Sec. 261.3125. CHILD SAFETY SPECIALISTS. (a) The department shall employ in each of the department's administrative regions at least one child safety specialist. The job responsibilities of the child safety specialist must focus on child abuse and neglect investigation issues, including reports of child abuse required by Section 261.101, to achieve a greater compliance with that section, and on assessing and improving the effectiveness of the department in providing for the protection of children in the region.
(b) The duties of a child safety specialist must include the duty to:
(1) conduct staff reviews and evaluations of cases determined to involve a high risk to the health or safety of a child, including cases of abuse reported under Section 261.101, to ensure that risk assessment tools are fully and correctly used;
(2) review and evaluate cases in which there have been multiple referrals to the department of child abuse or neglect involving the same family, child, or person alleged to have committed the abuse or neglect; and
(3) approve decisions and assessments related to investigations of cases of child abuse or neglect that involve a high risk to the health or safety of a child.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1490, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 268 (S.B. 6), Sec. 1.29, eff. September 1, 2005.
Structure Texas Statutes
Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship
Subtitle E - Protection of the Child
Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect
Section 261.301. Investigation of Report
Section 261.3011. Joint Investigation Guidelines and Training
Section 261.3013. Case Closure Agreements Prohibited
Section 261.3015. Alternative Response System
Section 261.3016. Training of Personnel Receiving Reports of Abuse and Neglect
Section 261.30171. Forensic Assessment Center Network Evaluation
Section 261.30175. Mitigation of Provider Conflicts in Abuse or Neglect Investigation Consultations
Section 261.3018. Abbreviated Investigation and Administrative Closure of Certain Cases
Section 261.302. Conduct of Investigation
Section 261.3021. Casework Documentation and Management
Section 261.3022. Child Safety Check Alert List
Section 261.3023. Law Enforcement Response to Child Safety Check Alert
Section 261.3024. Removal From Child Safety Check Alert List
Section 261.3027. Notice of Right to Record Interview
Section 261.303. Interference With Investigation; Court Order
Section 261.3031. Failure to Cooperate With Investigation; Department Response
Section 261.3032. Interference With Investigation; Criminal Penalty
Section 261.304. Investigation of Anonymous Report
Section 261.305. Access to Mental Health Records
Section 261.306. Removal of Child From State
Section 261.307. Information Relating to Investigation Procedure and Child Placement Resources
Section 261.3071. Informational Manuals
Section 261.308. Submission of Investigation Report
Section 261.309. Review of Department Investigations
Section 261.3091. Notice of Right to Request Administrative Review
Section 261.310. Investigation Standards
Section 261.311. Notice of Report
Section 261.312. Review Teams; Offense
Section 261.3125. Child Safety Specialists
Section 261.3126. Colocation of Investigators
Section 261.315. Removal of Certain Investigation Information From Records