(a) The department shall assign a caseworker to a child committed to the department. A department caseworker shall:

1. (1) explore family issues and needs with the parent or guardian of a child committed to the department;
2. (2) as needed, provide the parent or guardian of a child committed to the department with information concerning programs and services provided by the department or another resource; and
3. (3) perform other duties required by the department.

(b) A department caseworker shall:

1. (1) at least once a month, attempt to contact the child's parent or guardian by phone, in person while the parent or guardian is visiting the facility, or, if necessary, by mail;
2. (2) if unsuccessful in contacting the child's parent or guardian under Subdivision (1), attempt at least one additional time each month to contact the child's parent or guardian; and
3. (3) document successful as well as unsuccessful attempts to contact the child's parent or guardian.

(c) To the extent practicable, a caseworker or another facility administrator shall attempt to communicate with a parent or guardian who does not speak English in the language of choice of the parent or guardian.

Transferred, redesignated and amended from Human Resources Code, Subchapter E, Chapter 61 by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 85 (S.B. 653), Sec. 1.007, eff. September 1, 2011.