Which two primary state authorities govern Licensed Child-Placing Agencies (LCPAs) in Texas?

• A. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) alone.
• B. The Texas Administrative Code (TAC) provisions alone.
• C. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) provisions applicable to child-placing agencies.
• D. The Texas Department of Health and Human Services.

Answer: (C)

Understanding how LCPAs are regulated involves two parts: the agency that licenses and oversees these programs, and the detailed rules that implement state law for that program. In Texas, the Department of Family and Protective Services handles licensing, oversight, and enforcement for child welfare providers. The Texas Administrative Code then supplies the specific requirements and standards that those licenses must meet—things like operating procedures, qualifications, background checks, reporting, and safety standards. Both together create the regulatory framework for LCPAs: the agency to grant and enforce licenses, and the codified rules that spell out the exact expectations. The other options miss one side or the other—DFPS alone lacks the detailed rule set, TAC provisions alone lack licensing authority, and the Health and Human Services department isn’t the governing body for LCPAs in Texas.