Tex. Fam. Code Section 263.102
Service Plan; Contents


(a)

The service plan must:

(1)

be specific;

(2)

be in writing in a language that the parents understand, or made otherwise available;

(3)

be prepared by the department in conference with the child’s parents;

(4)

state appropriate deadlines;

(5)

specify the primary permanency goal and at least one alternative permanency goal;

(6)

state steps that are necessary to:

(A)

return the child to the child’s home if the placement is in foster care;

(B)

enable the child to remain in the child’s home with the assistance of a service plan if the placement is in the home under the department’s supervision; or

(C)

otherwise provide a permanent safe placement for the child;

(7)

state the actions and responsibilities that are necessary for the child’s parents to take to achieve the plan goal during the period of the service plan and the assistance to be provided to the parents by the department or other agency toward meeting that goal;

(8)

state any specific skills or knowledge that the child’s parents must acquire or learn, as well as any behavioral changes the parents must exhibit, to achieve the plan goal;

(9)

state the actions and responsibilities that are necessary for the child’s parents to take to ensure that the child attends school and maintains or improves the child’s academic compliance;

(10)

state the name of the person with the department whom the child’s parents may contact for information relating to the child if other than the person preparing the plan; and

(11)

prescribe any other term or condition that the department determines to be necessary to the service plan’s success.

(b)

The service plan shall include the following statement:
TO THE PARENT: THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT. ITS PURPOSE IS TO HELP YOU PROVIDE YOUR CHILD WITH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE REASONABLE PERIOD SPECIFIED IN THE PLAN. IF YOU ARE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO PROVIDE YOUR CHILD WITH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, YOUR PARENTAL AND CUSTODIAL DUTIES AND RIGHTS MAY BE RESTRICTED OR TERMINATED OR YOUR CHILD MAY NOT BE RETURNED TO YOU. THERE WILL BE A COURT HEARING AT WHICH A JUDGE WILL REVIEW THIS SERVICE PLAN.

(c)

Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 , Sec. 86(16), eff. September 1, 2015.

(d)

The department or other authorized entity must write the service plan in a manner that is clear and understandable to the parent in order to facilitate the parent’s ability to follow the requirements of the service plan.

(e)

Regardless of whether the goal stated in a child’s service plan as required under Subsection (a)(5) is to return the child to the child’s parents or to terminate parental rights and place the child for adoption, the department shall concurrently provide to the child and the child’s family, as applicable:

(1)

time-limited family reunification services as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 629a for a period not to exceed the period within which the court must render a final order in or dismiss the suit affecting the parent-child relationship with respect to the child as provided by Subchapter E; and

(2)

adoption promotion and support services as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 629a.

(f)

The department shall consult with relevant professionals to determine the skills or knowledge that the parents of a child under two years of age should learn or acquire to provide a safe placement for the child. The department shall incorporate those skills and abilities into the department’s service plans, as appropriate.

(g)

Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 , Sec. 86(16), eff. September 1, 2015.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 268 (S.B. 6), Sec. 1.38(a), eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1406 (S.B. 758), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2007.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.174, eff. April 2, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 206), Sec. 32, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 206), Sec. 86(16), eff. September 1, 2015.

Source: Section 263.102 — Service Plan; Contents, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/FA/htm/FA.­263.­htm#263.­102 (accessed Jun. 5, 2024).

263.001
Definitions
263.002
Review of Placements by Court
263.003
Information Relating to Placement of Child
263.004
Notice to Court Regarding Education Decision-making
263.005
Enforcement of Family Service Plan
263.006
Warning to Parents
263.007
Report Regarding Notification of Relatives
263.008
Foster Children’s Bill of Rights
263.009
Permanency Planning Meetings
263.0021
Notice of Hearing
263.0025
Special Education Decision-making for Children in Foster Care
263.0045
Education in Home Setting for Foster Children
263.0061
Notice to Parents of Right to Counsel
263.101
Department to File Service Plan
263.102
Service Plan
263.103
Original Service Plan: Signing and Taking Effect
263.104
Amended Service Plan
263.105
Review of Service Plan
263.106
Court Implementation of Service Plan
263.107
Visitation Plan
263.108
Review of Visitation Plan
263.109
Court Implementation of Visitation Plan
263.00201
Review of Placement in Qualified Residential Treatment Program
263.201
Status Hearing
263.202
Status Hearing
263.203
Appointment of Attorney Ad Litem
263.302
Child’s Attendance at Hearing
263.303
Permanency Progress Report Before Final Order
263.304
Initial Permanency Hearing
263.305
Subsequent Permanency Hearings
263.306
Permanency Hearings Before Final Order
263.307
Factors in Determining Best Interest of Child
263.401
Dismissal After One Year
263.402
Limit on Extension
263.403
Monitored Return of Child to Parent
263.404
Final Order Appointing Department as Managing Conservator Without Terminating Parental Rights
263.405
Appeal of Final Order
263.406
Court Information System
263.407
Final Order Appointing Department as Managing Conservator of Certain Abandoned Children
263.408
Requirements for Appointment of Nonparent as Managing Conservator
263.409
Final Notification of Benefits Related to Kinship Verification
263.501
Permanency Hearing After Final Order
263.502
Permanency Progress Report After Final Order
263.601
Definitions
263.602
Extended Jurisdiction
263.603
Extended Jurisdiction to Determine Guardianship
263.604
Guardian’s Consent to Extended Jurisdiction
263.605
Continued or Renewed Appointment of Attorney Ad Litem, Guardian Ad Litem, or Volunteer Advocate
263.606
Duties of Attorney or Guardian Ad Litem
263.607
Prohibited Appointments and Orders
263.608
Rights of Young Adult
263.1021
Selection and Reimbursement of Service Provider
263.3025
Permanency Plan
263.3026
Permanency Goals
263.4011
Rendering Final Order
263.4041
Verification of Transition Plan
263.4055
Supreme Court Rules
263.5031
Permanency Hearings Following Final Order
263.6015
Trial Independence
263.6021
Voluntary Extended Jurisdiction for Young Adult Receiving Transitional Living Services

Accessed:
Jun. 5, 2024

§ 263.102’s source at texas​.gov