptive placement for children in foster care;

16) Legal risk placements;

17) Pre-placement visits;

18) Adoption plan of service;

19) Indicators for disruption/dissolution and ways to prevent it; and

20) Services available for adoptive families that are available through the regional Post Adoption Contractor.

· The following Section 2.15.7 Adoption Competency Training

2.3.2 Adoption Competency Training

CPAs intending to enter into a contract for In-State Adoption Services must provide adoption competency training to staff providing direct services, which specifically includes the Case Manager(s), Supervisor, and any other providers working with the CPA that will be involved in the adoption case.

A. The adoption competency training curriculum must be a minimum of sixteen (16) hours and must include all twenty (20) of the topics below. The curriculum topics are:

1) The role of CPS, the child’s CPS worker, and the CPS Foster and Adoption worker;

2) The role of the Private Agency and the family’s adoption worker;

3) Grief and Loss;

4) Attachment;

5) Types of Abuse/Neglect;

6) The impact of Abuse/Neglect on children;

7) Definition of special needs children;

8) Biases and attitudes that negatively impact Special Needs Adoptions;

9) Sibling placements*;

10) Multi-Ethnic Placement Act-Interethnic Provisions;

11) Trans-racial and cross-cultural placements, including issues to consider and specific ways to support the families;

12) General selection process/matching child and family*;

13) General presentation process*;

14) Transitioning a child and family from foster care to adoption;

15) Preparing families to be an adoptive placement for children in foster care;

16) Legal risk placements*;

17) Pre-placement visits*;

18) Adoption plan of service*;

19) Indicators for disruption/dissolution and ways to prevent it; and

20) Services available for adoptive families that are available through the regional Post Adoption Contractor.

B. The adoption curriculum topics are available in The National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI). NTI is an evidence-based and trauma informed web-based training. NTI was funded through the Children’s Bureau and the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) and is available free of charge on both domains. The training can be accessed at https://adoptionsupport.org/nti/

* These topics are not covered by NTI and will need supplemental training.

C. Resources for developing training on these topics can be found in: Special Needs Adoption Training Curricula Resources for Contractors.

· The following Section 2.23.4 Non DFPS Adoptive Home Registration, Form 2238

The Contractor completes Form 2238 to register approved adoptive families who have been assessed and have shown an interest in parenting children in DFPS Conservatorship, with special needs, who are awaiting an adoptive family. The Contractor mails this form to DFPS CPS Caseworker for data entry into IMPACT and maintains a copy of Form 2238 in the Contractor's file. The purpose of this form is to:

A. Provide demographic information on approved Child-Placing Agency adoptive homes for entry into the Information Management Protecting Adults and Children in Texas (IMPACT) automation system.

B. Provide updated information or changes regarding Child-Placing Agency adoptive homes listed in IMPACT.

C. Provide information to close Child-Placing Agency adoptive homes listed in IMPACT.

· The following Section 2.23.4 Non DFPS Adoptive Home Registration, Form 2238 was deleted.

Addendum #3 February 20, 2020

Item

Open Enrollment

Reference

D. The following Section 2.24.2 Performance Measures, Outcome #1 Numerator: Numerator: The total number of intact (non-disrupted) placements at the end of the Reporting Period.

Numerator: The total number of disrupted placements at the end of the Reporting Period.

Addendum #2 July 31, 2020

Item

Open Enrollment

Reference

The following Section 6. Definitions have been revised.

The revision added “Special Needs Adoption” to the definitions in Section 6.

Addendum #1 July 13, 2020

Item

Open Enrollment

Reference

In general, Sections throughout the Open Enrollment numbering has been corrected and revised from beginning with the No. 5 sequence.

In general, Sections throughout the Open Enrollment numbering has been corrected and revised to begin with the No.1 sequence.

The following Section 2.15.2 language has been revised:

2.15.2 Personnel Listing

The Contractor must submit Form PCS-102, Contracting Entity and List of Staff, Subcontractors, and Volunteers for DFPS Contract Manager’s written approval prior to providing services under the contract, when there is a change in key personnel, on an annual basis thereafter, and upon request by DFPS. Written DFPS Contract Manager approval signifies the person has been cleared to provide services and have access to personal client information.

The revised language is as follows:

2.15.2 Personnel Listing

The Contractor must submit Form PCS-102, Contracting Entity and List of Staff, Subcontractors, and Volunteers for DFPS Contract Manager’s written approval prior to providing services under the contract, when there is a change in key personnel and principal, on an annual basis thereafter, and upon request by DFPS. Written DFPS Contract Manager approval signifies the person has been cleared to provide services and have access to personal client information.

The following Section 2.15.4 has been revised:

2.15.4 Trauma-Informed Training

Child Placing Agency staff providing direct services must complete the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Web 2.0 which is a web-based learning course for children and their families.

A. This training must be completed within three months after beginning direct services to CPS clients.

B. Training may be accessed on the following website for Medical University of South Carolina: https://tfcbt2.musc.edu/.

The revised language is as follows:

2.15.4 Trauma-Informed Training

Child Placing Agency staff providing direct services must complete the Trauma-Informed Care Training which is a web-based learning course for children and their families.

A. This training must be completed within three months after beginning direct services to CPS clients.

B. Training may be accessed on the following DFPS website: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/training/trauma_informed_care/

The following Section 2.21 has been revised:

2.21 Other Staff, Subcontractor or Volunteer Records

The following documentation must be maintained for any other staff, subcontractor or volunteer that has access to CPS client records or will have contact with the CPS client:

2.21.1 Copy of completed form 2970c and 2971c; and

2.21.2 DFPS documentation signifying the person is cleared to have access to the client’s information or direct contact with the client.

The revised language is as follows:

2.21 Other Staff, Subcontractor or Volunteer Records

The following documentation must be maintained for any other staff, subcontractor or volunteer that has access to CPS client records or will have contact with the CPS client:

2.21.1 DFPS documentation signifying the person is cleared to have access to the client’s information or direct contact with the client.

2.21.2 As required in DFPS Background Check Handbook Contractor must submit background check requests through Automated Background Check System (ABCS) for principals (e.g. Chief Operating Officer, Chief

Executive Officer, or Executive Director) and the individual assigned to submit background check requests in ABCS prior to having access to confidential client information.

2.21.3 The Contractor is to maintain a copy of the forms 2970c, 2971c and background check results.

The following Section 6. Definitions has been revised.

The revised language added definitions for the following items:

Key Personnel

Principals

APPENDIX B - Required Forms

File Folder 2:

The forms added include:

File folder 2: Required Forms

· 2970C Disclosure and Consent to Release of Information

· 2917C Request for Criminal History and DFPS History Check

Revised 01/20/2023