After the removal of your child, you are more than likely distraught. You may be wondering what is going on and if you will get your child back.
The state has a system in place to protect children from dangers in the home, and, ultimately, it wants to see the child back with the parent. There are certain things you should understand about the process so you can prepare.
Potential reasons for the removal
There are numerous reasons why a court may order the removal of a child. According to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, some of these reasons are neglect, abuse, addiction and abandonment. The purpose of the court is to ensure the wellbeing and safety of the child, and it does this by temporarily placing the child in a safe shelter and investigating the situation.
Potential outcomes
According to the Center for Child Welfare, there are four different paths in which your case may take. One is that your child may return to the home based on insufficient evidence. Another is that the child may return home if there are things in place for his or her safety. The child may return home after the parent completes the steps of a case plan. Finally, in rare cases, the court may decide that the home is too dangerous or that the parent is unwilling to put in the work necessary, and the child will go through the adoption process.
Rights as a parent
The ultimate goal of the state is to keep families together, and it provides parents with the necessary tools and services to make this happen. Some of your rights include:
- Right to an attorney
- Right to receive copies of all filed reports
- Right to receive notifications of all court hearings
- Right to services that will assist in the safe return of your child
- Right to visit child unless the court forbids it
Having your child taken away, in most cases, is only temporary. Fulfill all responsibilities asked of by the court and do everything you can to return the home to a safe place for your child.