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C.P.S. Defense

A CPS Child Abuse Investigation Can Tear Your Family Apart.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (“CPS”) is a powerful agency that can take any action necessary to protect children from suspected abuse or neglect. Such actions may include:

  • Entry into your home.
  • Extensive interrogation of you and your children.
  • Interviews with doctors, teachers and neighbors.
  • Requests for drug testing.
  • Requests for corrective action.
  • Separation of family members.
  • Removal of children from the home where there is a immediate and ongoing danger to their welfare.

Not Your Ordinary Lawyer

Schreier & Housewirth Family Law in Fort Worth, TX - Image of Greg Housewirth Texas Board Certified Family Law Attorney

A CPS case isn’t like a criminal case or custody case. If you “go it alone” or hire the wrong attorney, things could get worse. You could find yourself agreeing to unnecessary restrictions or even end up in court defending against CPS allegations of child abuse or neglect.
In most cases, you can respond to a CPS investigation yourself, without paying excessive legal fees. You just need help from the right lawyer.

WHO AM I?

I’m Greg Housewirth. I’m a Board-Certified Family Law Specialist. In my 30 years of practice, I’ve handled CPS cases from every angle. I’ve represented CPS as an Assistant District Attorney. I’ve represented children as guardian ad litem, and I’ve represented parents facing termination of their parental rights.

I’ll give you all the law you need to respond to a C.P.S. Investigation.

Today, I consult with families across Texas, empowering them to protect themselves and their children when responding to a CPS investigation.

I call my new, limited-scope representation CPS RESCUE.

Now, you can get the legal support you need without paying a large retainer. CPS RESCUE is both effective and cost effective, requiring a payment of only $400.00 per session.

What is C.P.S. Rescue?

CPS RESCUE is a paid, 50-minute attorney meeting over Zoom. In our CPS RESCUE session, you will:

Discuss your family dynamics and the reasons why CPS is investigating your family.
Learn about the laws regulating CPS and CPS investigations protocols.
Get my professional opinion about likely outcome of the investigation into your family.
Work with me to develop your individualized “gameplan” for responding to the C.P.S. investigation.
Schreier & Housewirth Family Law in Fort Worth, TX - Image of Gregory Housewirth

Get C.P.S. Rescue Now

It’s easy to get your CPS RESCUE session

Click the link to access my calendar and select a meeting time that works for you.
(Saturdays are available)

Review, sign and return the Attorney Engagement Agreement I’ll send you in an e-mail.

Pay the C.P.S. Rescue fee of $400.00 by the secure link.

RESPOND WITH CONFIDENCE

According to Texas CPS program data, the CPS statewide child abuse hotline 1-800-252-5400 received 310,849 calls in 2022.

Of those thousands of calls, only 3% resulted in children being removed from the home and 66% of those calls resulted in a case disposition of “Ruled-Out” for child abuse or neglect.
With odds like these, I will often recommend you respond to a CPS investigation without bringing a lawyer into the fray. A C.P.S. Rescue will arm you with the knowledge and assurance you need to address C.P.S. concerns on your own.

Learn More

What Is CPS?

What Happens In A CPS Investigation?
What Are Possible Outcomes?
What Are Your Rights?
What Is A Safety Plan?
Can CPS Remove?

CASE STUDY 001

Mike and Dana live in a comfortable suburb north of Fort Worth.  Mike works as a pharmaceuticals sales representative and Dana is a teacher at the local elementary school.  The Couple has three children Amy, 13, Michelle, 9, and Monty, 6.

The eldest child, Amy, has suffered from persistent anxiety and has engaged in some self-harming behaviors.  Being attentive parents, Mike and Dana, paired Amy with Dawn, a young therapist in the area.

During a session with Dawn, Amy seemed to suggest she was considering further self-harm as a way to deal with her persistent anxiety.  Dawn, as a “mandatory reporter” called the Texas Child Protective Services statewide intake number and made an anonymous report, alleging that Amy could be at risk for abuse or neglect in her parents’ care.

