Her son is in foster care?

Mel

As a former CPS investigator, I can say that 9 chances out of 10 they will also take this baby from her. Especially since she has shown that she is still not capable of caring for a child through continued use of drugs.

I don't know what state you are in, but here is how it works in Texas (the state I worked in). If a child is removed from the home for any reason and the mother is pregnant or becomes pregnant while the child is in care, it is almost certain they will take that child. The only cases where they would not is if, the mother is working her plan and very close to getting the first child back, or if the mother has already gotten the first child returned before she gives birth.

In Texas, any involvuntary termination of rights counts againest a mother. I took an infant from a mother who had had 4 children removed from her and rights terminated on all of them. If a mother vountarily terminates her rights, then that may not count againest her depending on the time frame (3 months later it probably would, 3 years generally not).

CPS generally does not tell the mother that they are taking the baby when it is born, so she may not realize that she will have this child taken from her also. They worry that mom's will try to hide the birth and the baby will be endangered. She may also think she is hiding her pregnancy from the CPS workers.

As for the father and family getting custody of the child, it is possible, but if the family doesn't have the first child, probably unlikely. Also dad will not be able to take the baby home to a house where mother will also be living.

Randy B

Nobody here can say for sure but if I had to hazard a guess I'd say that she may lose the baby right in the hospital at birth. If nothing else she would be required to work a plan and show that she can qualify to get both children back. Kinship care (another family member) for the child may be a viable option but it will depend upon your local department's policies. The sooner she make the decision to get on her plan and stick with it the sooner she can work to get her children back.

monkeykitty83

Given the failed drug test and the child in care, it is very possible they will take the new baby at or shortly after birth, which your friend may not be aware of.

I would also think the state may be close to moving toward termination of parental rights on the other child, since 14 months is definitely pushing the limit of when when permanency of some kind starts to be the case goal, and the mother is still apparently using drugs. Children can't just stay in foster care indefinitely waiting for their parents to turn it around-- usually if children spend a certain number of months in care, the state starts TPR proceedings. How long varies from state to state, but 14 months is probably getting close.

It's really, REALLY important that your friend get help with the drugs NOW. She needs to be in rehab IMMEDIATELY. That's really her only chance of keeping these children.

I'm not sure your friend entirely realizes the seriousness of this situation. (What makes me think that is that if she failed a drug test during pregnancy, her son had been in care for at least nine months and she was still using. That suggests to me she's not working on her case plan very hard, and that's a big problem.) It doesn't sound like she's taking a very realistic view of what's going on here.

Your friend needs to deal with her addiction. As it stands, she is very likely to lose her children. Please do everything you can to encourage and support her to kick her drug habit. Unless she is able to demonstrate progress toward getting clean, she is likely to lose her parental rights to both children.

HappyMomAnna

Yes, in **most** cases DHS will be notified when she gives birth and in the majority of situations like this the new baby will also be placed in foster care.

Why would they leave a new baby with a mother who has a child in foster care at the time? It would be illogical--if the 2 yr old is not safe then the newborn isn't either.

I recommend that she works her caseplan and not have another positive drug test--EVER.

Why would she be so excited??? A better question is--didn't she learn her lesson and why is she abusing another unborn baby? Who knows why she is excited--who knows why a mother would get her unborn baby high?

Doesn't make sense but, it's part of addiction and being excited about a new baby doesn't typically include getting loaded... Some mothers are sick and have their priorities completely out of place. I have witnessed situations where mothers have 5, 6 and even as many as 12 babies all born positive and all taken into foster care at the hospital when they were born.

....it's just so very sad.

Wundt

CPS and the courts consider taking drugs while pregnant "Child Abuse". Her positive test while pregnant, and a posible positive test of the infant at birth, will be very bad for her chances of getting back her older son and keeping the infant.

It is not a foregone conclusion that they will remove the new infant from her when he is born. It depends on the social workers and the specifics of the case. Her only hope is to start working with CPS and CASA and follow 'the plan' they gave to her. Unless she shows them she is doing everything she can to become a good parent (it isn't enough to 'love' your kids, you have to prove that through action), her chances are slim.

Flying Monkey #073177

My son had been in care 7 months when I got pregnant with my daughter. They forced me to relinquish my rights to my son and took my daughter when she was three months old. Tell your friend to find a family member to take the kids in case they do the same to her.

dontknow86

I think they will take that one to unless the dad is fit then he could get him.

sizesmith

In our state (Arkansas), each pregnancy, except in a very few cases, is considered like a new clean slate, and the mother gets to go through the entire process of screwing up another life, rather than letting a child avoid harm.

In my opinion, if she can't get off the drugs, then she should lose the baby. Drugs are a choice, even if it's an addiction. There is help out there for anyone trying to get off them.

She'd need to work very hard to keep her children, including keeping all visitation appointments, and keeping clean off drugs. The kids deserve better than drugs.

I'm an advocate that people like her that continue to use while they're pregnant to be steralized. The chemicals in some of the drugs is like taking an eyedropper full of drano and adding it to their baby bottles.

Dayle

DCS, will probably be notified, if her information is in the system. They could remove the baby or she can be given a case plan. My son's first mom just had another child, she lost custody of two of her children, they came to the hospital gave her a case plan and she is doing very well.

farm mom of 10

If she has an open case with CPS, it's pretty much guarenteed they will take the new baby at birth. If she has had a positive drug screen during pregnancy it's almost a sure thing they will take the baby at birth. So she has two strikes against her.
I think she's kind of in denial.

Melody M

is she doing anything to try to get her first son back? If she wants to keep her children shes gott to be able to get straight.. maybe try getting into a drug program first, this will show that she serious. some even allow women and children to be together in live in drug rehaps. there is hope but its all up to her

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: