CPST Texas has been providing psychological evaluation services to children and adolescents in foster care since 2013. Our goal is to conduct comprehensive evaluations and meaningful recommendations. To do so, compassion and respect must be shown to the child/adolescent and the clinicians at CPST Texas do just that. The establishment of positive rapport often leads to gathering needed information that aids in the development of meaningful treatment recommendations.
Did you know?
Children and adolescents placed in foster care often come from backgrounds in which they have experienced multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The below are a few examples of ACEs:
- Experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect
- Witnessing violence in the home or community
- Parental incarceration
- Familial suicide attempt or death by suicide
The experience of multiple ACEs can potentially be viewed as traumatic and can impact a child/adolescent’s brain development as well as their emotional and executive functioning. Presentation of challenging behavior such as aggression, stealing, disruptive behavior, etc may occur. However, this is not particularly because the child/adolescent lacks remorse but because they have not been taught the difference between right or wrong or may be acting out due to emotional distress.
At CPST Texas we consider the whole child and their experiences when conducting the psychological evaluation, determining a diagnosis (if any) and developing appropriate treatment recommendations.
How can a psychological evaluation for a child/adolescent in Child Protective Services (CPS) be conducted by CPST Texas?
A referral from a Child Protective Services Case Manager or Foster Agency Case Worker may be submitted by using our (insert link to CPST Texas Eval Referral Form). To aid in the completion of a meaningful psychological evaluation, please provide the information requested on the CPST Texas Referral Form.
What do you do if you suspect a child/adolescent is being abused or neglected?
If you suspect a child is experiencing neglect, physical abuse or sexual abuse please contact Child Protective Services (CPS).
By Phone: 1-800-252-5400 The Abuse Hotline is toll-free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, nationwide. If the situation is urgent and needs to be investigated within 24 hours use the Abuse Hotline.
OR
Report using the CPS secure website and get a response within 24 hours. Visit their website at https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Contact_Us/report_abuse.asp
Call 911 or your local law enforcement agency if you have an emergency or life-threatening situation that must be dealt with immediately.