What must you do if you become aware of foster or adoptive placements that appear to have been made by someone other than the child's parents or a child-placing agency?

• A. report to the Texas Abuse and Neglect Hotline immediately
• B. wait 24 hours to investigate
• C. document it for records only
• D. notify the parents directly within 7 days

Answer: (A)

When you become aware of foster or adoptive placements that don’t appear to be arranged by the child’s parents or a licensed child-placing agency, the immediate action is to report to the Texas Abuse Hotline. This is a mandated reporting situation designed to protect the child right away. Reaching out to the hotline triggers a formal review by the appropriate authorities so a protective assessment can begin without delay. In most cases you should provide as much factual information as you have and follow your agency’s procedures for documentation and follow-up, but do not wait to verify details or handle it by other means first. Delaying the report, simply documenting it without notifying the proper authorities, or telling the parents directly within a set timeframe could put the child at risk and does not meet the obligations in these situations.