Blogs by Deborah K. Frontiera
Fighting CPS
2/24/2013 2:41:08 PM
The purpose of this blog is to provide updates on some of the cases I reported in my book (Fighting CPS: Guilty Until Proven Innocent of Child Protective Services Charges ISBN 9-780-9800061-6-2) that had not been resolved when the book went to press, and to report other cases where CPS is not working up to par. I’d also like to hear about cases in which Child Protective Services did the right thing so those cases can serve as examples of what should be done. Occasionally, I will report helpful tips and web sites with advice on fighting CPS. To comment on this blog, or to tell your story, email Deborah Frontiera at frontiera.fightingcps.deborah.gmail.com
The next post will be on Mar. 11, 2013
Sometimes the System Does Work
In a post during June of 2012, I reported on a case from the Houston Chronicle about a couple whose children were taken away from them. Now, this couple did have a problem or two. Both had been jailed for a short time (cause is no longer relevant but I seem to recall it was some type of fraud) and had left their children in the care of a relative. The kids were found living in a battered and dirty old school bus in rural East Texas with no adults in sight. Good reason to investigate, really. The relative who was supposed to be caring for the children (an elderly aunt) had certainly dropped the ball. The parents were released from jail, time done, to find themselves in another mess involving the custody of their children.
It seems the parents had, indeed, been trying to do their best, but improvements were certainly needed. They had left the children with a plan and someone to care for them. The bus, while not a “house”, had been clean and orderly and had basic necessities when the parents left to “do their time.” Their plan had been to live in the old bus until they could afford to build a house on the land where the bus was parked. Okay, not an ideal arrangement, but there was certainly no lack of love here, nor lack of effort. Perhaps it’s that rural areas know their people better and recognize effort better than urban areas. In this case, CPS and the judge worked with this couple. The couple also did what was required of them. The property got cleaned up, the bus received needed improvements, and a sanitary sewer system restored. The bus-home now has bunk beds, a queen size bed, dresser, desk, a full sized bathroom and closet, electricity, TV on the wall and internet. A separate small “shed” has a stove, refrigerator, and piece of plywood to serve as a kitchen table. Much of this was accomplished by volunteers.
The children were allowed to return to this home in September of 2012, after seven months in foster care, but CPS continued to monitor the situation. Parents continued with counseling and training. A follow-up article in the Houston Chronicle on Jan. 23, 2013 (pg. B. 1 and 3) stated that the judge in the case has now returned full custody to the parents.
The Chronicle’s article reported the mom saying, “The best thing is that we are now back together as a whole family.” (including a dog)
While no system works perfectly (the children did complain about several aspects of their foster parents)and the Texas system is notoriously bad, at least in this case, friends and neighbors pulled together and helped out this couple and common sense ruled in the court room as the judge and caseworkers did not drag out the case forever.
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