Chapter 48, Title 2, of the Texas Human Resources Code (HRC) and Chapter 705 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) authorizes APS to investigate abuse and financial exploitation of a person age 65 or older or an adult with a disability when the person responsible for the maltreatment is a: • caretaker; • paid caretaker; • family member; or • person who has an ongoing relationship with the alleged victim. Examples include a personal friend, paramour, or roommate. In the case of neglect, the perpetrator may also be the victim himself or herself. This is called "Self-neglect". In cases of family violence, a protective order can be obtained from a court that prohibits a member of a family or household from remaining in the household, and from contacting or coming near the victim. The purpose of the order is to prevent that person from committing further acts of family violence against the victim. The statutes governing family violence protective orders are set forth in Texas Family Code Chapters 71-87. This order is only available when family violence has been committed by a family member, member of the household, or in some circumstances by a person the victim has dated. Each victim may have more than one perpetrator in an investigation. Visit dfps.state.tx.us for information on all DFPS programs.

Human Resources Code 48.152 requires that APS investigations include an interview with the person age 65 or older or adult with disabilities, if appropriate, and with persons thought to have knowledge of the circumstances. APS interviews all appropriate parties, including reporters, alleged victims, alleged perpetrators, witnesses, medical staff, and others who have knowledge of allegations and alleged victims' situations. DFPS staff must not disclose the reporter’s name to the victim, the victim’s family, or the public. The reporter’s name may be released verbally or in writing to the courts, the district or county attorney, law enforcement agencies, and DFPS staff. APS case-related information is confidential. APS only provides the reporter with pertinent case information necessary to: • confirm whether allegations will be accepted for investigation; • collect evidence and gather relevant information related to allegations and the alleged victim’s overall situation and risk; and • arrange for protective services to reduce risk of harm or alleviate abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. 1. A report of abuse/neglect/financial exploitation may come from multiple sources making the source total higher than the total number of intakes. 2. Inclusion based on intake closure date.

ABOUT THIS CHART Allegation Disposition (Findings) Codes: Valid. Based on the standard of preponderance of the evidence, it is more likely than not that the maltreatment occurred. Invalid. Based on the standard of preponderance of the evidence, it is more likely than not that the maltreatment did not occur. Unable to Determine. A preponderance of the available evidence is insufficient to support a finding of Valid or Invalid. Other. The allegation disposition Other is used when an investigation of the allegation was not completed for some reason, e.g. clients died or cases were misclassified. 1. Family Violence is indicated when a validated investigation has a relative perpetrator, excluding those where financial exploitation is the only confirmed allegation. 2. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2015, services provided during the investigation are documented in the investigation stage and not in a separate service stage. 3. The "Other" Disposition category refers to those investigations that workers could not complete, e.g. clients died or cases were misclassified. 4. The population totals do not match prior DFPS Data Books, printed or online. Past population estimates are adjusted based on the U.S. Census data as it becomes available. This is important to keep the data in line with current best practices, but will cause some past counts, such as Abuse/Neglect Victims per 1,000 Texas Children, to be recalculated. Population Data Source - Population Estimates and Projections Program, Texas State Data Center, Office of the State Demographer and the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio. Current population estimates and projections for all years from 2014 to 2023 as of December 2023. Visit dfps.state.tx.us for information on all DFPS programs.

DFPS sets priorities for the delivery of protective services. In establishing priorities, DFPS defines timeframes for conducting initial face-to-face interviews with alleged victims. The priorities are based on severity and immediacy of alleged threat to the life or physical safety of the alleged victim. (40 Texas Administrative Code §705.2101) The initial face-to-face contact with the alleged victim is conducted according to the following priorities: Priority 1: Allegations that the victim is in a state of serious harm or is in danger of death from abuse or neglect. APS makes face-to-face contact within 24 hours of SWI’s receipt of Priority I allegations. Priority 2: Allegations that the victim is abused, neglected, or financially exploited and, as a result, is at risk of serious harm. APS makes face-to-face contact within three calendar days of SWI’s receipt of Priority II allegations. Priority 3: All other allegations that the victim is in a state of abuse or neglect. APS makes face-to-face contact within seven calendar days of SWI’s receipt of Priority III allegations. Priority 4: Allegations of financial exploitation when there is no danger of imminent impoverishment or deprivation of basic needs. APS makes face-to-face contact within 14 calendar days of SWI’s receipt of Priority IV allegations. Inclusion is based on the Intake Closure Date.

The principal governing legislation for CPI investigations is Chapter 261 of the Texas Family Code (TFC). 1. Victims have been unduplicated by investigation stage. 2. Abuse/neglect investigations can contain multiple allegations, each with their own disposition. More information at www.dfps.texas.gov

Adults age 65 or older are automatically eligible for APS services based on their age. An adult age 18 to 64 old must be substantially impaired to be eligible for APS services. Substantial impairment is defined as: "When a disability grossly and chronically diminishes an adult’s physical or mental ability to live independently or provide self-care as determined through observation, diagnosis, evaluation, or assessment." (Texas Human Resources Code §48.002(a)(8); 40 Texas Administrative Code §705.1001) Assessment of a mental, physical, or developmental disability as indicated by one of the following: • A medical condition • Professional diagnosis • Reported or observed behavior that is consistent with such a diagnosis. The disability must cause a long-lasting and considerable inability to live independently or provide self-care. The population totals do not match prior DFPS Data Books, printed or online. Past population estimates are adjusted based on the U.S. Census data as it becomes available. This is important to keep the data in line with current best practices, but will cause some past counts, such as Abuse/Neglect Victims per 1,000 Texas Children, to be recalculated. Population Data Source - Population Estimates and Projections Program, Texas State Data Center, Office of the State Demographer and the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio. Current population estimates and projections for all years from 2014 to 2023 as of December 2023.

CPI Intakes: Priority, Screening and Assignment To establish timeframes for investigations, each report of child abuse and neglect is assigned a priority: Priority I - Intake reports that concern children who appear to face an immediate risk of abuse or neglect that could result in death or serious harm. CPI must initiate the investigation within 24 hours of receiving a Priority I report. Priority II - All reports of abuse or neglect that are not assigned as Priority I are assigned as Priority II. These are reports that contain allegations of abuse or neglect in which there does not appear to be an immediate threat of serious harm or death. A subset of these reports are sent down the Alternative Response (AR)* pathway. Those reports not sent to AR continue as a traditional investigation. CPI must initiate these investigations within 72 hours of receiving a Priority II report. *In November 2014, CPI implemented Alternative Response (AR) which is a different way to respond to reports of abuse/neglect. AR allows for a more flexible, family engaging approach while still focusing on the safety of the children. AR cases differ from traditional investigations cases in that there will be no substantiation of allegations, no entry of perpetrators into the Central Registry (a repository for reports of child abuse and neglect), and there will be a heightened focus on guiding the family to plan for safety in a way that works for them and therefore sustains the safety. This dashboard addresses Texas Family Code Section 264.017(b)(1).