TExAs
DEPARTMENT
OF
FAMiLY
AND
PROTEcTivE
SERvIcEs
Mr.
Tim
LambertTexas
HomeSchool
CoalitionAssociation
P.
0.
Box
6747
Lubbock,Texas79493
February
13,
2014
Dear
Mr.
Lambert:
Thank
you
for
contacting
the
Departmentof
Family
and
Protective
Services
DFPS
regarding
Trevor
and
Christina
Tutt
and
their
involvement
with
Child
Protective
Services
CPS .
I
asked
the
DFPS
Office
ofConsumer
Affairs
OCA
to
review
the
case
and
your
concerns
and
provide
mewiththe
outcome
of
theirreview.Based
onthe
OCA
reviewof
actions
taken
in
theTutt’s
case,
I
feel
confident
that
CPS
staffcomplied
withCPS
policy
and
procedure.
You
canalsobe
assuredthat
per
the
Texas
Administrative
Code,
CPS
does
not
conductinvestigations
based
on
a
child
being
homeschooled.
There
isno
DFPS
policythat
would
interfere
with
a
parent
or
guardian’s
personal
decision
to
home
school
hisor
herchild.
Anytime
a
report
of
suspected
abuse
or
neglect
of
a
child
is
made
totheDFPS
AbuseHotline,
CPS
is
legallyobligated
to
ensure
the
safety
of
the
children
involved,which
may
include
conducting
an
investigation
to
determinewhether
ornotthe
allegations
are
valid.
Thefocus
of
CPS
is
to
ensure
the
health
and
safety
of
children
and
to
provide
appropriate
services
to
meet
theirongoing
needsfor
protection
from
abuse
and
neglect.
Asyou
indicated
in
your
letter,
the
courtbecame
involved
in
this
case
and
is
ultimatelyresponsible
for
making
decisions
in
a
child’s
best
interest,
includingplacement
and
permanency
issues.
The
court
also
makes
decisionsrelating
to
servicesthat
may
be
provided
to
a
family.
CPSand
other
legal
parties
to
a
case
make
recommendations
tothe
court
for
consideration.Thank
you
for
your
advocacy
on
behalf
of
Mr.and
Mrs.Tutt.
Should
you
have
further
questions,
you
may
contactJose
Martinez,Managerof
the
OCA,
and
hisstaff,
at
1-800-720-7777.
cc:
DedeKeith,
Office
of
the
Governor
P.O.
Box149030+
AusTIN,TExAs
78714-9030+
800 720-7777
An
Equal
OpportunityEmployer
and
Provider
COMMISSIONER
John
J.
Specia.
Jr.
Sincerel’
ohn
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Specia,
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