my sister is an alcoholic and her husband is a convicted child molester. the children are currently in Foster care. I live in a different state. I want custody of those children, I want this nightmare for them to be over. Where do I turn for help? The system seems to be all about protecting the parent's rights. I can't afford to hire an attorney to work an out of state case. I just don't know what to do. I have a loving home and stable family and those kids need us. CPS treats me like I have no rights at all, how can this be? What can I do?
2006-12-14 16:06:34 · 4 answers · asked by Nicole Z 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I look at questions on here a lot, this one truly caught my attention. Contact the CPS and let them know that you are serious about getting the children into the family again. The goal of CPS is to place the child back into the family and not keep them in foster care. Contact your local CPS for assistance and let them know you want to work through this with the Interstate Compact Act. See if they can give you better advise. If you get resistance then visit the CPS in your state in person and ask them what you need to do to get these children. Have them contact the state that the children are in and work through there. Also e-mail me and I will give you an e-mail address of someone who may help you through this. Hope this helps. You do have rights if you go to court and get those rights. File for custody.. if you have to, but the children need to know that there is someone in the family that wants them. So many of these children in foster care believe that no one wants them.
2006-12-14 16:21:08 · answer #1 · answered by Sergeant 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CPS tries to keep the children in their home state. However, if relatives are willing to take the children, preference is usually given to them.
Try contacting CPS in your state. Ask to speak to a social worker and see what she/he can do to coordinate information between the two offices. There are attornies who will do Pro bono work (for free) and sometimes the social workers can tell you who they might be. You might also want to petition the Judge for custody.
CPS won't make it easy for you. Judges want to do what is in the best interest of the children. So, don't back down. Find the name of the head of CPS in your state and fax him/her a letter with the case number and your circumstances and ask him/her to intervene on your behalf.
We can maybe get you some more information if we knew what state you are in. Also, you could contact CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the children's advocacy department of the State's Attorney's Office. To understand the system a little better, you could get a copy of "The Child Abuse Industry" by Mary Pride. There is lots of good information in that book.
2006-12-14 16:18:23 · answer #2 · answered by MH/Citizens Protecting Rights! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as far as what your rights are that varies from state to state but you should consult a lawyer in the state the children live in i dont know of a case where cps would not want to place a child with a blood relative
2006-12-14 16:16:27 · answer #3 · answered by tx_angel_0985 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
file a motain of degree with the state to obtain there records and in that state the records will show there activties as parents . and check with legal aid there there sirvices are free on this matter this is law in all states my opion is based on legal services. my opion?
2006-12-14 16:18:04 · answer #4 · answered by the_silverfoxx 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