Did you know that every two minutes, a child is removed from their home and placed in foster care? Even though foster care is intended to be temporary and the ultimate goal of child protective services (CPS) is to reunify children with their parents, less than half of the children who left foster care in 2019 were actually reunified with their families.
If your children have been removed from your home or you are facing criminal charges, you are likely feeling overwhelmed and stressed. We are here to help you understand “what is child protective services” and provide you with the resources you need to navigate the system.
Read on for more information.
What Is Child Protective Services?
In Texas, Child Protective Services, or CPS, is part of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. When there is a report of abuse or neglect, Child Protective Investigations (CPS) will investigate to determine if the children in a home are at risk. If they determine that the children aren’t safe, CPS gets involved.
The goal is usually reunification, but given the statistics presented above, it is getting harder and harder for parents to get their children back once they have been removed from the home.
CPS also oversees the foster care system in Texas and helps young adults transition out of the foster care system to living on their own. If your children are removed from your home, they will be placed in foster care and you will need to work with CPS to perform certain tasks in order to be reunified with them.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Child Protective Services Case?
If you are involved with CPS, it is wise to get a child protective services lawyer. They deal with the CPS system on a daily basis and know how to help you complete any required tasks and get your children back. They can also represent you if you are being falsely accused of abusing or neglecting your children.
CPS may also ask the court to terminate your parental rights if they feel that you are unfit to care for your children. If you are facing either of these situations, you need an experienced attorney on your side. They can give you advice about child protective services and work with you on an effective strategy to get your children back.
Contact An Attorney Who Can Help You
Now that you can answer the question “what is child protective services” you likely understand the need for an experienced lawyer to help you win the fight for your children. Don’t attempt to navigate the legal system on your own. You need an attorney who specializes in these cases and knows the ins and outs of the family law system and child protective services.
Here at the Law Office of Damaris A. Chavez, our attorneys specialize in family law and child protective services cases. Contact us today for a free 15-minute consultation about your case.
