Secure Agency Foster Homes

Sec. 42.0531. SECURE AGENCY FOSTER HOMES. (a) The commissioners court of a county or governing body of a municipality may contract with a child-placing agency to verify a secure agency foster home to provide a safe and therapeutic environment tailored to the needs of children who are victims of trafficking. (b) A child-placing agency may not verify a secure agency foster home to provide services under this section unless the child-placing agency holds a license issued under this chapter that authorizes the agency to provide services to victims of trafficking in accordance with department standards adopted under this chapter for child-placing agencies. (c) A secure agency foster home verified under this section must provide: (1) mental health and other services specifically designed to assist children who are victims of trafficking under Section 20A.02 or 20A.03, Penal Code, including: (A) victim and family counseling; (B) behavioral health care; (C) treatment and intervention for sexual assault; (D) education tailored to the child's needs; (E) life skills training; (F) mentoring; and (G) substance abuse screening and treatment as needed; (2) individualized services based on the trauma endured by a child, as determined through comprehensive assessments of the service needs of the child; (3) 24-hour services; and (4) appropriate security through facility design, hardware, technology, and staffing. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 338 (H.B. 418), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2015. Amended by: Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 317 (H.B. 7), Sec. 62, eff. September 1, 2017.