Mike and Dana were shocked and totally blindsided when they received a call from a CPS worker asking to come to their home and question them about their family and the abuse referral.  I was working at my desk and took Mike’s call myself.  The couple had spent two-hours online reading horror stories of families torn apart by false allegations of child abuse or neglect.  They were in desperate need of help from a trusted source.

“You guys are in good shape,” I said. “Invite the CPS worker in and politely answer her questions.  Keep it to the facts.  Don’t guess.  Don’t speculate.  And do not sign anything or agree to anything without talking to me first.”

An hour later, I was in a CPS Coaching Session with Mike and Dana.  They walked me through their family history and Amy’s struggles with her anxiety.  It didn’t take long for me to understand their commitment to their children and desire to meet any issues head-on.  Amy had been going to counseling for about three months and was actually doing quite well.  That’s why the CPS referral came as such a shock!

I took the time to give Mike and Dana a little context so they could take-down their own anxiety!  I explained professionals like Dawn are under a strict requirement to report suspected child abuse or neglect and, if they don’t, they risk losing their professional license.  As I say, teachers, therapists, and doctors are never sanctioned for “over-reporting.”

Having helped thousands of parents in my 30 years’ of practice, I advised Mike and Dana they could respond to CPS on their own without sacrificing their family or escalating the situation.  I gave specifics about the CPS interview and identified the things CPS needed to see to conclude the investigation.  I also advise the couple they had a right to, and should, record the interview on their phone.

“You guys are in good shape,” I said. “Invite the CPS worker in and politely answer her questions.  Keep it to the facts.  Don’t guess.  Don’t speculate.  And do not sign anything or agree to anything without talking to me first.”

About 8pm that night, I checked in on Mike to see how things went during the CPS visit.  Here’s what I got, “Yes thank you for checking in!!! So appreciated. It went really well, she kept it short with both children, standard 5 questions and said she has no concerns so it should be closed out in next couple of weeks.”

Case closed.

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CPS FAQs

A CPS worker has called me and wants to meet with me to talk about my children. What do I do?

You need to cooperate. If you don’t cooperate, CPS will infer that you are attempting to hide something. Try to get some information from CPS about what they wish to discuss with you.

Chances are, you probably know why they want to talk to you.

Consult a lawyer and have legal counsel with you when you are interviewed. If you do not have time to obtain counsel and must participate in the interview, follow these guidelines.

  1. Be polite and helpful
  2. Show concern for your children
  3. Listen more than you speak
  4. Ask for exact information from CPS, they will often use phrases such as “we have concerns” or “it has been alleged” or “we believe”
  5. DO NOT GUESS about your answers to any CPS questions
  6. DO NOT GUESS about what other people knew or didn’t know
  7. DO NOT SAY the following, “he would never do such a thing” “I don’t believe that happened” “my child is telling a lie”
  8. Be able to clearly explain how your home is a safe home for your children
  9. Be able to provide positive references who have frequent contact with you and your children
  10. Do not lose your temper
  11. At the end of the conversation ask the CPS worker to summarize her discussion with you, her findings, any actions she is considering taking and her reasons for taking those actions.

Do I need to have an attorney with me whenever I meet with CPS?

CPS workers do not like lawyers. Unfortunately, a lawyer who is not familiar with CPS and takes the wrong approach in dealing with CPS may do you more harm than good. An experienced CPS lawyer can help to clarify the issues, present your case in a positive manner, and minimize the risk of your children being taken into foster care.

CPS wants me to bring my children to their offices for a meeting. What should I do?

This is a setup. NEVER, EVER take your children to CPS offices without your lawyer right beside you. This tactic is used by CPS to get you to surrender the children to them at their offices instead of them going to the effort of removing the children from your home. To summarize, take your children with you to CPS and chances are you’ll be going home alone.

