Allegation Disposition (Findings):

Valid. Based on the standard of preponderance of the evidence, it is more likely than not that the maltreatment occurred.

Invalid. Based on the standard of preponderance of the evidence, it is more likely than not that the maltreatment did not occur.

Unable to Determine. A preponderance of the available evidence is insufficient to support a finding of Valid or Invalid.

Other. The allegation disposition Other is used when an investigation of the allegation was not completed for some reason, e.g. clients died or cases were misclassified.

1. Family Violence is indicated when a validated investigation has a relative perpetrator, excluding those where financial exploitation is the only confirmed allegation.

2. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2015, services provided during the investigation are documented in the investigation stage and not in a separate service stage.

3. The "Other" Disposition category refers to those investigations that workers could not complete, e.g. clients died or cases were misclassified.

4. The population totals do not match prior DFPS Data Books, printed or online. Past population estimates are adjusted based on the U.S. Census data as it becomes available. This is important to keep the data in line with current best practices, but will cause some past counts, such as Abuse/Neglect Victims per 1,000 Texas Children, to be recalculated.

Population Data Source - Population Estimates and Projections Program, Texas State Data Center, Office of the State Demographer and the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Current population estimates and projections for all years from 2014 to 2023 as of December 2020.

Visit dfps.state.tx.us for information on all DFPS programs.