Reports & Resources By Topic

The Children’s Commission maintains this resource webpage to share child welfare-related information. To get notified of new resources, subscribe below to receive the Resource Letter.

Materials published on the Children’s Commission website are helpful reports and resources for judges and attorneys handling child welfare cases and are intended for reference use only. This information not legal advice and does not represent the official opinion of the Supreme Court Children’s Commission. The inclusion of external links is not an endorsement by the Children’s Commission of the content associated with the resource. The Children’s Commission reserves the right to decline requests for the addition of external resources.

Recent Publications

 

Juvenile Justice Bench Cards

 

Your Rights as a Survivor: A Guide for Caregivers of Children Who Experienced Sexual Abuse and Sexual Exploitation

 

Toolkit for Attorneys Representing Parents and Children in Child Welfare Cases (2026 Edition)

Caregiver Notice Roundtable Report

Pre-Petition Legal Representation Survey Report

Legal Representation Resources, Now Available in Spanish: 

Reports & Resources by Topic

The Texas Child Welfare Law Bench Book is a comprehensive resource that assists judges, attorneys, and other child welfare professionals in navigating Texas child protection cases. Updated yearly, the Bench Book combines statutory and case law guidance, hearing-specific checklists, and practical information on key topics affecting children and families involved in the child welfare system.

Bench Book

The 2025 Texas Child Welfare Law Bench Book (updated January 2025) is available in the following formats:

Bench Cards

Bench Cards are abbreviated reference cards on specific hearing types and relevant topical matters for quick reference. Many Bench Cards are available in two formats: as one-page checklists without citations (short) which are intended for easy use at hearings and as extended versions with Texas Family Code citations.

The Texas Blueprint:

2024 Foster Care Summit

In collaboration with DFPS and TEA, the Children’s Commission held the 2024 Foster Care Summit at Angelo State University. The 2024 Summit provided an opportunity for educators and administrators to further their knowledge to help foster youth receive the necessary services. Attendees came from all over the state of Texas and included school administrative staff, transportation staff, advocates, attorneys, and child welfare and education professionals. Key topics included transportation issues, focus on mental health, transition assistance, and school of origin and best interest determination.

Texas Foster Care & Education Collaborative Reports:

New Publication:

For more information about the Children's Commission's work on ICWA, please visit the Tribal/State webpage.

Children's Commission Resource Links:

External Resource Links:

 

Generally, children who are 10 years of age or older but under 17 years of age and are alleged to have engaged in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision are subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Dual status refers to a child with concurrent child welfare and juvenile justice system involvement.

The Children’s Commission is expanding our work in this area of law, so more juvenile justice/dual status content is coming soon! In the meantime, below are some of our previous and upcoming projects.

Juvenile Justice

Dual Status

When a family is involved in a child welfare proceeding, high-quality legal counsel is essential for all parties to ensure that the court strikes the appropriate balance between the rights and duties of all parties involved. Since its inception, the Children’s Commission has maintained a Legal Representation Committee (LRC). The LRC exists to identify best legal and judicial system practices, assess training needs, and encourage court proceedings that guard due process, promote child and family engagement, and produce high-quality legal representation for children, parents, and the State.

The LRC developed the following resources in furtherance of these goals.

Video Series: Youth Voice Videos Explaining the Attorney-Client Relationship

“Your Lawyer Works for You.” Is a two-part video series designed for youth to explain the attorney-client relationship. The videos are a collaboration between the Children’s Commission and the Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) Young Adult Leadership Council (YALC) and features young adults formerly in foster care discussing their experiences with their attorneys, articulating basics about the attorney-client relationship, and helping youth understand how to resolve problems with their attorneys. The videos are available on the Children’s Commission's YouTube playlist and the TNOYS YouTube Channel.

Pamphlet: The Role of an Attorney Representing Children or Youth in a Child Welfare Case

The “What Does an Attorney for a Child or Youth do in a CPS Case?” pamphlet explains the attorney’s responsibilities to a child or youth client and how to resolve any issues between the attorney and the client. The document is available for download below and may be helpful for judges to have available in the courtroom, courthouse library, or information center.  

Pamphlet: The Role of an Attorney Representing Parents in a Child Welfare Case

The “What Does a Parent's Attorney do in a CPS Case?” pamphlet explains the attorney’s responsibilities to a parent client and how to resolve any issues between the attorney and the client. The document is available below and may be helpful for judges to have available in the courtroom, courthouse library, or information center.

