SECTION 749.1011. What right does a child have regarding contact with siblings?

(a) A child must have a reasonable opportunity for sibling visits and contacts in an effort to preserve sibling relationships.

(b) You must address plans for sibling visits and contacts in the child’s record.

(c) When you restrict sibling contact, you must include justification in the child's record. Restrictions imposed by you that continue for more than 60 days must be re-evaluated every 60 days by your child placement management staff, who also must:

(1) Explain the reasons for the continued restrictions to the child; and

(2) Document the reasons in the child's record.

(d) If barriers to visits exist, such as unavoidable geographic distance and expense issues, the agency must make provisions for sibling contact through letters, telephone calls, or some other means.

Source Note: The provisions of this §749.1011 adopted to be effective January 1, 2007, 31 TexReg 7469; amended to be effective September 1, 2010, 35 TexReg 7522; amended to be effective January 1, 2017, 41 TexReg 9944; transferred effective March 9, 2018, as published in the Texas Register February 16, 2018, 43 TexReg 909