CPS wants me to sign a “Safety Plan” or they are going to take my children into foster care. What should I do?

A Safety Plan tells you that you have to follow certain rules to keep your children with you in the home. For instance, in many cases, the Safety Plan will instruct you to remove an alleged abuser from your home, or to clean your home, or to participate in counseling.

You must ask yourself whether you can follow the Safety Plan – if you can’t then you are at risk of having your children removed. You must make sure that both you and CPS understand what exactly the Safety Plan tells you to do or not do. Many children are removed each year because CPS interpreted the Safety Plan differently than the parent did.

Ask CPS when does the Safety Plan expire. If no expiration date is given, then you are forever at risk of having your children removed. As always, try to review the Safety Plan with a lawyer before you sign it.

CPS wants me to separate from my husband or wife and to keep my children away from him/her. What should I do?

Just do it. CPS always believes that sexual abuse has occurred, no matter what the facts and logic suggest, and that children always know what they are talking about. The problem is that if you question any of the facts, your child will be out of your home. It is a difficult situation, but you must ALWAYS choose your child over your spouse.

CPS has done an “Emergency Removal” and placed my children into foster care. What should I do?

Find out as much as you can about why the children were taken into foster care. Ask questions, but volunteer little information at this point. Be helpful. Tell the CPS worker what your child likes and doesn’t like, and inform her of any medications your child might be taking or other special needs he or she might have. Ask for a visit with your child. Typically, you will get a one hour visit one time a week.

Do not threaten the CPS worker and try not to show too much anger. If the CPS worker feels threatened by you or senses that you are “unstable” it will only hurt your chances of getting your child home. Suggest relatives who would be willing to have temporary possession of your child. Try to make arrangements to get your child some of his toys, clothing, and other possessions that will make him feel more secure while in foster care.

I received legal papers telling me I have a court hearing to determine temporary custody of my children. What should I do?

Time is critical. You are going to have a Court hearing within 14 days of the date your child was removed from your possession. At the hearing, the Court will determine whether there is a continuing danger to your child in your home. CPS will have their investigators, lay witnesses, doctors and police officers ready to testify.

Who will testify on your behalf? Who will present your case to the Court? Do you know how to cross-examine a witness or how to object to improper testimony?

You need legal representation. If you lack time to hire an attorney, ask the Judge for an additional two weeks to hire one. Your child will have to stay in foster care, but many times it is better to wait an additional two weeks and be truly prepared for court rather than rushing in unprepared.

Several things can happen at the initial or “14 day hearing.” Your child can be returned to your care (this rarely happens); CPS can take steps to determine whether a relative would be able to care for the child, or your child can continue in foster care for a period of at least 60 days. A CPS case can be won or lost at this point.

Without aggressive representation at the 14 day hearing, there is a very real chance that your child will spend months in foster care – – possibly without justification.

CPS is telling me my children have been sexually abused. What should I do?

Please do not say, “I don’t believe it” or “that’s not true” or “she tells stories” or anything that gives CPS the thought that you don’t believe sexual abuse has occurred. Show genuine concern. Ask, “what can I do to make sure I am providing my child with a safe home?”

Ask the CPS worker questions. Seek detailed answers. Who is the alleged abuser? When did the abuse occur? How many times has the abuse occurred? Exactly what did occur? (You need to get over your embarrassment and ask for graphic details about what happened). You must ask yourself if you knew of the sexual abuse or had any hint that it was taking place. What has your child told CPS?

Unless you convince CPS that you knew nothing about the sexual abuse and that you are able to protect the child from the abuser, your child is going to be placed outside your home.

CPS is telling me my children have been neglected. What should I do?

“Neglect” means different things to different people. Ask questions. Seek specific answers. Try to get CPS to agree to leave the children with you while you participate in parenting classes or other services CPS recommends. If your house is dirty, clean it. If it’s still dirty after you clean, move. You may have to agree to do other things like place the children in daycare, or change your work hours. Remember, you are doing these things to keep your children with you.

