The most crucial aspect of visiting your child during your Child Protective Services (CPS) case is the separation you will experience for the most extended period in your lives. Shifting from seeing one another every day to once a week or even less can be incredibly difficult for parents and children. Cherish the time you are afforded to spend with one another.
You know this information is credible, but it bears repeating that you must express your thoughts and worries directly to your child; they do not know otherwise.
Make your child aware of your feelings and how badly you want this investigation to end and to be reunited in your home. After all, you are trying to establish that your child will be safe in your care. By reaffirming that you will take care of your child moving forward, they will feel safe and more comfortable with the idea of eventually returning to their home with you. How your CPS caseworker evaluates these visitation sessions will determine the reports made to the judge and how long your case may run. Take each opportunity seriously, and your case will benefit as a result.
Can You Learn Anything From These Visitation Sessions?
You may consider yourself a great parent who loves and cares for your child as much as possible. Before this CPS case, there may have been nothing that would indicate that your life would take a turn for the worse and wind up with a CPS investigation threatening to tear apart your family. However, the fact remains that this case involving your family is very much real and, as a result, is now going to be a part of your life. With that said, view this investigation and the opportunities to see your child as a chance to better yourself.
Are there aspects of your parenting that you could improve upon? Likely, yes. That doesn’t just go for you as a person involved with CPS, either. Each of us who counts ourselves among the ranks of parents could improve in some form or fashion when parenting our children. Why not speak to CPS about what they see in the relationship and use that to better yourself? This is good for you, good for your child, and suitable for your case. It is a no-lose situation.
If CPS refers you to a therapist as part of your case, meet with that person to discuss your experiences in the investigation and what led to it.
An investigator can help you identify aspects of your life you were previously unaware of and sort through them effectively. This investigation can improve your parenting if it means enhancing yourself and your parenting skills.
What Services Have Been Recommended to You, and Are You Taking Advantage of Them?
Your investigation involves more than attending courtroom hearings and managing your case with a CPS employee. You must progress in the plan laid out for you by CPS and agreed to by you.
CPS will want your visits with your child to transition from supervised at their offices to supervised in public places and eventually in your home. If your child can return home permanently, re-acclimate them to your house.
The opposite can also apply. If you do not take advantage of the visitation periods or misbehave towards your child or any other person involved in your case, CPS can dramatically reduce your visitation time. Stay alert and fully devoted to your child, especially when CPS employees are watching your interactions.
Preparing for a Visit With Your Child Beforehand
Before visiting the site, contact the CPS personnel who will supervise and confirm the visit location. Remember that the appointment location can change. Ensure you know the location if a visitation session is set to occur. Failing to appear at the scheduled date and time will upset your child and CPS.
Do not assume that your specific caseworker would know just because you called CPS. CPS employees work in large buildings with many employees, at least in large counties. This means that calling a general phone number and leaving only your name and phone number will likely be insufficient. Your contact number, the name of your caseworker, and a brief question will more than suffice.
Once you have contacted CPS and have left a voicemail to make sure to write down the call attempt in a journal or logbook.
Arrange Transportation Well in Advance of Your Visitation Period
If you own a vehicle, check all tire pressures and gas up the vehicle to be ready for a visit with your child. This may seem overkill, but please be aware that your CPS caseworker will not see it as a problem with your vehicle if you fail to show up for a visitation session. Instead, it will be a problem with you and your parenting skills and priorities if you fail to arrive on time for a visitation period with your child.
On the other hand, if you do not have transportation to get to your meeting, you should work out a ride well in advance of the hearing. Be communicative with the person who will be providing you with transportation. If they need you to be ready early to drop you off at the visitation location a little early, prepare to do that to ensure you get to the appointment.
In general, waiting until the last minute to do anything when it comes to planning for your CPS case is foolish, but especially so in the area of visitation of your child. Ensure that you can arrive on time and stay the entire length of the prearranged visitation time.
Our Last Few Tips on Taking Advantage of Visitation With Your Child- Tomorrow’s Blog Post From the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC
Join us tomorrow as we go over final tips on being at your best during a visitation period during your CPS case. If you have any immediate questions or concerns for our attorneys, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC. One of our licensed family law attorneys can meet with you for a free-of-charge consultation where your questions can be answered.
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Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC | Houston, Texas CPS Defense Lawyers
The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, routinely handles matters that affect children and families. If you have questions regarding CPS, it’s essential to speak with one of our Houston, TX CPS defense Lawyers right away to protect your rights.
Our CPS defense lawyers in Houston, TX, are skilled at listening to your goals during this trying process and developing a strategy to meet those goals. Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC by calling (281) 810-9760 or submit your contact information in our online form.
Bryan Fagan, a native of Atascocita, Texas, is a dedicated family law attorney inspired by John Grisham’s “The Pelican Brief.” He is the first lawyer in his family, which includes two adopted brothers. Bryan’s commitment to family is personal and professional; he cared for his grandmother with Alzheimer’s while completing his degree and attended the South Texas College of Law at night.
Married with three children, Bryan’s personal experiences enrich his understanding of family dynamics, which is central to his legal practice. He specializes in family law, offering innovative and efficient legal services. A certified member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, Bryan is part of an elite group of legal professionals committed to ongoing education and high-level expertise.
His legal practice covers divorce, custody disputes, property disputes, adoption, paternity, and mediation. Bryan is also experienced in drafting marital property agreements. He leads a team dedicated to complex family law cases and protecting families from false CPS allegations.
Based in Houston, Bryan is active in the Houston Family Law Sector of the Houston Bar Association and various family law groups in Texas. His deep understanding of family values and his professional dedication make him a compassionate advocate for families navigating Texas family law.
