Amid the confusion, stress, and anxiety that often come with a Child Protective Services (CPS) case in Texas, one of your primary concerns is likely how soon you can see your child. If your child is removed from your home, understanding what is the next step after supervised visitation becomes crucial. In this article, we’ll explore the visitation process during a CPS case in Texas and provide insights into what comes after supervised visitation, helping you navigate this challenging journey with more clarity and confidence.
If CPS wins temporary managing conservatorship from you and your spouse. There are rules in place regarding how quickly they must make your child available to see you. Today’s blog post will center around this subject. Precisely- how, when, and for how long you can look at your child. And how best to take advantage of the time given to you.
What the law in Texas says about visitation during a CPS case
Suppose CPS wins temporary managing conservatorship rights to your child due to an allegation of abuse or neglect against you. In that case, the law in Texas is that you must be able to see your child. No more than five days after the court awards conservatorship rights to CPS. At this stage, CPS should be working with you, through a CPS caseworker. To come up with a visitation schedule, so you have prearranged dates on which you can see your child.
Keep in mind that the individual circumstances of your investigation can play a significant part. In how often you can see your child.
For example
Suppose CPS has become aware of an allegation that you have abused your child- and their investigation substantiates that allegation with evidence- likely. In that case, they may not be able to have any visitation with your child until you undergo counseling. The safety and well-being of your child are paramount. And it would not be difficult to convince a judge that limited (supervised) visitation is appropriate.
Supervised or unsupervised visitation?
As mentioned earlier, a judge has the authority to determine whether visitation with your child will be supervised or unsupervised. The judge can specify where the visits will take place and who will supervise them. If you are allowed to visit your child but your spouse is not, the judge can impose such limitations on visitation.
Understanding “what is the next step after supervised visitation” is key, as it often involves a review of your progress and compliance with the court’s conditions. Depending on the outcome, the judge may modify the terms of visitation, allowing for more frequent or less supervised contact.
Always take advantage of the time afforded to you by CPS
Keep in mind that the time you are allowed to visit with your child will be the only time you get. It is not like visitation with your ex-spouse, where you all can work out agreements on the fly and be flexible with one another. CPS will follow the court order to a T and not deviate from it.
By visiting with your child frequently, you maintain the emotional bond between parent and child during the most challenging time in your relationship. CPS will keep an eye on whether or not you take advantage of your time to visit your child.
Telling CPS
You need to see your child and then failing to see your child during the periods allotted to you is not a winning plan of attack in this CPS case. No matter how “little” time is awarded to you, always make sure you are there for your child.
Let’s spend some time discussing the types of visitation available to you under a CPS investigation and how you can maximize that time. At the same time, your circumstances may differ from these general scenarios that I will lay out. I am confident that the principles we discuss will be helpful to you and your family.
What type of visitation is allowed?
If you have supervised visitation with your child, that means that another adult will be watching you and your child interact and talk during your period of visitation.
The impetus for giving you only supervised visitation is that there are legitimate concerns for the safety and well-being of your child during these periods of visitation. CPSCPS’smber one goal is to ensure your child’s safety. The best way to do that is to reduce the chances of acting violently towards the child. It is possible that if your behavior is not appropriate that your visitation period could be ended early.
Even if you are not explicitly awarded supervised visitation
The CPS caseworker will likely supervise your first few visitation periods.
Friends or relatives will likely supervise subsequent visits. After a series of visitation sessions where there are no incidents, supervised visits will not be needed. Unsupervised visits likely will not occur for some time, if they ever do at all. This is too ected and is not necessarily an indication of CPSCPS’sew of your parenting skills.
Managing Supervised visits
You will likely be traveling to a CPS office to undertake your supervised visitation sessions. The caretaker for your child (foster parent or relative) will take your child to the visitation session, and you will provide your transportation to the session. A room will be reserved for the visitation time that will have space for you both to have as average time together as is possible under the circumstances. Games and toys appropriate for a child of your son or daughter’s age will be provided.
