Texas Child Protection Law Bench Book

2024 version: As effective October 1, 2024

A. Definitions

A “dual system child” is a child who, prior to the child's 18th birthday, was referred to the juvenile justice system and was involved in the child welfare system. Tex. Fam. Code § 51.11.

A "dual status child" means a child who has been referred to the juvenile justice system and is:

•   In the temporary or permanent managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services;

•   The subject of a case for which family-based safety services have been offered or provided by the department;

•   An alleged victim of abuse or neglect in an open child protective investigation; or

•   A victim in a case in which, after an investigation, the department concluded there was reason to believe the child was abused or neglected. Tex. Fam. Code § 51.02(3-a).