Coloring Book: Sam and the Search for Spots - How Your Lawyer Can Help You

The Children’s Commission Legal Representation Committee created a coloring book designed to help children ages 6-12 understand the role of an attorney ad litem for a child and the attorney-client relationship in a child welfare case. The coloring book was developed by a workgroup which included law professors, board-certified child welfare law experts, and youth with lived experience in foster care and is designed to help children and caregivers discuss what makes an attorney ad litem for the child different from other people in the child’s case and how the attorney can help the child during the case through counseling and advocacy.

This publication is available in two formats at the links below: to print on a personal device, and for commercial print.

In English:

In Spanish: 

For assistance or inquiries about this publication, please contact Jessica Arguijo at children@txcourts.gov.

Pamphlet: Fathers' Rights in CPS Cases: What You Need to Know

The LRC developed a resource pamphlet highlighting fathers’ rights when involved in a CPS case. Modeled after the Commission’s “What Does a Parent’s Attorney do in a CPS Case?” pamphlet, “Fathers' Rights in CPS Cases: What You Need To Know” uses accessible language to inform fathers of their basic rights in child welfare legal proceedings and explains the different legal statuses for fathers. The pamphlet is available for PDF download below.

Rights of Incarcerated Parents in CPS Cases

The Children’s Commission Legal Representation Committee developed a poster as a resource highlighting the rights of incarcerated parents in a CPS case. This resource identifies basic rights in child welfare legal proceedings and explains how parents can participate in the case and in their child’s life, subject to the rules of the institution where they are incarcerated. The poster is available for PDF download below:

 

New Publication: 

 

The Family Helpline

In 2017, the Children’s Commission partnered with Access to Justice and the Children’s Justice Act to fund the Texas Legal Services Corporation to establish the Family Helpline for Strong Families and Safe Children (“Family Helpline”), which provides easily available, statewide access for parents, family members, and community members to basic information, education, and resources addressing issues facing parents and caregivers as they relate to child welfare law including: 

  • Child Protective Investigations;
  • The provision of Family-Based Safety Services;
  • Safety Plan and Parental Child Safety Placements;
  • Chapter 34 non-parent agreements;
  • Termination of parental rights;
  • Custody, access, and visitation;
  • Service plans;
  • The court’s role in conducting hearings and oversight;
  • The right to legal counsel;
  • Non-offending parents, minor parents, and incarcerated parents;
  • Survivors of family violence;
  • Intergenerational issues;
  • Reinstatement of parental rights; and 
  • Other variations of these situations.

Family Helpline Website

The Parent Resource Guide

The Parent Resource Guide is a handbook designed to help parents understand the Texas child welfare system, their roles and responsibilities when involved in a Child Protective Services case, and the roles and responsibilities of others. The guide is current up to the 86th Legislative Session.

The 2020 Parent Resource Guide is available below in English and Spanish: 

Roundtable discussions are designed to address key, urgent issues affecting the Texas child welfare system through a half-day program that is facilitated by a subject-matter legal expert. The topics vary year to year and the number of roundtables hosted each year also varies according to the interest of stakeholders and issues demanding attention. 

Roundtable Discussions

Caregiver Notice Roundtable Report

Current Issues in Children's Mental Health Round Table Report

Education of Children & Youth Placed in Residential Treatment Roundtable Report

Family Visitation in Child Protective Services Roundtable Report

Mediation in Child Protection Cases Round Table Report

Normalcy for Children and Youth in Foster Care Roundtable Report

Notice and Engagement Round Table

Parental Child Safety Placements Roundtable Report

Psychotropic Medication and Foster Care in Texas Roundtable Report

Restraints in Juvenile Court Discussion Final Report

The 2012-2013 CPS Budget and Its Effect on Services to Families

Tribal / State Collaborative Round Table Report

Youth Presence in Court Proceedings Round Table Report

Reports

The Children’s Commission is sometimes charged by members of the executive. legislative, or judicial branches to study important topics related to child welfare law, policy, or practice. The following documents reflect recent examples of Commission-led reports.

2018 Study of Legal Representation in Child Protective Services Cases

Building a Network of Trauma Informed Courts in Texas: In collaboration with the Children’s Commission, the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services (TACFS) published Building a Network of Trauma Informed Courts in Texas which highlights the work and the resources created by the Trauma-Informed Courts Pilot Project.

Dual Status Task Force Final Report

Hearing Observation Project Report: In 2014, the Children’s Commission conducted a Hearing Quality Observation Project, an observation and data collection study involving 164 child welfare hearings held across Texas to establish a baseline about the quality of court hearings in child welfare cases.