CPS will watch the session
Through a one-way mirror that adjoins the room. Unless told otherwise by a judge’s orders, you can be as affectionate towards your child as is appropriate. You do not need to check with the supervisor on what you can say. Depending on who is present to watch the visitation session, you should carefully choose your actions wisely and interact with your child engagingly and appropriately.
The bottom line is that you are being watched and judged. You may think this is unfair. You may think it is unwarranted. That is beside the point. It is happening, and it is up to you how you react and address the challenges that this visitation setup presents to you and your child. Act like your child is the only person on earth for the time made available to you.
From experience in representing people in your position
I know that once that session ends and you and your child go your separate ways, you will regret it if you don’t expend as much energy as possible interacting with your child.
An upbeat attitude means a great deal during visitation sessions
Nobody is trying to argue that supervised visitation is easy or fun. It is not either of those things. Part of what makes you an adult is your ability to keep specific thoughts inside your head and out of your mouth.
Before you voice your frustration to the CPS personnel during a visitation session, consider putting that energy into the time you have with your child. Concerns about the session can be addressed to your attorney or your caseworker at a later time. Your child wants to see you and wants you to be engaged with him. Worry about your case with CPS when your child is not with you.
In conclusion, understanding what is the next step after supervised visitation is crucial for parents navigating a Child Protective Services (CPS) case in Texas. After supervised visitation, the next steps often depend on progress made, the child’s well-being, and the court’s evaluation of the situation. It’s important to stay informed, actively participate in any required services, and work closely with CPS to demonstrate your commitment to reunification. By understanding these next steps and remaining proactive, you can better prepare for the path toward restoring your relationship with your child.
The importance of visitation with your child during a CPS investigation- tomorrow’s blog post subject
To learn more about CPS investigations and how to best interact with your child during one, please return to the blog tomorrow. We will be sharing tips and information on visiting with your child at that time.
In the meantime
If you have any questions for our attorneys, please get in touch with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC. We offer free consultations to clients and are always just a phone call away. We represent clients across southeast Texas and would be honored to do the same for you and your family.
Other Articles you may be interested in:
- Restricting Visitation and Supervised Visitation in Texas Child Custody Cases
- How to Request Supervised Visitation for Your Ex-Spouse in Texas
- What Is It Like to Have Supervised Visitation During a CPS Case?
- CPS and how The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, can help
- Child Custody Basics in Texas
- Texas Child Visitation Modification
- 10 Quick Tips About Parental Visitation
- Texas Parental Visitation – Texas Standard Possession Orders in Harris and Montgomery County, Texas – Part 1
- Supervised Visitation in a Texas Divorce: Can it happen to me?
- Texas Parental Relocation
Frequently Asked Questions
In Texas, Child Protective Services (CPS) may remove a child from their home if there is a reasonable belief that the child is in immediate danger of physical or emotional harm, neglect, or sexual abuse. Other grounds include the inability of the parent or guardian to provide a safe environment, abandonment, or the use of controlled substances by the caregiver that poses a risk to the child.
The new visitation law in Texas aims to ensure that both parents have substantial and meaningful time with their children. It may include adjustments to standard visitation schedules to accommodate the needs and circumstances of the families involved. It’s important to consult the latest legal resources or a legal expert for up-to-date information.
In Texas, a custodial parent can deny visitation to the non-custodial parent if there is a court order or evidence suggesting that visitation might harm the child. This could be due to reasons like a history of domestic violence, substance abuse, or neglect. However, it’s crucial to seek legal advice and possibly a court modification of the visitation order before denying visitation rights unilaterally.
In Texas, judges in child custody cases primarily look for the best interest of the child. This includes factors like the emotional and physical needs of the child, the stability of each parent’s home environment, the presence of any history of domestic violence, and the wishes of the child, especially if they are above a certain age. The judge may also consider each parent’s ability to provide for the child’s physical, emotional, and educational needs.
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.
