What you need to know about the Texas foster care system before a CPS case

If you have need a best suitable service your Child Law experience, What you need to know about the Texas foster care system before a CPS case with the great process!

Houston Divorce Lawyers: If your child is involved in a CPS case in the state of Texas then you need to be aware that he or she could be removed from your home and placed into foster care. I hate to put it to you so bluntly, but that is the reality of the situation. That doesn’t mean that he or she is never going to come home to you. What it does mean is that you are going to have to work to get him or her returned home.

Part of that work is learning about the CPS process and the people and institutions that are involved. The foster care system is one that figures to weigh heavily on your case in the event that your child is removed from your home. Today’s blog post from the Law Office of Bryan Fagan will seek to provide you with more information that we think is relevant to have as you begin your case.

What rights does your child have in relation to the foster care system?

Your child may give permission and consent to their own medical treatment in some cases, as long as doing so is allowed by his or her health care provider. Many times this means that your child can undergo counseling or sexual, physical or other trauma without your permission or that of their foster family.

If your child is over the age of 16, he or she can ask the judge to be able to make some or all of their medical decisions for themselves. Your child would likely need to ask their attorney ad litem to help him or her further this goal.

If your daughter is pregnant and not married, she can agree to medical procedures associated with the pregnancy- other than abortion. Once a child is born your daughter has the right to consent to medical treatment for her child just as any other mother would be able to.

What sort of information is your child able to obtain about their CPS case?

Many parents are interested in learning what sort of information that their child will have access to in regard to the CPS investigation. With so much going on around him or her it is probable that they have questions about what is happening. Once you have contact for visitation, you are able to share a great deal of information about their case with him or her. What other sources of information are available to your child during a case?

Your child can contact and speak privately to their caseworker, attorney ad litem or Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). These folks are duty-bound to consider what is in the best interests of your child and to provide information that will help your child to better understand their rights and the CPS case overall.

In addition, your child will be provided with an opportunity to attend hearings and to even speak to the judge in their case. Depending on your child’s age those interactions can involve where your child is living and he or she would like to see happen regarding reunification with you in your home.

How is it possible for your child to live a normal life while in custody of CPS?

Family Law Attorney Houston: The idea of foster care is not to insulate your child from the rest of the world and your family. The idea of foster care is to keep your child safe when your home environment is determined to not be suitable for that purpose. CPS would like your child to maintain friendships and relationships with family members while in CPS case. Ideally, CPS would like you and your child to maintain and strengthen your relationships with one another.

If your child is placed into foster care then your child can work with their foster family to be able to go out and do things socially with friends or family. For the most part, this is between your child and their foster family.

CPS will not be doing background checks on your child’s friends before a sleepover visit occurs. For the most part, the closer your child gets to their foster family the better off he or she will be in regard to having an active life outside of foster care.

Planning for life after the CPS case

You, your child and CPS will be working together in order to plan for a permanent solution to your child’s housing situation. Most of the time that plan will involve your child returning to your home. In other scenarios, it involves your child living permanently with a foster family or a relative of yours. Planning for this reality begins as soon as your child is removed from your home and placed into the care of the foster family.

CPS must have a goal in mind in regard to a permanent place for you to live at the conclusion of their case. In the event that their goal does not involve a return to your home, they must include a transition plan for your child to be able to transition into living outside of your home on a permanent basis. These plans will include all of the specific steps that are needed to happen for your child to be kept safe.

What are the possible goals of a CPS case? The most common goal is returning your child to your home. Other goals could be having a relative of yours adopt your child (if your parental rights are terminated) or being placed into the permanent care of a relative. A document known as the Family Service and Child Service Plan will contain these recommendations and goals.

What is a family service plan?

The Family Service Plan in a Texas CPS case is an agreement between CPS, your child’s foster family, the judge and you.

All of these groups will decide what changes or goals need to be made in your life in order to have you returned home on a permanent basis. A plan will be provided that will allow you to know what you have to do to meet these goals as well as the support structure that is available to you for assistance.

What is a child service plan?

The child service plan is a plan that will allow your child to receive the care that he or she needs while outside of your home. This plan will discuss what needs you have and the CPS services that will be utilized in order to ensure that you receive the care that you need. Things like your child’s health, their education, their experience with religion and other important aspects of their life will be covered by the child service plan.

As I mentioned a moment ago, the typical goal of a child service plan will be to place your child back in your home with you on a permanent basis. In the event that your circumstances will not allow for a return home, other options will be explored. If your child is high school-aged there will be information provided in the service plan that allows for your child to be able to transition better into adulthood.

What is expected of your child while he or she is in foster care?

Houston Divorce Attorney: Your child has a part to play in their relationship with their foster family and with CPS. Obviously more would be expected of an older child as opposed to a very young child. Bearing these limitations in mind, let’s discuss some of those expectations and responsibilities.

Your child will have a role to play with their caseworker as far as developing a game-plan that will lead your child towards a permanent location to live. This means that your child will have to be able to speak up for himself or herself and communicate their concerns in that way. Your child may be able to express concerns and points of interest that cannot be communicated by any other person.

By that same token, CPS will be able to work with your child to schedule visitation sessions with you. If your child would like there to be certain limitations or protections for their safety to be in place during a visitation session that can be communicated to their caseworker. Some children may want a more public setting for the visitation sessions to occur. Other times, children will want a private opportunity to meet with you. While your child will not determine all the aspects of these visitation sessions, their input will be sought after by CPS ... Continue Reading