Pre-Petition Legal Representation Survey Report

Protect Our Kids Commission Report

Senate Bill 1575 (87th Regular Session) Report to the Legislature

Senate Bill 1578 Forensic Assessment Center Network Report as Required by the 87th Texas Legislature

Task Force on Court-Appointed Legal Representation Final Report

The Texas Blueprint: Transforming Education Outcomes For Children & Youth In Foster Care

The Texas Blueprint Implementation Task Force Final Report

Pre-Petition Legal Representation Survey Report

Senate Bill 1575 (87th Regular Session) Report to the Legislature

The Children’s Commission spearheaded the development of both the Toolkit for Attorneys Representing Parents and Children in Child Welfare Cases and the Toolkit for Attorneys Representing the Department of Family and Protective Services in Child Welfare Cases as part of the ongoing commitment to elevate the practice of law in child welfare cases. These toolkits are designed to benefit attorneys of all levels of experience by providing concise compilations of relevant legal subjects, applicable state and federal statutes, hearing checklists, and practice tips for inside and outside the courtroom.

2024 Tool Kit for Attorneys Representing the Department of Family and Protective Services in Child Welfare Cases

The 2024 Tool Kit for Attorneys Representing the Department of Family and Protective Services in Child Welfare Cases is available in the following formats:

2026 Tool Kit for Attorneys Representing Parents and Children in Child Welfare Cases

The 2026 Tool Kit for Attorneys Representing Parents and Children in Child Welfare Cases is available in the following formats:

  • TraumaInformedTexas.com includes resources created in whole or in part by members of the Statewide Collaborative on Trauma-Informed Care (SCTIC), and the Children's Commission Consortium on Trauma Informed Court Practices, as well as resources from other state and national organizations.
  • Building a Trauma-Informed Child Welfare System: A Blueprint (available upon request)
  • In collaboration with the Children’s Commission, the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services (TACFS) published Building a Network of Trauma Informed Courts in Texas which highlights the work and the resources created by the Trauma-Informed Courts Pilot Project.
  • Building a Network of Trauma Informed Courts in Texas
  • February 8th, 2019 Commission Meeting PowerPoint Presentation
  • Judicial Trauma Institute Videos and Materials - The Judicial Trauma Institute was presented live on April 22-23, 2021 via webcast. The content was designed by Commission staff in partnership with the Statewide Collaborative on Trauma-Informed Care (SCTIC) Training Workgroup and hosted by the Texas Center for the Judiciary. The goal of the conference was for judicial teams to gain information and discover practical tools and resources about how to become a trauma-informed and trauma-responsive court in CPS cases. Video replays and conference materials can be accessed on the Judicial Trauma Institute webpage.

Additional Resources:

Your Lawyer Works for You! What You Need to Know 

The Children’s Commission is pleased to announce a two-part video series designed for youth to explain the attorney-client relationship. “Your Lawyer Works for You.” The videos are a collaboration between the Children’s Commission and the Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) Young Adult Leadership Council (YALC) and feature young adults formerly in foster care discussing their experiences with their attorneys, articulating basics about the attorney-client relationship, and helping youth understand how to resolve problems with their attorneys. The videos are available on the Children’s Commission's YouTube Youth Voice Playlist and the TNOYS YouTube Channel.

Helpful Resources

Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Foster Care Ombudsman:

For children and youth experiencing foster care, complaints can be submitted to the Foster Care Ombudsman. The Ombudsman is available to assist children and youth who report maltreatment in foster care and has the authority to conduct an investigation into individual complaints. Children and youth experiencing foster care may contact the Ombudsman by any of the following means:

  • By phone: 1-844-286-0769; Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
  • Online form: Foster Care Ombudsman Online Submission Form
  • By mail:
    Texas Health and Human Services Commission
    Foster Care Ombudsman, MC H-700
    P O Box 13247
    Austin, Texas 78711-3247
  • Website

Guides and Handbooks: 

Websites for Youth in Foster Care: 

Children's Commission YouTube Channel

 

CIP Reports & Orders

 

 

Additional Resources

Materials published on the Children’s Commission website are intended for reference use only. This information should not be construed as an advisory or ruling by or from the Supreme Court of Texas or any other court on specific cases or legal issues. The Children’s Commission does not endorse any external organizations or content in an associated resource. The Children’s Commission reserves the right to decline requests for the addition of external resources.

National Resources

 

Media

Media Contact:

Jessica Arguijo, Communications Manager
jessica.arguijo@txcourts.gov
512-463-7226

 

 

2021

 

Supreme Court Children's Commission Releases Report on Court-Appointed Legal Representation

Texas Bar Journal: October Edition, Children / Juveniles

Texas Bar Journal Cover

 

 

Children's Commission Celebrates 10 Years: Timeline Overview

CC 10 Year Timeline