(a) When family-based safety services are provided and the family is still unable to protect a child from abuse or neglect in the immediate future, CPS staff may initiate an emergency or court-ordered removal of the child from the home. Substitute care services are then provided to the child and family.
(b) Prior to closing a family-based safety services case due to removal of the child as described in §700.720(a)(6), (relating to Case Closure of Family-Based Safety Services Cases), CPS staff will explore reasonable alternatives for keeping the child safe from abuse and neglect in the home. The child is removed only when there is no other reasonable way to protect the child from abuse or neglect in the immediate future.
(c) Whenever possible, CPS staff, together with the family, make the decision to remove the child from the home.

Source Note: The provisions of this §700.722 adopted to be effective September 15, 2021, 46 TexReg 5901