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Cross System Sharing

Category:	Information sharing between Courts and Child Welfare Agencies

State/ Agency Name:	State of Texas Department of Regulatory Services

Contact Information:	Agency Mail Code Y-960
	P.O. Box 149030 Austin, TX 78714-9030 (512) 834-3758

Description:	As part of the State of Texas Court Improvement Project (CIP) Texas has created an ORACLE database to promote information sharing between the courts and child welfare programs. The purpose of the Texas CIP Legal Status database is to improve the judicial process to achieve permanency in foster care in a more efficient, timely, and cost effective manner. With this database the courts may view data but not enter data. The Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (DPRS) and the courts worked together to coordinate data requirements and to define which relevant DPRS data should be shared. This cross system sharing database extracts data from the State SACWIS Data Warehouse known as Child and Adult Protective System (CAPS). CAPS provides selected data elements to the Judges; however, the Judges do not enter data into the CAPS system. A few examples of the data elements shared between the courts and DPRS are legal status information, child demographics, placement information, DPRS caseworker information, as well as jurisdictional county and court number.
	This database has improved communication between the courts and DPRS staff. Before the database was in place there was limited coordination of sharing statistical information and data between the DPRS and the courts. All in all, this database has been widely accepted because it was customized with end-users, specifically Judges, in mind. The data is displayed in a user-friendly format for the courts benefit and it is a helpful tool in the daily decision making process.
	Initially there were major concerns about the security of the data. However, once the varying levels of security for how the information is stored and displayed were developed and explained, concerns were eased. An important part of that security functionality is the required unique password and identification number for each user. An additional benefit of the database is that it has helped with effectively implementing and meeting the Adoption Safe Families Act (ASFA) requirements.
	With the database data extracts, Judges are able to monitor statutory compliance. Texas child welfare laws are in many ways more restrictive than ASFA guidelines in regard to closely monitoring the length of time in foster care. To DPRS satisfaction, this information sharing process has enabled them to move forward towards meeting with State reporting guidelines and Federally mandated guidelines with greater confidence.
	For additional information on the CIP Legal Status database please contact Donna Marler at (512) 834-3758.

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