What guidelines are used by social services when trying to regain custody of a child?

Question

A child was taken away and I want to know what social services takes into consideration when trying for visitation or custody

Answer 1

One big thing is if you have someone who was substantiated for sexual abuse in your house.Social services will not want a child in the house with a substantiated perpetrator. They will also want to see that you are keeping your house clean, and not currently abusing any substance. Also, they will want to see that you are taking all referrals seriously. For example if they recommend that you go to counseling or parent education classes, GO! That will be held against you in court during any permanency hearing if you don't..that is my advice for regaining custody.

As far as visitation, if you have a drug issue you need to work on getting sober. Usually you will not be allowed visitation with a child with drugs in your system and they will test you as soon as you hit the door at family services. I have seen parents turned down for visits because they came up positive for some sort of substance. They will have most initial visits at the office and they are usually supervised visits.

Remmber, do what your told and work closely with the case worker. If they feel that you could care less and you don't make the effort (like they can't get hold of you for seven months , you keep ending up in jail, not taking social services recommendations seriously etc), next stop will be a TPR hearing (Termination of Perental Rights) and you want to avoid that at all cost.

Answer 2

Depends on age. School age, where you live and if it is clean and they show up unannounced which is really ok, child's report card, if you have ever been arrested, do you have partner sleep-overs, if you can support a child, who baby-sits. Are the children up-to-date on shots, who is the Pediatrician, are you on drugs because you will be tested, School records and child behavior.