CPS is telling me my children have been physically abused. What should I do?

Physical abuse usually occurs in one of two instances:

1.  The case of the baby who is shaken or beaten by an adult. Cases involving injuries babies and young children are the most difficult mainly because the victim is unable to speak. You need to convince CPS that you didn’t injure your child and that your home is safe. This is very difficult. CPS wants to know who injured the child and until someone comes forward with an explanation, the child is not going home. Do not make up stories, for instance, “he rolled off the bed.” Do not cover-up if you know who hurt the child — unless the person you are protecting is more important to you than your child. Your attorney may suggest you take a lie-detector test. You must attempt to obtain legal counsel.

2.  The case of improper physical discipline of a child.  In the case of improper discipline, you have a chance of keeping your child at home, but you are going to have to participate in parenting classes and counseling. Of course, it will depend too on the type of injuries sustained by the child and if there appears to be a long-standing pattern of improper physical discipline — for example the use of extension cords to administer spankings is abuse and may result in removal of the child.

CPS tells me I don’t need a lawyer at the emergency court hearing. Is this true?

You need a lawyer. CPS is represented by the District Attorney. Your children will have their own attorney. You will not be successful representing yourself. Also, don’t fall for the line, “this is only temporary.” Many a termination case starts with such a representation.

I am embarrassed to tell my family about my CPS case. What should I do?

If your family can help you in any way, financial, emotional, or as a temporary placement for your children, tell them. A CPS case could be the most serious legal matter in your life. It is no time to “go it alone.” Show CPS that you come from a good family and that you have their support — it will make a difference.

CPS wants me to take a drug test. What should I do?

You know whether you will pass. If you will pass, sure, take the test. If you know you won’t pass, consult your lawyer. Depending on the circumstances, you may want to refuse to take the test, or admit to your drug usage. These are critical decisions and you need a professional to advise you.

The main thing is to get clean! If you are using illegal drugs, find someone in your family to care for the children while you go through a inpatient program. The longer you remain in denial about your problem, the worse things will get.

Remember, in a CPS case, you have one year to get your act together. It’s better to start early rather than waiting until you are out of time to save your family.

CPS has my children. Will I ever get them back?

It depends. You have a year to prove yourself to CPS. You need to form a success strategy with your lawyer. This will include taking steps to improve you life and then showing CPS what you have done. You will have to persuade the child’s lawyer that the child belongs with you. You will attempt to discredit as much of the CPS case as possible.

You have to visit each and every week. You have to be appropriate with your child in the visits. You have to INSPIRE CONFIDENCE in the people who are evaluating you as a parent. As a last resort, you may have to prepare for trial — this is both an expensive and uncertain endeavor.

CPS wants me to do a “Service Plan.” What does this mean?

The Service Plan consists of a list of things for you to do in order to have any hope of getting your children home. But, understand that the Service Plan is not a contract and CPS doesn’t have to return your children just because you completed your service plan.

Typically, you will be asked to take a psychological evaluation, do counseling and parenting classes. You may also be asked to take random drug tests, participate in anger management, or sex offender’s counseling.

What is a “Guardian Ad Litem?”

The Guardian Ad Litem is an attorney who has been appointed by the Court to make an independent recommendation to the Court about what arrangement will be in your child’s best interest. You will want to make sure the ad litem is doing his or her job and not merely following CPS recommendations. You will want to work to obtain a favorable recommendation from the ad litem.

Will the Court appoint me an attorney if I cannot afford to hire one?

The answer is “NO.” Now, having said that, if you are indigent and CPS files suit to terminate your parent-child relationship, you will be appointed a lawyer. But the point is, you should never wait until you are in such a bad situation to find legal help.

When CPS files to terminate you, they have had around 6 months to build their case against you and there is little your court-appointed attorney can do to erase the damage of what has already happened during the case.

Finally, the legal services organizations do not take CPS cases either because they are so specialized and time-consuming.