CHILD WELFARE SERVICES:

After meeting with both the father and
the ParentsCAN advocate,
the social worker agreed that the father would be
 offered reunification services!

            The Child Welfare System is a difficult system to navigate through, especially for a single parent with a language barrier and two prior cases with Child Protective Services (CPS). 

            ParentsCAN recently received a referral for a father whose 3 children were taken into protective custody while in their mother’s care.  This father had two other children involved with CPS years back, both of whom were not able to reunify with their dad and were adopted.  Because of this prior history, it was unlikely that the social worker on the case would recommend reunification services to the parent.

            As this dad spoke to his ParentsCAN advocate he explained why this time around was different for him.  He believed he had matured and wanted to be there for his children and to raise them.  He was not able to reunify with his other children as one of them had special needs, and he knew he wasn’t capable of providing proper care; he has made peace with this decision.  His motivation today comes from the loss he feels regarding the adoption of his only daughter. 

            Since the children’s removal, this dad has come to every visit scheduled.  He and his children play, talk, eat and make the most of their time together.  He talks to his advocate about his feeling of sadness when they say good-bye, but this makes him more determined to have his children back in his life.

            The ParentsCAN advocate had met with this father numerous times and could see that father was genuine about wanting to get his kids back.  The advocate relayed the father’s feelings and worries about the case to the social worker.  The social worker first stated that the department was not obligated to offer services due to prior history.  But upon speaking with the advocate, felt she had a new perspective on the father.  After meeting with both the father and the advocate, the social worker agreed that the father would be offered reunification services!

            The father was thankful for this opportunity and stated his appreciation for the advocate’s support and this new hope for his family.  The advocate will continue to work with this father by providing moral support, locating resources and giving guidance throughout the case.

Her parent advocate was able to meet with her regularly
to motivate and support her so that she was able
to get through her program each day.

            Earlier this year, a single mother involved with Child Protective Services began the process of reunifying with her two-year-old son, who had been placed outside her home. She was feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by the services that the Court had ordered her to complete, such as drug treatment, parenting classes, and counseling.  She felt alone, having no family or friends to help and support her, she had almost given up hope of getting her son back and was considering returning to Mexico. She was referred to ParentsCAN, and was assigned a parent advocate to help her through the process.
 
            This parent needed someone to listen to her, support her in her efforts and encourage her to keep working to get her son back.  Her parent advocate was able to meet with her regularly to motivate and support her so that she was able to get through her program each day. She was given referrals and information about community resources such as Cope and Samaritan House, and her advocate accompanied her to court hearings to help her understand what was taking place.

             This mother completed all of her services and reunified with her son within five months of her case opening with CPS.  The family is doing very well and the mom is feeling confident on her own and continues to use the great resources that Napa offers.